The Unhoneymooners

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Olive initially defines herself by her "bad luck." How do you relate to the tendency to attribute life events to luck versus personal agency?

2. The novel explores the complexities of sibling relationships. How did the portrayal of Olive and Ami's bond, or Ethan and Dane's relationship, resonate with your own family dynamics?

3. How do you approach issues of trust and forgiveness in relationships? Did you empathize more with Olive's principled stance or with Ethan's loyalty to his brother?

4. Have you ever had to reassess a strong first impression of someone, as Olive does with Ethan? What prompted that change, and how did your interactions with the person shift after that moment?

5. Like Olive’s challenges with her job at Hamilton Biosciences, have you ever faced a situation in which being honest might cost you something important? How did you react?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the author use Olive's character to address cultural expectations around body image and self-confidence?

2. The characters often give performances of happiness for the benefit of others. Given this pattern, what does the novel suggest about the role of social media and public perception in modern relationships?

3. How does the novel explore the intersection between career ambitions and personal relationships, particularly for young professionals?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the author use humor to develop the characters and advance the plot?

2. Analyze the significance of names and identity in the novel. Why do the characters use different versions of each other's names throughout the story?

3. How does the author balance the novel’s elements of romantic comedy with more serious themes about trust and family loyalty?

4. What role does Sophie serve in the narrative in addition to creating tension? How does her presence illuminate aspects of both Olive and Ethan’s personalities?

5. How effective is the author’s technique of using internal monologue to reveal Olive's character development?

6. How does the epilogue, which is told from Ethan's perspective, change or enhance the overall thrust of the story?