WellRead’s November 2022 selection was They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey. Elegant and affecting, They’re Going to Love You has all the ingredients we love in good novels: desire, betrayal, regret, love, loyalty, art, family dynamics, and a masterfully revealed secret at its heart.
Use these discussion questions to engage with the book further, whether in a book club with friends, or just on your own as you digest the story.
Reading questions for They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey:
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“I can’t, at my age, still be becoming a person, can I?” Did anyone else deeply relate to this self-examination?
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Discuss the different ways the parent-child relationship is explored in the novel. What did you find triggering/relatable/inspiring?
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What do you think the book has to say about ambition, and what cost does it come at for its characters?
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We witness the devastating impact the AIDS epidemic has on James and Robert's large circle of friends. How does this change their relationship with Carlisle?
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What parts of Carlisle's life did you relate to the most and why?
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“Do I not say, on some level, Fuck it? If you cast me out of your presence, then I will no longer be in your shadow. At the very least, I will source my own light.” Did your heart break reading this? What's happening here for Carlisle?
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Let's talk about the secret at the heart of the novel, the betrayal. Did you feel as though Carlisle's father's reaction was justified? Not to point fingers, but who, if anyone, is at fault for the subsequent estrangement?
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How do we feel about Alex?
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What do you think the future holds for Carlisle? Do you think she has finally become a person when the book ends?
Please note, these questions were written and distributed in November, 2022.