Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The final chapter reveals Detective Evans’s secret, completely changing our understanding of the story. Did you find this twist satisfying? How did it affect your overall impression of the novel and its exploration of justice?

2. How does It’s Not Her compare to other domestic thrillers you’ve read, or even to Mary Kubica’s other novels like Local Woman Missing (2021)? Does it follow the genre’s conventions, or does it subvert them in surprising ways?

3. The story is set in a remote Wisconsin resort, which cuts the characters off from help. How effectively do you think the isolated setting contributed to the novel’s atmosphere of paranoia and suspense?

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

1. Emily and Nolan’s vacation is meant to be a relaxing getaway but instead amplifies all their existing tensions. Have you ever been in a situation where a change of scenery made underlying problems more intense rather than less?

2. Reese feels deeply betrayed when she sees her friend, Skylar’s, posts on Instagram. What conflicts have you had in your own life related to your friends’ or family’s social media posts?    

3. Courtney’s fear causes her to suspect her own husband, Elliott, of horrific crimes. Can you think of a time when intense stress or fear made you question someone you trusted or view a situation in a completely different light?

4. What are your thoughts on Wyatt’s role as the family’s “perfect child”? Do you know anyone personally who has been affected by this kind of stereotyping and labeling within their family?

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

1. What does the tragic outcome of a simple social media prank reveal about the real-world dangers of misinformation and online identity? Does the book offer realistic commentary on our collective responsibility in the digital age?

2. The guide notes the parallels between the novel’s crime and the real-life Keddie Cabin Murders. How did knowing about this historical unsolved case affect your reading experience? Why do you think stories like these continue to fascinate us?

3. Detective Evans uses his position of authority to cover up a crime and frame someone else. What real-life stories do you know that feature governmental authority figures who abuse their power in this way?

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

1. What is the effect of the dual narration from Courtney and Reese? How does switching between their perspectives and timelines help build suspense and develop themes like the unreliability of perception?

2. Which of the novel’s red herrings did you find most convincing? How did the author’s narrative techniques mislead you into suspecting characters like Daniel, Elliott, or even Wyatt?

3. Which characters attempt to portray themselves as something they are not? How does the recurring motif of photographs and social media posts relate to this question?    

4. How are family members’ personal possessions appropriated and misused throughout the story? How does this relate to the story’s themes?    

5. How does Detective Evans’s last chapter force you to re-evaluate his actions and motivations throughout the entire investigation? Does this impact your understanding of any of the novel’s themes?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Let’s step into the world of the book. You are another guest at the Pearl Lake resort when the murders happen. Based on the gossip and fear spreading through the other cottages, who would you have suspected, and what story would you have pieced together?

2. Create a “survival kit” for a character in the book. What three objects, either symbolic or practical, would you give to Reese to help her navigate her captivity and its aftermath, and why would you choose them?

3. Write a brief letter from Courtney to the now-adult Mae and Cass, to be opened 10 years after the events of the novel. What would she want them to understand about that time, their parents, and the “joke” that had such terrible consequences?