The Boyfriend

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

1. Tom’s profession as a doctor initially makes him seem reliable and trustworthy. Why do you think that some occupations carry certain associations with them? What is an occupation that you consider to be inherently trustworthy, and one you tend to be suspicious of? Why?

2. Tom grows up witnessing abuse as a child. How does this childhood trauma impact him? Why do you think that childhood experiences are often so formative? Do you believe that someone can recover from childhood traumas without these events having a negative impact on personality development? 

3. Jealousy is eventually revealed as the motivation for Bonnie’s murder. Why is jealousy such a powerful emotion? What situations or characteristics tend to make you feel jealous?

4. Tom tries to cope with his violent impulses by killing people who supposedly “deserve it” (i.e., violent men like his father and Kevin). Do you think that people with destructive tendencies can channel and control those tendencies? What are some ways that someone could manage a desire to harm others?

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

1. The Boyfriend explores the assumption that if a woman is harmed, her male partner is most likely the perpetrator of that violence. The novel ultimately subverts this expectation (a woman turns out to be the killer); however, the cultural context of the threat of male violence is essential to the story. How do you think fearfulness of male violence shapes women’s experiences in the contemporary world?

2. The novel reveals the potential dangers of dating app culture, and yet many people feel they have no other options if they want to find a romantic partner. Why do you think that dating apps have become so prevalent? What are the pros and cons of this technology?

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

1. The novel has a dual plot structure, with one storyline set in the present-day that is told from Sydney’s point of view and one storyline set in the past that is told from Tom’s point of view as a teenager. How did this structure impact the novel’s suspense and drama? Did you prefer one storyline over the other?

2. Tom reflects the trope of the “romantic rescuer” twice, both times when Sydney is on dates with other men. How does this trope impact Sydney’s initial impression of Tom and her attraction to him?

3. Discuss the motif of blood in the novel (for example, Sydney suffers from a blood-clotting disorder, while Tom is assigned to draw blood at a health fair). How does this motif relate to the novel’s mood and themes?

4. How does Sydney develop as a character over the course of the novel? In particular, consider the evolution of her sense of justice and ethics, as well as her views on romantic relationships. 

5. Is Sydney justified in not reporting Kevin’s murder at the end of the novel? Is justice served by the novel’s conclusion? Why or why not?