top of page

Book Club Discussion Questions


Liz is available to Zoom or Skype into your book club for a 30-minute chat free of charge.

  1. Have you ever had a neighbor you found suspicious? How did you handle it?

  2. Laurel talks about her struggle to make friends. Discuss the challenges of forming new friendships as an adult.

  3. Rob keeps the house's history a secret from Laurel. Given her past, do you agree with his decision?

  4. Overall, did you feel that Rob was protective of Laurel or overbearing?

  5. After Laurel meets Addie, she says, ‘If a tribe could consist of a single person, I’d found mine.’ What drew Laurel to Addie, and would you, too, have been taken in? 

  6. Addie states, ‘People resort to crazy things when real estate and money are involved.’ Discuss this as it pertains to the novel. Do you agree?

  7. Mother-child relationships throughout the novel are complicated. Consider the feelings Laurel, Rob, Addie, Corey, and Desiree had toward their mothers and the breakdown of Marian’s relationship with her son. 

  8. Corey and Desiree form an unlikely friendship. How do they impact one another?

  9. Corey’s relationship with Mike Moffatt takes several turns. Did she care for him, was she using him, or both? 

  10. After attending the grief group, Corey states, 'Firsts are hard, Linda said. Were seconds any easier?’ Discuss loss as a central theme.

  11. Rob and Laurel’s extended family plays a role in creating tension between them. What do you think of Emily’s choice not to include children at her wedding?

  12. Laurel and Corey change over the course of the novel. Is their behavior understandable?

  13. At the end of the novel, Corey tells her mom, ‘Mothers need to stop blaming themselves.’ Discuss how the guilt Corey carries shapes her decisions.

  14. Did the ending surprise you? What do you think happens next for these characters?

  1. How does the title work in relation to the book's contents?​

  2. Was there one character  you connected with more than the others? If so, who and why?​​

  3. At what age would you allow your child to walk home from school either alone or with a friend?​​

  4. Discuss the various relationships within the novel. Which were the strongest and which were the most toxic?​​

  5. Phil Foster is different since he returned from Afghanistan. How do you think his experiences shaped the way he behaves?​

  6. Did you suspect the villain, and, if so, at what point in the story?​

  7. If you're a parent or own a home in a seemingly “perfect neighborhood,” did this story change your perspective in any way? If so, how?​

  8. Discuss the ending. What do you think is next for each of the characters?​​

HbW Digital Cover_edited.jpg

  1. Tess Porter allows her love for her boyfriend, James, to cloud her judgement when he asks to drive to the airport in a snowstorm to pick up his friend. What would you have done in that situation? 

  2. At the start of the novel, Tess is at odds with her best friend, Izzy. Discuss their relationship and how it evolves throughout the story.

  3. Lydia suggests Tess begin writing in a diary to help recall and process the events that led to her hospitalization. Have you ever kept a journal or diary and did you find it helpful?

  4. Tess's mother has a secret. Discuss how her deception impacts her relationships within her family and beyond.

  5. How does Annie Banks shift Tess’s attitude and worldview?​​​

  6. When Rob takes an interest in Tess, initially, she hesitates. What would you have done in her shoes?​​​

  7. This novel illustrates the interconnectedness of our actions and their ripple effect. Have you experienced this in your life? To what degree?

  8.  What do you hope will happen next for Tess?​

bottom of page