READERS GUIDE

In order to provide reading groups with the most informed and thought-provoking questions possible, it is sometimes necessary to reveal certain aspects of the storyline. If you have not finished reading, you may want to do so before reviewing this guide.

1.   Ungodly Rich reimagines Greek mythology in a contemporary setting. How does placing ancient gods in modern New York change your perception of the original myths? Do the myths reveal anything about wealth and influence in our own world?

2.   Many characters maintain dual identities (godly vs. mortal, public vs. private). Which character do you think struggles most with this divide, and why?

3.   Hera sees herself as the protector of the family above all else. How does this role inform your interpretation of her actions? Discuss how Hera’s status as a goddess—along with societal expectations about gender—influences your understanding of her decisions.

4.   The gods rely on human belief and attention to sustain their power: “While worship might not have happened in temples anymore, it was still worship. Humans still devoted their time and energy to something.” What commentary does the novel make about modern forms of “worship”?

5.   The novel rotates through multiple POVs (Julia’s, Hera’s, Aphrodite’s, Hermes’s, Ares’s, and Hades’s), often showing that different characters experience the same event in radically unique ways. Whose perspective surprised you most? Was there a character you disliked at the beginning who you ended up understanding, or vice versa?

6.   When Hera thinks about Zeus, she tells us that she “loved him and resented him and was addicted to him all at the same time.” What do you think about the various romantic relationships portrayed in the novel? Which ones feel balanced, and which are fundamentally unequal?

7.   Aphrodite warns Julia that she will “never make the cut.” How does this moment connect to Aphrodite’s own experiences with the Olympians?

8.   A traditional romance novel ends with a wedding, but the wedding between Julia and Ares does not take place. What did you think of the series of events leading up to the book’s conclusion? Would you call this a romance novel, or something else?

9.   The Olympians are both immortal and deeply dysfunctional. In what ways do they resemble an ordinary family?

10.   How familiar were you with Greek mythology before reading Ungodly Rich? How does the story stay true to the spirit of some of the ancient myths, and how does it deviate from them?