There Are No Saints

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, child abuse, and emotional abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you make of the novel’s blending of dark romance with psychological thriller elements? Have you encountered similar genre combinations in other works—for example, Colleen Hoover’s Verity? How do they compare in their treatment of violence and attraction?

2. Did you listen to Sophie Lark’s recommended “soundtrack”? If so, how did it impact your reading experience? If not, why?

3. Which character’s perspective felt most authentic to you, and what does that reveal about how Lark constructs her unreliable narrators?

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

1. Mara’s decision to enter dangerous situations despite recognizing the risks reflects her survival philosophy. Think about times when you’ve had to choose between safety and opportunity in your own life. How did you respond, and do you think you made the right choice, in retrospect?

2. Consider Cole’s controlling behaviors throughout the novel. Did you find it difficult to read about his manipulation, or did you find that it enhanced the novel’s tension?

3. Childhood trauma clearly shapes both protagonists’ adult relationships and decision-making—particularly their attraction to dangerous dynamics. How realistic did you find this depiction of trauma?

4. How do you interpret Mara’s statement that she “want[s]” Cole despite knowing his nature? Consider whether you see this as agency, self-destruction, or something more complex.

5. Which forms of creative expression have helped you process difficult emotions?

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

1. Economic inequality permeates the novel’s artistic community. What does this portrayal reveal about who gets opportunities and recognition?

2. The surveillance technology that Cole uses to monitor Mara reflects contemporary concerns about privacy and digital stalking. Examine how the novel’s treatment of these themes resonates with current debates around social media and technology.

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

1. Lark structures the novel around alternating first-person perspectives. How did this narrative choice affect your sympathy for and moral judgments of both characters?

2. The novel incorporates occasional illustrations. How might this intersect with the motif of surveillance? What other effects does it have?

3. The novel both embraces and challenges dark-romance conventions around possessive male leads and vulnerable heroines. Compare Lark’s approach to other works in the genre, such as her own Brutal Birthright series. How do you distinguish between critique and endorsement when reading novels like these?

4. Compare Cole’s and Shaw’s varying approaches to art and murder. What does this contrast suggest about different possible relationships between art and violence?

5. Why does Lark choose to end the novel with Mara moving in with Cole rather than escaping or defeating him?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you’re curating an art exhibition featuring works by Cole, Mara, and Shaw. What themes would you explore, and how would you present their different artistic approaches to trauma and violence?

2. What would a sequel focusing on Shaw’s perspective reveal about his motivations and methods? How might his narrative voice differ from Cole’s calculated control and Mara’s emotional intensity?

3. If you were adapting this novel for film or television, which scenes would be most challenging to portray? How would you handle the balance between artistic beauty and violent content?

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