Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Andrew Sean Greer’s work, including Less (2017) and Less Is Lost (2022), blends slapstick humor with poignancy. How did this combination of the absurd and the heartfelt shape your overall experience of reading Villa Coco?

2. What do you think about the novel’s exploration of the archetype of an American fumbling toward self-discovery abroad? If you’ve read Greer’s Less, how did you find Geoffrey’s youthful journey compared to Arthur Less’s journey in middle age?

3. What was your reaction to Geoffrey’s final choice to board the Caprice? Did you find it to be a satisfying and believable conclusion to his transformation, and why or why not?

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

1. Geoffrey arrives at Villa Coco with a vow to “take life seriously” and avoid chaos (6), only to have his plans immediately upended. Think about a time in your life when you tried to impose a rigid order on things. How did your plans hold up against the unpredictability of reality?

2. Oscar’s great regret is having been “lazy in love” (157), suggesting he chose a safe path over a more passionate one. Reflect on a moment when you faced a choice between a secure, predictable option and a riskier, more heartfelt one. What did that experience teach you about your own priorities?

3. The Baronessa’s household runs on a set of unique superstitions, such as the dire consequences of placing a hat on a bed. Do you have any personal or family rituals that might seem eccentric to outsiders but hold special meaning for you? What do these traditions reveal about what you value?

4. Giacomo’s life is a series of compromises, balancing his personal desires against his familial duties and his arrangement with Laurine. Have you ever felt caught between your own aspirations and your obligations to others? How do you navigate that tension in your life?

5. What do you make of Geoffrey’s initial nickname, Giovedì? Have you ever felt defined by a role or a label someone else gave you, and how did that affect your sense of self?

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

1. How does the novel use humor to explore the cultural clash between Geoffrey’s orderly American mindset and the whimsical, often chaotic, Italian villa? What does this contrast suggest about different approaches to life and relationships?

2. The Baronessa appears to have largely invented her aristocratic persona, using it to navigate her world with agency and flair. What does her story suggest about the power of self-creation, particularly for women of her era who faced different societal constraints?

3. What role do artistic retreats like Villa Coco play in our culture? Why might it be important to have spaces that operate outside of mainstream society’s rules?

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

1. How does the persistence of the faina, or untamable marten, undermine Geoffrey’s quest for order? What is the significance of the creature’s death?

2. Discuss the Baronessa’s role as a static character who changes those around her. What specific actions or conversations show her acting as the primary catalyst for Geoffrey’s growth?

3. The story is told by an older Geoffrey looking back on his 21-year-old self. How does this narrative distance shape your perception of events? Are there moments where you can clearly hear the voice of the older narrator?

4. How does the novel’s caper, involving the forged paintings and Geoffrey’s notarized catalog, contribute to the novel’s exploration of the idea of authenticity?

5. Discuss the role of the Caprice in the novel. How does it represent the Baronessa’s life philosophy, and what does it mean for Geoffrey when he chooses to board it?

6. The plot of an eccentric elder leading a younger person into a whimsical scheme is a well-known narrative trope. How does the Baronessa’s caper compare to similar stories you might have read, such as the adventures in Where’d You Go, Bernadette? What makes Greer’s approach to this convention unique?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’ve been tasked with organizing a few of the villa’s treasures according to the Baronessa’s principle of “affinità.” Choose three items mentioned in the book and explain why you would group them together and what story their unique arrangement would tell.

2. If you were to write a postcard from Geoffrey 10 years after the novel ends, what would it say and who would it be to? What kind of life do you imagine he has built for himself after sailing away on the Caprice?

3. What do you think would have happened if Geoffrey had accepted Giacomo’s offer to move to Milan? Sketch out a brief scene depicting their modern family life a year or so later.