February - Slammed, by Colleen Hoover
March - Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes
April - The Unhoneymooners, by Christiana Lawrence
May - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, by Abby Waxman
June - Things you Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

Have you read any of these titles?
Slammed by Colleen Hoover was our first book discussion. Here's a summary: Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope. If you read it, what did you think?

We noticed that a lot of you are reading Jojo Moyes.  Have you read, or seen the movie, Me Before You?  Here's a summary: Louisa 'Lou' Clark lives in a quaint town in the English countryside. With no clear direction in her life, the quirky and creative 26-year old goes from one job to the next in order to make ends meet. Taking a job at the local 'castle' she becomes caregiver and companion to Will Traynor, a wealthy young banker who became wheelchair bound in an accident. Embarking together on a series of adventures, both Lou and Will get more than they bargained for.
Was it one of Moyes' best books? (It was made into a movie, after all.) Should another of her titles be made into a movie?

The Unhoneymooners by Christiana Lawrence
Identical twins Ami and Olive couldn’t be any more different. While Ami is lucky in everything she does, Olive has always had bad luck in everything including love. Her sister Ami is so lucky that she even wins a dream honeymoon to Hawaii.
The wedding day, couldn’t be any worse for Olive. She has to spend the whole day with Ethan, the best man. Who is someone she can’t stand. During the rehearsal dinner everyone gets extreme  food poisoning except for Olive and Ethan.
Can Olive and Ethan put their differences aside, to take an all expenses paid honeymoon to Hawaii?
As long as they can avoid each other at all costs, they will both have a enjoyable vacation.
Everything changes when Olive runs into her new boss and tells a little white lie about being a newly wed. She begs Ethan to go along with her lie. She and Ethan get in way over their heads as the lie gets bigger. She could get used to her pretend life  and she’s even feeling lucky.

Discussion questions for The Unhoneymooners

• Olive thinks she’s an unlucky person while her sister Ami seems enterally lucky. Do you think there’s an truth that some people seem more lucky than others?
• Why did Olive and Ethan seem to hate each other? Why do you think they agreed to go on the honeymoon? What would you have done if you were Olive?
• Olive panics when she sees her future boss at the resort in Maui and she says she’s married to Ethan. Why do you think she couldn’t tell him the truth?
• And once they think they’re in the clear when her boss and his wife leave; Ethan’s ex shows up with her new fiancé. What did you think about those scenes with the ex?
• When did Olive start to fall for Ethan? Do you think they’re a good match?
• So the first meeting between Olive and Ethan was bad. Olive thought Ethan judged her for eating an unhealthy snack while Ethan thought Olive was rude. It turned out to be a huge misunderstanding. What did you think about those revelations?
• While the two get closer in Hawaii, Olive learns that Ethan’s brother, Dane, who just married her sister Ami, cheated on her early in their relationship. Ethan tries to convince Olive that Ami must have known and despite being skeptical, Olive agrees to not say anything for the time being. Let’s discuss this. Did Ethan just not want to face the truth about his brother?
• Once they get back from Hawaii, Olive and Ethan remain close. But life becomes complicated when not on an island. Olive has to come clean to her boss that she’s not actually married to Ethan and he then fires her. First, would that happen in real life?
• And then, Dane makes a move on Olive while Ethan is away for a moment. Olive tells Ethan who refuses to believe it and tells Olive she only sees the negative and the bad. Despite Ethan’s harsh reaction, was there some truth in what he said about Olive always being pessimistic or was he completely out of line? It’s not a rom-com if there’s no misunderstanding, right?

May's selection The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, by Abbi Waxman is certainly one for anyone who is bookish, but likes a little romance, too. Are you reading it? What do you think of Nina's unconventional childhood? Can you relate to Nina? Do you think Nina and Tom are a good match? In finding that she has lots of relatives Nina also finds that some of her traits are shared with them, like her anxiety. What traits do you share with your family?

Here are some discussion questions from Penguin Random House to ponder and comment on.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

1. At the outset of the novel Nina appears very happy, although she really prefers to be alone. How does that change by the end of the novel? What role does solitude play in your life?

2. Nina loves books and is a self-proclaimed introvert. What does she find so appealing about reading? Do you think both extroverts and introverts can be passionate about reading books? How do you think the experience is similar and different for both personality types? Why do you enjoy reading?

3. Pages from Nina’s planner were included in the book. Do you feel that added to the narrative? How did Nina’s planner pages reflect her state of mind? Do you find planning and organizing helps you feel more in control?

4. Nina’s mind is constantly moving, filling with ideas, facts, and information. How does this help and hinder Nina? What do you think are the pros and cons of having such an active brain?

5. Nina has found a group of friends who share her love of books, trivia, and popular culture. At the opening of the novel these people are her chosen family. What interests are you passionate about? Do you have a chosen family of like-minded people, or are your friends drawn from a wider pool?

6. Nina was raised by her nanny, Louise, a woman who wasn’t her biological parent, but who loved and cared for her very deeply. Does Nina consider Lou family? What part do you think biology plays in the formation of family?

7. After discovering her father, Nina realizes his personality resembles hers in many ways, something she feels conflicted about. What traits does Nina share with her father? What does she like about sharing certain personality characteristics with him? What does she find difficult about it? What attributes or flaws do you share with your parents, and how does that make you feel about yourself and about them?

8. Do you think Nina will be permanently changed by discovering her family, or will she remain essentially the same?

9. Nina struggles badly with anxiety, which is often quite debilitating. What are her coping mechanisms? Do you think they are healthy ways to deal with her stress? How do you handle anxieties and fears in your own life?

10. For Nina, a bookstore or library represents sanctuary. Why do you think that is? Do you feel similarly? What are some of your favorite bookstores and libraries? What are other happy places in your life?

11. Tom is not a bookish person, but his character complements Nina’s. Why do you think Nina and Tom work so well together as a couple? How do they complement one another? In what ways have your relationships succeeded or failed because of how well you “fit” together?

12. Nina works in an independent bookstore and seems to enjoy the physical-paper version of books. Do you prefer to read physical books or ebooks? Is your enjoyment of books affected by whether or not you read them on paper? In the street battle over books that happens toward the end of the novel, which side would you be on?

13. Los Angeles is a major city, but Larchmont is clearly a very defined neighborhood, with a small-town atmosphere. Are you surprised by that aspect of Los Angeles, and does it conflict with the way the city is normally portrayed in popular culture?

14. In addition to her deep love of books, Nina also loves all forms of popular culture, including movies and TV shows. Do you think that is common, or do most people prefer one over the other? Which do you prefer?