READERS GUIDE

Reader’s Guide
Summer of Love by Kerri Maher
Discussion Questions:


1.   The 1960s are a mythical decade. If you lived through it yourself, how does your experience compare to that of the Hartley sisters? If you didn’t live through it, what did you learn? What would you like to know more about?

2.   Does anything about the world today feel similar to the events and philosophies of the late 1960s? How about the 2010s? What about those time periods still resonates, and what feels firmly “historical”?

3.   Dawn’s sobriety journey is a central story in the book. Did it proceed as you expected? Were there times in the book where you expected her to backslide or give up? How did it compare with Winnie’s sobriety journey?

4.   “Getting sober” has much in common with other challenges in life. Have you ever had to overcome or accomplish something that once seemed scary or insurmountable?

5.   Audrey gets sober before Dawn and is an inspiration to her in many ways. Has there been anything in your life that a friend who has “gone
first” has helped you through? Or has there been something you’ve done first that has enabled you to help others?

6.   What did you learn about California from this novel? The history of winemaking in America? Were there any places in the story that you’d particularly like to visit?

7.   The Vineland series is reportedly for children, but it’s ultimately revealed to be a parable for the more mature themes of substance abuse and sobriety. Why do you think the story also resonated with children? Can you think of any book series or other types of media that approach
meaningful questions through the lens of a children’s story? Why might that be effective?

8.   There are many different kinds of sisterhood in this novel—how do the bonds between women, related or not, shape the book and each
character’s development?

9.   How does “the Summer of Love” echo as a theme throughout the book?