Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with a dedication—“To the people who publicly hate me but are secretly reading this right now” (v)—immediately acknowledging the controversy surrounding the dark romance genre. How did this author’s note affect your reading experience from the start? Did it make you more critical, more curious, or something else entirely?

2. H. D. Carlton is also known for her best-selling series, The Cat and Mouse Duet. If you’ve read that series, how does the dynamic between Reverie Adams and Dreadful “Dread” Sharpe compare to the one in Haunting Adeline? If you haven’t, what was the most memorable or shocking scene for you in My Dreadful Darling, and why did it stand out?

3. How did you feel about the novel ending on a major cliffhanger with Reverie’s arrest? Do you think this was an effective way to build suspense for the sequel, or did you find the lack of resolution for this installment frustrating?

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

1. Reverie changes her name from Charlotte D’Amour to sever ties with her family’s dark past. Have you ever felt that other people’s assumptions or expectations shaped how you were seen? How did you respond, and what did that experience teach you about forming your own identity?

2. Throughout her ordeal, Reverie relies on the unwavering support of her best friend, Sable Vázquez, and her father figure, Special Agent Barry Jones. What qualities make these relationships a safe harbor for her? Think about your own life and the people who provide you with that kind of unconditional support.

3. Severen, a quiet romance reader, participates in Dread’s cruelty before his conscience begins to surface. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where loyalty to a friend clashed with your own moral compass? How do you think the internal conflict shown through Severen Fox reflects the challenges of navigating complex friendships?

4. Dread channels his grief into a 16-year obsession with revenge. What are some of the different ways people respond to deep loss or injustice? How does Dread’s path compare to other coping mechanisms you have seen or read about?

5. Reverie spends most of her life burdened by the secret of what she witnessed her father do. Reflect on a time when keeping a difficult truth to yourself affected your relationships or your sense of self. What, if anything, helped you begin to move forward?

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

1. Lionel D’Amour successfully manipulates the media and the public, creating a narrative of himself as a wrongly convicted family man. How does the novel critique the power of public perception in the justice system? Where do you see similar dynamics of a charismatic figure swaying public opinion despite evidence to the contrary in today’s world?

2. The author explicitly distinguishes Regina D’Amour’s postpartum psychosis from the more common postpartum depression. What did this distinction teach you about the realities of severe maternal mental illness? How does grounding Regina’s actions in a real psychiatric condition affect your interpretation of her character and Reverie’s trauma?

3. The book engages directly with tropes that make the dark romance genre so divisive, such as stalking and coercion being framed within a love story. What role do you believe fiction plays in shaping our ideas about consent and healthy relationships?

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

1. The endearment “darling” is used first by Lionel to manipulate the public and is later weaponized by Dread against Reverie. How does the meaning of this single word transform throughout the story? What does its changing use reveal about the themes of manipulation and possessive desire?

2. What specific moments best illustrate the theme of Obsessive Hatred as a Mask for Desire in Dread’s character? How does the narrative blur the line between his mission for revenge and his intense, burgeoning attraction to Reverie?

3. Think about the recurring motif of water. How does it evolve from a symbol of Reverie’s deepest trauma to a space for potential healing and trust in her relationship with Dread?

4. Dread’s relentless pursuit of revenge is a central part of his character, echoing literary avengers like Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo. In what ways does Dread fit this archetype? How does his story complicate or subvert that classic narrative, especially once romance becomes a primary motivation?

5. Throughout the novel, Dread and Reverie repeatedly reinterpret earlier experiences as they learn more about each other’s pasts. Choose one moment that changed your understanding of a character or event, and explain how the new information reshaped your reading of the story as a whole.

6. Lionel remains off-stage for most of the book. What literary techniques does the author use to ensure his menacing presence is felt constantly, driving the plot and influencing the characters even from a distance?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Reverie’s goal is to become a victimology advocate for children. If you were to create a public service announcement based on her and Dread’s experiences, what key message would you want to convey about the long-term effects of childhood trauma and the importance of believing young witnesses?

2. Imagine you are tasked with designing the book cover for the sequel. What symbols, colors, or images from My Dreadful Darling would you use to capture the unresolved tension and set the tone for what’s to come?

3. The novel ends with Reverie being arrested for Mindy Sackler’s murder. Write a short internal monologue from Dread’s perspective the moment he learns what has happened. What are his immediate feelings and what is his first planned action?