After

Hardin, representative of One Direction singer Harry Styles, intrigues Tessa with his brooding personality, English accent, and many tattoos. Even though Hardin treats Tessa with rudeness and indifference, she’s drawn in by his sex appeal and secretive behavior; a coupling that the author compares to classic literary characters, like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett and Heathcliff and Catherine. At the novel’s beginning, Hardin has no meaningful relationships; he hates his father, is neither a responsible nor serious student, and has sex with a different girl every weekend. As he spends time with Tessa, his anger manifests itself in their constant arguing, and at times, he uses physical force, such as grabbing Tessa’s arms or wrists. In contrast, he also shows a tender, gentle side of his personality. Being with Tessa helps Hardin open up emotionally, and he gradually shares details about his family and childhood that help to explain his extreme mood swings.

Todd’s characterization of Hardin through Tessa’s eyes constantly fluctuates, making the reader wonder his true intentions and whether he really has feelings for Tessa. Todd’s cliffhanger ending leaves it up to the reader to judge Hardin’s character, but she makes this much clear: Hardin has several emotional issues that reveal themselves in his patterns of reckless behavior and turbulent moods. 

Noah’s character acts as a foil to Hardin’s. Where Hardin is moody and unpredictable, Noah is committed and loyal. However, instead of framing Noah’s kind and steadfast personality as desirable, Todd characterizes him as a boring, predictable tattletale who can’t compete with Hardin’s sexual appeal and experience. Even though Tessa shares several times how much Noah has been there for her in the darkest points of her life, she throws away her two-year relationship with Noah in favor of the sexual electricity she feels with Hardin. Even when Noah learns that Tessa cheated on him, he shows his true love and loyalty for her by giving her a second chance in their relationship. However, at the first sign that Hardin has feelings for her, Tessa ends her relationship with the young man she’s known since childhood to be with a guy she’s known for a couple of months. While Tessa may not share the same fiery chemistry with Noah that she does with Hardin, her cruel treatment of him generates the reader’s sympathy for his character and highlights the change in her identity as she chooses Hardin’s sexiness over Noah’s true devotion. 

Landon is the only friend Tessa makes at college outside of Steph and Hardin’s friend group. He is responsible and kind, and he and Tessa immediately find common ground over their mutual love for structure and predictability. Tessa’s friendship with Landon emphasizes the contrast between her personality and Hardin’s, yet it also creates a circumstantial connection between them, since Landon’s mother is engaged to Hardin’s father. This connection serves to place Tessa around Hardin throughout the plot and introduces Tessa to Hardin’s family drama. As the novel progresses, Landon’s character acts as a reminder of how much Tessa is changing. She’s embarrassed when Landon sees her kissing Hardin, and she doesn’t want Landon, whose opinion she respects, to think ill of her. Tessa and Landon are so similar that it seems that in Tessa’s view, Landon’s perspective reveals how Tessa would judge her own behavior if she were an outside observer. 

With her tattoos, piercings, provocative fashion sense, and devil-may-care personality, Steph is Tessa’s opposite in almost every way. As a foil to Tessa’s character, Steph highlights Tessa’s modesty and responsibility for the reader. However, as Tessa accepts Steph’s kindness and builds a friendship with her, she allows Steph to influence her. For example, Steph gives Tessa a makeover in which Tessa discards her usual modest clothes for a short black dress and heels. Furthermore, Tessa consistently begins to wear makeup, which she borrows from Steph. She also takes on elements of Steph’s untamed personality as she attends parties, drinks alcohol, and engages in sexual activities with Hardin. Despite their many differences, Steph seems like a true friend to Tessa for the duration of the novel. However, this illusion is shattered at the end as Tessa learns that Steph knew about the bet between Hardin and Zed, but never told Tessa.