Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl

1. The novel provides glimpses of Ashley's life before her death. What did you think of the choices she was making? Were you able to empathize with her?
2. The novel is set in a small town where people think they know everything about one another - but it turns out they don't. What is the role of secrets in this novel? How do they affect Ashley, Roman, and Tara's life? And given this atmosphere, what role do the townspeople play in the novel?
3. Dahl evaluates generational trauma in both Ashley's and Roman's families. Do you think this brought them together? How are Roman and Tara trying to break this cycle? How do they contribute to it?
4. There are complicated family dynamics explored throughout the novel, especially regarding motherhood. How do Tara and Ashley each grapple with motherhood? What did you think of Tara's role as Mason's caretaker? How are Ashley and Tara similar?
5. How does Roman's relationship with his mother change as the novel progresses?
6. Grief plays a major role in each of the character's lives. How does each of them deal with it differently? In what ways do you think grief can bring people together – or drive them apart?
7. The majority of the novel takes place in the aftermath of COVID. How does the pandemic affect the characters? How does it change them?
8. Roman explores the idea of "what makes a family" in his first published piece of writing. How does this novel explore that question? What do you think makes a family?
9. Ashley loved both Roman and Bella. Do Bella and Roman come to love each other? How does their relationship change from the beginning of the novel to the end?
10. What was the significance of Hawaii? Is there a place that has a special meaning for you?
11. How does Tara try to make up for her mistakes with Mason? With Roman? Roman wonders if "we can ever truly make up for our past mistakes." Do you think we can? Or can we only seek forgiveness?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Minotaur Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.