Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your first impressions of Summer and Fitz? Did your opinions of them change from the New Year’s Eve party to the end of the novel? What specific moments were most important in shaping your final view of each character?

2. For readers who have read Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus novels, how did The Chase compare to the original series? Did the appearances by characters like Dean and Garrett enrich your reading experience?

3. How did you feel about the book’s blend of lighthearted romance, personal drama, and serious topics like sexual harassment? Which storyline resonated with you the most?

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

1. Fitz’s initially dismisses Summer as “surface level.” Have you ever felt stereotyped or misjudged based on your appearance, interests, or background, and how did that experience affect you?

2. Summer grapples with intense insecurity over her ADHD and learning disability, fearing others will see her as unintelligent. Is there a time you faced a similar challenge in an academic or professional setting? How did you work through feelings of self-doubt? Where did you find support?

3. Fitz’s difficult childhood taught him to hide his emotions to protect himself, making it hard for him to be vulnerable with Summer. Have you ever found that past experiences made it challenging to open up to someone? What helps build the trust needed to share your vulnerabilities?

4. Summer’s journey involves finding a new sense of belonging after being rejected by her sorority. Can you recall a time when you had to navigate a new social environment or find your place in an unfamiliar group? What did you learn from that experience?

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

1. What does the storyline involving Professor Laurie suggest about power dynamics in institutions like Briar University? How does the book’s portrayal of his behavior connect to broader conversations about institutional accountability that have emerged in recent years?

2. The Chase is a key example of the “New Adult” genre, which focuses on characters navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood. In what ways do Summer’s and Fitz’s struggles with identity, career uncertainty, and relationships capture the specific pressures of that life stage today?

3. What conversations do you think the novel encourages about Conflating Femininity with Superficiality? How do the reactions to Summer’s passion for fashion or Brenna’s confidence in her sexuality reflect real-world stereotypes or double standards for women?

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

1. How does the novel’s dual-perspective impact your experience of the story? How would the story have been different if Kennedy had chosen to tell the story using a single POV?

2. Compare and contrast Hunter and Fitz as characters? In what ways does Hunter function as a classic foil to Fitz throughout the story?

3. Fitz’s sketchbook and tattoos are symbols of his inner world. How does his art evolve across the novel?

4. How does the novel use the motif of hockey to shape its setting? What rhetorical devices or literary techniques does Kennedy use to illustrate the team culture?

5. The novel presents two very different ideas of home for Summer: The exclusionary Kappa Beta Nu sorority house and the chaotic but accepting hockey house. What does this contrast suggest about the nature of true belonging and community?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were a casting director for a screen adaptation of The Chase, who would you choose to play Summer, Fitz, Hunter, and Brenna? What qualities would make them perfect for those roles?

2. Imagine an alternate version of the story where Fitz never apologizes for his initial assumptions about Summer. How would her journey look different if she had chosen Hunter instead?

3. Summer’s passion is fashion design. If you could create a new design for her final swimwear project, what would it look like? Which character from the book would you choose to model it on the runway?