The Clinic

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you guess that Jade was Haley in disguise? If so, what clues gave the twist away?

2. How does this book compare to Cate Quinn’s other novels, which she wrote before her sobriety? Can you tell a difference in her writing style?

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

1. If you have siblings, did you find the portrayal of Meg and Haley’s dynamic relatable? Has your relationship with your sibling(s) changed as you’ve grown older?

2. Meg argues that Max’s apparent selflessness is actually selfish—a way to feel good about himself. Have you ever encountered this dynamic? How did you respond?

3. Haley reinvents herself as Jade, while Cara longs to escape the media attention that her affair with her former employer sparked. Have you ever wished you could start over with a new identity or image? How did you handle those feelings?

4. Did you find the novel’s claims about trauma’s physicality compelling? When you’re stressed or upset, how does that feeling manifest in your body?

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

1. What does the novel have to say about celebrity culture? How do Haley and the other famous patients understand their relationship to fame?

2. How does the American insurance industry affect the action of the novel? What kinds of policy changes might mitigate some of the problems the novel identifies?

3. How does the novel challenge the stigma surrounding substance use disorders? Does its depiction of addiction seem accurate, based on what you know?

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

1. Discuss the novel’s use of alternating narrators. How does switching between Meg and Cara’s perspectives add tension to the mystery?

2. The man with “playing-card eyes” haunts Meg throughout the novel. What does this image suggest to you? How does it fit into the novel’s broader poker motif?

3. Explore the significance of the novel’s Pacific Northwest setting. How does it influence the action of the novel? How might it be different if it took place in the desert or an urban setting?

4. Why might Cara Quinn have chosen to focus on such a high-end addiction treatment center? What does this setting add to the book’s exploration of Problems in the Addiction Treatment Industry?

5. How does Cara’s negative experience of “going viral” contribute to the novel’s overall critique of celebrity culture?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a movie or television series, whom would you cast in the roles of Meg, Cara, and Haley/Jade?

2. Imagine a sequel to this novel following Cara’s tenure at the Clinic. Do you think she will be able to conceal her criminal activities?