The Heir Apparent

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you like and dislike about The Heir Apparent? You might consider character, writing style, plot, etc.

2. Which characters stood out to you most throughout the novel? Which characters did you relate to the most?

3. This is Rebecca Armitage’s first book after a long career in journalism. Have you read other works of fiction by journalists—for example, Anna Quindlen’s After Annie or Geraldine Brooks’s Year of Wonders?

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

1. Lexi’s grief plays an integral role throughout The Heir Apparent. How do your own experiences of grief compare with Lexi’s?

2. Have you ever felt constrained by others’ ideas about what you should do with your life? How did you respond?

3. Lexi and Louis’s relationship is complicated even before Louis’s death. If you have siblings, does Lexi and Louis’s dynamic mirror your relationship with them in any way? If you don’t have siblings, were you nevertheless able to relate to Lexi’s sense of duty to Louis?

4. Self-forgiveness is an integral piece of Lexi’s character arc. Think about a time when you had to forgive yourself for something. Did you approach it similarly or differently than Lexi does?

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

1. How does Armitage explore sexism and racism, particularly as they exist in the press/media? Does it offer any solutions?

2. What arguments currently exist both in favor of the monarchy’s continued existence and against it? To what extent does the novel take a side on this issue?

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

1. The novel moves freely back and forth through time. How does the nonlinear structure impact the narrative’s development? How might the story look different if it were linear?

2. How does the theme of Duty Versus Personal Freedom impact Lexi’s and Amira’s characterizations? How does each woman find a balance between pursing their freedom and their duty?

3. Dollhouses have a long history in literature with feminist themes (for instance, in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House). How do you see the novel engaging with that history in its own use of a dollhouse as a symbol?

4. How do Lexi’s relationships with Jack and Colin demonstrate the various aspects of her characterization? How does each relationship contribute to her growth and decision about her future?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to adapt this novel into a Netflix series, similar to The Crown, whom would you cast in the main roles? Which director and composer would you hire?

2. Imagine a sequel to The Heir Apparent that focuses on Demelza. Do you see her becoming heir apparent over her father, Richard? What would that look like?