Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your experience reading the story from Will’s perspective after the first two books focused on Lake? For those who have read other point-of-view retellings, like Stephenie Meyer’s Midnight Sun, how did this book’s approach compare? 

2. Which element of the novel stayed with you the most after you finished: the romance, the device of slam poetry, or the family drama surrounding grief and responsibility? 

3. Did knowing from the start that Will and Lake end up together change how you experienced the tension and conflict of their past?

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

1. Will and Caulder use their daily “suck and sweet” ritual as a tool for communication. Do you have similar traditions in your family that help you stay connected? 

2. Throughout the novel, Will and Lake use poetry as a tool for self-expression and emotional vulnerability. What creative or emotional outlets do you turn to when you need to process difficult feelings? 

3. Throughout his retelling, Will wrestles with the conflict between his family responsibilities and ethical boundaries and his attraction to Lake. How have you handled conflicts of interest or ethics in your own life? 

4. Gavin and Eddie provide friendship and support to Will and Lake throughout their relationship, ultimately forming a chosen family unit. Are there people who fill familial roles in your life despite not being related biologically?

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

1. How do Will and Lake’s experiences as guardians to Caulder and Kel reflect real-world challenges faced by young people tasked with raising their younger siblings on their own? 

2. Hoover’s novel centers on a romantic relationship between a teacher and a student. In what ways does the novel interrogate or gloss over the power dynamics inherent in such a relationship?  

3. Historically, slam poetry emerged from a desire to make poetry more accessible and authentic to a broad audience. Are there similar movements today that aim to make art and storytelling more accessible?

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

1. What effect does the framing device of Will and Lake’s honeymoon have on moments of intense conflict within the narrative, such as the laundry room scene or Will’s fight with Javier? How does knowing the ending from the start affect Hoover’s ability to build narrative suspense?

2. What is the function of Vaughn’s character in the opening flashback, and does her reaction effectively set the stage for the contrast Hoover sets up between her and Lake? 

3. Let’s talk about Will’s character arc. How does his understanding of duty evolve across the novel? 

4. How do the specific poems performed by Will and Lake, like “This Girl” and “Schooled,” drive the plot forward and resolve their central conflicts? 

5. For those who have read other Colleen Hoover novels, such as Hopeless or It Ends With Us, do you see similar themes or emotional patterns in her other works compared to This Girl?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were adapting This Girl for the screen, which actors would you cast to play Will and Lake? What specific qualities would they need to capture the characters’ vulnerability and strength? 

2. Add one chapter to the book from another character’s point of view. Whose perspective would you choose, and what pivotal scene would you want them to narrate? 

3. The story is full of slam poetry from Will and Lake. Imagine a poem Julia writes before her death. What would it be titled and what would its central message be?