Younger is basically about Liza, a divorced lady in her 40s pretending to be in her 20s to snag job in publishing. While she fakes her age she makes pals with Kelsey, who has a mouth sharper than a ninja star and Josh, a charming guy with more issues than magazine. The show dives into friendship, romance and juggling life like circus act in today’s crazy world.

Meet the characters from Younger

Liza Miller

Oh Liza — the chaotic, lovable imposter with a heart of gold and a résumé that’s half genius, half “winging it.” She’s fiercely protective (of her kid, of her job, of her secrets) but also does impulsive, borderline ridiculous things because she thinks love and deadlines are the same thing. Smart and resourceful, she can charm a publisher into liking an idea and then quietly panic about whether she should tell anyone the truth (sometimes she tells, sometimes she doesn’t — depends on the coffee). She markets herself like a pro yet is secretly sentimental about mixtapes and handwritten notes, which is oddly adorable.

Kelsey Peters

Kelsey is all ambition, eyeliner, and probably a secret spreadsheet of networking events — and yes, she is both an absolute boss and also embarrassingly human. She speaks at 90 miles an hour, believes in merit and manners, and on the inside is sometimes 100% terrified that she’ll be revealed as not having it together (which is of course nonsense). Bold, fashion-forward, fiercely loyal to friends, she will fight for what she thinks is right and then eat a whole tub of ice cream afterward like a tiny ritual. Oh, and she hoards inspirational sticky notes but pretends she doesn’t; she definitely does.

Maggie Amato

Maggie is the quietly strong one who feels like a warm blanket — steady, brilliant at editorial instincts, mother-mode on, and also probably owns more cozy sweaters than sense. She has this calming presence but also low-key simmering resentment when things are unfair, which makes her unexpectedly fierce when pushed. Creative without needing to shout about it, she balances empathy with a kind of stubborn practicality and keeps the office (and her family life) surprisingly afloat. She drinks tea with a weirdly sincere face like it’s a ritual, but then skips breakfast, which is confusing but also kind of her.

Josh

Josh is the soft-hearted, neurotic writer who means well, overthinks everything, and somehow becomes everyone’s emotional historian. He’s earnest to a fault, a little clumsy in romance but deeply sincere — like someone who texts a poem at 2 a.m. and then panics about grammar. He wants to do the right thing (most of the time), and his loyalty is his superpower even when it lands him in awkward situations. He loves literature, hates confrontation, and will feed your cat if you’re crying; also, he cries about nice sunsets sometimes, not a joke.

Diana Trout

Diana is the sharp, principled magazine editor who runs on rules, tea (probably), and a secret soft spot for ridiculous banter — terrifying and lovable in equal measures. She’ll tell you the truth in the most efficient way possible and then secretly fix things behind the scenes because she actually cares more than she lets on. Stern exterior, tiny inner cheerleader; she keeps standards high and moral compasses healthier, which is exhausting but also why everyone kind of relies on her. She collects old typewriters but uses a laptop like a millennial spy.

Charles Brooks

Charles is the charming, slightly jaded publishing magnate with perfect suits and a worse taste in mid-century jazz (he’ll swear it’s the best, fight you). He flirts with danger and people, but underneath there’s a man who can genuinely be a mentor and sometimes surprises everyone by being vulnerable — like when he admits he cried at a commercial once (did he? maybe). Smooth, strategic, occasionally baffled by modern dating apps, and quietly sentimental about legacy and books. Also, he probably has a ridiculous anecdote about meeting someone famous that may or may not be entirely true.

Lauren Heller

Lauren is the millennial-savvy go-getter who shops like a pro and edits like a surgeon — direct, efficient, and sometimes adorably blunt. She juggles social life, career moves, and existential dread with a latte in one hand and a to-do list in the other, and she’ll roll her eyes at nonsense but secretly love a good rom-com. Practical, witty, and a little tired, she can be warm once you pass the initial sarcasm barricade (which is fair; it’s a moat). Fun weird fact: she claims not to care about Instagram but curates it obsessively — classic Lauren.