Every Last Secret

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel portrays two women willing to go to extraordinary lengths for wealth and status. Did you find their extreme actions believable or over-the-top?

2. The narrative switches between Cat’s and Neena’s perspectives throughout most of the story. Did your allegiance shift between characters as you discovered more about each woman, or did you find yourself consistently sympathizing with one over the other?

3. Many psychological thrillers like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl or Torre’s other work, The Good Lie, feature characters who appear innocent but harbor dark intentions. What made the character dynamics in Every Last Secret stand out from other thrillers you’ve read?

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

1. Cat maintains a perfect image in Atherton while doing ruthless work behind the scenes. When have you felt pressure to present a “perfect” version of yourself?

2. Material wealth and social status drive both main characters’ decisions throughout the novel. To what extent do these elements factor into your own definition of success?

3. Both women use their wedding rings as symbols of security and status. What significant possession in your life holds symbolic meaning beyond its material value?

4. The relationships in the novel blur the lines between protection and dangerous possessiveness. Where do you draw the line between caring for someone and exerting control over them?

5. When William discovers Cat’s elaborate revenge scheme, he finds her ruthlessness attractive rather than disturbing. Have you ever discovered something unexpected about someone close to you that completely changed your perception of them? How did you react?

6. The novel explores how past trauma can impact present relationships, particularly through Neena’s backstory. How have your early life experiences shaped your approach to trust in relationships?

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

1. The setting of Atherton represents a particular social ecosystem in which wealth determines worth. How does this exclusive community amplify the characters’ worst traits?

2. Throughout the story, Cat leverages her connections and donations to manipulate law enforcement and other systems of power. How accurately does this reflect the relationship between wealth and power in contemporary society?

3. Both female protagonists define much of their worth through their relationships to men and their material possessions. In what ways does the novel engage with or challenge contemporary views on women’s independence and agency?

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

1. Torre gradually reveals Cat as an unreliable narrator as the story unfolds. Which narrative techniques were most effective in executing this slow revelation?

2. Cat and Neena represent two sides of the same coin—women obsessed with wealth and status but positioned differently on the social ladder. How does this juxtaposition illuminate the novel’s themes?

3. The Epilogue presents William’s perspective for the first and only time, revealing his attraction to Cat’s manipulative nature. Why do you think Torre chose to include this perspective at the very end of the novel?

4. The novel begins with Neena’s interrogation and moves backward to explain the events that led up to it. How would the story differ if told chronologically instead?

5. In what ways does the Ryders’ home function as both a literal and symbolic battleground in the novel?

6. The motif of wedding rings appears throughout the story during strategic scenes. What do these moments reveal about each character’s insecurities and values?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine a sequel to Every Last Secret set five years in the future. What might have happened to each of the four main characters?

2. If you were casting a film adaptation of Every Last Secret, which actors would you choose to play the four main characters? What qualities would each actor need to portray?

3. The Epilogue reveals Cat encouraging Matt to reconcile with Neena. Write a scene depicting their first meeting after all the revelations and accusations have settled.

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