Felicity Chen, nicknamed Fizzy, is the protagonist and one of the novel’s two narrators. She is 37 and of Chinese descent. Her parents, Dr. Ming Chen and his wife, Lányīng, emigrated from Hong Kong to the US and now live in California. She has a sister named Alice and a brother named Peter. She went to school for creative writing and is a successful author of contemporary romances.

Fizzy is petite and willowy with inky black hair and a boisterous laugh. Men find her attractive, and she has an active sex life, sometimes dating multiple men a week. Connor sees many sides to her; he thinks that Felicity Chen is smart—even brilliant—and Fizzy is her playful, wise-cracking alter ego. He also appreciates her straight-on attitude toward life; he reflects that Fizzy “says what she thinks, takes what she deserves, and makes no apologies for either” (120). This frank approach translates to how she deals with sex and relationships as well. She can talk about anything with her best friend, Jess, who is a steady source of emotional support.

Fizzy has a lively sense of humor and loves making dirty jokes. She is unabashed about what she enjoys, from good food to boy bands, and this capacity for joy is a talent she has always appreciated in herself.