Lucy Fairfax

Lucy is one of the protagonists of the novel. She is a 42-year-old teacher and mother of two boys, Dylan and Al. She belongs to the middle class. When the novel begins, she has just split up from her alcoholic husband, Paul.

Lucy is kind, intelligent, and strong. She has dealt with a lot of trauma from her marriage which leaves her empathetic and forces her to raise her standards. Lucy does not want to settle for an average relationship. This can be seen in how she rejects Michael and opts to date Joseph instead. Her intelligence is revealed in subtle ways. Her curiosity for the world and her passion for literature impress and intimidate Joseph. When Joseph cheats on her, Lucy does not fall apart. Rather, she remains calm and makes it clear that he crossed one of her boundaries, showing immense strength of mind. Her...