Who Are The Main Characters In The Best Of Everything?

Thinking about picking up Rona Jaffe’s novel but worried about spoilers. Wondering who drives the plot in the 1950s office setting before diving in.
2025-12-30 15:35:18
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8 Answers

Best Answer
BeauJoy
BeauJoy
Bibliophile Doctor
The main characters in Rona Jaffe's novel are three young women who meet as secretaries at a New York publishing house in the 1950s. If you're interested in stories that contrast wealth and relationships, you might check out the web novel 'The Rich and the Loved', which focuses on the fraught alliance between a disgraced heiress and the self-made rival she's forced to work with. The entire dynamic is built on forced proximity and a constant negotiation of power.
2026-08-04 23:25:48
74
Mason
Mason
Detail Spotter Doctor
Caroline, Gregg, Mary Agnes, and Barbara—the four central women in 'The Best of Everything'—are like a masterclass in character-driven storytelling. Caroline’s the ambitious one, but her love life is a mess. Gregg’s all passion and no self-preservation, making her the most tragic figure. Mary Agnes starts off wide-eyed and ends up hardened, while Barbara serves as the voice of reason. Their intertwining lives paint this vivid picture of what it meant to be a woman in the '50s, juggling societal expectations and personal dreams. Gregg’s arc, especially, feels like a precursor to modern discussions about toxic relationships and mental health. The book’s strength lies in how unflinching it is—these women aren’t idealized; they’re human, flawed, and unforgettable.
2026-01-03 17:53:39
10
Quinn
Quinn
Bibliophile Veterinarian
The Best of Everything' by Rona Jaffe is one of those novels that feels like a time capsule of 1950s new york, and its main characters are just as vivid. Caroline Bender is probably the most relatable for me—she's ambitious, working her way up in the publishing world, but she's also vulnerable when it comes to love. Then there's Gregg Adams, the aspiring actress who throws herself into relationships with a kind of desperation that’s both heartbreaking and frustrating. mary Agnes Russo is the sweet, naive small-town girl who gets swallowed by the city, and Barbara Lemont is the older, wiser office manager who’s seen it all. What I love about these women is how real they feel—their struggles with career, love, and identity are still so relevant today.

Jaffe doesn’t sugarcoat anything; their flaws are laid bare, making their triumphs and failures hit harder. Gregg’s storyline in particular stuck with me—her obsession with a director feels painfully modern, like something you’d see in a contemporary drama. And Caroline’s journey from idealism to pragmatism? Chef’s kiss. It’s a book that makes you root for them even when they make terrible decisions.
2026-01-04 07:24:21
2
Jack
Jack
Insight Sharer Assistant
If you’ve ever worked in a cutthroat office, 'The Best of Everything' will feel weirdly familiar. The main characters are like a squad of women navigating the minefield of 1950s corporate America, and each brings something different to the table. Caroline’s the one with her head screwed on right—mostly—until romance complicates everything. Gregg’s the wildcard, chasing fame and love with equal recklessness, and Mary Agnes is the innocent who learns the hard way that the city doesn’t coddle anyone. Barbara’s the grounding force, the one who’s already been through the wringer.

What’s fascinating is how Jaffe pits their personal lives against their professional ambitions. Caroline’s arc is especially gripping because she’s constantly balancing what she wants with what society expects of her. Gregg’s downward spiral is like watching a train wreck in slow motion—you want to look away, but you can’t. And Mary Agnes? Her story is a brutal reminder of how easily young women can be taken advantage of. It’s not a cheerful read, but it’s brutally honest, and that’s why it’s stuck around for decades.
2026-01-04 23:14:26
12
LeoPage
LeoPage
Clear Answerer Assistant
Can we just acknowledge how bingeable this book is? The chapters are short and often end on mini-cliffhangers as they switch between Caroline, Gregg, April, and Barbara. You keep reading just to check in on the next character’s crisis. That structure makes the main characters feel like old friends—or frenemies—you’re constantly catching up with. Their problems feel immediate. Even though the setting is historical, the rhythm of the storytelling is very modern, almost like a prestige TV series. That’s probably why it’s had such lasting power and inspired adaptations. The characters are engineered for addictive consumption, in the best possible way.
2026-08-03 09:45:07
7
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