Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for What Will People Think? by Sara Hamdan

1. How does Mia's dual life as a media fact checker and secret comedian reflect the tensions between her personal aspirations and cultural expectations?
2. Phaedra plays an important role in Mia's journey of self-discovery. How does their friendship catalyze change in Mia's life, and what does this suggest about the importance of supportive female friendships?
3. The novel explores a forbidden office romance between Mia and Jackson. How does this subplot contribute to Mia's character development and the overall themes of the story?
4. The discovery of a family scandal from the 1940s is a pivotal moment in the novel. How does this revelation impact Mia's understanding of her family and herself? How does it relate to the broader theme of uncovering hidden truths?
5. The title, What Will People Think?, is a central concern for many characters in the book. How does this question shape Mia and Zeina's decisions throughout the story? Can you relate this to experiences in your own life or community?
6. The novel explores different kinds of love: forbidden love, romantic love, familial love, and platonic love. How does Zeina's idea of love evolve? Does her estrangement from her family in Palestine influence the way that she loves her husband, late son, and granddaughter?
7. How does humor function as a coping mechanism or form of self-expression for Mia? In what ways does her comedy career reflect or challenge her cultural background?
8. The novel is described as a "heart-bursting exploration of what it means to discover and embrace the hidden parts of yourself." What hidden parts of herself does Mia discover throughout the story, and how does this process of self-discovery unfold? What about Zeina? Layla?
9. How does the author portray the intersection of Palestinian American culture and modern American life through Mia's experiences? What conflicts arise from this intersection, and how does Mia navigate them?
10. Discuss the theme of generational differences in the novel. How do Mia's aspirations and choices compare to her grandparents' expectations? How does this reflect broader issues of cultural adaptation and change?
11. The novel celebrates beauty in Palestinian culture and traditions, including embroidery, culinary dishes (such as maqlouba and wara enab), and wedding rituals. Zeina is often cooking, baking or preparing for a meal in her scenes in the book; what role does food play here?
12. The novel is described as both "hilarious" and "heartfelt." How does the author balance humor and emotional depth in the story? Can you point to specific scenes that showcase this balance?

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