Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What are your first impressions of the Portheast Museum of Maritime Curiosities? Did it initially strike you as a charming and quirky place, or did it feel more like a sad monument to a life stuck in the past? How did your perception of the museum change as the community rallied to save it?

2. What did you think of the novel’s core premise, where lost objects connect people and reveal buried secrets? Have you read other books that explore a similar idea, like Ruth Hogan’s The Keeper of Lost Things? How did this book’s approach to the theme feel unique or familiar to you?

3. Which character’s “second chance” resonated most with you? Was it Evelyn’s discovery of her origins and her decision to travel, Alison’s escape from an abusive relationship, or Sariah’s reconciliation with her two mothers? What made that particular story arc so compelling for you?

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

1. The “Save Our Museum” committee evolves into a “found family” that provides the support its members lack elsewhere. Think about a time when a group formed around a shared interest or goal became a source of community in your own life. What qualities do you think help turn a group of acquaintances into a true found family?

2. Della makes a radical change in her life, leaving a high-profile television career for a quiet, unconventional life in Portheast after experiencing burnout. Have you ever felt the desire for a similar “second chance” or a major reset in your own life? What does Della’s journey suggest about the courage it takes to redefine success for yourself?

3. Evelyn’s museum is filled with discarded objects that she believes hold powerful stories. Think about an object in your own life that might look like “rubbish” to a stranger but carries a significant memory or story for you. What makes that item so special?

4. Sariah’s professional and polished exterior hides deep insecurities about her “grubby” past. In what ways do people use their careers or public personas to distance themselves from parts of their history they find difficult? Have you ever felt a similar need to create a new identity for yourself?

5. How do you think you would react if you discovered a foundational story about your own family was a lie, as both Evelyn and Sariah did? What does the novel suggest about the process of rebuilding your sense of self after such a shock?

6. The meaning of home transforms for Evelyn from a physical shelter to the people she chooses to have in her life. What does the idea of “home” mean to you? Has your definition of it changed over the years as your life has changed?

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

1. The story is deeply rooted in the history of Britain’s mother and baby homes, where unmarried women were often pressured to give up their children. Before reading this book, how much did you know about these institutions? How did learning about this history through the stories of Cora-May and Rose deepen your understanding of the novel’s themes of secrecy and generational trauma?

2. The central conflict begins with the threat of gentrification, as a celebrity chef plans to replace the local museum and ice cream shop with a new restaurant. What does the novel say about the tension between preserving local culture and pursuing economic development in small communities? Where do you see similar conflicts playing out today?

3. Alison’s storyline provides a depiction of coercive control. In what ways does her relationship with Roy show that domestic abuse is not only about physical violence but also about psychological manipulation, isolation, and control? How does the community’s intervention in her situation highlight the importance of outside support for those in abusive relationships?

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

1. Analyze Evelyn’s “Cornish Life in Bygone Days” diorama. What role does it play in the story? How does it interact with her characterization and the resolution of the novel’s themes?

2. What is the significance of the two central paintings: the forged Alfred Wallis and the authentic Peter Lanyon? How do these two artworks reflect the contrasting legacies of Evelyn’s adoptive mother, Elsbeth, and her adoptive father, Edwin?

3. Evelyn, Sariah, and Alison all embark on journeys of Reclaiming Female Autonomy. In what ways are their paths to independence similar, and where do they diverge? What might the author be suggesting by presenting these three distinct but interconnected stories of female empowerment?

4. The narrative champions the theme of Forging Found Communities. How does the “Save Our Museum” committee in this novel compare to other found families in literature, for instance, the group of women in Jojo Moyes’s The Giver of Stars? What does this book add to the conversation about the power of communities we choose for ourselves?

5. How does the Cornish coastal setting, with its dramatic landscapes, history of shipwrecks, and artistic legacy from the St Ives School, enhance the novel’s atmosphere and themes? Do you feel this story could have taken place anywhere else?

6. The novel’s structure shifts in Chapter 6 to reveal multiple perspectives on Evelyn’s poster. Why do you think the author chose to break from Evelyn’s point of view at this specific moment? What did this narrative choice accomplish that staying with a single perspective could not have?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The book ends with Evelyn creating a new future for the museum under the care of Jacob and Alison. If you were in charge of the next exhibition, following “Horizons,” what would its theme be? Which characters or objects would you feature to continue the museum’s mission of telling the community’s stories?

2. Imagine you are creating a “Second Chances” playlist for the museum’s new chapter. What songs would you choose to represent the journeys of Evelyn, Sariah, Alison, and George? Which song would you pick to capture the spirit of the community as a whole?

3. If you had the opportunity to add one item from your own town’s history to the Portheast Museum of Maritime Curiosities, what object would you choose? What forgotten story or hidden secret might it tell about your community?