1. At the beginning of her story, Jessica is “dating” Guillermo. She hides their relationship from her family and doesn’t seem quite comfortable with it herself. Why does Jessica get involved with Guillermo and continue to see him, despite her own misgivings? Is it just the hot sex, or is she getting something else out of it?

2. Jessica talks about feeling more comfortable dating men who grew up the way she did — knowing how it feels to eat beans and rice for dinner or to have the electricity cut off once in a while. Do you think relationships are easier when the people involved have similar backgrounds? Are there challenges to overcome when dating people from different economic classes or different cultures?

3. When Jonathan first shows a romantic interest in Jessica, she worries that he is attracted to her only because she is Latina and therefore “exotic.” Should that be a concern? Is there anything wrong with being attracted to people of a certain culture? How is that different from preferring blondes or brunettes, or tall men, or men with hairy chests?

4. Jessica’s job at McCormick is completely unrelated to the career she’d hoped to have. At the end of the book, she leaves that job for one that pays less but suits her better. Was she foolish to leave McCormick instead of trying harder for a promotion? Is finding your dream job something that happens only in books or movies?

5. Jessica is very superstitious. She begins to believe in fortune-telling at a low point in her life. Was her superstition a product of her upbringing or an excuse to avoid making tough life decisions? Or both?

6. How does Jessica’s relationship with her parents affect her decisions? How does it affect her relationship with her sister, Sabrina?

7. How does Jessica’s relationship with Sabrina affect her decisions? How does Jessica feel about the choices Sabrina has made in life? Is she jealous? Disappointed?

8. Madame Hortensia makes money every time Jessica needs help making decisions about her life. Why, then, does the fortune- teller eventually admit that she doesn’t have any psychic powers? What do you think about what Madame Hortensia does for a living? Is it dishonest? Is it wrong?

9. In the end, Jessica decides that she and Jonathan don’t belong together. Why? Do you think her decision was based on cultural differences, and if so, was it wrong of her to base it on that? What assumptions does she make about Jonathan? Does she end up changing her mind?

10. Did you expect Jessica to end up with Xavier in the end? Were you disappointed when she didn’t?

11. How did Jessica change from the beginning of this story to the end? What did she learn? Did you learn anything from her experience, or were her lessons things you already knew? Do you know anyone who might benefit from sharing Jessica’s experiences?

-A Spanish version of this discussion guide is available, which you can read here.