1. General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
- Who was your favorite character from the core group of friends? Did you find any of them more relatable than others?
- Did you expect Harriet and Wyn to get back together? Were there any points in the novel when you thought they might not end up together?
- Happy Place deals with a lot of sensitive subjects. Did you expect this out of a romance? Why or why not? Did you enjoy it?
2. Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
- Do you have a happy place? What is it like, and what makes it special to you?
- How have you dealt with shifting friendship dynamics? Do you think it is harder to keep friendships as you get older?
- Have you ever felt burned out or lost interest in a career like Harriet did? How did you feel in this situation? Would you have quit to pursue your interests if you were in her place?
- Do you have a hobby that transports you like pottery does for Harriet?
- Has there ever been a time when you chose the happiness of others over your own? How do you feel about Harriet’s people-pleasing behavior and how it affects her decisions?
- Have you ever made a decision about your life that was hard for others to accept? Do you think Harriet made the right choice in pursuing pottery over surgery, despite her parents’ expectations?
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