Only for the Week

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which aspects of Janelle’s emotional journey and struggles were most compelling to you, and why? How did it compare to character arcs in other contemporary romance novels that focus heavily on personal growth—for example, Kennedy Ryan’s Before I Let Go?

2. Which of Rome’s romantic gestures for Janelle struck you as most meaningful?

3. Which secondary characters were most interesting or sympathetic to you?

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

1. Do you consider yourself adventurous and dedicated to making the most of the moment, like Rome, or more cautious, like Janelle?

2. Consider the core friendships in this novel, especially Janelle’s dynamics with Amerie, Dani, and Evie, and Rome’s with Micah, Christian, and Arnold. Did any resemble relationships in your own life? What qualities make a friendship healthy and authentic, in your experience?

3. If you were going to give a loved one a gift with personal significance, like the clay turtles Janelle gives Rome, what would you choose, and why?

4. Have you ever experienced the stressful social dynamics that can emerge around weddings? What is your view of the importance some people attach to having their ideal wedding day?

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

1. How does Bishop use Janelle’s character arc to reflect on the unique challenges Black women face in balancing their own needs with those around them?

2. How does Janelle and Rome’s relationship reflect their shared values and identities as Black Americans? What broader commentary on Black identity does the novel offer?

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

1. What is the effect of featuring both points of view in this romance, rather than just Janelle’s? How does the novel compare to others that use this structure—for instance, Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World?

2. How does the motif of gifts deepen Janelle and Rome’s relationship and reflect the theme of Love as the Means of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery?

3. How does the theme of food and meals add to your understanding of the role of family dysfunction in the text?

4. Why do you think Bishop elected to write multiple epilogues? How do they impact your understanding of the characters and the theme of The Pain of Family Dysfunction and Sibling Rivalry?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a movie or television miniseries, who would play the main characters?

2. Make a playlist based on the emotional moments in Part 3, like Bishop does for the first two parts of the book.