Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Animal Instinct by Amy Shearn

1. Animal Instinct is set in the summer of 2020. How did you feel author Amy Shearn captured that unique time? What feelings did reading about that time period conjure for you?
2. The tagline of this book claims: It's never too late to follow your animal instinct. Discuss what this means to you, and how Rachel might interpret the phrase "animal instinct."
3. Rachel Bloomstein, single mother of three and recent divorcée, decides to explore her sexuality at the onset of the pandemic. Discuss how the context of the pandemic influences Rachel's openness to connection.
4. Rachel can't help but feel that her perfect person exists only as an amalgamation of her many dates. What do you think Shearn is trying to convey through Rachel's pursuit of Frankie? How do you see this manifesting in your own life?
5. How does Rachel manage her expectations for her relationship with her ex-husband, especially as it pertains to his role as a father, as she gains a firmer sense of self outside of her marriage?
6. Online dating is popularly associated with an image of singledom that doesn't always account for children. How does Rachel integrate motherhood with the identity she forms as she starts dating? What role does Rachel's identity as mother play in her exploration of self?
7. Rachel goes on many dates and has multiple sexual encounters. Which of Rachel's dates reminded you of your relationships, past or present? To what extent does Shearn paint a microcosm for modern dating?
8. Shearn uses humor as one of the story's many vehicles to explore themes of marriage, connection, and parenthood. Discuss which moments you found most funny.
9. The pandemic setup almost makes the world of Animal Instinct feel dystopian in that Rachel, her friends, and her family are suddenly forced to adapt to a new, rigid way of living. Did you feel similarly? In what ways does this comment on how we exist in the digital age?
10. Artificial intelligence (AI) features in this book. To what extent do you see AI facilitating instead of hindering the desire to connect? How did you feel about Shearn's decision to include AI in this story, and what's your take on its entry into literature?

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