Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about the author’s decision to focus on Alva’s life before her political activity? Did you find the focus on Alva’s love life compelling? Why or why not?

2. If you read Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald or watched the television adaptation, how does it compare to A Well-Behaved Woman? Which did you prefer?

3. How did A Well-Behaved Woman compare to other historical fiction you may have read about women, such as Allison Pataki’s The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post (2022) or Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife (2011)? How is it different or similar to other works in the genre?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How did you feel about the struggle Alva faced between marrying someone who can offer her financial security and marrying for love? Have you ever found yourself faced with a similar choice? How did you handle the situation similarly to or differently from Alva?

2. Alva is shocked when she learns that her husband has been having an affair with her best friend, Lady C. It spurs her to make drastic changes in her own life. Have you ever faced a turning point or crossroads that forced you to reconsider your path?

3. Alva faces immense pressure to conform to the society around her. Is this a pressure you have experienced in your own life? What has been your response to it?

4. How did you feel about Alva’s decision to push her daughter Consuelo into a loveless marriage? Did you find her decision understandable or relatable? What would you have done if faced with a similar decision?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. A Well-Behaved Woman explores how women in the Gilded Age advocated for more rights and representation. Were there any aspects of the sexism these women faced that surprised you? What has changed since that time period? In what ways have aspects of this sexism remained in modern society?

2. How does the novel represent the economic inequality of the Gilded Age? To what extent is this economic inequality similar to that of today?

3. The novel explores how people can use their privilege to benefit others in society. Do you agree with Alva’s approach to charity and political action? What pitfalls exist when wealthy people seek to take on charitable projects?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the focus on Alva’s perspective impact the narrative of A Well-Behaved Woman? How might the story be different if told from another point of view?

2. As the novel’s title implies, the narrative is often focused on the expectations of women to behave a certain way in order to maintain their reputation. How does Alva both reinforce and subvert these gendered expectations?

3. Compare and contrast William Vanderbilt and Oliver Belmont. How are the men different or similar in terms of their characterization and/or roles in the text? How do they conform to the stereotypes of suitors one might find in a conventional romance, and where do they diverge?

4. To what extent is Alva idealized in the narrative? Why might the author have chosen to portray her in this way? How would the novel be different if it cast her in a more critical light?

5. The novel unfolds as a series of vignettes that often skip many years in Alva’s life. Why might the author have chosen to structure the novel in this way? What is the effect of these time gaps on the narrative?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles? Which elements of the narrative would you choose to focus on, and which storylines would you remove?

2. Alva uses both her wealth and her affinity to design several homes for her family. Sketch out a design for your dream home as if you had limitless funds like Alva. What elements would you include?