Parents Weekend

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you find the resolution to the mystery satisfying?

2. How does this book compare to other novels in the crime thriller genre, like The Crash by Freida McFadden or Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier?

3. As you read, did you have any theories about the crime that turned out to be incorrect? What clues tipped you off?

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

1. Coping with grief and trauma is an important concept in the novel. What strategies or advice have you found helpful in your own life when coping with painful experiences?

2. Consider Mr. and Mrs. Belov’s motive for abducting the five students and Aunt Janet’s comment that if anyone hurt her kids, she’d make them pay. Have you experienced a time when you reacted instinctually to a threat rather than rationally?

3. Do you feel the book’s critical posture regarding technology and social media is warranted? Is there a specific technological advance you find especially concerning as a threat to privacy or safety?

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

1. The novel takes a critical view of social media’s influence on criminal investigations and the victims involved. What obligations do you think social media platforms and their parent companies have to address or prevent negative outcomes like false accusations and harassment?

2. With the characters of Professor Turlington and Andrew Wong, Parents Weekend shows both a college administration and the parole system failing to protect citizens from sexual predators. Do you feel Finlay gave an accurate portrayal of how society handles this problem? What more can or should be done?

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

1. Discuss the pros and cons of telling the story through alternating points of view. How might the story be different if it were told from one character’s first-person perspective?

2. Identify clues and red herrings that effectively shaped the mystery and maintained the suspense of Finlay’s story.

3. How does the story’s university setting contribute to the plot and character arcs?

4. When Keller encounters Cody at the Golden Gate Bridge, she decides to engage him despite not being trained in suicide prevention. Discuss the ethical complexities of this decision. What does her choice to act say about her as a character?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine a spinoff crime drama television series featuring one of the characters from Parents Weekend. Which character would you choose, what actor would you cast in the role, and what would the premise of the show be?

2. Design an epic prank for Blane and Mark to post on PrankStool to achieve legend status on campus.