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Main Characters
For readers of David Nicholls and Sally Rooney comes a new love story that's at once tender and electrifying—told by everyone but the main characters.
When Clara and Seb first cross paths in a London square, it’s the start of something exciting. Clara, an aspiring director stuck in an entry-level job, itches to pick up a camera. Seb, having floated between music, modeling, and now acting, struggles to find purpose in his work. Yet as random chance brings the two back together, time and time again, neither could predict that their magnetic connection is set to change their lives.
But everyone else does. The spark between Clara and Seb is exactly what falling in love should look exhilarating, passionate, undeniable. The two become a whirlwind, their relationship enthralling everyone they come across. But as the years go on and tensions flair, a last-ditch attempt to save their great romance ends with a gut-wrenching betrayal.
Set over the course of two decades, Clara and Seb’s love story is bigger than just themselves. Told from the eyes of their audience—friends and flatmates, rivals and lovers, strangers and confidants—Main Characters is a sweeping portrait of all sides of Clara and Seb. Everyone has their version of events, but only the main characters can decide how it ends.
When Clara and Seb first cross paths in a London square, it’s the start of something exciting. Clara, an aspiring director stuck in an entry-level job, itches to pick up a camera. Seb, having floated between music, modeling, and now acting, struggles to find purpose in his work. Yet as random chance brings the two back together, time and time again, neither could predict that their magnetic connection is set to change their lives.
But everyone else does. The spark between Clara and Seb is exactly what falling in love should look exhilarating, passionate, undeniable. The two become a whirlwind, their relationship enthralling everyone they come across. But as the years go on and tensions flair, a last-ditch attempt to save their great romance ends with a gut-wrenching betrayal.
Set over the course of two decades, Clara and Seb’s love story is bigger than just themselves. Told from the eyes of their audience—friends and flatmates, rivals and lovers, strangers and confidants—Main Characters is a sweeping portrait of all sides of Clara and Seb. Everyone has their version of events, but only the main characters can decide how it ends.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2026
About the author
Bobby Palmer
3 books285 followersBOBBY PALMER is an author and journalist whose writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan and more. He is co-host of the literary podcast BOOK CHAT with Pandora Sykes.
His debut novel, ISAAC AND THE EGG, was an instant Saturday Times bestseller, selling 50,000 copies in its first year of publication. A Prima and Woman & Home 'Best Book of 2022', the novel appeared on BBC Radio 4's Open Book, featured as Guardian 'Audiobook of the Week', and was chosen by Dawn O'Porter as part of her 'Dawn Loves' book club with WHSmith.
Bobby's second novel, SMALL HOURS, published in March 2024. His third, MAIN CHARACTERS, will publish simultaneously in the UK and US in July 2026.
His debut novel, ISAAC AND THE EGG, was an instant Saturday Times bestseller, selling 50,000 copies in its first year of publication. A Prima and Woman & Home 'Best Book of 2022', the novel appeared on BBC Radio 4's Open Book, featured as Guardian 'Audiobook of the Week', and was chosen by Dawn O'Porter as part of her 'Dawn Loves' book club with WHSmith.
Bobby's second novel, SMALL HOURS, published in March 2024. His third, MAIN CHARACTERS, will publish simultaneously in the UK and US in July 2026.
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June 22, 2026°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ — preread:
im so intrigued by this one!! we get the pov of everyone except the main characters-- like that's so fun and different!! so excited to read this :)
thank you netgalley and Little, Brown, and Company, and Bobby Palmer for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Release date: June 30, 2026!
im so intrigued by this one!! we get the pov of everyone except the main characters-- like that's so fun and different!! so excited to read this :)
thank you netgalley and Little, Brown, and Company, and Bobby Palmer for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Release date: June 30, 2026!
November 13, 2025
I got this one on Netgalley, excited by the premise.
It's a smart idea - tell the story of a relationship only through the eyes of those that observe them. Unfortunately for me, the execution wasn't great. To be fair, this is an ambitious format, and I admire the author for thinking of it, and trying their best. But it just doesn't work.
We kick off the story as an artist draws one of the protagonists in the park, then we read from the POV of her boss, then maybe a passer-by on the street, then a flatmate etc etc. The chapters are short, too short perhaps, as we get multiple narrators, swapping every few pages - but we never really get in the heads of the two "main characters", Clara and Seb.
What is the point of reading from the point of view of all these different characters if they all seem to be exactly the same? Whether they're an ex boyfriend or a colleague or a passer-by, they all spoke the same, with no distinct personality of their own. And they ended up just telling us what Seb and Clara were saying / doing, just like an omniscient narrator would do anyway, so the whole concept of the book seemed a bit pointless.
It's well written but with the same cold, distant style of Issac and the Egg. Which worked for that book but this is supposed to be a romance, right? So where's the spark, the fire, the charisma? It was a bit of a slog by the end.
Ultimately, for me, Main Characters didn't deliver on its ambitious premise. A shame.
It's a smart idea - tell the story of a relationship only through the eyes of those that observe them. Unfortunately for me, the execution wasn't great. To be fair, this is an ambitious format, and I admire the author for thinking of it, and trying their best. But it just doesn't work.
We kick off the story as an artist draws one of the protagonists in the park, then we read from the POV of her boss, then maybe a passer-by on the street, then a flatmate etc etc. The chapters are short, too short perhaps, as we get multiple narrators, swapping every few pages - but we never really get in the heads of the two "main characters", Clara and Seb.
What is the point of reading from the point of view of all these different characters if they all seem to be exactly the same? Whether they're an ex boyfriend or a colleague or a passer-by, they all spoke the same, with no distinct personality of their own. And they ended up just telling us what Seb and Clara were saying / doing, just like an omniscient narrator would do anyway, so the whole concept of the book seemed a bit pointless.
It's well written but with the same cold, distant style of Issac and the Egg. Which worked for that book but this is supposed to be a romance, right? So where's the spark, the fire, the charisma? It was a bit of a slog by the end.
Ultimately, for me, Main Characters didn't deliver on its ambitious premise. A shame.
June 25, 2026
I feel so lucky I got to read this early!!
A huge thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada & Little, Brown and Company for the gifted copy ❤️✨
5⭐️
What I really loved is the writing style and how the story is structured. It’s technically a love story, but instead of following just the couple, we see them through everyone around them strangers, acquaintances, brief encounters…people who only catch a small piece of their lives. 💚
It honestly makes you think about how many people we pass every day without realizing we’re all little side characters in each other’s lives. I think anyone who reads this book will have the same thought !
No spoilers for the romance itself, but I will say both characters were really well developed and felt layered in a way that went beyond just their relationship. They’re not always likeable, but that actually made them feel more real…
We don’t spend much time inside the main characters heads, which sounds unusual for a love story, but it works here because we experience their timeline through all these outside perspectives instead.
Also loved how certain side characters kept reappearing throughout the book and every time they showed up, we saw them in a different moment of their lives. It made the whole timeline feel beautifully connected.
I have a list of chapters that I liked:
- The Barista - it was a cute moment
- The Reader - that audition…🔥 the tension
- The Woman in seat 13c - loved the whole chapter
- The Pianist - I loved any chapter that was one or two pages. But this was my fav.. small moments captured.
- The (blank) nurse - reminded me of my moment like this .. tears were shed here 😢
- The Makeup Artist - loved how this chapters different perspectives, the way it was told
- A Fellow Guest
- Nora , 4
After this chapter I blanked and didn’t note down any more. 👀
Perfect summer read !! ✨☀️
A huge thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada & Little, Brown and Company for the gifted copy ❤️✨
5⭐️
What I really loved is the writing style and how the story is structured. It’s technically a love story, but instead of following just the couple, we see them through everyone around them strangers, acquaintances, brief encounters…people who only catch a small piece of their lives. 💚
It honestly makes you think about how many people we pass every day without realizing we’re all little side characters in each other’s lives. I think anyone who reads this book will have the same thought !
No spoilers for the romance itself, but I will say both characters were really well developed and felt layered in a way that went beyond just their relationship. They’re not always likeable, but that actually made them feel more real…
We don’t spend much time inside the main characters heads, which sounds unusual for a love story, but it works here because we experience their timeline through all these outside perspectives instead.
Also loved how certain side characters kept reappearing throughout the book and every time they showed up, we saw them in a different moment of their lives. It made the whole timeline feel beautifully connected.
I have a list of chapters that I liked:
- The Barista - it was a cute moment
- The Reader - that audition…🔥 the tension
- The Woman in seat 13c - loved the whole chapter
- The Pianist - I loved any chapter that was one or two pages. But this was my fav.. small moments captured.
- The (blank) nurse - reminded me of my moment like this .. tears were shed here 😢
- The Makeup Artist - loved how this chapters different perspectives, the way it was told
- A Fellow Guest
- Nora , 4
After this chapter I blanked and didn’t note down any more. 👀
Perfect summer read !! ✨☀️
December 27, 2025
This novel offers an original and deeply moving perspective: a love story revealed through the eyes of those who observe it. From best friends to bus passengers to colleagues, each viewpoint adds to the story of the relationship as it happens.
Each character was so well built out, I truly felt like I was in the story. Despite the story being told through secondary perspectives, I felt incredibly connected to the central characters and came to understand them and their motives.
Overall, this is a moving and emotional book that has stayed with me and I loved the concept so much. I’d highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC
Each character was so well built out, I truly felt like I was in the story. Despite the story being told through secondary perspectives, I felt incredibly connected to the central characters and came to understand them and their motives.
Overall, this is a moving and emotional book that has stayed with me and I loved the concept so much. I’d highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC
July 1, 2026
I was really curious about this book because the premise immediately caught my attention. Even the title intrigued me, but what interested me the most was the structure. The idea of giving chapters to people who randomly cross paths with the main characters and letting us see brief moments from their perspectives felt fresh and original. I don’t think I’ve come across another book that uses this concept in quite the same way. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work as well for me. Maybe it’s because I’m generally not a romance reader, but I just couldn’t connect with the main characters. They never felt compelling enough to keep me emotionally invested, which made the book feel like a bit of a struggle to get through. The ending was also fairly predictable, so it didn’t leave much of an impact.
The writing style, however, was the highlight for me. It was engaging and carried the story even when I wasn’t invested in the characters. I just wish the emotional connection had been as strong as the concept itself.
The writing style, however, was the highlight for me. It was engaging and carried the story even when I wasn’t invested in the characters. I just wish the emotional connection had been as strong as the concept itself.
January 16, 2026
I am SPEECHLESS..!!! Bobby Palmer this is phenomenal. Everyone preorder this now.
Thanks so much to Headline for my proof, my full review will be up on my instagram soon
Thanks so much to Headline for my proof, my full review will be up on my instagram soon
January 4, 2026
3/31. (4.5) genuinely haven’t enjoyed a writing style as much as this in a very long time. This was beautiful, compelling and shocking in all the perfect moments. These characters are flawed no doubt but often times those are the best to read and relate to, which this book took the cake on.
My only nip with it would be how due to each perspective being told as an outside voice, I almost wish it stayed that way always to preserve the voice of the witness and give them more individuality. When being written as an outside perspective but still having internal thoughts of the main characters it blurred them together and diminished the character whose head we were meant to be observing through. I wish for those moments, we just had very sparse chapters (even like a paragraph or two long) of the MCs to add that perspective in.
My only nip with it would be how due to each perspective being told as an outside voice, I almost wish it stayed that way always to preserve the voice of the witness and give them more individuality. When being written as an outside perspective but still having internal thoughts of the main characters it blurred them together and diminished the character whose head we were meant to be observing through. I wish for those moments, we just had very sparse chapters (even like a paragraph or two long) of the MCs to add that perspective in.
June 20, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
First, the way I sobbed through the last 20% of this book should be cause for criminal charges.
Main Characters surprised me in the most delightful way. I was expecting one thing, and what I was delivered was so much more than I could have even imagined. I rushed to order this right after I read the last line because I knew I wanted this on my shelf to read over and over again.
First, the structure: I know the way this story is structured is maybe controversial for some, but I thought it was freaking brilliant. We never get closer to the main characters than getting the point of view of their closest friends and family. We also get viewpoints of these two people from all sorts of different places: colleagues, strangers, passersby, etc.
I loved this very much, obviously. I get that now we're distant from the main characters, but I would argue that also the people we love most in life we stand as a witness to their lives, no matter how intimate we are to them, but we still have our own internal monologue, and thoughts, feelings, reactions to the world around us. This is a book for anyone who has ever people-watched, who has ever loved a friend with your whole heart and being, who has ever had family you would lay your life down for-because this story is about those people in your life you're a witness to while honoring your own internal sphere.
There's a point in the book where one of the main characters' sister says something like, she always forgot that there were other people with their own lives going on and that their lives kept going on even when this main character wasn't around. But sometimes the main character forgot that part, expecting her friends and family to just exist in stasis until the next time she needed them. But isn't that the way we sometimes see the people who populate our lives with companionship and love? We're not there for every moment, and it can be easy to forget when you're going through that everyone else is going through it too.
The main characters, Clara and Seb, are the focus of our attention, yes, but each time we shift narrator and perspective, we also get a glimpse of time with those people, "side characters" if you will. But these side characters are the heart of the plot, in my opinion. Even if we just get one brief chapter with them (some do return as narrators), we still get a glimpse of their complicated inner life too. We don't get a ton of time with them, because it isn't about them it's about Seb and Clara...or maybe it's about all of us and the connections we have with others we don't even know about.
I loved it. I sobbed. I would call this literary romance, and it was so so fantastic.
First, the way I sobbed through the last 20% of this book should be cause for criminal charges.
Main Characters surprised me in the most delightful way. I was expecting one thing, and what I was delivered was so much more than I could have even imagined. I rushed to order this right after I read the last line because I knew I wanted this on my shelf to read over and over again.
First, the structure: I know the way this story is structured is maybe controversial for some, but I thought it was freaking brilliant. We never get closer to the main characters than getting the point of view of their closest friends and family. We also get viewpoints of these two people from all sorts of different places: colleagues, strangers, passersby, etc.
I loved this very much, obviously. I get that now we're distant from the main characters, but I would argue that also the people we love most in life we stand as a witness to their lives, no matter how intimate we are to them, but we still have our own internal monologue, and thoughts, feelings, reactions to the world around us. This is a book for anyone who has ever people-watched, who has ever loved a friend with your whole heart and being, who has ever had family you would lay your life down for-because this story is about those people in your life you're a witness to while honoring your own internal sphere.
There's a point in the book where one of the main characters' sister says something like, she always forgot that there were other people with their own lives going on and that their lives kept going on even when this main character wasn't around. But sometimes the main character forgot that part, expecting her friends and family to just exist in stasis until the next time she needed them. But isn't that the way we sometimes see the people who populate our lives with companionship and love? We're not there for every moment, and it can be easy to forget when you're going through that everyone else is going through it too.
The main characters, Clara and Seb, are the focus of our attention, yes, but each time we shift narrator and perspective, we also get a glimpse of time with those people, "side characters" if you will. But these side characters are the heart of the plot, in my opinion. Even if we just get one brief chapter with them (some do return as narrators), we still get a glimpse of their complicated inner life too. We don't get a ton of time with them, because it isn't about them it's about Seb and Clara...or maybe it's about all of us and the connections we have with others we don't even know about.
I loved it. I sobbed. I would call this literary romance, and it was so so fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*4,5/5*
We follow Seb and Clara through the eyes of everyone around them; friends, family, colleagues, exes, passers-by, strangers, you name it. You never quite know what the MCs are actually thinking or feeling, because the book describes what others see or overhear them say.
And I loved it.
I hated it when they fought, I loved it when their friends noticed them secretly looking at one another and I loved that as the reader, we both know more and less than the characters themselves.
(spoiler) It has an open ending - but I like to believe that they got their HEA. I'm rooting for them in any case.
We follow Seb and Clara through the eyes of everyone around them; friends, family, colleagues, exes, passers-by, strangers, you name it. You never quite know what the MCs are actually thinking or feeling, because the book describes what others see or overhear them say.
And I loved it.
I hated it when they fought, I loved it when their friends noticed them secretly looking at one another and I loved that as the reader, we both know more and less than the characters themselves.
(spoiler) It has an open ending - but I like to believe that they got their HEA. I'm rooting for them in any case.
June 14, 2026
I’ll admit that I was drawn in by the gimmick of this book. A love story told by everyone around the main characters? Yes, please! The structure reminded me of one of my all time favorite books, The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. I did have some major problems with the book though.
****SPOILERS****
I really didn’t care for the cheating and pregnancy storyline. I especially didn’t like that our female MC made it clear that she didn’t want children, but of course, everything turned out fine after she had her daughter. I could go about what I didn’t like about the pregnancy storyline, but ultimately I still really enjoyed the book.
****SPOILERS****
I really didn’t care for the cheating and pregnancy storyline. I especially didn’t like that our female MC made it clear that she didn’t want children, but of course, everything turned out fine after she had her daughter. I could go about what I didn’t like about the pregnancy storyline, but ultimately I still really enjoyed the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
June 18, 2026I liked the premise of a love story from other people's perspectives, but it made it hard to connect with the main characters. About 150 pages in, I just didn't care what happened to them.
November 13, 2025
This has become one of my favourite book of the year. I love the uniqueness of the narrative voice. The story is told from the POVs of random people or the entourage of Clara and Seb. It brings something different that I loved. You’d think that because of that, you’d feel distant from the characters, but no. I still felt so connected to their story. At its core, it’s the exploration of growth of two people. But it’s also about love and forgiveness. Clara and Seb are not perfect, which is what makes this story interesting, especially as it’s seen throughout other people’s view. Since it takes place over 20 years, a lot of events happen which kept the book very compelling. There’s love, heartbreak, fear, regret but also joy. All of these emotions were well captured by the author. I might have shed a tear at the end. Clara’s and Seb’s story really touched me.
I think this book will resonate with a lot of people. Readers interested by the concept of sonder will definitely enjoy this. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and I’ll keep recommending this book to everyone I know !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
I think this book will resonate with a lot of people. Readers interested by the concept of sonder will definitely enjoy this. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and I’ll keep recommending this book to everyone I know !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
December 6, 2025
A book like no other, a love story told by everyone else just not the main characters. I loved this concept. It was surprising how relatable the characters were and how connected to them I still felt despite their stories being told through the voices of other people.
Clara & Seb are far from perfect and their relationship is in turmoil a lot but this made them so much more relatable. Easy to find common ground with characters that experience similar experiences and struggles that we do in real life. That being said I really really wanted them to work out. Seb broke my heart, I felt like he was such an old soul lost in a big world where he just couldn't find his footing.
Can I just take a minute.. erm Jasper.. where the Heck was Clara when you know [ I can't say I have to keep this spoiler free ] roll on July 2026 when I can find people to talk to about this!!
I have loved Bobby Palmers previous novels and honestly I think this one trumps those. I'll be raving about this from the rooftops. Definitely will be needing a physical copy for my shelves!
Overall a stunning book, full of heartache, growth, friendships, healing, love and so much more. An absolute must read!!
Clara & Seb are far from perfect and their relationship is in turmoil a lot but this made them so much more relatable. Easy to find common ground with characters that experience similar experiences and struggles that we do in real life. That being said I really really wanted them to work out. Seb broke my heart, I felt like he was such an old soul lost in a big world where he just couldn't find his footing.
Can I just take a minute.. erm Jasper.. where the Heck was Clara when you know [ I can't say I have to keep this spoiler free ] roll on July 2026 when I can find people to talk to about this!!
I have loved Bobby Palmers previous novels and honestly I think this one trumps those. I'll be raving about this from the rooftops. Definitely will be needing a physical copy for my shelves!
Overall a stunning book, full of heartache, growth, friendships, healing, love and so much more. An absolute must read!!
January 6, 2026
3.75. I am in two minds about whether the concept was needed, but I enjoyed this love story told from everyone but the main characters’ point of view just the same.
June 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
Such a cool concept. I was worried it would feel like you didn’t actually know the characters, but it never did. You knew them well even when you hated the choices they were making.
This was definitely concept led for me, I just didn’t love it?
Such a cool concept. I was worried it would feel like you didn’t actually know the characters, but it never did. You knew them well even when you hated the choices they were making.
This was definitely concept led for me, I just didn’t love it?
June 25, 2026
wow wow wow, I loved this much more than i anticipated I would!! To me, this felt like “daisy jones and the six” meets “conversations with friends.” I grew so attached to the story, the characters, and the uniqueness of the storytelling. (and appreciate the great execution/writing!) Definitely one of my favorites of the year! and i got to read this pre-release due to book of the month (thanks auntie em) which made me feel cool lol🙂↕️
Did Not Finish
June 23, 2026Cute premise but the book never really goes anywhere. Reading the story of the romance second hand did not make me invested. I gave up at page 104.
June 21, 2026
An original concept with a beautiful, complicated love story. Despite the story being told by everyone else’s point of view, I still felt connected to the MCs. Would recommend!
January 9, 2026
a big thank you to netgalley and the author for an arc in exchange for my honest review.
main characters is a love story told through the eyes of everyone (friends, housemates, random people they pass on the street, colleagues etc.) and not the couple themselves. i feel as though i have read so many romances lately that follow the same formula but the concept for this book is unlike anything i’ve read before so i was immediately intrigued.
honestly it took me a little while to get into the story. because of the way this story is structured, in the beginning i was getting confused about who was being referred to sometimes. once i got to about the halfway mark and understood the writing style more, that was no longer an issue.
i found that both characters were well developed, complex and not always likeable. while i really enjoyed the story and thought that writing was stunning, i found myself really just wanting to get into the heads of the main characters. i wasn’t fully invested in their relationship because i didn’t get the main characters’ perspectives or thoughts on things. i still really liked them and their love but just found myself wanting a little bit more.
overall i found their love story to be touching and the concept to be fresh and intriguing. would definitely recommend this one.
main characters is a love story told through the eyes of everyone (friends, housemates, random people they pass on the street, colleagues etc.) and not the couple themselves. i feel as though i have read so many romances lately that follow the same formula but the concept for this book is unlike anything i’ve read before so i was immediately intrigued.
honestly it took me a little while to get into the story. because of the way this story is structured, in the beginning i was getting confused about who was being referred to sometimes. once i got to about the halfway mark and understood the writing style more, that was no longer an issue.
i found that both characters were well developed, complex and not always likeable. while i really enjoyed the story and thought that writing was stunning, i found myself really just wanting to get into the heads of the main characters. i wasn’t fully invested in their relationship because i didn’t get the main characters’ perspectives or thoughts on things. i still really liked them and their love but just found myself wanting a little bit more.
overall i found their love story to be touching and the concept to be fresh and intriguing. would definitely recommend this one.
February 27, 2026
Similar to Talking at Night. I’d hate these characters if I met them in real life.
July 2, 2026
I have never read a book written like this before & the concept was SO interesting - at times, it felt disjointed but that’s to be expected as it’s told from so many unique POVs. I really liked feeling like I “grew” with the characters over the 20+ years of the book. Such an interesting premise and story- a solid 4 star read!
June 23, 2026
Thank you to BOTM for this early release. A love story told through the perspective of everyone but the main characters in love. I have never read anything like this before, and I LOVED it. Such a fun twist!!
June 30, 2026
i wasn’t quite sure about this book at first. wasn’t feeling very engaged with the characters, but my oh my, part two destroyed me. absolutely brilliant novel 😭😭. already have a book hangover from it and it’s been like 10 minutes.
part of what intrigued me by this book was the fact that its told from the pov of everyone but the main 2 people. however, i was disappointed by the execution of that concept. it just always felt like it was being narrated by the same person even if it was a random person on the street or one of their best friends. i thought it was going to be more of like how people spy on people in public and make observations without hearing every word or something. idk if that makes sense, but yeah. the story ended up being good enough to overcome the disappointment of the pov intrigue
part of what intrigued me by this book was the fact that its told from the pov of everyone but the main 2 people. however, i was disappointed by the execution of that concept. it just always felt like it was being narrated by the same person even if it was a random person on the street or one of their best friends. i thought it was going to be more of like how people spy on people in public and make observations without hearing every word or something. idk if that makes sense, but yeah. the story ended up being good enough to overcome the disappointment of the pov intrigue
June 15, 2026
obsessed with how this book was told by the pov of everyone besides clara and seb such a fun perspective. a fun perspective that had my chest physically hurting a few times but i do love a book that will emotionally destroy me
January 3, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley - I loved the idea, but I do think the observations are taken too far in an attempt to bring in Seb and Clara’s internal monologues. Mainly though I couldn’t get past the lead actress references in the rom coms near the start being wrong - it wasn’t Minnie Driver!
Edit (and I’ve now listed this as a spoiler so don’t continue unless you want to): I very much disliked the perception forced in the book that the infertility issues experienced were Clara’s (when clearly, it wasn’t). There was no reference to whether Seb’s fertility was the issue - 48% of fertility problems are related to men. Why was that glossed over? It then created this perception that Seb was blaming her for everything, when actually, it was likely him? Would this have changed the outcome and the characters perspectives? Surely yes. This bothered me more than the Minnie Driver thing (which is quite an effort, actually).
Edit (and I’ve now listed this as a spoiler so don’t continue unless you want to): I very much disliked the perception forced in the book that the infertility issues experienced were Clara’s (when clearly, it wasn’t). There was no reference to whether Seb’s fertility was the issue - 48% of fertility problems are related to men. Why was that glossed over? It then created this perception that Seb was blaming her for everything, when actually, it was likely him? Would this have changed the outcome and the characters perspectives? Surely yes. This bothered me more than the Minnie Driver thing (which is quite an effort, actually).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
ARC read - thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and of course the author for this advanced copy.
This book is everything the synopsis promises to be and more.
I knew from the premiss that I would love it, but it still blew me away. I cried, I laughed, I fell in love with the gorgeous array of wonderful characters. The way of telling the story through the eyes of everyone around them was so clever, I couldn’t help but think about couples I’ve observed and what strangers may have seen of my life.
My husband is from Leicester, so I loved the little nods to a place I’ve come to know well.
For fans of the last five years, heartburn, David Nichols, Sally Rooney… I could go on.
It was beautiful, I want to read it again and again and again. I can’t wait until July so I can recommend it to all of my friends!
This book is everything the synopsis promises to be and more.
I knew from the premiss that I would love it, but it still blew me away. I cried, I laughed, I fell in love with the gorgeous array of wonderful characters. The way of telling the story through the eyes of everyone around them was so clever, I couldn’t help but think about couples I’ve observed and what strangers may have seen of my life.
My husband is from Leicester, so I loved the little nods to a place I’ve come to know well.
For fans of the last five years, heartburn, David Nichols, Sally Rooney… I could go on.
It was beautiful, I want to read it again and again and again. I can’t wait until July so I can recommend it to all of my friends!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Bobby's books are always written in such a unique and tender way and they always tug at every single one of my heartstrings.
Main Characters was no exception and oh my, what a story! Such a rollercoaster ride about life, the ups, the downs, the bad decisions, the regrets, the love, the loss.
I had to put this book down a few times while reading because I was so overcome with emotion that I couldnt read the words!
I absolutely loved the aspect of this story ever since it was announced! Telling a story about a couple from everyone else's perspective but them is so fascinating and the author has done such a fantastic job too! I was captivated the whole time.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Main Characters was no exception and oh my, what a story! Such a rollercoaster ride about life, the ups, the downs, the bad decisions, the regrets, the love, the loss.
I had to put this book down a few times while reading because I was so overcome with emotion that I couldnt read the words!
I absolutely loved the aspect of this story ever since it was announced! Telling a story about a couple from everyone else's perspective but them is so fascinating and the author has done such a fantastic job too! I was captivated the whole time.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2025
I LOVED this. This book isn’t like anything I have read in a long time - I couldn’t put it down!!! Seb and Clara’s love story, told from different perspectives of everyone but them, was raw, intense and beautiful. I really enjoyed reading the different ways the characters interpreted events and how this impacted Seb and Clara throughout the book. Truly a beautiful read.
June 17, 2026
This is truly unlike anything else I’ve read before! I’ve never conceptualized a romance that is told through the eyes of everyone else except for the couple! It’s quippy and smart. It keeps you invested and wanting to turn the page. At its core, this is a love letter to humanity and how interconnected we are, even with people that we don’t know.
Equally, I appreciate that this takes place spanning such a long period of time. People have become so self-absorbed with current technology (wireless headphones, phones, readers, etc.) that our worlds feel so insular. The world can pass us by without us knowing. Clara and Seb exist before that booming reality which is nostalgic to see.
My main critiques:
1- (small): there are some areas where it feels like we are dragging on. Though every chapter is unique in that it is rarely the same person observing twice, some of the observations do feel a bit repetitive.
2- (bigger): Clara appears to be our main character of the romance, slightly more with Seb. I do have a hard time with a man writing about a woman’s conflict in wanting “it all” in her life. I think that the fact that we are never truly in Clara’s head does help give distance, but still I struggle with the presumption there. (Especially towards the end with the interview chapter and the brief mention about the condescension of the rom-com and art made for and by women. Who do you think built those systems? I digress.) Main point here: there is care with the subject matter but I still do have a watchful eye.
Equally, I appreciate that this takes place spanning such a long period of time. People have become so self-absorbed with current technology (wireless headphones, phones, readers, etc.) that our worlds feel so insular. The world can pass us by without us knowing. Clara and Seb exist before that booming reality which is nostalgic to see.
My main critiques:
1- (small): there are some areas where it feels like we are dragging on. Though every chapter is unique in that it is rarely the same person observing twice, some of the observations do feel a bit repetitive.
2- (bigger): Clara appears to be our main character of the romance, slightly more with Seb. I do have a hard time with a man writing about a woman’s conflict in wanting “it all” in her life. I think that the fact that we are never truly in Clara’s head does help give distance, but still I struggle with the presumption there. (Especially towards the end with the interview chapter and the brief mention about the condescension of the rom-com and art made for and by women. Who do you think built those systems? I digress.) Main point here: there is care with the subject matter but I still do have a watchful eye.
June 27, 2026
A fascinating premise — the love story of two people told by the casual witnesses of their everyday lives. I’m betting that celebrity victims of unauthorized biographies would either sympathize or be horrified. But Bobby Palmer eventually gives us the depth we need to believe we really know Seb and Clara after many years and many observations. Both also become minor celebrities, so their anonymous audiences become larger. But I was also aware that we’re probably missing a lot of significant moments that the couple shared.
The originality kept me reading. This is a book of stolen glances and amused perceptions — the descriptions surrounding Clara and Seb are equally delightful. At first, it seemed voyeuristic, but eventually you get familiarized with the glimpses we get of Clara and Seb. It’s a long story unfolding along an unpredictable arc. Again, you’ll wonder if you’re missing an important aspect of their lives (not everything can be witnessed), but by the ending, you will feel a completeness. 4 stars.
A Book of the Month Club main selection for June 2026.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Clara’s “boyfriend’s friend” has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Lots of bouquets are mentioned including an edible one.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
The originality kept me reading. This is a book of stolen glances and amused perceptions — the descriptions surrounding Clara and Seb are equally delightful. At first, it seemed voyeuristic, but eventually you get familiarized with the glimpses we get of Clara and Seb. It’s a long story unfolding along an unpredictable arc. Again, you’ll wonder if you’re missing an important aspect of their lives (not everything can be witnessed), but by the ending, you will feel a completeness. 4 stars.
A Book of the Month Club main selection for June 2026.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Clara’s “boyfriend’s friend” has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Lots of bouquets are mentioned including an edible one.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
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