Greta James

Greta James is the main character of the novel. Greta grew up in Columbus, Ohio with her mother Helen, father Conrad, and brother Asher. Throughout her childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, Greta felt like an outsider. While her mother always supported her musical endeavors, her father showed no interest in her dreams of becoming a professional guitarist. Instead, he constantly belittled her artistic aspirations and pressured her to find a more stable career choice. Therefore, Greta has lived the entirety of her life believing that Asher is her father’s favorite and that there is no way for her to satisfy her father’s constant demands for her life.

In the narrative present, Greta’s mother has recently died from a brain aneurysm. Shortly after Helen’s death, Greta attempted to perform a new song for Helen on stage, and broke down in front of a large...