Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

1. Olivia is mortified by her son Raleigh breaking into neighbors' houses. Do you think the apology letters were a bad or good idea? To what degree should parents feel or be held accountable for the actions of their children? Discuss.
2. Both Glenda and Olivia want to protect their sons from the consequences of their actions. Do you see a theme here? Should parents "step in" or "step back"? Why or why not?
3. Do you think the relationship between Olivia and Glenda is one of true friendship, or something more layered? Can you be a true friend to someone who is hiding a big secret?
4. Suspicion and betrayal are a constant thread in Someone We Know. Is anyone in the book true to anyone else?
5. Olivia, Glenda, Raleigh, Becky, Carmine, Paul, Keith, and Larry are just some of the characters in the novel. Which character did you connect with the most? With whom did you sympathize?
6. Psychological thrillers like to toy with the characters' and the readers' perceptions. Where did your sympathies lie as the story unfolded? How did they shift as the story progressed?
7. Thrillers love to ask the question: How well do we ever really know anybody? Do you think people in real life harbor as many secrets as they do in fiction? How far do you think fiction strays from real life? Or do you think truth is actually stranger than fiction? Discuss.

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