Want to Know a Secret?

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

1. How do you feel about McFadden’s depiction of a stereotypical suburban community? Discuss both the positive and negative aspects of this depiction and whether you agree or disagree with its portrayal. Was it believable; why or why not?

2. Do you believe that you have a public persona that you project to others, either intentionally or subconsciously? Is there value in doing so? Discuss both the positives and negatives of the theme of Public Appearance Versus Private Persona as it applies to both your life and the characters in the novel.

3. Read McFadden’s The Boyfriend (2024). How does McFadden portray the idea of revenge in both novels, comparing key similarities and differences? How do your experiences with anger and vengeance allow you to better understand the characters’ motivation for revenge?

4. Despite their differences, Julie and April respond similarly when faced with their husbands’ betrayal: largely pushing it aside. What do you think motivates them to do so? Would respond similarly; why or why not?

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

1. How does McFadden depict care for the elderly in the novel, particularly the dangers of elder abuse? How is this depiction reflective of how elder care is handled in society today? Discuss what you think McFadden is trying to point out about parent-child relationships, care facilities, and/or treatments for the elderly.

2. Read McFadden’s novel The Housemaid (2022). While her female leads have good intentions, they are not afraid to resort to violence and dishonest measures to achieve their goals. How do these depictions both subvert and align with typical depictions of women in psychological thriller novels?

3. Discuss McFadden’s portrayal of motherhood, specifically the relationship between pursuing a career and the demands of parenting. How do the female characters experience, adhere to, and subvert gendered societal expectations placed on them as women?

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

1. How does the novel’s shifting first-person narrative impact the mood of the story? Discuss specific scenes where McFadden uses the first-person point of view to manipulate the reader’s understanding of the events in the novel and contribute to narrative suspense.

2. Both Sean and Elliot and April and Julie are foils. What are the similarities and differences between these two sets of foils? How does McFadden use these contrasts to emphasize characterization, reinforce a character’s role in the story, and enrich the novel’s key themes? What does Sean and Elliot’s contrast offer the narrative that April and Julie’s do not, and vice versa?

3. In addition to April, Julie is also an antagonistic force. Discuss Julie’s character traits, motivations, and how her actions facilitate another character’s change (e.g., Janet or Maria) throughout the novel. What is the narrative function of having a second antagonist, and how would the novel change without Julie’s integration and ultimate character arc?

4. Aside from Janet, who else bears responsibility for Brianna’s death? Choose at least two characters and analyze the way that their actions lead to Brianna’s death.

5. How does Want to Know a Secret? follow and deviate from psychological thriller genre conversions? Identify specific details from the text to support your answer.

6. How is the suburban setting integral to McFadden’s novel? Consider its impact on the characters’ actions and thematic explorations. How would the narrative change if it was set elsewhere (e.g., in an urban setting)?