X-Book

Main Characters

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

For readers of David Nicholls and Sally Rooney comes a new love story that's at once tender and electrifying—told by everyone but the main characters. 

When Clara and Seb first cross paths in a London square, it’s the start of something exciting. Clara, an aspiring director stuck in an entry-level job, itches to pick up a camera. Seb, having floated between music, modeling, and now acting, struggles to find purpose in his work. Yet as random chance brings the two back together, time and time again, neither could predict that their magnetic connection is set to change their lives.
 
But everyone else does. The spark between Clara and Seb is exactly what falling in love should look like: exhilarating, passionate, undeniable. The two become a whirlwind, their relationship enthralling everyone they come across. But as the years go on and tensions flair, a last-ditch attempt to save their great romance ends with a gut-wrenching betrayal.
 
Set over the course of two decades, Clara and Seb’s love story is bigger than just themselves. Told from the eyes of their audience—friends and flatmates, rivals and lovers, strangers and confidants—Main Characters is a sweeping portrait of all sides of Clara and Seb. Everyone has their version of events, but only the main characters can decide how it ends.

Critics Review

"Palmer creates a unique structure to tell a decades-long, heart-wrenching love story….The shifting points of view allow the reader to feel at times voyeuristic and at times quite close to Seb and Clara. Readers who enjoyed Sally Rooney's Intermezzo (2024) will love following these characters through their lives as they figure out how to live and to love each other."—Booklist (starred)
“The unique structure is a standout….A compelling love story that’s full of anguish, heartbreak, and passion.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A brilliant story that defies the understanding of ordinary people…Palmer’s emotionally encapsulating cyclical relationship novel will mend hearts that didn’t know were broken.”—Library Journal
“Moving, funny, wise and beautifully written. This novel held me from beginning to end. The press release says, ‘you’ve never read a love story like this one’ … and you truly haven’t. It is unique and so, so clever. I love the idea of people’s lives crossing over, the impressions we get from what we see and hear. I was so invested in the characters. I laughed out loud so many times. A couple of chapters made me sob – I was so distraught, but it’s all part of the process. If you love a smart, poignant, funny, gripping book, you will love this. I cannot recommend it enough.”—Joanna Cannon, author of A Tidy Ending
“An epic love story that’s innovative and clever but with all the humor, character detail and heart wrenching emotional moments we have come to expect from Bobby Palmer's writing. Wonderful."—Kate Sawyer, author of Getting Away
“Gorgeous, clever, utterly addictive. A fresh take on the British romcom.” —Pandora Sykes, author of How Do We Know We're Doing It Right?
“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, author of The Garnett Girls
“Bobby Palmer has a flair for dissecting complicated family dynamics and friendships, and in Main Characters, this talent has found the perfect vessel. A love story that never lets you inside the heads of the protagonists is a brave proposition, but Bobby handles the concept with confidence and skill. His passion for the characters and their destiny unites the many perspectives and helps bring the reader closer to the magic as Clara and Seb stumble their way through life. This is 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, author of The Glorious Dead
“Cinematic and swoon-worthy (but not without its gut-punches), this felt like a Nora Ephron movie colliding with a flip-book of characters on the page. It’s such a fresh and original take on the telling of a love story—but somehow timeless, too, in the way of classic movies.”—Claire Daverley, author of Talking at Night
Author Bobby Palmer
Narrator Sofia Oxenham
Duration 11 hours and 29 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781668657133
Format Audiobook
Publisher Hachette Audio
Genre Family life fiction, Fiction: general and literary, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Romance
Availability US

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.