55 pages • 1-hour read
Love and Other Words
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of death and child abuse.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How does the dual timeline structure enhance or detract from your experience of Macy and Elliot's love story? Did you find yourself more invested in one timeline over the other? Have you read other books that employ this narrative structure—(e.g., Taylor Jenkins Reid's Maybe in Another Life)?
2. What was your initial reaction the novel’s portrayal of grief and loss? Did you find the descriptions authentic? Why or why not?
3. How effective was the authors' use of books and reading as a foundation for Macy and Elliot's relationship? What did this shared passion reveal about the characters?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Macy struggles to communicate her grief, preferring to appear "normal" so that she will not be known as "the girl with the dead parent." Have you ever found yourself hiding parts of your identity or experience in order to fit in? How did this choice affect your relationships?
2. The novel explores how childhood trauma can impact adult relationships. How do past experiences shape people’s ability to form and maintain intimate connections?
3. Throughout the story, Macy and Elliot share their "favorite words" as a way to express their feelings. What would your "favorite word" be at this moment in your life, and what does this choice reveal about you?
4. The concept of "safe spaces" appears throughout the novel, particularly in the symbol of the closet. What places or situations serve as your emotional sanctuaries?
5. How do you relate to Macy's struggle between maintaining emotional safety and risking vulnerability for love?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book's relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.
1. How does the novel address modern expectations about healing from loss? More specifically, what does the narrative suggest about society's timeline for grief?
2. What does the contrast between Sean and Elliot's approaches to relationships reveal about different generational or cultural attitudes toward emotional intimacy?
3. How does the novel's portrayal of blended families and second chances reflect contemporary relationship dynamics?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book's structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.
1. Analyze the significance of Bridge to Terabithia in the novel. How does this literary reference deepen your understanding of Macy and Elliot's relationship?
2. How do the authors use the motif of "favorite words" to track the emotional development of the characters throughout the story?
3. How do the two houses (Berkeley and Healdsburg) function as metaphors for Macy's emotional state?
4. How do the authors use secondary characters like Sabrina and Sean to illuminate aspects of Macy's character development?
5. How does the symbol of the closet evolve throughout the narrative, and what does this evolution suggest about Macy and Elliot's relationship?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book's content and themes.
1. If you were to write an additional chapter that is set five years after the novel's conclusion, what challenges or triumphs would Macy and Elliot face?
2. Design a reading list for Macy and Elliot's book club. Which books would you choose, and why?
3. If you could give Macy one piece of advice at the beginning of the "now" timeline, what would it be, and why?
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