Hideaway

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of sexual violence, rape, mental illness, child abuse and child sexual abuse, suicidal ideation, self-harm, animal cruelty, addiction, sexual content, cursing, death, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which character’s backstory affected you most deeply? Why?

2. How realistic (or unrealistic) were the relationship dynamics on display? 

3. What was your reaction to the novel’s tendency to idealize and normalize sexual abuse?

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

1. Which characters did you find yourself supporting despite their moral ambiguity? Did that reaction cause you to question anything about yourself?

2. Many people have experiences in Making Sacrifices for Love and Friendship. Discuss a time when you made a significant sacrifice for someone. Would you do it again? Was it worth it?

3. How did the author’s depiction of The Psychological Impact of Toxic Power Dynamics make you feel? Did Banks’s choices ever anger you? Why or why not?

4. Would you want to live in the world created by Penelope Douglas? Would it be thrilling, terrifying, or both?

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

1. Why did Banks resist embracing her feminine side for so long? How does her story reflect women’s real-world attempts to navigate problematic gender roles and relationships?

2. How does the novel use the Four Horsemen to illustrate the dynamics of toxic masculinity? How is their treatment of women, including those they love, becoming a more and more antiquated view of romance?

3. How does wealth and privilege influence the personalities and actions of the main characters? How might being in a position of power lead to the corruption and debauchery depicted in the novel?

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

1. Hideaway alternates between a present-day timeline and one that occurred six years ago, exploring The Long-Term Consequences of Traumatic Decisions. How does this nonlinear structure affect your understanding of the characters and their motivations?

2. How are Kai and Banks’s views of one another depicted through the alternating perspectives? How does Kai’s view of Banks contradict her view of herself, and vice versa?

3. How does Banks evolve from a hidden outsider who resists her femininity to someone who commands her own power and identity, and actively enjoys her sexuality? What are the key turning points in her development?

4. How does the 12th floor of the Pope Hotel relate to the idea of liminal spaces? Why are the characters repeatedly drawn there?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a graphic novel, what kind of visual style would suit it best?

2. Choose any scene from the book and rewrite it from the perspective of a different character.

3. Imagine that you lived in Meridian City. What would your home look like? Which part of the city would you live in?

4. Create a tattoo for one of the major characters that symbolizes a major aspect of their personality or arc in the story.

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