WellRead's May 2025 selection was Good Girl by Aria Aber. This is a coming-of-age novel with all the trimmings. Aber explores identity and exile, xenophobia, and belonging, all against the backdrop of Berlin’s raucous nightlife and a post-9/11 Germany. It’s messy, confusing, and transformative—all the things growing up has always been. 

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 Good Girl by Aria Aber: 

• The idea of being a ‘good girl’ is impressed upon, and reckoned with by, Nila. What messages did you grow up with about being ‘good’? How have those expectations shaped you? 

• Nila frequently conceals her Afghan heritage, adopting various identities to belong in her community. Have you ever felt the need to hide parts of yourself in order to fit in? 

• Berlin’s nightlife acts as both an escape and a place of self-exploration for Nila. Is there a space or community in your own life that has helped you discover more about yourself?

• How are the experiences of Nila's parents as refugees portrayed, and how do they impact Nila's worldview and behaviour?

• Has art (creating or consuming it) ever helped you name something you couldn’t otherwise articulate, like Nila and Marlowe do?
  

• How did you see Aber’s experience as a poet throughout the story? Were there any passages that struck you as drawing directly on her skill as a poet?

Please note, these questions were written and distributed in May 2025.