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Main Characters

'gorgeous, clever, utterly addictive' Pandora Sykes

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Main Characters

By: Bobby Palmer
Narrated by: Sofia Oxenham
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Some love stories are bigger than just two people. This one is told by friends, flatmates, exes and strangers - everybody but the main characters.

'I laughed, I teared up, I couldn't put it down. This is a love story like no other'
'This book gave me genuine joy and broke my heart'
'For fans of Heartburn, David Nicholls, Sally Rooney'
'A beautifully written, emotionally rich story that surprised me in the best way'
'These characters live in your head long after you've closed the book'
'Recommended for people watchers'

'Fresh and original - but somehow timeless' CLAIRE DAVERLEY

'An epic, heart-wrenching love story' KATE SAWYER

'Destined to be on everyone's sun loungers this summer' STYLIST

'Moving, funny, wise and beautifully written' JOANNA CANNON

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Clara and Seb are about to fall in love. They don't know it yet. But everybody else does.

When Clara and Seb meet in a quiet corner of London, it's the start of something. She wants to be a director. He's an actor, unsure what he wants from life.

Their connection is magnetic. Everyone can see that falling in love looks something like this. But when Clara casts Seb in the film that will make her name, what should be the happiest time of their lives ends with a gut-wrenching betrayal.

Some love stories are bigger than just two people. This one is told through the eyes of friends, flatmates, exes and strangers who see all the sides of Seb and Clara, from their first date to the moment they fell apart.

Everyone has their version of events. But only Clara and Seb can decide how their story ends...

Main Characters is the highly anticipated novel about love, friendship, dysfunctional families and life-changing connections.

'Just gorgeous' ABIGAIL DEAN

'A portrayal of London that feels like a Richard Curtis movie' GEORGINA MOORE

'For anyone who's ever sat opposite a mysterious stranger on a train and wondered what's really going on behind those eyes' JUSTIN MYERS

'Bobby Palmer has the rare talent of making us fall in love' SETH INSUA©2026 Bobby Palmer Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Love, Dating & Attraction Relationships Women's Fiction Celebrity Funny Heartfelt Romance
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Critic reviews

Irresistible and immaculately executed (Sunday Times Style)
An epic on-again, off-again romance . . . with small, perceptive insights into a vast cast of characters and the way lives collide and divert. I wept (Abigail Dean on holiday reads for the Guardian)
Cinematic and swoon-worthy (but not without its gut punches)... such a fresh and original take on the telling of a love story − but somehow timeless (Claire Daverley)
Destined to be on everyone's sun loungers this summer (Stylist)
An all-encompassing love story . . . Moved me to tears more than once (Prima, Book of the Month)
Moving, funny, wise and beautifully written . . I love the idea of people's lives crossing over, the impressions we get from what we see and hear. If you love a smart, poignant, funny, gripping book, you will love this. I cannot recommend it enough (Joanna Cannon)
A clever concept . . . an epic love story (Grazia)
One for those who loved One Day (Gloss Magazine)
Gorgeous, clever, utterly addictive. A fresh take on the British romcom (Pandora Sykes)
We've never read a love story quite like this ─ unputdownable (Closer)
Ambitious and big-hearted . . . The perfect, immersive read (Mike Gayle)
An enjoyable twist on a love story, Main Characters is an easy, funny and fresh sun-lounger read (The Standard, Best New Books to Read in 2026)
Clara and Seb's lives intertwine [and] unravel with shifting loyalties, misread moments and heartbreak (Woman & Home)
If you love clever literary fiction, you will love this novel. If you love immersive commercial fiction, you will love this novel. If you love rom coms and a portrayal of London that feels like a Richard Curtis movie, you will love this novel (Georgina Moore)
Innovative and clever but with all the humour, character detail and heart-wrenching emotional moments we have come to expect from Bobby Palmer's writing. Wonderful (Kate Sawyer)
This unique story charts a new relationship from the point of view of everyone but the couple themselves (Good Housekeeping)
The perfect book for anyone who's ever sat opposite a mysterious stranger on a train and wondered what's really going on behind those eyes. A charming, romantic meditation on the chaos of falling in (and out of) love (Justin Myers)
A moving novel that tells the story of aspiring director Clara and actor Seb from the perspectives of friends, colleagues and strangers (Hello!)
Entirely fresh and unexpected . . . with the feel of a classic love story (BookBrunch)
Our book of the summer. A real treat of a read (Bella Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant
I don’t leave reviews but I just loved this book. The narrator was excellent and did it justice. I laughed, I cried and was totally taken by the story woven by the characters and observers. Brilliant.

This book!

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I was drawn in from the start to this beautifully written, heart wrenching love story. It’s a rare book that reduces me to tears but this was one. I loved the characters and the original way of writing each chapter from the view of another person. I couldn’t stop listening. I’m now going to read other books by Bobby Palmer and have high expectations. I thought the narrator was great. Just a brilliant book.

Best book I’ve read/listened to in ages

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wonderful story, fall in love with the characters, cry and laugh for them. great listen

how you get to know the characters

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I really loved the characters and the story in this, but struggled without the consistent narrator.

It felt as though the jumping narrators was made to make it “different” but the story and characters were strong enough on their own.

I nearly gave up, but the second half felt more consistent so I was glad I didn’t.

Wonderful story but takes getting used to

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Really disappointed in this despite loving the author’s previous books. It is slow, unoriginal and the narrator cannot do accents!

A slow story with awful narration

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