book club kit
Dear Reader,
I get asked about the differences between writing for kids and writing for adults a lot. In answer, I talk about voice, content, psychological and developmental variances between children and teen characters and adult characters, the scope of a character’s backstory, the prominence of a nuclear family unit.
I could go on and on, but the more I write adult romance, the more I realize just how much all my characters have in common, no matter their age.
They’re all looking for themselves.
They’re all sorting through identity, friendships, family, and yes, love, searching for who they truly are and if that person, the very core that makes them them , is worth loving.
Astrid Parker is no different. In fact, out of all the Bright Falls queer coven, she encompasses this journey of not only self-discovery but self-love, more than anyone else. Raised to succeed both professionally and domestically, to never let them see you sweat, to keep a smile pasted on her face no matter what she’s feeling inside, Astrid finds herself deeply unhappy with all the perfection for which her mother has primed her all her life. In becoming perfect, she has lost the thread of herself. Or worse— she never had a good hold of that thread in the first place. As Astrid’s story progresses, when she meets Jordan and realizes there are parts of her she never
“In becoming perfect, she has lost the thread of herself.”
“You’re worth it.”
let herself feel, vital parts, parts that are as integral to her being as breathing, she starts to realize maybe perfection—a life without any questions or doubts or failures—isn’t the kind of life she wants at all. She wants that mess.
The uncertainty of falling in love. That intoxicating fear of wanting.
Because that’s where life is really lived. That’s where we all really live, where we find ourselves, who we actually are. I think a lot of us—dare I say all of us?— can relate to that kind of journey, the adventures that force us to come face-to-face with who we really are. It’s terrifying and wonderful and beautiful.
I hope you find glimmers of your own self-love journey in Astrid’s story, but more than that, I hope you embark on that journey yourself, no matter what you might learn or where it might take you. You’re worth it.
ashley herring blake
discussion questions
1. Jordan’s and Astrid’s first impressions of each other aren’t the greatest, to say the least. Have you ever met someone in a similar way? Did you end up liking one another?
2. Do you think Isabel, Astrid’s mother, is redeemable? Why do you think it took Astrid so long to stand up to her?
3. Jordan regularly does Tarot readings for herself, while Astrid isn’t a big believer in it. Are you interested in Tarot? If so, have you found that the results apply to your life?
4. Would you rather have Astrid or Jordan design your home? And why?
5. If you were Astrid, would you have agreed to Jordan’s plan to pretend the design is yours, or would your conscience stop you?
6. Have you ever had a drastic career change like Astrid? If you were considering one, what would your dream job be?
7. For a long time, Astrid tried to conform to another person’s idea of who she should be. Have you ever experienced conflict with what someone else expected of you? How did you handle it?
8. Astrid realized certain things about her sexuality after she turned thirty. Do you think sexuality is fluid? Have you ever experienced an “awakening” about your own identity or personality?
9. Jordan spends much of the novel feeling like she’s not good enough for anyone in her life, and eventually learns that she has to be good enough for herself first. Does this resonate with you? How does the way you view yourself affect your relationships?
10. In the end, Astrid and Jordan both believe in some sort of destiny—while it’s true we make our own choices and those choices shape our lives, do you believe there are certain things that are fated?
