1. Between Ciara, Mishti and Lauren, which character did you most relate to or empathize with? Did your perception of these women change as you read? How did the alternating points of view influence your perception?

2. Both Lauren and Mishti feel like outsiders within the village. Discuss the different reasons each woman feels like a fish out of water. Why doesn’t this shared experience result in a friendship? Have you ever felt as though you’ve had a missed opportunity for kinship with someone?

3. Motherhood, specifically how to be a good mother, is a frequent topic throughout the book. Discuss each mother’s relationship with her children. How are they different or similar?

4. Social media and public perception are significant themes in the narrative. Discuss how each character’s relationship with social media and local town gossip impacts their daily lives.

5. The desire for love and the need for self-preservation are at odds several times in the story. Discuss how this conflict presents itself within Ciara, Mishti and Lauren. Does one character struggle with this dynamic more than the others?

6. Consider Mishti and Parth’s relationship. How does it differ from the relationship Ciara has with her husband, and Lauren with her partner? How does Mishti and Parth’s arrangement influence their relationship? What do you think are the benefits and drawbacks to an arranged marriage?

7. Do you think any healthy relationships (whether spousal, friendly, parental, neighborly) are modeled in the novel? If so, which? What do you think it takes to have a healthy and happy relationship?
 
8. Female friendship and competition play a major role in the events of the story. Discuss how the dynamics between Ciara, Mishti, Lauren and the wider group of other moms affect the outcomes of all three characters.

9. How does the setting of a small Irish village affect the story? Does the isolation of living in a small town contribute to the characters’ actions?

10. Discuss the ending of the novel. Were you surprised to learn the truth about Ciara’s death?