When We Collided

Jonah is a 17-year-old boy struggling with the death of his father and his mother’s depression. Jonah and his family are overcome with grief and are struggling to move forward. Jonah is described as handsome with dark hair. Jonah is kind, generous, and selfless. He wants to become a chef in a big city after attending culinary school. Jonah is terrified of interfering with his mother’s grieving process. Although he wants to tell his dad’s friend, Felix, Jonah feels as though he would be betraying his mother. In the midst of caring for his three younger siblings with the help of his older sister and brother, working at the restaurant, and managing household duties, Jonah meets Vivi. Vivi is carefree, optimistic, and worldly in a way that Jonah believes he is not. She draws him in immediately. Jonah quickly falls in love with Vivi and the way she interacts with his family. Even though she often confuses him and they argue regularly, Jonah and Vivi change each other for the better. Jonah consistently pulls Vivi back to earth when she is being particularly flighty. His influence ultimately saves her life. In turn, Vivi helps Jonah and his family bond again and assists him in accepting his father’s death.

Carrie is Vivi’s mother. She is an artist who worries constantly about her daughter. Carrie had an affair with an older man named James Bukowski and kept his identity a secret from Vivi to protect her. Carrie had a serious boyfriend named Adesh who had to return to India; this hurt her deeply as Vivi adored him as well. Although Carrie’s parenting is not traditional, Vivi loves her mother dearly. Despite this, Vivi and Carrie frequently argue about Vivi’s bipolar disorder and medication. At the end of the novel, Carrie resolves to communicate better with Vivi and to attend regular therapy sessions with her in Seattle.

James is Vivi’s biological father. After an affair with Carrie while he was still married, James gave up custody of Vivi and consistently paid child support throughout the years. When Vivi arrives at his house after finding out his identity, James is furious. It is unknown if his wife divorces him, but James’s wife sends Vivi a letter. 

Leah is the youngest Daniels child. She is also the catalyst for Jonah and Vivi’s meeting at the pottery shop. She is bright and bubbly after she is coaxed out of her shell. She loves her family dearly and adores Vivi. She admits that she wants to be a peacock when she grows up and Vivi makes a peacock costume for her. Although Leah misses Vivi when she leaves, she appears content with her family and her mother’s increasing health.

Isaac is the second youngest Daniels child. Isaac is a prolific reader and wears large glasses. Isaac and Bekah argue frequently over small issues. Jonah grounds them often, but once, after a particularly bad argument, Jonah swears at them. After Jonah apologizes, Isaac tells Jonah that he needs to tell them when he’s sad. 

Bekah is 11 years old and does her best to appear as aloof as possible. Bekah and Isaac argue and even fight frequently. It is their bickering that results in the broken picture of their parents’ wedding day. The incident makes Jonah snap, and he yells at them for being selfish brats. After Jonah apologizes, Bekah forgives him, telling Jonah that they did not realize he missed their father too. 

Silas is the second oldest child in the Daniels family. He works as a barista at the local coffee shop. He is months away from graduating high school but considers not going to college till the next year to help raise the younger kids. He is often the mediator of both the younger children as well as between Naomi and Jonah. At the end of the novel, Silas has begun speaking with another student at the college he will be attending in the fall.

Naomi is the eldest Daniels child. She is an environmental engineer major and has been attending an internship far from Verona Cove. Naomi believes that their mother needs therapy, even though Silas and Jonah do not want to push her. Naomi is doing her best to keep the family functioning; she does not have the energy to care about strangers and makes Vivi earn her friendship. Vivi introduces Naomi to Ethan, another environmental engineering major, and they become quick friends.

Although Mrs. Daniels is unnamed, she is a vital character in When We Collided. She grieves deeply for her husband, Tony, and is often unable to leave her bedroom. Mrs. Daniels does leave every Sunday for church but has become unable to care for herself or her children. However, she realizes how much her children do. When she picks Jonah up from the hospital after the accident, she recognizes that it is time for her to come back. Mrs. Daniels begins doing the accounting for the restaurant and the household again, finding comfort in the certainty of numbers.

Tony is the father of the Daniels children and the owner of the restaurant. Tony passed away from a heart attack and his family takes his sudden loss extremely hard. Tony was a kind man who helped many people in his life. Tony’s relationships with other residents of Verona Cove live on after his passing. When Jonah, Felix, and Ellie begin renovating the restaurant, all those who knew Tony volunteer their time and help.

Felix was Tony Daniels’s best friend and a close friend of the family. He is now the head chef of Tony’s Bistro. After Tony’s death, Felix attempts to bring over groceries and check on Mrs. Daniels; however, she asks him to give her some time. Felix is familiar with depression after his son Diego’s struggles with it, but he does his best to comply with her wishes. He is ultimately grateful for Jonah and Ellie’s help with the restaurant.

Ellie is Felix’s 16-year-old daughter and Jonah’s close friend. Ellie is kind and generous; Jonah describes her as firm and unwavering, a stable person to lean on. Ellie is described as having dark hair and amber skin. Despite how rude Vivi is to her, Ellie still visits her in the hospital and comforts her. Ellie is also responsible for many of the changes they implement at Tony’s Bistro. Vivi is convinced that Jonah will one day realize he is in love with Ellie.

Diego is Felix’s son and Ellie’s older brother. He was diagnosed with depression and began taking medication for it. He has since improved greatly and has even begun studying abroad. 

Officer Hayashi is a kind, if gruff, police officer in Verona Cove. He may have a rough exterior, yet Hayashi is kind and often speaks with Vivi about Japan over breakfast at the diner. It is later revealed that Hayashi’s wife and daughter died in a car accident. Hayashi tells Vivi “[b]ut that’s life. Gotta deal with what you got”(156) when she is upset about her father. Vivi is furious at him at first, but she later makes up with him, and they have breakfast for dinner.

Whitney is 26 years old and the owner of Verona Cove’s pottery shop. She has curly hair and an easygoing attitude. Whitney considers Vivi both a friend and an employee.

Betty owns the diner in Verona Cove. She gives everyone pet names and is kind to both Vivi and Jonah. Her and her wife attend the unveiling of the new menu at Tony’s Bistro at the end of the novel.

Ruby is Vivi’s best friend from Seattle. It was at Ruby’s birthday party when Vivi’s previous hypomanic episode reached its high. Despite all that Vivi did, Ruby was concerned about her and continued to text her. Vivi ignored all of Ruby’s attempts at contact until her birthday, when Vivi responded to Ruby, telling her that she missed her. Ruby texts Vivi about her girlfriend and how much she wishes Vivi could meet her. 

Amala is one of Vivi’s best friends from Seattle. Vivi slept with Amala’s ex-boyfriend at Ruby’s birthday party. She was incredibly upset and told Vivi to get out of her life. Vivi still misses her. 

Patty owns the icecream parlor and allows Vivi and Jonah to sit up on the roof.

Richard is one of Carrie’s wealthy art patrons. Richard is a huge fan of her work and offered to let Carrie and Vivi stay in his home while on a business trip abroad. 

Adesh is Carrie’s former boyfriend. He is kind and affectionate to both Carrie and Vivi. Vivi once hoped that Adesh would become her stepfather. Unfortunately, Adesh had to return to India. While he was there, Adesh got engaged to another woman.

Dr. Douglas is Vivi’s therapist in Seattle. She previously worked with Vivi after her hypomanic episode to diagnose and prescribe her medicine. Carrie mentions speaking with Dr. Douglas often about Vivi and how to communicate with her.