Love You More Characters

A fertility specialist who reconnects with her past after her best friend Erin dies, becoming guardian of Erin's daughter Phoebe. She is ambitious, deeply loving, and struggles with insecurity and the pull between her New York life and her Wisconsin roots.

Arc: Billie moves from a life oriented around career and a seemingly perfect New York relationship to embracing the messy, painful, and ultimately fulfilling role of mother and co-parent with her first love Mick. She learns to prioritize love and family over carefully laid plans, finding home in belonging rather than geography.

• Mick O'Leary — her first love, ex-boyfriend, and co-parent of Phoebe
• Erin Callahan — her deceased best friend, sister-figure, mother of Phoebe
• Phoebe Callahan — her best friend's daughter, becomes her legal guardian
• Dean — her fiancé who breaks off their engagement
• Lesli — her close friend and colleague at Hope Fertility
• Greer — her friend and colleague who introduced her to Dean
• Rich and Joan — her parents
• Gus — her younger brother

Billie's first love and high school sweetheart, a former football player from a family with an orchard. He is steady, protective, and deeply committed to his family, including his sister Maeve and later Phoebe.

Arc: Mick carries unresolved love for Billie for years, making mistakes out of fear and shame. Through the shared guardianship of Phoebe, he matures into a reliable co-parent and eventually reunites with Billie, openly expressing his enduring love.

• Billie Wright — his first love, ex-girlfriend, and later co-parent and romantic partner
• Erin Callahan — had a one-time sexual encounter with her, which he kept secret
• Phoebe Callahan — his daughter through paternity test, though they already act as family
• Maeve — his younger sister
• Mrs. O'Leary — his mother

Billie's best friend since childhood, a single mother to Phoebe. She is remembered as fun, persuasive, and fiercely loyal, though she kept a painful secret about sleeping with Mick.

Arc: Erin dies in a car accident before the story begins, but her presence looms large through memories and her wish for Billie and Mick to raise Phoebe. Her secret affair with Mick is revealed posthumously, testing Billie's trust.

• Billie Wright — her best friend
• Mick O'Leary — had a one-night stand with him
• Phoebe Callahan — her daughter
• Joan — her mother
• Russ — was driving the car in the accident that killed her

Erin's daughter, an eleven-year-old girl who loses her mother and eventually lives with Billie and Mick. She is resilient, perceptive, and shows maturity beyond her years, holding onto small rituals to feel close to her mother.

Arc: Phoebe grieves her mother's death while adjusting to a new life in Wisconsin and later New York. She forms a deep bond with Billie and Mick, ultimately accepting a chosen family built on love rather than biology.

• Erin Callahan — her mother, deceased
• Billie Wright — her mother's best friend and her legal guardian
• Mick O'Leary — her father, though paternity is tested
• Joan — her grandmother

Billie's fiancé, a trauma surgeon in New York. He is supportive and patient but ultimately cannot accept Billie's deep entanglement with Mick and the possibility of co-parenting with him.

Arc: Dean tries to be accommodating but feels increasingly distant as Billie prioritizes Phoebe and her past with Mick. He breaks off the engagement, choosing his career and a clean break over the uncertainty of Billie's new life.

• Billie Wright — her fiancé, later ex-fiancé
• Mick O'Leary — the ex he is wary of co-parenting with

Billie's close friend and fellow doctor at Hope Fertility. She is practical, supportive, and a sounding board for Billie's decisions.

Arc: Lesli remains a steady friend throughout Billie's turmoil, encouraging her to follow her heart and supporting her move to Wisconsin.

• Billie Wright — her close friend and colleague
• Greer — their mutual friend and colleague

Billie's friend and colleague who introduces her to Dean. She is more glamorous and outspoken, often concerned about Billie leaving their clinic for Wisconsin.

Arc: Greer initially opposes Billie's move to Wisconsin but ultimately supports her, showing loyalty and friendship.

• Billie Wright — her friend and colleague
• Lesli — their mutual friend
• Dean — her friend from Harvard whom she introduced to Billie

Erin's mother and Phoebe's grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer's. She is often confused but has lucid moments where she recognizes Phoebe and speaks of Erin's wishes.

Arc: Joan declines further into dementia, necessitating a move to a memory care facility. She serves as a conduit for Erin's voice, reminding Billie of Erin's prediction that she would come back.

• Erin Callahan — her daughter
• Phoebe Callahan — her granddaughter

Billie's father, a supportive and proud parent who helps her through her moves and encourages her decisions.

Arc: He remains a steady presence, celebrating Billie's engagement and later supporting her guardianship of Phoebe.

• Billie Wright — his daughter
• Joan Wright — his wife

Billie's mother, a warm and practical woman who reassures her daughter and helps with the transition.

Arc: She supports Billie's choices and offers comfort during the broken engagement and custody proceedings.

• Billie Wright — her daughter
• Rich Wright — her husband

Mick's younger sister with Down syndrome, who is a frequent source of joy and connection for Mick and later Billie.

Arc: Maeve appears in memories as a child and in the epilogue as an adult working at a coffee shop, representing family bonds and continuity.

• Mick O'Leary — his sister

Childhood friends of Billie and Erin who appear at the wedding, funeral, and later help with packing and support. They provide a sense of community and shared history.

Arc: They remain in Wisconsin, offering support during Erin's death and Billie's return, but Billie feels increasingly distant from their lives.

• Billie Wright — friends from childhood
• Erin Callahan — friends of the deceased

A friend of Erin who delivers a eulogy at the funeral and later seeks custody of Phoebe, creating a brief conflict.

Arc: Cara initially offers to take Phoebe but backs down when Billie tells her Erin's wish, revealing her as a minor obstacle to Billie and Mick's guardianship.

• Erin Callahan — her friend
• Billie Wright — rival for custody

Erin's on-again/off-again partner who was driving the car that caused the fatal accident. He is convicted of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

Arc: Russ appears briefly at the sentencing hearing, apologizing tritely, and is led away to serve ten years. He is a symbol of the tragedy that reshapes Billie's life.

• Erin Callahan — was driving the car in which she died

A dog adopted by Phoebe from the PAWS shelter, whose owner died. He becomes a companion for Phoebe and later moves to New York with the family.

Arc: Hank provides comfort and a living connection to the idea of second chances, bonding with Phoebe and becoming part of the family.

• Phoebe Callahan — her dog
• Mick O'Leary — co-owner