Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What are your feelings towards Gus as the novel’s central character? Do her flaws make her unlikable? Are you compelled to follow her story?

2. How might you compare this novel to other modern legal thrillers, such as Defending Jacob by William Landay? What are the common threads between these novels that suggest some emerging trends in this genre?

3. Discuss your reaction to the novel’s braided narrative structure. Do you think the novel was purposefully holding back information by pursuing this structure? Would the story have changed if it were told in a more straightforward way?

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

1. The novel indicts the current state of mental healthcare in the United Kingdom, which faces the threats of stigmatization and a lack of regulation. How does this representation reflect your own experiences with mental healthcare?

2. Gus relies on Jean as a friend to help her decide what to do with her crush, unaware that Jean has ulterior motives. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? How do you discern whether someone is extending genuine sympathy or trying to take advantage of your vulnerability?

3. Gus’s crush on Mary prevents her from seeing the reality of their dynamics as potential romantic partners. Have you ever idealized someone to the point of failing to recognize the reality of their character? How did you overcome this misconception?

4. The novel explores the unreliability of memory through the concept of fabricated memories. Have you ever been in a situation where you realized that your feelings toward someone or something were based on fabricated or partial memories? How did you react to the new perspective that changed your feelings towards that person or object?

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

1. Anna is a high-profile celebrity, and the novel explores the impact of publicity in the pursuit of justice. Do you think the court of public opinion is more effective than a legal court in exacting justice? How does discourse influence the outcome or public memory around a high-profile court case?

2. Discuss the novel’s examination of social class dynamics. Is Gus justified in resenting Mary’s wealthy peers? Does the novel reflect social class dynamics in your own context?

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

1. The novel examines the difference between needs and wants. How does it qualify this distinction? How does the acknowledgment of this difference aid Gus’s character development?

2. Trace Gus’s shifting feelings toward Anna, focusing on particular moments in which they change. How do these moments contrast with the way Mary and Jean have depicted Anna in the past?

3. At one point, the novel alludes to My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. How might you compare Gus and Mary to the central characters of that novel, Lila and Elena? Does this comparison enrich their characterization or make them feel derivative?

4. Why do you think Lucy’s testimony fails to influence the judge’s verdict at the end of the novel? How does this contribute to the novel’s larger examination of the British legal system and the exploitation of women?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are Gus and make a playlist to convey your feelings for another character in the novel. Take turns sharing your playlists with each other—Can you guess whom each playlist is referring to?

2. Write a tabloid article covering the release of the verdict on the Guest v. Finbow trial. What details would you include? What details would you omit?