Discuss You'll Forget This Ever Happened by Laura L. Engel

Laura refuses to use an alias in the maternity home. Why do you suppose she draws the line where she does?

Mar. 14, 2023
by turtlewoman

Do you think Clay had any regrets? Was he as callous as he appeared? What could he have done differently?

Mar. 09, 2023
by Joyce

As a young woman Laura harbors a lot of resentment toward her parents, but especially toward her mother. Why do you suppose she directs her anger primarily in that direction?

Mar. 08, 2023
by Joyce

Are you surprised Richard reached out to his birth mother? What would you have done in his shoes?

Mar. 08, 2023
by turtlewoman

Do you think the easy availability of genetic testing is a positive or a negative? Have you used this company or one similar?

Mar. 07, 2023
by beckyd

Laura's parents insist on pulling her out of the maternity home early, against the doctors' advice. Why do you think they did this?

Mar. 07, 2023
by rebeccar

Laura states that she lost her son twice. What was your reaction to her news?

Mar. 07, 2023
by beckyd

Why do you suppose Laura waited so long to tell the children she raised about her oldest son? Were you surprised by the children's reactions?

Mar. 07, 2023
by beckyd

A Note About the Epilogue

Mar. 07, 2023
by kdowney25

Why do you think Laura chooses not to return to her parents home after Nick leaves her? If you were in her position what do you think you'd have done? How would her circumstances be different today?

Mar. 06, 2023
by Joyce

How do you feel protests today are different from those in the 1960s, and how do you think they're similar?

Mar. 05, 2023
by caroln

Sharing secrets

Mar. 05, 2023
by beckyd

How do you think the story would be different if told from Laura's mother's point of view?

Mar. 05, 2023
by beckyd

Do you think it's true that "life does have a way of softening just about anything that happened in your past"? Are there any wounds that time doesn't soften?

Mar. 05, 2023
by beckyd

"If you care about this child, you need to let it go." Do you agree?

Mar. 05, 2023
by beckyd

What parts of the book struck a particular chord with you? Are there any sections that moved you more than others? Are there any that made you especially angry?

Mar. 04, 2023
by nancyh

Were the reactions of Laura's parents and grandmother typical for that time and place? In what ways do you think parents today would react similarly, and in what ways differently?

Mar. 02, 2023
by skagitgrits

Overall, what do you think of 'You'll Forget This Ever Happened'?

Mar. 01, 2023
by beckyd

Were you surprised at the amount of freedom the girls had living in the home?

Mar. 01, 2023
by beckyd

Were there gaps in the story you wish the author had elaborated on? What questions would you ask her if you could?

Feb. 26, 2023
by Jill

Of the people who provided Laura with support, who do you think was most helpful and why?

Feb. 26, 2023
by susannd

Did anything surprise you about the era or about Laura's experience? Did you learn anything new?

Feb. 26, 2023
by susannd

How do you think Laura's experiences factored in to her staying with and marrying Nick?

Feb. 26, 2023
by susannd

How do you feel you would have reacted to an unplanned pregnancy as an unwed teenage girl? Or as the boy who learns the girl you dated is pregnant?

Feb. 25, 2023
by catherynez

Which of the girls' stories moved you the most? In what ways were their situations similar, and in which ways different?

Feb. 17, 2023
by Joyce

You'll Forget This Ever Happened

Discuss You'll Forget This Ever Happened by Laura L. Engel

Another similar situation in Fiction

Laura refuses to use an alias in the maternity home. Why do you suppose she draws the line where she does?

Do you think Clay had any regrets? Was he as callous as he appeared? What could he have done differently?

As a young woman Laura harbors a lot of resentment toward her parents, but especially toward her mother. Why do you suppose she directs her anger primarily in that direction?

Are you surprised Richard reached out to his birth mother? What would you have done in his shoes?

Do you think the easy availability of genetic testing is a positive or a negative? Have you used this company or one similar?

Laura's parents insist on pulling her out of the maternity home early, against the doctors' advice. Why do you think they did this?

Laura states that she lost her son twice. What was your reaction to her news?

Why do you suppose Laura waited so long to tell the children she raised about her oldest son? Were you surprised by the children's reactions?

A Note About the Epilogue

Why do you think Laura chooses not to return to her parents home after Nick leaves her? If you were in her position what do you think you'd have done? How would her circumstances be different today?

How do you feel protests today are different from those in the 1960s, and how do you think they're similar?

Sharing secrets

How do you think the story would be different if told from Laura's mother's point of view?

Do you think it's true that "life does have a way of softening just about anything that happened in your past"? Are there any wounds that time doesn't soften?

"If you care about this child, you need to let it go." Do you agree?

What parts of the book struck a particular chord with you? Are there any sections that moved you more than others? Are there any that made you especially angry?

Were the reactions of Laura's parents and grandmother typical for that time and place? In what ways do you think parents today would react similarly, and in what ways differently?

Overall, what do you think of 'You'll Forget This Ever Happened'?

Were you surprised at the amount of freedom the girls had living in the home?

Were there gaps in the story you wish the author had elaborated on? What questions would you ask her if you could?

Of the people who provided Laura with support, who do you think was most helpful and why?

Did anything surprise you about the era or about Laura's experience? Did you learn anything new?

How do you think Laura's experiences factored in to her staying with and marrying Nick?

How do you feel you would have reacted to an unplanned pregnancy as an unwed teenage girl? Or as the boy who learns the girl you dated is pregnant?

Which of the girls' stories moved you the most? In what ways were their situations similar, and in which ways different?

BookBrowse Online Book Club: Join the discussion of You'll Forget This Ever Happened by Laura L. Engel.