Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Edge of Yesterday by Rita Woods

1. Detroit is a central setting in The Edge of Yesterday, while also serving as a character within the book itself. Discuss the importance of Detroit as a setting. Is there a town or city that feels like home to you? How would you describe the town or city to others?
2. The Edge of Yesterday features time travel as a key part of the story, as Greer travels back and forth between past and present. If you could travel through time, where would go you? Would you like to witness a specific historical event? If so, which one and why?
3. Monty, heir to the Gray family, is worried about living up to his family legacy, both as a doctor and as a fiancé. Greer, now part of the esteemed Coffey family, is anxious about living up to her in-laws' expectations, especially as she experiences a newfound illness. Have you ever dealt with unexpected family pressures and expectations? How did you navigate them?
4. Even though Monty and Greer come from well-connected families, they are both trying to find their purpose and place in a society where they aren't quite sure where they belong. What did you make of their unexpected friendship? Why do you think they felt drawn toward each other?
5. As the visits between Monty and Greer become a regular occurrence, Monty finds himself fascinated by the future, while Greer tends to be curious about the past. How would you react if you met someone from the year 1925? What would you want them to know about life in 2025? What are the similarities between life in 1925 and 2025? What are the differences?
6. What do you make of the fact that Greer can move backward in time, but Monty is unable to move forward? Would you prefer to travel back in time, or to have someone from the future visit you in the present-day? Why?
7. For Monty, Aunt Rivka and Uncle Wallace are family, not by blood, but by association because of shared love and experiences. Is there anyone in your life who you consider to be family even though you might not be related? If so, what does that relationship mean to you?
8. Aggie is Monty's childhood best friend turned fiancée. In the face of injustice, she encourages Monty to stand up for what is right. Similarly, Greer ends up chronicling societal change and injustice. Explain what else Aggie and Greer might have in common. What did you think of their unexpected friendship in the final chapters?
9. Greer and Leah have a longstanding friend ritual: having a piece of bumpy cake whenever they are having a tough day. What did you make of Greer and Leah's friendship? Did your opinion of their friendship change over time? If so, why? How did you respond to Leah's dawning realization towards the end of the book?
10. In 1925 Detroit, Monty and his family are worried about racial violence. When the violence is close to home, Monty decides to take matters into his own hands. What was your reaction to Monty's life-changing decision? What would you have done if you were in his situation? Share your thoughts upon reading the final chapter of the book.
11. If The Edge of Yesterday was adapted into a movie, who would you want to play Monty? Greer? Aggie? Leah? Bass?

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