The Last List of Mabel Beaumont

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel fits into the “uplit” genre, similar to books like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. How did this uplifting focus on kindness and human connection affect your reading experience? Did you find the story’s resolution hopeful and earned?

2. Mabel’s entire journey is sparked by her interpretation of Arthur’s note, “Find D.” How did your perception of this quest change when you learned its probable, more mundane meaning near the end of the book? Did this revelation diminish the journey for you, or did it reinforce the novel’s message about finding your own purpose?

3. What was the most memorable or moving aspect of the story for you? Was it Mabel’s reunion with Dot, the formation of her found family, or her quiet moments of reckoning with her past?

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

1. The novel draws a powerful distinction between the passionate love that Mabel felt for Dot and the companionate love that she shared with Arthur. How did the book’s portrayal of these different forms of love resonate with your own understanding of relationships?

2. Have you ever formed a friendship with someone from a completely different generation? What did you think about the way Mabel’s intergenerational found family of women support one another through their individual struggles?

3. What do you make of Mabel’s initial impulse to shoplift the piccalilli to feel visible again as an older woman? Can you think of a time when you’ve felt overlooked, and what did it take to feel seen?

4. Mabel’s friends are inspired by her courage to make their own life changes, like Patty deciding to live for herself and Kirsty reconciling with her parents. Have you ever been motivated by a friend’s journey to make a positive change in your own life?

5. Near the end of the novel, Mabel declares that she and Dot can have a “second life” (299). What does the idea of starting a new chapter, regardless of your age, mean to you?

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

1. The narrative contrasts the societal condemnation of being gay in post-war Britain, which forced Mabel and Dot into secrecy, with the challenges that Erin faces today. What does this parallel suggest about the progress that has been made and the prejudices that still linger?

2. How did the rigid gender roles of the 1950s, which pushed women toward marriage and domestic life, shape Mabel’s life-altering decision to marry Arthur? How might her life have been different if she had been a young woman today?

3. What role do you think uplifting stories like this, which focus on hope and connection in the face of adversity, play in our current cultural moment? Why do you think the uplit genre has become so popular?

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

1. The simple note “Find D” evolves from a plot device into a powerful symbol of Mabel’s agency. How does the meaning of the list shift throughout the novel, and what does its ultimate, ambiguous origin say about creating one’s own purpose?

2. Arthur is a posthumous character, yet he feels fully realized. How does the author use Mabel’s memories, his ghostly apparitions, and the thoughtful arrangements he made for her care to build his character and explore the nuances of their marriage?

3. The narrative is structured around Mabel’s memories, constantly weaving flashbacks into her present-day quest. How did this nonlinear approach affect your understanding of Mabel’s motivations and the secrets she kept for 62 years?

4. What is the significance of the graveyard as a setting? How does it transform from a place of quiet, routine remembrance into a site of profound confession and liberation for Mabel?

5. Laura Pearson is known for writing character-driven novels like I Wanted You to Know. In what ways did the deep focus on Mabel’s interior life shape your experience of the plot? How did this compare to other character-focused stories you have read?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Mabel’s well-intentioned meddling in her friends’ lives causes quite a bit of chaos. Rewrite the scene at Kirsty’s surprise party from the perspective of Kirsty’s mother, Sandy. What is she thinking and feeling when she arrives unexpectedly?

2. The women’s friendship becomes a vital source of support. Create a mission statement for their group. What three core values do you think would best define their friendship?

3. The reunion between Mabel and Dot is a pivotal moment that the reader experiences largely through Mabel’s eyes. Write a brief diary entry that Dot might have written the night after she and Mabel reconnected after 62 years. What hopes or fears might she express?