Off to the Races

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you find it credible that Billie and Vaughn’s relationship will stand the test of time? Why or why not?

2. What is your opinion of the ending of the novel? Did you like Vaughn’s “grand gesture” to win Billie back?

3. What makes Off to the Races stand out compared to other contemporary romances? Consider other novels that are set on ranches, such as Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage, or other small-town romances, like Lucy Score’s Things We Never Got Over.

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

1. Have you ever struggled to forgive a family member who did something unkind, illegal, or immoral? How did you overcome that obstacle? How did this experience influence your opinion on Vaughn and Billie’s romance?

2. Have you ever felt as though a relationship with an animal helped you understand yourself or other people? What did you gain from that experience?

3. Billie is treated as an outsider in the horse-racing world because of her gender. Have you ever had an experience—either professional or personal—in which you were an outsider? How did you navigate being perceived as different from those around you? 

4. Have you ever been to a horse race? What was that experience like? How did it compare to Billie’s understanding of “derby day” near the end of the novel?

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

1. Vaughn is extremely wealthy, while Billie comes from an extremely wealthy background but ultimately rejects it. What broader comments does the novel make on the social impacts of wealth?

2. “Westerns” are sometimes equated with the American West, but this novel takes place in the Canadian West. What parts of the novel felt culturally specific to Canada? How did this setting inform your understanding of the national differences between the United States and Canada?

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

1. How does Silver establish her intention to keep building this world in future installments? What does she foreshadow might happen  in future installments of the Gold Rush Ranch series?

2. Who changes more dramatically in the novel, Vaughn or Billie? Who is the novel’s moral compass?

3. Vaughn observes the way that Billie’s love has “transformed” DD. Is Vaughn also transformed by that love? Is Billie transformed by love? Compare how this affects different characters.

4. How does the novel frame friendship as an important middle step in the “enemies to lovers” trope?

Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. How would you adapt Off to the Races into a movie? What actor would you choose for each role, and where would you film the main scenes? How would you change the story to better fit the film format? 

2. Pretend that you are applying for a job on a horse ranch. What role would you seek? What skills would you put on your resume for the position? Do you think that you would enjoy that kind of work?

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