Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does Tell Me Softly compare to Mercedes Ron’s other works, like the Culpables series? For those who’ve read her other books, did you find the themes or character dynamics familiar, or did this feel like a new direction for her?

2. What did you think of the central love triangle and the enemies-to-lovers trope between Kami and Thiago?

3. What was the most memorable scene for you, and why did it stand out?

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

1. Whose journey toward forgiveness resonated with you the most? Have you ever found it more difficult to forgive someone else or to forgive yourself? Did Thiago’s or Kami’s experience make you reflect differently on forgiveness?

2. Kami finds an escape and a way to express her true feelings through her sketchbook. Do you have a creative outlet or private space where you feel you can be your most authentic self?

3. Taylor represents safety and forgiveness, while Thiago represents a more volatile and passionate connection tied to trauma. Have you ever been drawn to one of these dynamics more than the other in friendships or relationships?

4. Julian acts as an insightful outsider, observing the central love triangle with a clarity the main characters lack. Have you ever had a friendship where an outsider’s perspective helped you see a situation more clearly?

5. The childhood branding pact leaves Kami, Thiago, and Taylor with a permanent reminder of their bond. Do you have an object, place, or memory that still connects you to an important friendship or period of your life? How did the shared scar affect your understanding of the characters’ connection?

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

1. How does the small-town setting of Carsville intensify the pressures on the Hamilton and Di Bianco families? Do you think this story, with its focus on reputation and shared history, could have happened in a large, anonymous city?

2. What does the novel suggest about the societal pressure to maintain a “facade of perfection,” particularly for women like Anne Hamilton? How does her obsession with appearances end up damaging her family more than protecting it?

3. How does the economic divide between the Hamilton and Di Bianco families shape the characters’ views of privilege, fairness, and blame? Do financial inequalities make it harder for people to move past old conflicts?

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

1. The narrative shifts perspectives between Kami, Thiago, and Taylor. What effect did seeing the story from these different viewpoints have on your perception of blame and responsibility?

2. How do physical spaces like the tree house and the Yellow Bridge reflect the characters’ internal states? What other settings in the novel serve a symbolic purpose?

3. Let’s discuss Thiago’s character arc. Was his transformation from a boy driven by blame to a young man who asks for forgiveness believable to you? Which moments in the novel were most important in shaping that change?

4. Why do you think the author chose to reveal the full story of Lucy’s death so late in the novel, using interlocking flashbacks? What impact did this delayed reveal have on your reading experience?

5. Secrets and silence are a powerful motif throughout the story. When is silence used as a weapon, and when is it a form of protection? Which character is most affected by secrecy, and why?

6. The guide mentions Sally Rooney’s Normal People as another book where complex personal histories create barriers to intimacy. For those who have read it, how does the dynamic between Kami and Thiago compare to that of Marianne and Connell?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are designing a memorial for Lucy Di Bianco. What would it look like, and what elements from the story might you incorporate to capture her memory?

2. The novel ends with Thiago driving away, leaving the love triangle unresolved. If you were to write the first chapter of the sequel, Tell Me in Secret, what would happen next for Kami, Thiago, and Taylor?

3. What advice would you give to the 10-year-old versions of Kami and Thiago in the tree house, right after they witness the affair? Knowing what you know now, what could they have done differently, if anything?