Ever get that nagging feeling you’ve seen an actor somewhere before? You’re watching Hearts Around the Table: Jenna's First Love, and suddenly you’re squinting at the screen. Was he a werewolf? Was she on that 80s sitcom? Honestly, the jenna's first love cast is like a "who’s who" of TV veterans. It's one of those lineups that feels comfortable, almost like a Sunday dinner with people you actually like.
The movie kicked off Hallmark’s 2025 "Spring Into Love" event. It wasn't just a standalone flick, though. It actually launched a four-part series where each movie follows a different sibling in the Hartman family. Think of it like the Cherry Lane movies, but instead of focusing on a house, we’re following a tight-knit group of former foster kids.
The Faces Behind the Jenna's First Love Cast
At the heart of the story is Jenna Whitaker. She’s played by Ashley Newbrough. If she looks familiar, it’s probably because she’s been a Hallmark staple for a minute. You might have seen her in Love on the Right Course or Operation Nutcracker. In this one, she’s a high-powered event planner trying to nail a gala for a billionaire.
Then there's the guy who complicates everything. Andrew Clarington.
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Steve Lund takes on the role of the ex-boyfriend/current business obstacle. Lund has a bit of a cult following. Why? Because before he was doing the "suit and tie" routine on Hallmark, he was literally running around as a werewolf in the series Bitten. He’s also been in Reign and Schitt’s Creek. He brings this specific kind of grounded energy to Andrew that makes the "second chance" trope actually feel believable.
The Supporting Players We Love
Let’s talk about Mindy Cohn. Basically everyone over the age of thirty knows her as Natalie from The Facts of Life. In Jenna's First Love, she plays Angie Hartman, the foster mother who holds the whole chaotic family together. Seeing her on screen is like a warm hug for your nostalgia.
The family table is pretty crowded. Here’s who else is sitting there:
- Mishael Morgan as Shari. She’s the outspoken sister. You likely know her from The Young and the Restless, where she made history winning a Daytime Emmy.
- Jake Epstein as Josh. He plays the supportive foster brother. If you grew up in the 2000s, he’s Craig Manning from Degrassi to you. Period.
- Kathryn Davis as Kiki. She’s the voice of reason when the family drama gets a bit too loud.
- Al Mukadam as Tom Redlands. He’s the billionaire client who adds a bit of a love triangle tension. You might recognize him from The Way Home.
Why This Specific Cast Works
The chemistry isn't just accidental. Because this is the first of four movies, the actors had to establish a vibe that felt like decades of shared history. When Jenna runs into Andrew at the office, it’s not just a "hey, I remember you." It’s messy. It’s awkward. It’s exactly how you’d feel if you saw your high school heartbreak while trying to be a "professional adult."
The script, written by Paula Tiberius, leans into the fact that these people know each other's buttons. You’ve got the sister (Shari) being protective and the mom (Angie) trying to set boundaries. It feels real. Or at least, as real as a billionaire-funded charity gala can feel.
The Story That Brought Them Together
Jenna is hired by Tom Redlands to plan a massive fundraiser. Simple, right? Wrong. Tom’s right-hand man is Andrew. Her Andrew. The one who broke her heart back in the day.
What's interesting about the jenna's first love cast is how they handle the subplots. While Jenna and Andrew are navigating their "will they/won't they" situation, we also meet Rory, played by Justice James. He’s the newest foster kid in the family, and his struggle to fit in adds a layer of emotional weight that most rom-coms skip over.
A Quick Reality Check on the Plot
- The Conflict: Jenna thinks Andrew didn't like her back. Andrew has a secret reason for the breakup.
- The Twist: Tom Redlands isn't a villain. He’s actually a decent guy who genuinely likes Jenna, which makes the choice harder.
- The Family Factor: Every Sunday, they eat together. If you miss dinner, the whole family knows about it.
Some viewers on places like Reddit pointed out that the pacing felt a bit slow at first, but honestly, that’s just the "Hearts Around the Table" style. It's meant to simmer. It's character-driven rather than plot-heavy.
What to Watch After Jenna's First Love
If you finished the movie and want more of these specific actors, you’re in luck. Since this was a franchise launch, the rest of the jenna's first love cast moves into the spotlight in the subsequent films:
- Shari's Second Act: Focusing on Mishael Morgan’s character.
- Josh's Third Serving: Starring Jake Epstein.
- Kiki's Fourth Ingredient: Starring Kathryn Davis.
It’s a clever way to keep the audience hooked. You start for Ashley Newbrough and Steve Lund, and you stay because you’ve become invested in the rest of the foster siblings.
If you’re looking to catch up, the movie originally aired on the Hallmark Channel but is now heavily rotated on Hallmark+ and available via Peacock. For the best experience, watch them in order. The "Sunday dinner" scenes lose a bit of their magic if you don't know the backstory of why Rory is so quiet or why Shari is so skeptical of Andrew.
To get the most out of this series, pay attention to the background details in Angie’s house—the production design team (shoutout to Maria John) packed it with little nods to the characters' shared past that pay off in the later movies.