Bobby Palmer's highly anticipated new novel about love, friendship, dysfunctional families and life-changing connections. This is a love story, told by everyone but the main characters.

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

Details

ISBN13: 9781035435340
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 416
Edition:
Publication Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 23.2(H)x15.2(L)x3(W)520
Weight (gm): 520

Author Biography

Bobby Palmer is both an author and journalist. His critically acclaimed debut novel, Isaac and the Egg, was a Waterstones Paperback of the Year in 2022; his second novel Small Hours was published in 2024. Bobby co-hosted the podcast Book Chat with Pandora Sykes and his writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan amongst others. He lives with his family in Sussex.

Reviews

Gorgeous, clever, utterly addictive. A fresh take on the British romcom -- Pandora Sykes
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
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