In the Girls series, it is mentioned that Ellie's low self-esteem is partly due to her mother's death. In This Girl, Coral has an illicit relationship with Toby, who's around his mid to late 30s while she is in her mid-teens. Katy's father in Waiting For the Sky to Fall, and Prue's father in Love Lessons, are extremely controlling, demanding and emotionally abusive towards their children. Cannot Tell a Joke: Elsa in The Bed and Breakfast Star is funny, but she tries to keep her sister happy by telling a bunch of awful jokes. She only begins to make people laugh when she's not trying.

In Glubbslyme, Rebecca wishes her school bully would get a terrible illness, only to be horrified when said girl then gets ill. She just hurt her ankle when she was wearing heels, but Rebecca feels terrible about it anyway.Domestic Abuse: Em's biological father, Barry, was violent to her mother, but because Em was only very young when they left, she doesn't really remember him. When she runs into him at a fairground, it appears he is a much better father to two toddler sons. Companion Cube: Vita, Em's younger sister, has a toy reindeer called Dancer, which she carries around like a comfort blanket. Maxie – Em's wimpy half brother who was given a set of expensive felt tip pens for Christmas. He potentially has a developmental disability—for example he does not want to sleep in a proper bed, he hates pyjamas, and is a fussy eater due to sensory issues. When sadness breaks up their family, he covers up his emotions by pretending he's forgotten all about his father. However, one day, Em finds that the reason his special felt tips are all dried up even though she rarely ever sees him drawing is because he is writing letters to his beloved Dad. Maxie is very innocent and loves his family with all of his heart.

In Rent a Bridesmaid, Tilly mentions that "Auntie" Sue who takes care of her after school is not related to her, just a friend of her dad.Limited Special Collector's Ultimate Edition - In Midnight, Violet owns a first edition copy of The Smoke Fairy by Casper Dream, which is now highly prized by collectors (it is his first published work and only a few copies exist, as it was subsequently banned from sale.) Violet's aware of how valuable it would be, but treasures it so much that she will never sell it. Lola Rose's father, who, like Cookie's, was initially abusive to her mom and later to her as well. It is implied that this is the reason that Lola Rose's mother gets cancer. Miss Oliver from My Mum Tracy Beaker becomes this. She looks out for Jess and is very understanding when she gets popular after Tracy starts dating Sean and helping her after they break up. The two develop a friendship outside of school, especially after she and Cam become friends.

Russell in the Girls series is considerably bigger than Ellie and at one point says he likes how small she is. This pleases Ellie, who's always felt bigger and uglier than Nadine and Magda. Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane - The Power of the Shade and The Other Side, where it's left open to the reader whether May and Alison really have supernatural powers (although the latter book more strongly implies that Alison uses fantasies of astral projection as a coping mechanism.)Lolly in The Dream Palace dearly loved her late father and fitted this trope when he was alive. In the present day, she's desperate to hang onto her memories of her relationship with him, and hangs around a now-disused hotel where he used to take her for tea. Subverted when Greg tries to help her re-live a day trip she took with her father, causing her to remember that he wasn't so perfect after all. Love Lessons is presented as one from Prue's perspective, because she doesn't end up with Mr. Raxberry, although adults reading the book would consider it a better ending for her than the alternative. Naked First Impression: Although Kitty and Lucy briefly meet early in the story, their true first meeting is just after a woman has stolen all the clothes Lucy was wearing. Kitty finds it amusing, but she's also sympathetic. Rose in Rose Rivers feels that all of her siblings are this to a point, however, she often singles out Algie as the most annoying.