Fruit Fly

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your reaction to the novel’s final scene, with Leo watching Mallory from outside her new home? Did this ending feel shocking, inevitable, or something else entirely? How did you feel about Leo’s plan for revenge?

2. This novel is part of a recent wave of fiction that satirizes the publishing industry, much like R. F. Kuang’s Yellowface (2023). If you’ve read that book, how did you find the critiques presented in Fruit Fly similar or different? If you haven’t, what did this book reveal to you about the ethics of who gets to tell whose story?

3. How did the experience of switching between Mallory’s internal monologue and Leo’s poetic fragments affect your connection to the characters? Did you find yourself sympathizing more with one protagonist than the other, and did that shift as the story progressed?

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

1. Mallory constructs various personas throughout the novel, from the intellectual hostess who has read Mrs. Dalloway (1925) to her alter ego at the support-group meeting, “Mandy.” Have you ever felt the need to perform a version of yourself to fit in or feel validated?

2. Leo’s sponsor gives him the advice that “no one is coming to save [him]” (340), which encourages him to take control of his life. Can you recall a moment in your own life when someone gave you advice that helped you make a change?

3. Poetry is an important outlet for Leo. What interests or hobbies help you express and process your emotions?

4. Near the end of the novel, Meghan shares with Mallory that Slay resonated deeply with her. Have you ever seen yourself in a story? What did that representation mean to you?

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

1. How does the novel’s critique of the publishing industry’s desire for “trauma plots” from marginalized creators reflect what you see in the real world of books and media?

2. Ronan’s control over Mallory is often disguised as concern for her mental health, a classic example of coercive control. In what ways does his behavior highlight broader societal patterns of gaslighting and psychological manipulation within relationships?

3. What does the novel’s depiction of the chemsex subculture reveal about the intersection of addiction, community, and risk? Did the story challenge any preconceptions you might have had?

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

1. What is the significance of the recurring references to Virginia Woolf and Mrs. Dalloway? How does Mallory’s fraudulent relationship with the classic novel mirror her larger deceptions and ambitions?

2. The novel presents a clear hierarchy of exploitation, with Ronan controlling Mallory, who in turn exploits Leo. How does this chain of power reveal the ways that class, gender, and sexuality intersect to create systems of oppression?

3. What role does the act of storytelling itself play in shaping identity and reality for the characters? Considering both Mallory’s novel and Leo’s poetry, how does the book explore the immense power that comes with controlling a narrative?

4. The Sakuto knife first appears as part of Mallory’s dark fantasy of escaping her marriage. How does the object’s journey from a symbol of repressed rage to a real weapon in the climax trace the story’s exploration of the line between fiction and violent reality?

5. By writing his own book, The Poet Acts, Leo completely reverses the power dynamic. What does this twist suggest about the nature of justice and the ultimate authority of the storyteller?

6. The narrative structure alternates between Mallory’s long prose chapters and Leo’s short, poetic entries. What is the effect of this formal contrast? How did it shape your understanding of each character’s inner world and their differing realities?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you work for the publisher of Slay. Knowing the truth about how the book was created, what ethical concerns would you have, and how might you voice them to your team?

2. If you were to write the back-cover copy for Leo’s novel-in-progress, The Poet Acts, what would it say? How would you market his story of revenge to capture readers’ attention?

3. The story concludes just as Leo begins his revenge plot. If you were to write the next scene, what happens? Does he confront Mallory directly, or does his plan unfold in a more subtle and psychological way?