November 9

Ben Kessler is one of the two 18-year-old narrators of November 9 (who ages as the novel progresses). He is a college student who has a habit of drinking and acting recklessly (which are likely linked to his trauma). At the beginning of the novel, Ben appears as a knight in shining armor, coming to Fallon’s rescue when her father berates her for her move to New York. However, as the novel progresses, it is revealed that he had a selfish reason for doing so. When Ben tells Fallon that she should not be ashamed of her scars and admits to enjoying the feel of them, this, too, is selfish. He is the reason for Fallon’s scars, and he initially builds her confidence out of guilt.

Ben starts out a self-destructive character but becomes less so as the novel progresses. He graduates from college and helps his sister-in-law Jordyn with her new baby after the unexpected loss of her husband, his older brother Kyle. Ben often puts others’ happiness before his own—behavior likely fueled by guilt. The later reveal of Ben being responsible for the fire that scarred Fallon reframes him as manipulative, regardless of selfishness or selflessness. Therefore, it is difficult to see character growth in Ben until the end of the novel, at which point the reader learns of his trauma (finding his mother after she died by suicide), desire to set things right, and genuine feelings for Fallon. Like Fallon, Ben grows from a teenager who reacted recklessly to trauma to a young man who refuses to give up on the woman he loves.

Donovan O’Neil is an antagonist in November 9. Donovan is Fallon’s father, a former actor who was on a successful television show when Fallon was young and continues to live off the fame gained from the show. He initially appears heartless, a father who cares more for himself than his daughter. The relationship between father and daughter is tense, with Fallon wishing violence on him. Fallon believes her father intentionally set the fire that burned down his house when she was 16 (and caused her scars) and purposefully forgot she was there. When Donovan fails to support her desire to continue acting, she feels he lost interest in her the moment she lost her role on a popular television show (because of her facial scars). Theirs is a difficult relationship that turns cold for over a year. This falling out is only resolved when Ben encourages Fallon to reach out to Donovan as part of their mutual homework.

Ben also has a relationship with Donovan, unbeknownst to the latter. After his mother’s death by suicide, Ben learns that she was dating Donovan. He judges the relationship on his mother’s tense text messages alone, and believes Donovan is the reason she died. In a moment of anger and grief, Ben deems Donovan’s reaction to his mother’s death insufficient and sets his classic car on fire. Donovan is unaware of this, but he himself is the catalyst that leads to Fallon’s scars, their falling out, and Ben meeting Fallon. These plot points form the premise of the novel and make him one of its most important characters. Aside from this, the man is framed as having at least some nuance, having taken the blame for the fire and visiting the grave of Ben’s mother prior to his meeting with Fallon. The novel ends with hope of reconciliation, as Fallon sends a text message to her father upon learning Ben was behind the fire.

Kyle Kessler is a minor character who motivates some of Ben’s actions. Kyle is Ben’s older brother and Jordyn’s fiancé-turned-husband, who greatly resembles his youngest brother. When their mother dies, Kyle is attending college but returns home to be with his younger brothers Ben and Ian. Ben turns to Kyle after accidentally setting Donovan’s house on fire, and the latter tells him to get rid of his incriminating clothes and pretend the fire never happened—leaving Ben to live with his guilt for years. When Kyle learns that Ben is dating Fallon, he loses his temper and hits his brother in front of her, the act that inspires Fallon to read Ben’s manuscript to learn Kyle’s motive. Without Kyle, Fallon might not have learned of Ben’s betrayal when she did.

Kyle’s death brings Ben and Fallon closer together and leads to a moment of intimacy that might not have happened otherwise. In their grief, Ben decides to move to New York to be with Fallon. However, Fallon suddenly wishes to return to their original agreement (after speaking to Jordyn), causing Ben to react rashly like he did in setting the fire (and causing him to turn to Jordyn). Although Kyle only makes a briefly appearance, his death catalyzes Ben and Fallon’s first breakup, and his actions motivate Ben to delay revealing the truth to Fallon.