The Last Song Characters: Full List & Analysis

Who drives the story

Main characters

Veronica "Ronnie" Miller

A rebellious seventeen-year-old pianist who stopped playing after her parents' divorce. One summer with her dying father cracks her open—she guards turtle nests, falls in love, finishes his song, and leaves a different person.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Summer She Didn't Want; Part 2: Turtles, Piano, and a Boy Who Surprises Her; Part 3: The Window and the Song; Part 4: The Last Song
Themes:: Reconciliation with a dying parent; Music as a language when words fail; First love against the odds; Protecting what's fragile

Steve Miller

Ronnie and Jonah's father, a former concert pianist and Juilliard professor hiding terminal stomach cancer in Wrightsville Beach. He spends his last months rebuilding his family through music and stained glass.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Summer She Didn't Want; Part 2: Turtles, Piano, and a Boy Who Surprises Her; Part 3: The Window and the Song; Part 4: The Last Song
Themes:: Reconciliation with a dying parent; Music as a language when words fail

Will Blakelee

A privileged local boy who volunteers at the aquarium and turns out to be deeper than his money. He falls for Ronnie over a turtle nest, then transfers to Columbia to keep her.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Summer She Didn't Want; Part 2: Turtles, Piano, and a Boy Who Surprises Her; Part 3: The Window and the Song; Part 4: The Last Song
Themes:: First love against the odds; Protecting what's fragile

Jonah Miller

Ronnie's enthusiastic ten-year-old brother, thrilled to spend the summer with the father she won't speak to. He helps finish the stained glass window.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Summer She Didn't Want; Part 3: The Window and the Song
Themes:: Protecting what's fragile

Kim Miller

Ronnie and Jonah's mother, who sends them to Steve for the summer knowing what her children don't—that their father is dying.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Summer She Didn't Want; Part 3: The Window and the Song

Blaze

An estranged local teen and Marcus's girlfriend who befriends Ronnie, then burns Steve's church in a jealous rage—letting Ronnie take the blame.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Summer She Didn't Want; Part 2: Turtles, Piano, and a Boy Who Surprises Her
Themes:: Protecting what's fragile

Marcus

Blaze's boyfriend and fireball performer on the pier, who makes a pass at Ronnie under the pier and sets the jealousy in motion.

Appears in:: Part 1: The Summer She Didn't Want; Part 2: Turtles, Piano, and a Boy Who Surprises Her

Also in the story

Supporting characters

Pastor Harris

Steve's close friend, who installs the finished stained glass window in the new church when Steve is too weak to see it in person.

Appears in:: Part 3: The Window and the Song

How they are connected

Key relationships

Steve Miller Veronica "Ronnie" Miller
Ronnie and Jonah's father, a former concert pianist and Juilliard professor hiding terminal stomach cancer in Wrightsville Beach.
Steve Miller Jonah Miller
Ronnie and Jonah's father, a former concert pianist and Juilliard professor hiding terminal stomach cancer in Wrightsville Beach.
Will Blakelee Veronica "Ronnie" Miller
He falls for Ronnie over a turtle nest, then transfers to Columbia to keep her.
Jonah Miller Veronica "Ronnie" Miller
Ronnie's enthusiastic ten-year-old brother, thrilled to spend the summer with the father she won't speak to.
Kim Miller Veronica "Ronnie" Miller
Ronnie and Jonah's mother, who sends them to Steve for the summer knowing what her children don't—that their father is dying.
Kim Miller Steve Miller
Ronnie and Jonah's mother, who sends them to Steve for the summer knowing what her children don't—that their father is dying.
Kim Miller Jonah Miller
Ronnie and Jonah's mother, who sends them to Steve for the summer knowing what her children don't—that their father is dying.
Blaze Veronica "Ronnie" Miller
An estranged local teen and Marcus's girlfriend who befriends Ronnie, then burns Steve's church in a jealous rage—letting Ronnie take the blame.
Blaze Steve Miller
An estranged local teen and Marcus's girlfriend who befriends Ronnie, then burns Steve's church in a jealous rage—letting Ronnie take the blame.
Blaze Marcus
An estranged local teen and Marcus's girlfriend who befriends Ronnie, then burns Steve's church in a jealous rage—letting Ronnie take the blame.
Marcus Veronica "Ronnie" Miller
Blaze's boyfriend and fireball performer on the pier, who makes a pass at Ronnie under the pier and sets the jealousy in motion.
Pastor Harris Steve Miller
Steve's close friend, who installs the finished stained glass window in the new church when Steve is too weak to see it in person.

Go deeper

The Last Song themes & symbols

Reconciliation with a dying parent · Music as a language when words fail · First love against the odds · Protecting what's fragile

Themes explained

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The full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.

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