1. The loss of a child, and longing for a child, threaten to overwhelm Nell’s life. Why do you think having a child is so important to Nell? Is it as important to Josh?

2. When Josh starts using the nursery for an office Nell feels as though Josh has moved on from the loss of their daughter: “She knew for the first times, then, that Josh had moved on from their loss, leaving her behind, still in the midst of mourning.” Do you think Josh had really moved on from the loss of their daughter? Why was his grief different than Nell’s, and how did he process it?

3. Betsey established The Elizabeth Barret Trust for the Fine Arts to allow artist from all over the country to focus on their art and bring attention to the Madison art scene. Does the artists colony live up to her vision? Does it fulfill other needs besides what Betsey might have envisioned?

4. “Inside there are plenty of pieces by artists from all over the country, even the world, but Betsy said she felt strongly that if she was going to put artwork outside the house, where everyone would see it, she wanted it to be ‘native,’ just like the flowers she had planted.” Discuss the role Wisconsin plays in the novel. Is there a similar art/cultural scene where you live?

5. When each artist arrives they almost instinctively gravitate toward different spaces. Paige the attic, Annie the basement, and Odin the garage. Why do you think they choose those parts of the house to work in? What do their choices say about each character?

6. Nell racks up credit card debt in secret for fertility treatments she hides from Josh. Would you have done the same? What would you have advised Nell to do in that situation if you were her best friend?

7. Paige, Annie and Odin were accepted to the colony because of they hadn’t yet reached their full potential. Did the colony help them achieve that? If not, in what ways do they still need to grow as artists? How did they grow as people apart from their artistic endeavors?

8. How does Nell’s time working at the colony change her as a person? How does it change her relationship with Josh?

9. What do you think Nell and Josh’s lives are like 10 years after the novel? What about Paige, Annie and Odin?