Will Strout
Quick Facts
A devoted single father and quiet emotional anchor, Will Strout is the widowed dad of Libby Strout. First seen driving Libby to her first day back at public school, he balances fierce protectiveness with the hard work of letting her reclaim her life. Key relationships: Libby (daughter), Libby’s late mother (his wife), and later, his new partner, Kerry.
Who They Are
At his core, Will is a parent who loves without conditions and worries without end. He’s “salt of the earth,” a steady presence whose grief is still fresh enough to show at the corners of his smile. The novel positions him as the emotional counterweight to Libby’s bold return to the world: he absorbs fear so she can take risks, and he practices moving forward so she can practice living.
Personality & Traits
Will’s traits crystallize under pressure—grief sharpens his protectiveness, love widens his patience, and fear tempts him to over-shelter. His growth lies in trusting Libby’s strength without withdrawing his care.
- Supportive and loving: He encourages action without minimizing the risk. Driving Libby to school, he tells her, “You got this, Libbs,” and promises to be there at the end of the day.
- Anxious and protective: He admits the cost of letting go, signing her Damsels form while confessing, “You know, having you out in the world again is harder than I thought.”
- Grief-stricken yet resilient: After the public scrutiny that accused him of neglect, he still shows up—at school, in the principal’s office, in every quiet moment at home—choosing presence over paralysis.
- Empathetic: With his “smushy heart,” he reads Libby’s fear and meets it with gentleness, framing big steps as temporary trials rather than permanent verdicts: “All you have to do is today.”
Character Journey
Will’s arc is the practice of loosening his grip. Early on, the world feels hostile to a daughter who’s already endured so much—her extreme weight gain, public rescue, and long road back to health—so he offers escape hatches: homeschooling if public school proves unbearable, a ride home if the day goes wrong. But as Libby steps forward, Will adjusts. When she punches Jack Masselin after a humiliating prank, he doesn’t scold; he laughs, recognizing a fierceness he misread as fragility. By the time he shares he’s seeing Kerry, he has internalized the lesson he’s been teaching Libby all along: grief changes the map, but people can still chart a future.
Key Relationships
- Libby Strout: With Libby Strout, Will is both bodyguard and buoy. Their bond is forged in shared loss and tested by the daily negotiations of independence: she wants the world back, and he wants her safe. His most loving act is restraint—learning to step back without stepping away.
- Libby’s mother (deceased): The absence of Libby’s mother is the novel’s quiet constant. Will’s memory of her fuels his protectiveness and, at times, his fear. His decision to keep living—rather than only preserving what was—honors her by safeguarding their daughter’s future.
- Kerry: Meeting Kerry marks a turning point not because Will stops grieving, but because he refuses to let grief be the only story. His willingness to date communicates to Libby that seeking happiness does not betray the past—it models recovery.
Defining Moments
Will’s most important scenes show how he translates love into daily action—and how he learns to translate it into trust.
- Driving Libby to school: His “nervous smile taped up at the corners” and “You got this, Libbs” capture hope layered over fear. Why it matters: It frames letting go as an act of courage for both of them.
- The principal’s office after the cafeteria incident: Will is there immediately, steady and ready to defend his daughter. Why it matters: He embodies unconditional support without undermining Libby’s agency.
- Laughing at the punch: When Libby admits she hit Jack Masselin, Will laughs—not at her, but in relief and pride. Why it matters: He stops seeing Libby as breakable and starts recognizing her power, shifting their dynamic toward mutual respect.
- “Creating a new world” talk: He reframes grief for Libby: “We don’t ever leave that old world behind. We just create a new one.” Why it matters: This becomes a central theme of the novel, redefining healing as adaptation rather than amnesia.
Essential Quotes
“You got this, Libbs. I’ll be here to pick you up when it’s over.” This blends encouragement with a safety net: Will doesn’t promise an easy day; he promises presence. The line models how he parents—he can’t remove risk, but he refuses to let her face it alone.
“All you have to do is today, Libbs. If it completely and totally sucks, we can go back to homeschooling. Just give me one day. Actually, don’t give it to me. Give yourself one day.” Will reframes the challenge from a life decision to a single, survivable step. By shifting the “gift” from him to Libby, he centers her ownership and resilience rather than his authority.
“You know, having you out in the world again is harder than I thought.” A rare admission of vulnerability, this line exposes the cost of letting go. Will’s honesty doesn’t guilt Libby; it dignifies both their struggles and clarifies that courage is required on both sides.
“It’s not moving on, Libbs. It’s moving differently. That’s all it is. Different life. Different world. Different rules. We don’t ever leave that old world behind. We just create a new one.” Will’s philosophy of grief honors memory while inviting momentum. It becomes the emotional blueprint for the novel, teaching Libby—and himself—that healing is about building, not erasing.