Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Saltwater by Katy Hays

1. The Lingates repeatedly return to Capri to "prove" Sarah's death was an accident. Do you think their annual visits help or harm their reputation? How do you interpret their motivations for returning? If you were in their position, would you return to the scene of the crime or stay away, and why?
2. The Lingates rarely speak openly about Sarah's death or their suspicions of one another. How does this culture of silence affect their ability to connect and heal as a family? What does this collective guilt suggest about the underlying toxicity and mistrust within the Lingate family?
3. Among the Lingates, who do you think holds the most influence within the family, and how do they use it to maintain control?
4. In the scene where the yacht captain is injured, the Lingates hardly notice, while Lorna is seemingly horrified. How do the different reactions illuminate their personalities and values? What does this moment reveal about power and responsibility?
5. Discuss the relationship dynamic between Helen and Lorna. Though they are aligned by their friendship and common goals, their starkly different positions and backgrounds drive a wedge between them, leading to shocking betrayals. How much of their friendship do you think was genuine? What does their dynamic reveal about trust and betrayal?
6. Throughout the book, Lorna expresses disdain and fascination with wealth. How does her decision to embrace a wealthy persona align or conflict with her previous views? Do you view her reinvention as empowering or morally questionable? Why?
7. How does Capri—in its beauty and isolation—reflect the emotional and physical traps faced by the characters? How does the island itself become a character in the story?
8. Which plot twist surprised you the most? Did you see any of them coming? Why or why not?
9. After living as Renata for years, Sarah Lingate finally comes out of hiding at the end of the novel and begins to live a somewhat normal life. Do you think this could ever work in real life? Why or why not?
10. All of the Lingates end up playing a part in Renata's death. Whose role, do you think, is most unforgivable? Why?
11. Do you believe justice was ultimately served by the end of the story? How do the Lingates' wealth and privilege shape their ability to evade consequences or face accountability? How does this contrast with Lorna's relationship to consequences, both throughout her life and in the end of the novel?
12. If Saltwater became a movie or TV show, who would you cast as each character?

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