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

1. Despite her misgivings about Sam and Monica’s relationship, Abby is reluctant to check her husband’s phone, perceiving it as a betrayal of marital trust. Would you have looked at his messages sooner? If so, at what point in the storyline would you have looked? In your experience, how important is absolute trust in intimate partnerships?

2. Did you feel that the novel depicted the challenges of infertility and surrogacy sensitively? Why or why not?

3. Abby ignores several red flags in her early interactions with Monica. Did you feel frustrated by her gullibility, or are her reasons for doing so understandable? To what extent is the protagonist responsible for what happens to her?

4. After one of Monica’s pregnancy checkups, Abby feels that she should have the first photograph of the baby, while Monica insists that she is entitled to it. Which one of them is right? At this point in the narrative, who is the baby’s rightful mother?

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

1. Discuss how Abby’s character embodies the challenges that many women face in the modern workplace in the United States. 

2. Explore the novel’s portrayal of the ethical considerations of surrogacy. How does the novel highlight surrogacy’s legal and emotional complexities? Did The Surrogate Mother change your views on surrogacy? If so, in what way?

3. Discuss how Abby’s experiences highlight American societal expectations surrounding motherhood and fertility.

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

1. Discuss how the author uses misdirection, plot twists, and unreliable characters to shape the readers’ experience of the narrative. 

2. How does Monica’s character evolve from the beginning to the end of the novel? Discuss the role that clothing plays in her character arc.

3. Discuss the role of Gertie as a secondary character. How does she embody the novel’s themes and motifs?

4. Discuss how the symbol of advertising contributes to McFadden’s thematic exploration of deception and trust. How does this depiction compare to other fictional portrayals of the advertising industry, such as in the TV series Mad Men?