Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about the book’s classification as an “elevated beach read?” Many readers compare this style to authors like Elin Hilderbrand, the writer of Summer of ‘69; how does June Baby fit with or stand apart from other books you’ve read in this category?

2. Let’s talk about the ending. Ruth chooses a future for herself in New York, independent of both Charlie and Louis. What was your reaction to this resolution? Did you find it a satisfying conclusion to her journey of self-discovery?

3. The central mystery revolves around the secret relationship between Maggie and Diana. How effective was the slow reveal of their past through Diana’s letter and the hidden photographs? Did this discovery change your perception of Ruth’s mother and her choices?

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

1. Diana tells Ruth that she is “intentionally stalling out your life,” (89) and Lucy later accuses her of being in a “rut.” Have you ever felt similarly stuck or passive in your own life? How did your process of moving forward after a difficult period help you to connect to Ruth’s story?

2. Diana is a powerful mentor and surrogate mother to Ruth, and her influence continues to guide Ruth even after her death. Think about a mentor or influential figure in your own life. How did their guidance shape your path, and in what ways does that resonate with Diana’s impact on Ruth?

3. Lucy’s decision to confront Ruth is painful but necessary. How do you manage the balance between supporting a friend and offering them a hard truth they might need to hear?

4. Ruth feels a deep, complicated sense of belonging on Block Island, considering it her true home while also being treated as an outsider. Have you ever felt a similar push and pull with a place, feeling connected to it in one way but excluded in another?

5. After learning about her mother’s past, Ruth struggles with the idea that her existence prevented Maggie from pursuing her own happiness and art. In your own experience, was there ever a time when you felt responsible for somebody else’s choices? How did you manage this perspective?

6. The novel features several moments of deep choice, from Ruth’s decision about her pregnancy to her final resolution to start over alone. Discuss a difficult choice you’ve had to make in your life, and walk through your reasoning for why this choice was necessary for you to grow as a person.

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

1. June Baby vividly portrays the class divide in a seasonal tourist town like Block Island. What does the novel suggest about the relationship between wealthy vacationers and the service industry workers who support their leisure? Where do you see similar dynamics playing out in the world today?

2. The story contrasts the opportunities available to Maggie’s generation with those available to Ruth’s. What commentary does the novel offer on how expectations for women regarding career, love, and motherhood have shifted over time?

3. Ruth’s decision to have an abortion is a key moment in her journey toward claiming her own future. How does the novel handle this sensitive and personal choice? What does its inclusion suggest about the theme of self-determination in the story?

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

1. How does the recurring motif of water, particularly the ocean, reflect Ruth’s emotional state throughout the novel? Think about its role as a source of comfort, a representation of her grief, and the setting for her life-changing decision to save the drowning woman.

2. The novel sets up a compelling contrast between Charlie and Louis. What does each man represent in terms of a possible future for Ruth? Why do you think it was essential for her character’s growth to ultimately choose a path independent of both of them?

3. Diana is a central character despite being deceased for the entire present-day narrative. What literary techniques does Garvey use to make Diana’s presence feel so immediate and influential?

4. How do Diana’s house and studio function as more than just a setting? What does the space symbolize for Ruth, and how does Lynn’s attempt to change it reflect the novel’s larger themes of belonging and legacy?

5. Photographs, letters, and handwritten notes are important to revealing the story’s secrets. What is the significance of the past being communicated through these tangible objects rather than through direct conversation? How does this method of storytelling shape your experience as a reader?

6. How does Garvey’s depiction of Block Island’s physical landscape and social hierarchy drive the plot and shape the characters’ identities? How does this compare to a novel like Delia Owens’s Where the Crawdads Sing, where the natural environment is also central to the protagonist’s story?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Ruth’s personal essay about her summer of transformation is praised by the editor at Vogue. If you were to give this essay a title, what would it be? What key moments or feelings would you want to capture in the opening paragraph to draw the reader in?

2. Imagine you were tasked with curating a gallery exhibit titled “The Women of Block Island,” featuring Maggie’s paintings and Diana’s photographs. Which specific images described in the book would you place together, and what narrative would you hope their pairing would convey to viewers?

3. What do you imagine Ruth’s life looks like one year after the novel ends? Picture her in her Brooklyn apartment. What is she writing about, and how have her relationships with her father, Lucy, and Louis evolved?