Charming Falls Apart Book Club Discussion Questions
Questions for Book Discussion
1. When it comes to life, Allison is a rule-follower. What rules do you currently follow or have you followed in the past? Has there been a time in your life where you changed the rules? Was it before or after a big life change?
2. To get through the early days when her life falls apart, Allison follows the mantra “get up, dress up, show up.” Has there ever been a time you had to do that? Or was there a time in your life where a mantra got you through? What was it?
3. Have you ever been blindsided in a big way like Allison is in the book? What happened and how did you react/handle it?
4. Are you yay or nay on self-help books? If yay, do you have a favorite? If nay, why not? What did you think of the books and advice Allison read?
5. Friendship is a big theme in the novel. Have you ever had a “Stacey” in your life, a friendship based on a shared history? Or a “Kate,” a friendship based on proximity/circumstances? Have you ever been betrayed by a bestie? If so, how? (And if you have a Jordan in your life, please send her flowers or bottle of wine and thank her for the treasure that she is.)
6. What did you think of Allison’s complicated relationship with her mother? Did you feel that Theresa James was actually more concerned about herself or was it Allison’s interpretation of her mother’s reactions?
7. What did you think about the relationship that develops between Allison and Eric? How did you feel it contrasted with her relationship with Neil pre-breakup? What did you think about her interactions with Alistair in Costa Rica?
8. Did your thoughts or feelings about any of the characters change during the course of this book?
9. What were your thoughts on the ending? Did you feel that this chapter of Allison’s life was over and that she was onto a better and new beginning?
10. What was your biggest takeaway from the book?
Cheers & Happy Book Club!
—Angela
Tomorrow night I’m Zooming into my first book club as an author and am super excited! In honor of this event, I put together a list of book club discussion questions for Charming Falls Apart.
I’ve been hosting a women’s fiction book club for the last eight years and some of my favorite book club discussions have been the ones that relate to or make us reflect on our own lives, which inspired some of the more personal questions below. After a general discussion of whether you enjoyed the book and what were your favorite and not-so-favorite parts, I hope you find a question or two here to help supplement your group’s discussion.
And, remember: What happens in Book Club, stays in Book Club.
Cheers & Happy Book Club!
—Angela