READERS GUIDE

Questions for Discussion

1. The goals that Eloise and her friends come up with are meant to be challenging and to push each woman outside of her comfort zone. What goals would you set for yourself? What goals would you create for your friends?

2. Eloise, Lynne, and Teresa have been friends since high school. How would you characterize their relationships? Do you think friendships can last beyond high school? Do you think that they should? Why or why not?

3. Lynne accuses Eloise of breaking “girl code.” What do you think of Eloise’s choices? How do you feel about Lynne’s reaction? Use specific examples from the book to illustrate your points.

4. Discuss how the book handles race. Why do you think the author chose to feature an interracial couple? How did it affect your reading of the novel?

5. How would you characterize Eloise’s relationship with her clients? Do you think that her devotion to other families has been beneficial or detrimental to her own happiness and achieving all of her life’s goals? Use specific examples from the book to illustrate your points.

6. Eloise, Lynne, and Teresa each seem to play a specific role in their friend group. Discuss those roles. Do they change over the course of the novel? What role do you play in your own friendships?

7. Why do you think the author chose to include the character of Marcy? What does she add to the story? What do you make of her interactions with and feelings toward the other women?