Dear Reader

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the novel’s cliffhanger ending? How effective was Heath’s apparent death by suicide in making you want to read the next book in the series, Watch Your Back?

2. Dear Reader blends the genres of dark academia, romance, and thriller. Which of these elements did you find most compelling, and how did the mix affect your reading experience?

3. Tate James is a popular author of dark romance series. How does Dear Reader compare to other books you’ve read by her, or to other well-known dark academia novels like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History or Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House?

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

1. Ashley is an outsider thrust into the elite, intimidating world of Nevaeh University. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you didn’t belong? How did you navigate the social rules of that new environment?

2. The idea of a “found family” becomes important in the novel, especially during the Thanksgiving scene, in which the characters find temporary refuge with each other. What does the concept of a found family mean to you, and how did the novel’s portrayal of this dynamic resonate with you?

3. Ashley’s pride makes her reluctant to ask for financial help from her mother, which lands her in a vulnerable position with Nate and Heath. When do you think it’s important to be self-reliant, and when is it better to accept help from others?

4. Many characters, like Carter, are heavily influenced by the expectations of their powerful families. In what ways do family obligations and pressures shape your own behavior and choices?

5. Nate’s intense hostility toward Ashley is fueled by resentment over his parents’ divorce and his father’s remarriage. Have you ever witnessed a situation in which personal history or family dynamics cloud someone’s judgment of a new person or situation?

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

1. The guide mentions the real-world “Operation Varsity Blues” scandal. How does the novel’s depiction of wealth and privilege at Nevaeh University comment on the power that money and legacy can hold in elite institutions today?

2. The novel explores different facets of toxic masculinity through Nate’s aggression, Heath’s internal conflict, and Carter’s volatility. In what ways do these characters’ actions reflect societal pressures on men?

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

1. What is the effect of interspersing excerpts from Abigail Monstera’s diary with Ashley’s present-day narrative? How does this structural choice create suspense and shape your understanding of the dangers at Nevaeh?

2. The masks and robes of the Devil’s Backbone Society are a recurring symbol. How does their meaning evolve from a tool for anonymity to a symbol of stolen agency, especially during the science hall fire?

3. Consider Nate Essex’s character arc. How does the novel challenge its initial presentation of him as the story’s main villain?

4. As the first book in the Devil’s Backbone series, Dear Reader focuses on world-building and ends on a major cliffhanger, a structure common in series like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. How did this structure affect your reading experience, compared to a standalone thriller?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Choose a scene and rewrite it from the perspective of a different character, like Royce during the “Duck Challenge” or Carly after discovering Ashley has been abducted. What new insights or motivations are revealed?

2. Design a new “Society Challenge” for the DBS. What would the task be, and what would it be designed to reveal about the participants’ true character, fears, or loyalties?