Book Club Discussion Questions
In a book club? Subscribe to our Book Club Newsletter and get our best book club books of 2025!
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
-
Charlotte interprets Rosemary Zao's offer of her hotel rooms as showing off her wealth, but Lucie has a different take on it as a reflection of Chinese culture and attitudes toward wealth and generosity. Who do you think is right?
-
What did you think of Lucie's scrutiny of George's social media profiles? Would you have done the same thing?
-
Discuss Lucie's attitude toward her mixed-race ethnicity and how it informs her ill-fated engagement to Cecil.
-
Speaking of Lucie and Cecil's engagement, what did you think of his dramatic proposal? Creative or too over the top?
-
What did you think of Lucie's grandmother referring to Lucie as her "precious China doll"? Later in the novel Charlotte says "she's not a racist, just a snob." Do you agree?
-
Discuss the connection between Lucie denying herself the opportunity to embrace her own talent as an artist and her efforts to resist her attraction to George.
-
Lucie's cousin Charlotte reveals her true self in surprising ways as the novel unfolds. What were your first impressions of her, and how did they change?
-
Discuss the symmetry and significance of uber-WASP Cornelia Guest and Rosemary Zao as the two women who help Lucie to finally embrace her truth.
-
Casting call: who would play Lucie, George, and Cecil in the movie?
-
The author creates memorable characters in all of his novels. Who are your favorite characters in this novel and why?
-
Discuss the ending of the novel. Did you find it satisfying or did you want to see Lucie and George tie the knot?
-
Sex and Vanity was written as an homage to A Room with a View. If you're familiar with E.M. Forster's classic novel, did this connection come to mind? And if you haven't read A Room with a View, are you inspired to read it now?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Doubleday. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
