The Defender

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The Defender blends a high-stakes romance with a suspenseful stalker subplot. Did you find one storyline more compelling than the other, and how well do you think they were integrated?

2. If you’ve read the first book in Huang’s Gods of the Game series, how did Vincent and Brooklyn’s story compare? If this was your first encounter with Huang’s work, how did The Defender work for you as a standalone story?

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

1. Brooklyn struggles with feeling that her success is attributed to her father’s influence rather than her own merit. Think about a time you worked hard to prove yourself in a personal or professional setting. What aspects of Brooklyn’s drive for independent validation resonated with you?

2. The Blackcastle team and their close friends form a strong chosen family. Are there people who fill familial roles in your life despite not being related biologically?

3. The novel explores the interplay between Brooklyn and Vincent’s personal and professional lives, especially with the club’s no-fraternization policy. When have you had to navigate a situation where your personal feelings and professional responsibilities were in conflict?

4. Vincent experiences intense pressure to perform, leading to moments of imposter syndrome before a big game. When you’ve faced a high-pressure situation, what strategies have you used to manage your own self-doubt or anxiety?

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

1. Seth’s character exemplifies the dangers of parasocial relationships, where a fan develops a one-sided, obsessive connection to a public figure. What message do you think the novel sends about the nature of celebrity worship and fan culture in the age of social media?

2. Huang uses the setting of the English Premier League to explore how intense media scrutiny and a global audience shape the characters’ lives and choices. What does the story reveal about the pressures faced by professional athletes?

3. Brooklyn’s career ambitions are constantly complicated by accusations of nepotism. How does her journey reflect broader conversations about privilege, meritocracy, and the challenges women may face in male-dominated fields like professional sports?

4. How did you react to the intense confrontation between Brooklyn and her mother, Sienna? What does their final conversation reveal about the difficulty of setting boundaries in complicated family relationships?

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

1. What is the significance of the crochet doll beyond being a creepy object? How does it symbolize the violation of privacy and the way fandom can become distorted into a sense of ownership?

2. Both Brooklyn and Vincent find support and acceptance in their chosen family and community. In what ways do the supportive relationships within the friend group challenge the idea that blood ties are the most important bonds a person can have?

3. The “rivals-to-lovers” and “forced proximity” tropes are central to this story. How does the execution of these conventions in The Defender compare to other sports romance novels you’ve read, such as Elle Kennedy’s The Risk?

4. How does Huang use different settings, such as the intimacy of Brooklyn’s flat, the public spectacle of the football pitch, and the confessional space of the empty stadium at night, to explore the tension between public and private life?

5. How does Vincent’s character arc challenge traditional ideas of masculinity? In what ways does his journey toward embracing vulnerability and prioritizing his relationship over his career offer a different perspective on strength?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Which scene from the novel do you think would be the most fun or the most challenging to adapt for a television series? What makes that moment so visually or emotionally compelling on the page?

2. Write the next chapter of Vincent and Brooklyn’s life after the Epilogue? Describe a specific scene or moment that might happen a year or two after the book ends.

3. Create a special edition of The Great British Bake Off featuring the Blackcastle team. What would be the signature challenge, and which character do you think would surprise everyone by winning Star Baker?