Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Emma Straub’s work, like her novel This Time Tomorrow, often explores themes of nostalgia and looking back at the past. How did you feel American Fantasy’s take on nostalgia compared to Straub’s previous titles? Did this thematic iteration offer you new insights on pop culture or youth?

2. Discuss parallels between American Fantasy and other similar works of contemporary fiction. For example, what narrative and thematic overlaps do you notice between Straub’s title and Grant Ginder’s The People We Hate at the Wedding or Claire Lombardo’s The Most Fun We Ever Had?

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

1. How did the novel’s alternating third-person point of view shape your reading experience? Did you find yourself connecting more with one character’s point of view over the others, and if so, why?

2. Discuss how Annie’s journey explores the idea of reclaiming a part of your past that you once felt embarrassed by. Think about a piece of pop culture from your youth that you still love. What makes it endure for you?

3. Annie’s upheaval in her personal and vocational life ultimately inspires her to change. Has there been a time in your life, similar to Annie’s experience with her job and divorce, where you felt the need to make a significant change or re-evaluate your direction? What did that moment of reflection teach you?

4. How does Annie’s journey from outsider to participant resonate with you? Have you ever found yourself in a community where you initially felt out of place but eventually found a sense of belonging?

5. The Talkers’ community is portrayed as both supportive and fraught with drama. What does this depiction reveal about the nature of community building, and how does it compare to groups you have been a part of?

6. The novel suggests that being a fan can be a powerful part of one’s identity, but also something that can invite judgment from others. In what ways have you seen this dynamic play out in your own life and in a broader cultural context?

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

1. American Fantasy explores the idea of parasocial relationships, the one-sided bonds that fans form with celebrities. In what ways do the Talkers’ relationships with the members of Boy Talk illustrate this phenomenon? How has modern social media changed the nature of these connections?

2. Explore the novel’s representations of femininity and womanhood. What does the cruise ship offer the Talkers in the way of joy and community? What does the book suggest about the pros and cons of such collectives? Does Straub reinforce or challenge cultural stereotypes regarding middle age, female empowerment, and womanhood?

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

1. Discuss the significance of Sarah’s perspective within the larger narrative context. As a production manager, she is neither a fan nor a celebrity. How does her viewpoint bridge these two worlds, and what does it reveal about the business of fantasy?

2. Keith Fiore and Corey West represent two different responses to the pressures of fame. Compare their coping mechanisms and their attitudes toward the band’s legacy. What does their conflict reveal about the different ways people relate to their past?

3. Novels about the music industry, like Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & The Six, explore the gap between a band’s public image and their private reality. How does American Fantasy contribute to this conversation, particularly in its focus on a “legacy” act and its middle-aged female fans?

4. Jonathan’s character represents a shift toward a more corporate, ruthless version of the nostalgia business. What role does he play in escalating the novel’s central conflicts between the characters and their value systems?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you’ve been hired by JackRabbit Productions to design a new, signature piece of merchandise for the next Boy Talk cruise. What would you create, and what message or feeling would you want it to convey to the Talkers?

2. Jonathan’s visualization exercise reveals each character’s deepest desires. If given the same prompt, what would your personal fantasy be? How might it connect with the themes of freedom, connection, or legacy that the characters grapple with?

3. Keith’s decision to leave the tour is a major turning point at the novel’s end. Step into his shoes and write a short, open letter to the Talkers explaining your decision to step away for a while. What would you want them to understand?