Kathleen “Kate” Scarlett Mularkey

Kate is one of the protagonists of the novel. Growing up, she lives with her younger brother named Sean and her parents. When the novel begins, Kate is insecure about being a nerd. She hates not having friends and often fixates on this. Kate fills her time with reading and tending to her horse. Her world is turned upside down when Tully moves next door.

Kate admires Tully for her good looks and charm: two things she feels she lacks. Right off the bat, she is a faithful friend to Tully. She keeps Tully’s secret about the rape and prays nightly for Cloud’s nonexistent cancer to go away. Kate cannot abide liars.

For all of Kate’s goodness, she is horrible to her mother as a teenager. The two fight constantly as a result of Kate’s insolence. Kate feels embarrassed of her...