Second First Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Sally Thorne is known for her opposites-attract romances. If you’ve read her debut, The Hating Game, how did Ruthie and Teddy’s dynamic compare to Lucy and Josh’s? What makes this familiar trope feel engaging and fresh in Second First Impressions?

2. What did you think of the retirement village as the primary setting for a romance novel? How did the atmosphere of Providence Retirement Villa shape the story’s conflicts and the development of Ruthie and Teddy’s relationship?

3. The novel blends quirky humor, especially with the Parloni sisters, with deeper emotional themes like trauma and family dysfunction. How well do you think the story balanced these different tones? Was the mix effective for you?

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

1. Ruthie’s life is defined by routines and checklists designed to keep her safe within her comfort zone. What does the novel suggest about the value and potential drawbacks of staying safely within our self-imposed limits?

2. The book draws a strong contrast between the found family at Providence and the characters’ strained biological families. Have you ever experienced a “found family”? What do you think makes these chosen connections so powerful?

3. Teddy and Ruthie’s relationship begins with a series of mistaken first impressions. Can you think of a time when your initial judgment of a person or situation turned out to be completely wrong? What helped you see things differently?

4. Melanie’s Sasaki Method is a very structured plan to help Ruthie embrace change. Do you think a methodical approach is a good way to tackle personal growth, or is it better to be more spontaneous? Which approach do you tend to favor?

5. What do the different characters in the novel teach us about the meaning of home? Is it a physical place like the Providence cottages, or is it about the people you surround yourself with?

6. Ruthie finds comfort in her long-running online fan forum for the show Heaven Sent. Have you ever been part of a fan community or a group centered on a shared interest? How can these communities provide a sense of belonging?

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

1. The threat of Prescott Development Corporation redeveloping Providence reflects a real-world trend of corporate interests taking over community-focused spaces. How did the novel’s portrayal of this conflict make you think about the balance between profit and people’s well-being?

2. How does the novel explore and challenge stereotypes about aging and the elderly? In what ways do characters like the Parloni sisters defy typical portrayals of women in their nineties?

3. Teddy is initially judged for his tattoos and non-conformist appearance. What does his character’s journey reveal about societal biases based on looks? How does the story encourage us to look past these surface-level details?

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

1. The story is told entirely from Ruthie’s first-person perspective. How did being inside Ruthie’s anxious, routine-driven mind affect your reading experience? In what ways is she an unreliable narrator, particularly when it comes to her own self-worth?

2. Reflect on how the novel frames love as both a private and a communal act. How do Ruthie and Teddy’s personal choices ripple outward to affect Providence as a whole, and why is it significant that their reunion occurs in a celebratory, collective space?

3. Melanie Sasaki and the Parloni sisters act as catalysts for Ruthie’s growth. How do their different approaches, the structured “Sasaki Method” versus the chaotic “Parloni Method,” push Ruthie in unique ways?

4. The guide identifies the “makeover” as a key romantic comedy trope in the novel. How does Ruthie’s transformation subvert or modernize the typical makeovers we see in films like She’s All That or Crazy, Stupid, Love? Is her change more internal than external?

5. Consider the “GIVE” and “TAKE” tattoos on Teddy’s knuckles. How do the messages behind these tattoos reflect the central tensions in his character and in his relationship with Ruthie?

6. The thin wall separating Ruthie and Teddy’s cottages is a key feature of their living situation. How does the author use this physical space to break down their emotional barriers and accelerate their intimacy?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that Rose Prescott had not changed her mind and the redevelopment of Providence went ahead as planned. What kind of future do you envision for Ruthie, Teddy, and the other residents?

2. The Parloni sisters have a history of tormenting their assistants with creative challenges like the “white shirt challenge.” If you were to design the next test for a new assistant, what would it be and what character trait would it be designed to reveal?

3. At the end of the novel, Ruthie is beginning a new life in Fairchild. What do you imagine a typical day looks like for her and Teddy one year after the epilogue ends?