The Last Mrs. Parrish Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Familial Co-Authors Writing Under One Pen Name and our BookBrowse Review of The Last Mrs. Parrish.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Courtesy of litlovers.com

1. Start perhaps by talking about the disparity in life-styles — wealthy vs. "just-getting-by — that sets Amber off on her con job. How great are the differences in the women's lives? Amber is jealous, belieing that Daphne takes the ease and luxuries of her life for granted. Is she correct, at least in the first half of the book? Have you ever envied someone for their wealth? Of if you're wealthy, have you ever been on the receiving end of others' envy?

2. Talk about Amber's inner monologues, the ones she has, for instance, while talking to Daphne about the death of Julie. What more do the internal conversations reveal about Amber?

3. Is Daphne naive, or is Amber that convincing in her lies?

4. At what point do you begin to suspect that Amber has more to hide than the desire to break her way into the Parrish marriage? What do we learn about her past?

5. At what point, in the first half of the book, do cracks in the perfect Parrish marriage begin to evidence themselves?

6. Jackson has piercing blue eyes. Why do all fictional male hunks have dazzling orbs? Can you think of one, just one, who doesn't?

7. The book changes point of view in the second half. Were you surprised by Daphne? In what ways had you misjudged her?

8. The plot's twists and turns: did you see them coming, or were you taken by surprise? What about the ending: satisfying?

9. Inevitable comparisons are being made to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. How does this one stack up?

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