Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. This novel is the first in the interconnected Cambric Creek series, introducing characters and locations that appear in later books like Sweet Berries. Did knowing this was the start of a larger world affect how you read Violet and Rourke’s story? How does it compare to other series openers you’ve enjoyed?

2. The novel’s tone shifts between the clinical, transactional nature of the farm and the warm, developing romance between Violet and Rourke. Did you find this juxtaposition effective, and how did the blend of humor, economic anxiety, and sexual content affect your overall impression of the book?

3. Which setting was more memorable for you: the sterile, functional environment of Morning Glory Farm or the vibrant, multispecies community of Cambric Creek? What did each location contribute to the story’s overall feel? Why do you think the author chose to ground such a fantastical premise in these two distinct, contrasting environments?

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

1. Violet takes the job at the farm out of sheer financial desperation, a situation reflecting the economic anxieties of her generation. How did her predicament make her character and her decisions more understandable or relatable to you?

2. What makes a physical space feel like a true community hub? The Black Sheep Beanery becomes a central spot for Violet where she finds friendship and belonging, so think about a place in your own life that has served a similar purpose.

3. Violet struggles with her attraction to Rourke, constantly trying to maintain her professional role. How did her internal conflict over their blurring boundaries resonate with you, and what does it say about the challenges of separating work life from personal feelings?

4. Violet moves from a homogenous human town to the diverse world of Cambric Creek. What aspects of her journey to find belonging as an “outsider” in a new culture felt particularly true to life?

5. With a master’s degree in nonprofit management and a passion for architectural history, Violet’s job is far from her dream career. She takes it as a means to an end, a “lifeline” to escape debt. How does the novel explore the tension between pursuing a passion and the practical need to earn a living?

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

1. How does Nascosta use the integrated, multispecies society of Cambric Creek to explore themes of prejudice, assimilation, and community? How does this portrayal compare to other urban fantasies you’ve read, such as Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series, where the integration of non-humans is a source of major social and political conflict?

2. The guide connects Violet’s choice to the rise of the gig economy. In what ways does Morning Glory Farm function as a fantastical version of a gig economy job, and what commentary does the novel offer on the lengths people go to for financial security?

3. What real-world parallels can you see to the concept of commodifying a natural bodily function for profit, such as in the realms of surrogacy, plasma donation, or social media influencing? How does the book’s fantastical approach allow for a unique critique of how our society markets and profits from the body?

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

1. The farm categorizes clients as “Earners” or “Clockwatchers.” How does this motif reinforce the theme of commodification, and how does Rourke’s character arc challenge and ultimately subvert his initial classification?

2. The Black Sheep Beanery is a recurring setting that symbolizes community and integration. How does this space allow Violet to build relationships outside the transactional confines of the farm? In what ways does the Beanery act as a metaphor for Cambric Creek more broadly?

3. How does telling the story entirely from Violet’s close third-person perspective shape your understanding of Rourke and the world of Cambric Creek? What might have been different if we had chapters from Rourke’s point of view?

4. Rourke’s nose ring is a significant symbol in the story. How does its meaning shift for Violet, evolving from a perceived barrier into a symbol of his past and readiness for a new relationship?

5. What is the effect of the novel’s architectural dissonance, which contrasts the “sterile white hallways” of the farm with its pastoral “farmhouse aesthetic” (8)? How does the physical design of the farm, especially the bilevel breeding bench, reinforce the theme of mechanizing a biological act for profit?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re designing a welcome brochure for new human residents of Cambric Creek. Based on Violet’s experiences, what three key places or pieces of advice would you highlight to help them integrate into the multispecies community?

2. What is the story of one of the background characters at the farm, like the schedule coordinator Magda or Violet’s cheerful coworker Kirime? Imagine a day in their life and describe their unique perspective on the work, the clients, and colleagues like Violet.

3. Violet lands her dream job at the Slade Foundation, researching historic textiles and architecture in Cambric Creek. What kind of architectural project or historical exhibit do you think she would be most excited to work on first? Describe the project and explain why it would be a perfect fit for her skills and passions.