How to Write Unforgettable Side Characters Readers Want More Of
Have you ever read a romance book and fallen just as hard for one of the side characters as you did for the main couple? I was honestly touched by how many people have mentioned wanting to see Lissie’s story after they read The Half of It (don’t worry, it’s coming!). I even had readers ask for the origin of Cara and Yaz’s love story—something I hadn’t considered but now desperately want to plot.
Side characters add that extra flavor to a book, and when they shine so bright that readers crave more, that means you, as an author, have your next book idea halfway sorted. But first, you have to master how to write side characters in a way that makes them unforgettable. Below, I’m sharing strategies to write side characters readers love—along with supporting characters examples from some of my favorite romance novels.
1. Give Them Depth Beyond the Main Plot
If you’re wondering about supporting character meaning, here it is: side characters shouldn’t exist as a prop to the protagonist. Even if they’re only in a few scenes, they need to be fully fleshed-out characters with goals, fears, and a life beyond whatever we see on the page.
The best friend of the Female Main Character (FMC) in Ready or Not by Cara Bastone desperately wants to get pregnant, so when the FMC becomes pregnant from a one-night stand, that creates a lot of tension. That friend is represented in such a real way that she doesn’t exist purely to create drama, though. So when you’re busy working on your main characters, don’t forget to make those supporting characters real people, too.
2. Make Them Distinct and Memorable
Funny quirks or strange habits—this is where you can experiment a little. It’s a lot easier to go big when you write the first draft and then dial the character down a little later. Do they have a deadpan dry humor, do they dress in an outrageous way, or are they somehow always armed with just the right quip? These kinds of details make side characters instantly recognizable and impossible to forget.
Emily Henry is an incredible author, and one thing I love about her books is how fun the supporting characters always are. In Beach Read, a shop owner replies to the FMC with “Shore” (instead of “sure”), and it’s a little phrase I still use to this day. This man was not vital to the plot, but I adored this little aspect of his personality and speech. That’s the beauty of supporting character archetypes: even a minor role can become memorable.
3. Make Them Dynamic
Don’t just focus on how a side character interacts with the main characters—how do they interact with everyone else? Are they super flirty, are they protective of their friend, or do they hit it off with someone unexpected?
It was really fun creating distinct personalities for Luna’s family in Match Made in the Maldives. It was fun to have them interact with Luna herself and Finley, a friend of the family’s, but I liked seeing how they interacted with each other. Those layered connections are great supporting characters examples—they make them relatable and, most importantly, lovable.
4. Hint at Untold Stories
Literary breadcrumbs leave readers feeling hungry for more. Mention a mysterious ex, a dream they’re chasing but rarely talk about, or hint at a past mistake that still lingers in the background. You don’t have to unpack it all—in fact, sometimes the tease is what hooks readers hardest.
Kate Clayborn’s Chance of a Lifetime series does a good job of this. We get to see the trio of girls who have won the lottery, and while each book is dedicated to one of the women, you get enough of the others to be curious about their full stories. That curiosity is what makes side characters stick in a reader’s mind—and sometimes lead to a spin-off.
5. Don’t Let Them Outshine the Main Characters
You have to find just the right balance here. Those side characters should sparkle, but not to the point where they eclipse the romance at the heart of your book. With romance, you want to keep focused on the main couple, so keep that as your ultimate focus.
You, With a View by Jessica Joyce is a great example. The two main characters are on a road trip with a third person—someone who is key to the story—but the romance is always at the forefront. The supporting characters are fun, but they never take away from the main love story.
6. Plant Spin-Off Potential Early
If you already know a character could star in their own book, seed that possibility in the first draft. For example, with Max from The Half of It—the Dublin friend Aidan and June stay with—I dropped the detail that he’s the kind of guy who’s still friends with all of his exes. I knew he was a character I wanted to return to, and that thread comes back in the next book in this standalone series.
If you’re thinking ahead to your next book, make sure to drop those glimpses for future stories so readers can get excited. That’s the beauty of understanding supporting character archetypes: the groundwork you lay now makes future spin-offs effortless.
It might take just two to tango, but memorable side characters make a romance novel shine. They bring richness, humor, and heart—and when you learn how to write side characters with intention, they’ll leave readers begging for more. Think of your side characters as stars in the making, because to your readers, they really could be!