Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What expectations did the novel’s opening, with Susan’s confession about killing her sister, set for you? How did the rest of the story either confirm or subvert those initial ideas?

2. Andrea Mara has written several best-selling thrillers, including All Her Fault and No One Saw a Thing. If you’ve read her other work, how does It Should Have Been You compare in terms of suspense, character development, and its exploration of domestic secrets?

3. Were you surprised by the final revelation about Greta’s role in Savannah’s death? Looking back, what clues or moments of foreshadowing did you notice that pointed toward her hidden culpability?

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

1. Susan’s single, impulsive text message sets off a catastrophic chain of events. Can you recall a time when you sent a message to the wrong person or posted something you instantly regretted? How does your own experience of digital missteps compare to the extreme fallout that Susan faces?

2. In It Should Have Been You, motherhood is portrayed under intense pressure, shaped by fear, responsibility, and judgment. Did Mara’s depiction of either Susan or Celeste resonate with your own experiences of parenting or what you’ve observed in others?

3. The Oakpark neighborhood operates on a fragile performance of respectability, where appearances are everything. Thinking about the communities you belong to, online or in person, what unspoken rules govern behavior and reputation?

4. Felipe is burdened by guilt for forwarding the screenshot that led to Aimee’s death. Think about a time when a small action you took had much larger, unintended consequences. How did that sense of responsibility affect you?

5. What did you think of the complicated sisterly bond between Susan, Greta, and Leesa? Reflecting on your own experiences (or relationships you’ve observed), did any aspects of their dynamic feel familiar or relatable?

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

1. What role does the neighborhood WhatsApp group play in shaping the community’s conflicts and sense of identity?

2. The story is an example of Irish noir, a genre that often explores anxieties in modern Ireland through the format of a psychological thriller. In what ways does the affluent South Dublin setting feel specific to its location, and in what ways could the story’s themes of social pressure and digital drama unfold anywhere?

3. What do you make of the novel’s portrayal of online shaming and doxxing, particularly in the parallel storylines of Susan and the teenagers? Does it offer a realistic look at how digital conflicts can escalate? Can you think of similar real-world situations?

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

1. How did the novel’s shifting perspectives and frequent flashbacks impact your reading experience? Did this narrative structure enhance the story’s suspense?

2. What is the significance of the mistaken identity motif beyond the initial Susan/Savannah mix-up? Think about how characters misrepresent themselves and misread one another’s intentions throughout the novel.

3. How does the rose-gold bangle symbolize the pervasive nature of deception in the novel while also functioning as a plot device?

4. Greta’s character arc is one of the most complex in the novel. What moments led you to trust her, and when did you begin to suspect that she was hiding something significant?

5. How do the conflicts between Nika and Maeve mirror the betrayals and vengeful acts of the adults?

6. In what ways does Celeste’s transformation challenge the theme of suburban respectability?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were a detective investigating the murders in the novel, what questions would you ask, and who would be your prime suspect?

2. Whose story would you want to see explored further in a sequel or prequel novel, and why? What key elements would the plot explore?

3. How would the novel’s story change if it were presented as a true-crime documentary, with interviews, reconstructed scenes, and conflicting testimonies? Which “voices” would you include?