Book Club Discussion Questions
In a book club? Subscribe to our Book Club Newsletter and get our best book club books of 2025!
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
-
Do you believe Rachel made the right decision leaving her life in Florida behind? Why?
-
Rachel stays on Kelleys Island, even though nothing is as Mason promised. Would you have done the same in her position? Why do you think she was able to trust him despite all this?
-
What is it about Mason that quiets Rachel's anxiety? What do you think her presence does for him in return?
-
Is there a moment that stood out to you as the one where Rachel truly started to fall for Mason? What about him for her?
-
Rachel and her sister, Anna, are at odds early in the novel. Would they have been able to find common ground if Rachel hadn't finally made a choice to change her life? Explain.
-
Brian belatedly decides he wants a larger role in Maisie's life. Do you believe he is owed that opportunity? Why do you think it took so long for him to make changes toward becoming a stable presence in her life?
-
When Brian officially requests joint custody of Maisie, Rachel packs their bags for Florida without speaking to a lawyer first. Why does she assume they have no alternative?
-
Aside from her relationship with Mason, what makes Rachel not want to leave Kelleys Island? What has she gained on the island that she was missing in Fort Lauderdale?
-
How has Rachel evolved as a character over the course of the book? Would she have been able to grow as a person if she hadn't been forced to change her whole life?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of St. Martin's Griffin. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.