1. Hope and Cade each carry unspeakable traumas with them through most of their lives. How do memories of traumatic events manifest in their behavior over the years?

2. How does this book convey the ways in which human beings are shaped and altered by their encounters and relationships with one another?

3. Grief is a major theme in the novel, and many of the characters have suffered as a result of their losses. Explore how grief appears throughout the book. What or who does each character grieve? How is grief expressed in nontraditional ways? What does Hope’s experience tell us about grief? How do Hope and Cade differ when it comes to grieving?

4. Hope comes to love the stillness and tranquility of Oceanside, Washington, making it her new home. Is there a place that you consider a sanctuary in your own life (perhaps a longtime vacation spot)? Why is it important to you?

5. How does the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover” relate to this story?

6. In what ways does the past influence the present in THE BEST IS YET TO COME? How do the characters try to repress or escape the pain of their histories? What does the novel tell us about the relationship between past and present? How does this affect their relationships and help them heal?

7. Discuss the novel’s title. Did your understanding of it shift throughout the book?

8. Every satisfying novel shows character growth. In what ways were Hope and Cade different at the end of the book than they were at the beginning?

9. THE BEST IS YET TO COME is filled with multiple themes --- grief and loss, love and attraction, secrecy and connection. Is there a theme that resonates most with you? Explain.

10. By the end of the book, the main characters’ lives are transformed by the power of love. Discuss how this happens in each instance.

11. What did you think about the ending? Were you satisfied or disappointed with it? How do you picture Hope and Cade’s lives after the story closes?