Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Jeneva Rose is known for psychological thrillers like The Perfect Marriage but blends that suspense with romance in this novel. How effectively do you think she balanced the high-stakes, apocalyptic action with the development of the enemies-to-lovers relationship between Casey and Blake?

2. What was your reaction to the novel’s high-stakes cliffhanger ending? Did it feel like a fitting conclusion to the story’s themes of perpetual struggle, or were you hoping for a more settled resolution for the characters?

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

1. Casey spends her youth resenting the combat and survival skills her father forces on her, only for them to become her greatest assets. Can you think of a skill or piece of advice you were reluctant to learn that later proved unexpectedly valuable in your own life?

2. When Nate returns, Casey feels torn between her history with him and her new, intense connection with Blake. Discuss a time when you have been faced with reevaluated your past perceptions of someone based on their change. How did their relationship inform your view of your own experiences?

3. The compound becomes a sanctuary for a “chosen family” made up of relatives, friends, and strangers who have survived together. How does this dynamic reflect your own experiences with forming bonds outside your own family, especially in times of turmoil?

4. Dale’s intense preparation for disaster is driven by the trauma of losing his wife. How do you see fear or past experiences shaping the way you and people in your life plan for the future, for better or for worse?

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

1. The guide notes that prepper culture has been fueled by anxieties over real-world events. How does the novel’s portrayal of survivalism compare to your own perceptions of this subculture, especially in the wake of recent global events?

2. The story argues that the greatest threat isn’t the infected “biters” but the calculating cruelty of humans like the “burners” and Nate. Where do you see this idea reflected in our own society, where human choices can sometimes cause more harm than natural crises?

3. In this world, there are three outcomes from the virus: biter, Nome, or immunity. What do the memory-wiped “Nomes” suggest about the importance of memory and identity to being human?

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

1. What is the effect of the novel starting with a flashback to Casey’s childhood? How does framing the story with her past resentment toward her father and Blake shape your experience of the apocalyptic events that follow?

2. Discuss the mood and tone of other post-apocalyptic novels you have read like The Road by Cormac McCarthy or Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. How does Rose use humor to create a more light-hearted examination of the apocalypse? Why do you believe she made this decision?

3. Discuss one internal and one external conflict that Casey faces in the text. How are these conflicts resolved? How do their resolutions (or lack thereof) impact her growth and development?

4. How does the novel use physical conflict, like the sparring sessions, to reveal character and develop relationships? What do these scenes communicate about Casey and Blake’s power dynamic that dialogue alone cannot?

5. Dale’s character is built around the theme of Survivalism as Both Paternal Care and Control. Identify specific moments where his actions seem to be purely about care and others where they feel more like control. How does the novel blur this line?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’ve been asked to design a new flag or emblem for the revitalized compound six months after the main events of the book. What symbols would you include to represent their history, their losses, and their hopes for the future?

2. If you had to create a “Welcome to the Compound” manual for new survivors, what would be the three most important rules for ensuring both safety and community harmony, based on the mistakes and successes of the original group?

3. Casey, Tessa, and Molly form a powerful team during the final battle. If you were to write a short scene from the perspective of either Tessa or Molly during that counter-attack, what unique thoughts or observations might they have about Casey’s leadership?