Analyze how the motif of mistaken identity, doubles, and disguise critiques the fragile and performative nature of identity in Oakpark. Focus particularly on the roles of Susan, Savannah, Jon, and Greta in your answer.

It Should Have Been You is situated within the Irish noir tradition, which often explores the anxieties of modern Irish suburbia. Analyze how Mara uses the setting of Oakpark in affluent South Dublin as an active antagonist that fuels the novel’s conflicts.

The domestic-noir genre often juxtaposes mundane settings with acts of extreme violence. Examine how Mara employs this technique in key scenes, such as the Prologue and Venetia’s invasions of the O’Donnell home.

Analyze the character of Greta as the novel’s ultimate anti-hero. Using her actions, motivations, and the final revelation about Savannah’s death, argue whether she functions primarily as a righteous avenger for past injustices or as a calculated manipulator whose protectiveness is a mask for her own survival instincts.

The novel presents two parallel plots driven by digital artifacts: Susan’s WhatsApp message and the video of Maeve’s stolen diary. Compare and contrast how these digital transgressions function in the adult and adolescent storylines. What does this parallel suggest about digital technology?

Explore the depiction of Jon and Susan’s marriage in It Should Have Been You, including the symbolic role of the rose-gold bangle. How do the dynamics of their relationship echo and expand on the novel’s thematic concerns?

Compare and contrast the character arcs of Susan and Celeste. What do their trajectories reveal about the experience of parenting within the suburban world of Oakpark?

Analyze Felipe’s character arc as a tragic hero, considering the consequences of his decision to forward the WhatsApp screenshot and his ultimate self-sacrifice. Does his final act of altruism redeem his original culpability? Why, or why not?