Happy Wife

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about the mystery of Will’s disappearance and murder? Did you correctly guess the killer before the reveal, or did you find yourself caught up in the red herrings?

2. Did you find Nora to be a compelling protagonist? Why or why not?

3. How does Happy Wife compare to other thrillers about marriage, such as Gone Girl or The Housemaid?

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

1. Nora is surprised and disturbed to realize that there were aspects of Will’s life he deliberately kept hidden from her. Have you ever discovered an unexpected secret in a close relationship? How did your experience—and your reaction—compare to Nora’s?

2. Gianna Hall and Constance Somerset belong to a strong clique from which Nora is deliberately excluded. Have you ever experienced this kind of behavior? How did you handle it?

3. What would you do if your partner was out of contact for 24 hours? Do you think Nora’s inaction is believable?

4. Nora sometimes struggles to assert herself in her relationship with Will, adapting her life to his convenience and feeling unable to speak up about how she truly feels. Have you ever experienced an unequal power dynamic in your personal life? Did you find Nora’s experiences realistic and/or relatable? Explain.

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

1. How does the novel contribute to current conversations about income inequality within communities? How does the novel expose the lingering influence of classism in American society?

2. Explore the influence of true crime media in the novel. Do you think that the novel accurately depicts crime journalists? How do you feel about true crime in general: What are the potential advantages and pitfalls of this genre of reportage?

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

1. The novel alternates between a primary narrative in the days following Will’s disappearance and flashbacks detailing the history of Nora’s relationship with Will. How does this structure influence the exploration of the novel’s key themes and ideas? How do past and present illuminate one another?

2. Analyze the development of Nora and Will’s marriage over the course of the novel. How does the novel depict marital dynamics and gender roles? What is the wider significance of the novel’s title?

3. Explore the significance of Winter Park as the setting for the novel. How is the setting described? What is its role and importance in the text?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you were adapting Happy Wife into a movie or television series. Who would you cast in the roles of Nora, Will, and Constance? Explain your choices.

2. The novel ends in an ambiguous, open-ended way. Create a storyboard or write a short story exploring what Nora does next in her life. Share and compare your ideas with others.

3. Imagined a prequel centered on Will and Constance’s relationship. What do you think the early years of their marriage were like?