The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about Gilmore’s approach to the “single-dad trope” in The Strawberry Patch Pancake House? If you’ve read other contemporary romance novels that feature single fathers—like those in Gilmore’s earlier Dream Harbor series—what made Archer’s story feel fresh or familiar to you?

2. What aspects of Archer’s transformation from world-renowned chef into small-town pancake cook did you find most compelling or believable? Did his journey from professional ambition to family fulfillment resonate with you? What moments in his character development stood out most?

3. Olive’s role as both the catalyst and the heart of the story shapes every major relationship in the novel. How effectively does Gilmore balance Olive’s voice as a child with her function as a plot device, and what did you think of her impact on the adults around her?

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

1. Archer struggles to balance his professional identity with his new role as a father, ultimately choosing family over career advancement. Have you ever faced a similar decision where personal relationships conflicted with professional goals? How did you navigate that choice, and what similarities or differences do you see with Archer’s journey?

2. The novel emphasizes how chosen family can provide deeper healing than biological connections alone. Think about the people in your life who have become family through choice rather than blood relation. What experiences or qualities created those bonds, and how do they compare to the relationships that Archer, Iris, and Olive develop?

3. Iris initially fears commitment and runs away when faced with the possibility of permanent family ties. Have you ever found yourself pulling back from a relationship or opportunity because it felt too significant or permanent? What drove those feelings, and how do you connect with Iris’s eventual decision to return and commit?

4. Dream Harbor’s residents immediately involve themselves in Archer and Olive’s lives through casserole deliveries, unsolicited advice, and constant check-ins. How comfortable would you be receiving this level of community attention and support? What benefits or drawbacks do you see in this type of close-knit community involvement?

5. Food preparation becomes the primary way characters express love and care throughout the novel. What role does cooking or sharing meals play in your own relationships? How do you use food to show care for others, and what memories or traditions around shared meals feel most meaningful to you?

6. Archer’s perfectionism initially prevents him from accepting simple solutions like boxed pancake mix, insisting on complex recipes that don’t serve his community’s needs. When have you found your own high standards or expertise getting in the way of practical solutions or genuine connection with others?

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

1. Dream Harbor represents a traditional small New England community where everyone knows each other’s business and chooses to collectively take responsibility for the welfare of local children. How do these community values compare to modern approaches to privacy and individual autonomy? What benefits and challenges do you see in this type of social structure today?

2. The novel presents professional achievement and external validation as ultimately less fulfilling than family connection and community service. How does this message align with or challenge contemporary attitudes toward career success and work-life balance? What cultural pressures around professional achievement do you recognize in Archer’s initial mindset?

3. Iris’s pregnancy occurs outside marriage, yet the community embraces the expanding family without judgment, focusing instead on love and commitment. How does this acceptance reflect changing social attitudes toward family formation, and what does the novel suggest about defining family through choice rather than traditional structures?

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

1. What significance do pancakes hold throughout the novel? How do they transform from a source of professional frustration for Archer into a symbol of community acceptance and authentic fulfillment, and what does his eventual embrace of the Bisquick recipe reveal about his character growth?

2. Gilmore uses the kitchen as both Archer’s professional domain and the space where the most intimate family moments unfold. How does this setting evolve from representing control and expertise to embodying vulnerability and connection? What does the kitchen’s transformation suggest about the intersection of work identity and personal relationships?

3. The novel alternates between Archer’s and Iris’s perspectives throughout their developing relationship. How does this narrative structure create tension and build understanding of their internal conflicts? What would change if the story were told from only one character’s viewpoint?

4. The book explicitly references romance novel tropes through the Dream Harbor book club’s discussions. How did this meta-commentary affect your reading experience, and what does Gilmore achieve by having her characters acknowledge the conventions they’re fulfilling?

5. Iris’s pattern of running away when relationships become serious creates the novel’s central crisis when she leaves after discovering her pregnancy. How does this character flaw drive the plot while remaining consistent with her established psychology? What makes her eventual return feel earned rather than convenient?

6. Food preparation and sharing appear throughout the novel as expressions of love, from the community’s casserole deliveries to Archer’s elaborate dinners for Iris. How does this motif develop across different relationships, and what does it suggest about the various ways people communicate care and belonging?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re designing the menu for The Strawberry Patch Pancake House’s grand reopening. Which Dream Harbor residents would you name pancake specials after, and what ingredients or preparations would reflect their personalities? How would you balance Archer’s culinary expertise with the community’s comfort food preferences?

2. If you could step into the story as a new Dream Harbor resident, what local business would you open on Main Street? How would your establishment fit into the community’s close-knit culture, and what role would you play in the ongoing network of mutual support and friendly interference?

3. Picture yourself organizing a community event like the Strawberry Fields Forever Festival for your own town or neighborhood. What activities would you include to bring people together, and how would you handle the inevitable small crises that arise when you’re trying to create something special for families with young children?

Need more conversation starters? Inspire your group with our Discussion Questions tool.