Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss

1. Nory resides in London, where she's "used to the constant hum of traffic," a big contrast to her quieter, plant-loving personality. What stops Nory from pursuing her same day-to-day routine back home?
2. Nory works at a bookshop in London and loves making connections between books and their owners. In what ways does this preliminary backdrop—the way Nory makes a living— foreshadow how she navigates differences among the people she loves?
3. Nory and Isaac meet again after fifteen years, in the castle's intertwining gardens. How does their reunion differ from Nory's reunion with her friends? Discuss the symbolism of the maze-like gardens and how it might reflect of their romantic journey.
4. Elinor and Ameerah manage to stay close friends long after their school years. How does Ameerah's character influence your experience of their other posh friends?
5. We learn early in the story that Nory recently lost one of her dear friends, Tristan. Discuss how this loss influenced your reading of each characters' struggles. In what ways can grief impact the dynamic of a friend group?
6. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe pays tribute to the winter magic of the Christmas season. With the hustle and bustle of a big, lively wedding that is set in the English countryside, full of fresh-cut winter greenery and an air of nostalgia, the story elicits a sense of both exuberance and calm. How do the story's quieter, more solemn moments speak to the holiday spirit?
7. Nory's scholarship opened many doors for her but closed some others. Did you find yourself relating to any aspects of Nory's family dynamic? Using examples from the story, what set roles do you think Nory might have wished her family fulfilled? Discuss your perceived position in your own family, and whether your parents and/or siblings would agree.
8. "Nory had once harbored a fancy that she might be the sort of person who made sourdough bread after work; she often fantasized about being a domestic goddess... If she was being honest, it frightened her a bit... Nory decided to leave sourdough to the professional and went back to buying it from Pepe's." (pg. 59) Dissect what this quote reveals about Nory and her desires. How does this relate to her passion for books and botanicals?
9. Isaac and Nory's brother are close friends and mutual confidantes. How would you feel if your crush knew more about your sibling than you did?
10. Nory and Isaac make a few references early on to their mudslinging days. What did you think of these nostalgic moments? In what ways, if any, did this dynamic carry over into their adult relationship?
11. In navigating a more mature relationship together, Isaac and Nory must face a few hurdles. At the end, how does Isaac come to terms with their missteps and learn to trust Nory again? Conversely, how does Nory come to believe Isaac is ready leave the past behind? Discuss the fragility of trust in a relationship and how it manifests itself in Isaac and Nory's relationship.

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