Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel is structured with flashbacks to Verity and Monk’s time in college, contrasted with their reunion in the present. How did this structure impact your reading experience and your understanding of their relationship? Did you find the tension between past and present effective?

2. How did you feel about the second-chance romance structure of the book? Does the novel’s portrayal of trauma and mental illness set it apart from other contemporary romances you might have read, like those by Colleen Hoover?

3. What was the most memorable aspect of the novel for you?

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

1. Verity’s passion for her work is a driving force in her life and is rooted in the idea of Art as Historical Reclamation. Have you ever felt a professional or creative calling that felt like a personal mission? What fuels that sense of purpose for you?

2. Monk initially holds a rigid “hard line” on fidelity because of his family’s history. Think about a time when a core belief or personal rule you held was challenged by a new experience or perspective. How did you navigate that shift?

3. The novel emphasizes the importance of a “chosen family” through Verity’s relationships with Tessa and Mel. Who makes up your essential support network? Consider sharing a story about an experience that brought you closer together.

4. The recurring question, “What would you save in a fire?” serves as an emotional touchstone for Verity. How would you answer this question, and what does your answer reveal about what you value most right now?

5. Monk finds that music is his most honest form of expression, a space where he feels closest to his true self. Do you have a creative outlet, hobby, or activity where you feel you can communicate more freely or authentically than with words?

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

1. What does the inclusion of historical figures like Gladys Bentley and Hazel Scott reveal about the history of Black and queer artists in America? How does the novel connect their struggles for recognition to contemporary issues of representation and erasure in the arts?

2. Verity’s pitch for Black Pearl is inspired by real-life Black leisure sanctuaries created during the Jim Crow era. Before reading this book, were you familiar with this history? Why do you think these stories of “rest as resistance” are so important to tell today?

3. What commentary is the novel making on how our society treats chronic mental illness? How do the experiences of Verity and Tessa reflect the real-world stigma and professional risks involved in disclosing a diagnosis?

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

1. How did the narrative choice to alternate between Verity’s and Monk’s perspectives affect your understanding of their conflict and reconciliation? Were there moments when you sympathized more with one character over the other because of this structure?

2. Screenplay excerpts from Dessi Blue are woven throughout the main narrative. What function do these scenes serve? How does Dessi’s and Tilda’s story of a hidden love parallel or contrast with the central romance between Verity and Monk?

3. In what ways do Verity and Monk’s journey either prove or complicate the idea of Honesty as Key to Lasting Love? 

4. How does this book’s approach to reclaiming a forgotten artist’s story compare to other works with similar themes, like Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo? What do both novels suggest about who gets to control historical narratives?

5. How does the symbolism of the SOS tattoo shared by Verity and Tessa add depth to the story? What does it represent about the unique nature of support and solidarity for those living with chronic illness?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were casting a film adaptation of Score, who would you choose to play Verity, Monk, and Canon? What specific qualities would you look for in the actors to capture the essence of these complex characters?

2. Imagine you are the music supervisor for the Dessi Blue biopic. Besides Monk’s original score, what real songs from the Harlem Renaissance or even modern tracks would you include on the soundtrack to enhance the storytelling?

3. Verity’s television show Black Pearl is successfully greenlit. Based on the theme of “rest as resistance,” what kind of storyline or character arc would you be most excited to see explored in its first season?