Mr Loverman

Carmel is Barry’s wife and the focus of the novel’s “Song” chapters. Carmel married Barry when she was only 16 and moved to London with him shortly afterward. Carmel is in constant conflict with Barry because she suspects him of cheating on her with other women. In fact, Carmel has felt neglected by Barry since the night they got married, as he has never initiated intimacy and Carmel’s sexual needs have gone unmet. Carmel’s disapproval of Barry’s supposed affairs also reflects her strict religious beliefs. Her closest friends attend the same Pentecostal church, and they have all been friends since their childhoods in Antigua.

Carmel’s frustrations with Barry at times overflow into emotional and physical abuse; she also expresses anti-gay bigotry even before she learns of her husband’s orientation. What’s more, her concerns about Barry’s adultery are revealed to be hypocritical when it emerges that she herself conducted a five-year affair with a coworker named Reuben. However, if she functions as an antagonist in Barry’s storyline, the “Song” chapters frame her as a secondary protagonist, highlighting the various struggles that have made her who she is—e.g., the postnatal depression she experienced after Maxine was born. This depression emotionally paralyzed her to the extent that she became disinterested in raising her children. The depression instilled doubt in her regarding her ability to be a mother, and she never felt like she could get close to Maxine because of it. Her affair with Reuben was a comparative high point in her life, making her feel satisfied and liberated for the first time. When Reuben asked her to leave Barry for him, however, she could not take the leap due to her religious convictions. Like her husband, Carmel is trapped by Deception, Desire, and the Repression of Emotional Truths, leading her to vent some of her frustrations on Barry himself.

In the narrative present, Carmel visits Antigua to see her father on his deathbed. While there, she learns about Barry’s affair. Carmel is devastated, but she gets back on her feet and makes positive changes in her life, even reconnecting with Hubert, a man whom she dated before she married Barry. She inherits her father’s fortune and plans on opening a Christian retreat in Antigua, which suggests she has found a way to reconcile her faith with her decision to leave Barry. However, she shows no growth in terms of accepting Barry’s orientation, and she never responds to the letter in which he apologizes to her.

Morris has been Barry’s secret lover since they were teenagers in Antigua. He moved to England a few years before Barry did and married a woman named Odette to keep up appearances; the couple had two sons named Clarence and Laurence. Morris performed very well at school, which allowed him to study math on a scholarship in England. However, Morris felt forced into his studies by his parents—a reminder of the pressures to succeed that many immigrants face—and eventually dropped out, working as a bookkeeper until he retired.

Morris and Odette divorced after she caught him having sex with Barry. Morris had to use much of his money to pay Odette to keep his orientation a secret, particularly from his sons, who he is afraid would abandon him if they knew the truth. This deceit continues at the end of the novel, when Morris and Barry build a studio apartment in their attic as a cover story for when Morris’s family visits.

Nevertheless, Morris is generally more accepting of his orientation than Barry, and his main desire is to share his life with Barry openly. This sometimes causes conflict within the relationship, as Barry is frightened of Carmel and refuses to leave her for Morris. Morris shuts Barry out of his life for a few days after Barry callously rejects his request to enter a civil partnership. However, Barry wins him back and the couple finally live and travel together after Barry divorces Carmel. When Barry wants to tell Morris about other affairs he has had with men, Morris insists that he doesn’t want to know. Morris states that he’s also had other affairs but that they should leave it in the past so that they can enjoy their future—a remark that captures his optimistic and forgiving nature.

Donna is Barry and Carmel’s eldest daughter. She works as a social-worker trainer at Tower Hamlets and is a single mother to her son, Daniel, who is finishing school. Her previous partner, Frankie, was absent during Daniel’s birth and physically abused her. This is emblematic of Donna’s broader struggles with relationships, as she has trouble finding a man who meets her requirements and treats her right.

Donna is in conflict with Barry for much of the novel, as she believes that he has seriously hurt her mother, Carmel, through being unfaithful. Donna typically sides with her mother both for this reason and because she feels Barry neglected her as a child. Her resentment of Barry is apparent when she accuses Barry of ruining her romantic relationships with men through his deceit.

Donna is a very strict parent who limits what Daniel can do so that he focuses on his studies. Daniel hates his mother’s parenting style, going as far as calling her a “bitch,” but is ultimately accepted to Harvard due to her efforts. At the end of the novel, she also satisfies her desire to find a good, professional man by dating a high-court judge. However, her conflict with Barry remains unresolved, as they have not spoken since she confronted him about his alleged adultery.

Maxine is Barry and Carmel’s younger daughter. After Maxine’s birth, Carmel suffered from postnatal depression, and Maxine and Carmel never developed the close relationship that Carmel and Donna have. Barry took on much of the parenting during this time and spoiled Maxine. Due to this, Maxine is more sympathetic to her father’s side of the conflict; when Barry comes out to her, she’s immediately supportive and even insists that she always knew he and Morris had a romantic relationship. She supports them by introducing them to LGBT-safe spaces and to her queer friends.

Maxine is a celebrity stylist but complains about the lack of wealth and connections that set her behind in her industry. Networking at expensive events or locations is key to succeeding, but as a second-generation immigrant, she lacks the resources to do this. She therefore asks Barry to finance her clothing brand, which she intends to call “House of Walker” after their surname. Barry agrees on the condition that she come up with a solid business plan. When she fails to do so, Barry decides to hire a business manager whose directions Maxine must strictly follow. In the end, Maxine shows growth in becoming a more competent and professional businesswoman.