Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight

1. Before reading The Mayfair Bookshop had you heard of Nancy Mitford and her works? If so, what is your favorite? If not, which one do you want to read first?
2. What do you love the most about a bookshop? What is the most memorable shop you've ever been to?
3. Every book we read has the ability to alter our lives or way of thinking, even in small ways. What is one book that changed your life?
4. The Mitford family dynamic is unique in some respects—it's not too often you have a sister who is the rumored lover of a Fascist leader, let alone two sisters—and not so unique in others (secret languages, inside jokes, etc.). In what ways did you connect with the family or see similarities with your own?
5. Nancy Mitford remained committed to Hamish St. Clair-Erskine for five years, during her prime marrying years. Why do you think she did so? And do you think she was as naïve as people say, not fully grasping that Hamish was gay, or maybe thinking that she could change him?
6. For many women, family or employment obligations, and even more often, fear of failure or loss, keep them from pursuing their dreams and prioritizing their own happiness. What is one thing you try to do on a daily basis that brings you joy? What dreams have you left unfulfilled, and what is one step you can take to realize them?
7. Nancy makes the difficult decision to tell Gladwyn Jebb about her sister's involvement with Hitler and the danger Diana poses to the UK. Would you be able to inform on your sibling?
8. Nancy really struggled with her sisters' relationships with Fascism and support of the Nazis. She loved her sisters but couldn't understand their politics. Despite this, she attempted to maintain cordial relationships. What would you do if a close family member supported the Nazis?
9. If you had the means to escape London during the blitz like Nancy could have, would you leave? Or would you stay behind to help like she did?
10. Lucy goes to London not only to work on a project that she hopes will gain her a promotion, but also to solve the personal mystery she and her mother had spent years trying to figure out. Ultimately, she decides to remain in London for a fresh start working at an incredible little bookshop. Would you be willing to leave your life behind to start fresh?

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