Summer Romance

Examine whether events or relationships inspire Ali’s actions to change her circumstances. How does exercising agency gradually transform Ali’s self-image? Particularly consider Ali’s work and home lives and her interactions with her friends, family, and neighbors throughout the novel.

Analyze how Ali’s intimate relationships impact her sense of self. Particularly consider her dynamics with Pete, Phyllis, Frannie, Ethan, her mom, and her three children. Can Ali see herself as an individual independent of these relationships? If so, how? If not, why? How does this relate to her evolution?

Explore the intersection of Ali’s grief over Fancy’s death and her despair over her separation with Pete. How have these overlapping losses affected Ali as a person, a mother, a daughter, and a friend? Illustrate via textual evidence.

Explore the ways that Ali’s relationship with Ethan ushers her toward healing and change. How does Ethan see Ali, and how does she see him? How do they relate to one another? What experiences and conversations do they share that help Ali reflect on her past, present, and future?

Compare and contrast Ali’s relationship with Ethan to her relationship with Pete. Consider the inceptions, histories, and trajectories of these dynamics. Consider the differences between Ethan and Pete as people. Consider how Ali acts in relation to each of them. Use textual evidence to illustrate.

In what ways does Ali pursue balance, happiness, and change over the course of the novel? What events, conversations, and relationships contribute to these facets of Ali’s personal growth journey?

What role does motherhood play in Ali’s sense of self? How do her relationships with her kids change over time? Consider how she relates to them at the novel’s start and how she attempts to amend these relationships.

How does Ali’s relationship with her late mother affect how she sees herself? In what ways is Fancy still present in Ali’s life even after her death? How has Ali seen Fancy in the past, and what experiences and conflicts cause her to change how she sees Fancy in the present?