Our Souls at Night characters

Appears from the start

A widow in her seventies who has lived for decades in Holt, Colorado. Tired of lying awake alone, she approaches her neighbour Louis with a direct proposal: they should share a bed at night for companionship and conversation, without pretending that the arrangement is a conventional romance.

Appears from the start

Addie's widowed neighbour, a retired teacher who is initially startled by her invitation but decides to accept it. Gentle and reflective, he begins crossing the short distance between their houses after dark with a paper bag holding his night things.

First appears in chapter 16

Addie's adult son, whose relationship and work are both under strain. He is protective of his mother but uneasy about her arrangement with Louis and concerned with how her choices look to others.

First appears in chapter 20

Gene's young son and Addie's grandson. He is quiet and unsettled when family problems bring him to stay with Addie, who tries to give him the steadiness missing from his home life.

First appears in chapter 18

Louis's adult daughter, who lives away from Holt with her own family. Louis values their relationship and tells her about Addie, testing whether the new companionship can be discussed openly rather than hidden as a source of shame.

First appears in chapter 12

Addie's friend in Holt, part of the small social world in which Louis and Addie's nightly arrangement quickly becomes known. Her friendship offers Addie company without requiring her to deny what she has chosen.

First appears in chapter 24

A shelter dog chosen as a companion for Jamie during his stay in Holt. Caring for her gives the boy comfort and a daily responsibility, and she helps the temporary household feel more secure.

First appears in chapter 15

Addie's late husband. Her memories of their marriage include affection, long periods of difficulty, and the grief that followed the death of their daughter, a loss that changed how they lived with each other.

First appears in chapter 15

Addie and Carl's daughter, who died as a child. Addie's account of the accident and its aftermath reveals a lasting source of sorrow in the Moore family and helps Louis understand the loneliness within Addie's marriage.

First appears in chapter 17

Louis's late wife and Holly's mother. Louis remembers the demands of their life together alongside his own infidelity, speaking honestly about the hurt his choices caused and the marriage they nevertheless continued.