Holiday Romance

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about Andrew and Molly’s relationship transition from friends to lovers? Did the shift feel natural to you?

2. Travel, timing, and communication play a significant role in the story. How did this impact the pacing of the romance development?

3. Have you ever read a holiday romance novel before? Did the novel’s use of the holiday season live up to your expectations of the genre? Do you plan to read the second novel in this series?

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

1. Could you identify with Molly’s discontent with her career? How have you dealt with the tension between career ambition and happiness in your life?

2. Have you ever lived far away from your family, like Andrew and Molly? How did you deal with maintaining healthy familial relationships through distance?

3. What does home mean to you, and how has that idea changed throughout your life?

4. Have you ever had a friendship that shifted into something more? How did that change your connection to the person?

5. Can you relate to Molly’s struggle with control? Can you describe a time when you’ve taken an emotional risk?

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

1. How does the novel reflect contemporary realities for young adults balancing their careers and personal lives, particularly within Western work culture?

2. Discuss the novel’s depiction of Andrew’s sobriety, particularly his apprehension about sharing the news with his Irish family. Reflect on how this tension relates to cultural norms surrounding alcohol in Ireland, where drinking is often linked to sociability, identity, and masculinity.

3. How accurately does the novel portray the experience of an immigrant living in a large city? Explore how Molly’s sense of belonging and displacement reflects the modern Irish diaspora, especially the millennial generation who emigrated for education or work opportunities.

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

1. Analyze the book’s narrative structure and the incorporation of the flashbacks. How do they contribute to the romantic tension?

2. Discuss the opposites-attract dynamic between Molly and Andrew. What character traits do each have that balance each other out? Examine how Walsh uses their contrasting temperaments to explore emotional equilibrium and mutual transformation.

3. What is at the heart of Molly’s identity crisis, and how does she find resolution by the book’s end? Reflect on how her professional burnout and emotional detachment symbolize a larger search for authenticity.

4. Analyze the Christmas season as the setting for the story and as a symbolic device. Explore how the festive atmosphere amplifies ideas of belonging, renewal, and emotional generosity.

5. Trace how the author incorporates humor into the story. Consider how Walsh’s use of wit and banter softens emotional tension.

6. Discuss the significance of Andrew and Molly meeting each other’s families, particularly their siblings. Examine how these interactions extend the novel’s exploration of home and identity.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Rewrite a pivotal scene from Andrew’s perspective and discuss the creative choices you make.

2. Create a map of Andrew and Molly’s travel adventure, marking key places along the journey that are significant in their developing romance.