The Sweetest Oblivion

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

1. How did you respond to the revelation that Adriana Abelli was pregnant? How did this plot twist alter your impressions of Elena and Nicolas’s relationship trajectory?

2. The novel represents a heated dynamic between Elena and Nico—forbidden lovers. Discuss your impressions of this relationship. How does it compare and contrast to your own viewpoints on sex, kink, fantasy, and power in intimate relationships?

3. If you were Elena and your father had arranged your marriage to Nico, how would you respond? How did Elena’s reaction surprise or disappoint you? What would you have done differently and why?

4. Elena is immersed in the Cosa Nostra, a world that both frustrates and excites her. How does her relationship to this society compare to your own sense of home family, normalcy and security?

5. Discuss your impressions of Nico’s character. What are the least and most believable facets of his character? Is he sympathetic, relatable, and/or realistic; why or why not?

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

1. The Sweetest Oblivion is a dark romance and mafia romance novel. How do these genre parameters relate to Lori’s representations of sex, romance, relationships, and power? Are Lori’s representations culturally aware, politically correct, and/or sexually sensitive? Which aspects of the characters’ relationships reinforce stereotypes and which challenge them?

2. Set in New York’s world of organized crime, the novel is rife with violent imagery. Analyze the role, effect, and significance of violence in Elena and Nico’s world. Are Lori’s representations subverting or reinforcing stereotypes?

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

1. The novel is written primarily from Elena’s first-person point of view, with intermittent chapters written from Nico’s first-person point of view. Explore the narrative and thematic significance of these formal choices. How would the novel resonate differently if Elena had fewer chapters and/or Nico had more?

2. Discuss Elena’s and Nico’s character evolutions. Are they dynamic characters? If so, what compels them to change? If not, why are they impervious to change?

3. How does the New York City backdrop contribute to the novel’s overarching mood? Does this setting play a major role in the characters’ relationships and experiences? Why or why not?

4. The novel explores the Quest for Autonomy and Self-Possession via Elena’s storyline. Discuss your impressions of Elena’s self-discovery journey. Does she claim her autonomy? What is Lori suggesting about women’s rights via Elena’s storyline?