READERS GUIDE

1. In The Obsessed, Sofiya Sova’s character is largely brought to life by Astrid’s mind. What about Sofiya Sova enamors her to Astrid? And how does this compare to Astrid’s obsession with Sofiya, Charlie’s ex?
2. Astrid and Elijah bond over a shared literary obsession. Discuss whether this fuels their budding romance or inadvertently hinders it. In other words, how compatible are Astrid and Elijah?
3. Charlie and Elijah can be viewed as Astrid’s romantic foils. With whom, if either, did you want Astrid to succeed romantically, and why? In what ways does each relationship further excavate Astrid’s emotional voids?
4. Astrid looks to her favorite novel for inspiration on how to live her best life. To what extent does she succeed?
5. Astrid makes a series of dubious decisions; some are fueled by her anxiety, while others are sparked by a genuine intellectual curiosity and desire to experiment with life. What did you make of these choices? In which moments were you simply along for the ride?
6. In part a campus novel, The Obsessed illustrates academia as a place of intellectual possibility as well as emotional stagnation. How, if at all, does Astrid use her PhD program to delay her journey toward self-fulfillment?
7. Author Lizzie Buehler writes some lively scenes that consist mostly of text exchanges and voice notes. How do these memos highlight the absurdity within our search for genuine connection?
8. Buehler writes about the younger generation’s neuroses with great sensitivity and still manages to imbue Astrid’s story with humor. How does humor help enlighten the conversation around mental health in this novel?
9. In The Obsessed, Buehler asks how we’re shaped by the stories we consume. Based on Astrid’s coming-of-age journey, how would you respond to this?
10. As indicated by the title, Astrid can’t help but dive into an interest with her whole heart. In other words, she can’t help but be obsessed. Discuss what it means to be obsessed and to what extent it can be a good thing.