Powerless: A Small Town Friends to Lovers Romance

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the author’s use of the friends-to-lovers trope affect your reactions to Sloane and Jasper’s romance as it developed?

2. Have you read any other installments of the Chestnut Springs or Gold Rush series? What themes or ideas reappear in both novels?

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

1. Have you ever had a friendship develop into a deeper relationship? How does your experience compare to Jasper and Sloane’s?

2. Can you identify with Sloane and Jasper’s experience of feeling powerless in the face of their family struggles? Why or why not?

3. How have you experienced the concept of chosen or “found” family in your own life? Who would you consider part of that unique circle, and why?

4. What moments in the story inspired you to reflect on your own healing and growth?

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

1. How does Sloane’s struggle against her powerful, image-conscious family reflect broader themes of privilege and control?

2. Discuss the book’s emphasis on emotional vulnerability in men. How does Silver seek to provide an alternative to common mainstream depictions of toxic masculinity?

3. How does the novel redefine family? What message does the story send about the importance of embracing healthy support systems?

4. How does Silver use Jasper’s story to portray the pressures and expectations faced by professional athletes who have become public figures?

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

1. How do the novel’s dual narrative perspectives create a sense of dramatic irony as the story unfolds?

2. What does the ranch symbolize for both Jasper and Sloane?

3. How does Silver employ the forced proximity trope to address Jasper’s issues with trauma, abandonment, and grief?

4. How does the author explore the motifs of power and agency through the characters’ relationships in their search for Self- Worth and Identity?

5. Does the ending align with the story’s themes and the individual characters’ journeys? Why or why not?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Consider Jasper’s ballerina tattoo. If you were to get a tattoo to symbolize your greatest love, what would it be and why?

2. Create a playlist for Jasper and Sloane’s road trip. Choose songs that represent their personalities and relationship, as well as the experiences they have on their journey.

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