Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi

1. From her earliest modeling days, Birdie finds freedom in fashion. What does fashion mean to her? Have you ever used clothes as armor or to convey something about you?
2. What does it mean for Birdie to be one of Harriet's Girls? How does this meaning change?
3. How did you feel about the rock star not having a name? Why might the author have made this choice?
4. At what point did you realize Birdie did not have any spoken dialogue? What was the effect?
5. How was the rock star enabled in his pursuit of Birdie? Who was complicit? How have you seen this dynamic play out in real life?
6. At one point, Lulu talks to Birdie about being a "baby groupie." Is this a scene you were familiar with? How might this experience impacted Lulu as she grew older?
7. In addition to taking the reader into the world of modeling, The Cover Girl also offers a behind-the-scenes look at a 1970s rock tour. What role does music play in the novel? How does Birdie's interaction with music change over time?
8. What are some connections you saw between Birdie in the past and Birdie in the present? How does her present-day life intersect with her past self?
9. Which supporting characters were you most drawn to? What made their storylines compelling?
10. Which time period interested you most – the 70s, 80s, or the 90s? What details stood out? Did you learn anything that surprised you?
11. Who would you cast in a film or television adaptation of The Cover Girl?
12. What do you think Birdie's life is like after the gala? What would she be doing in 2025?

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