1. Each chapter is preceded by an excerpt from a children’s book. What/who does Prudence the Donkey represent? Why is Prudence important to Liv’s story?

2. What/who does Horatio HootOwl represent? What affect does his presence in Prudence’s life have on Liv?

3. What impact did Liv’s battle with cancer have on her life afterward? Is it possible for something like cancer to be a positive thing, even to be considered a gift?

4. Early on in the story, Liv refers to her ongoing “birthday curse.” Do you believe in such a thing? If so, how do you explain it? And if not, how do you explain a string of negative events year after year?

5. After meeting and being attracted to Jared when they met on the plane, what was your reaction to him ending up next door? Do you believe in the role of destiny in a person’s life?

6. How does Liv’s relationship with Boofer evolve over time? What other relationships evolve throughout the book, and how?

7. Georgia worked with Jared for years before Liv entered his life. Was Georgia justified in her initial confrontations with Liv? What was driving her?

8. Florida is very much like another planet for Liv. What “aliens” does she meet there along the way? How is the environment different from the life she lives back in Ohio?

9. What does Jared’s role as a doctor tell you about the person that he is? Or his role as a father?

10. How did you feel about the relationship between Jared and Rand?

11. Liv has a run of unfortunate circumstances (i.e., a gator in the pool, the bronzing incident, the death of Clayton’s cat). Do you see any association between these instances and Liv’s ongoing “birthday curse”?

12. What does Rand and Shelby’s romance represent? How does it affect Liv and Jared?

13. What did you think of Liv’s reaction to news of Hallie’s accident?

14. Jared and Liv didn’t know each other very long when they made a permanent commitment to one another. Do you think a marriage will last under those circumstances?