What are good book club discussion questions for The Guest List?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: Where were you (and what were you snacking on) when you first got hooked into this book?; If you were invited to a wedding on a remote Irish island, would your gut say 'yes please' or 'absolutely not'? Why?; Which character did you most want to wrap in a blanket and feed soup to, and what about their story moved you?; Weddings have a way of stirring up old feelings. Did any moment in the book remind you of a real wedding (yours or someone else's) you've attended?; The island itself almost feels like a character. How did the setting make you feel as a reader, and did it remind you of any place from your own life?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a The Guest List book club?

Food: Mini beef and Guinness hand pies, Cheddar and chive soda bread with salted butter, and Sticky toffee pudding cups. Drinks: Irish coffee, Mulled cider with apple and clove, and Honey vanilla steamer (warm milk with honey and vanilla).

How do I host a The Guest List book club night?

A wedding on a windswept Irish island turns stormy in every sense, told through shifting voices that keep you guessing. It's a propulsive, atmospheric mystery perfect for a snug night in.

The Guest List Book Club Questions, Food & Host Guide

Warm-up questions

1 Where were you (and what were you snacking on) when you first got hooked into this book?
2 If you were invited to a wedding on a remote Irish island, would your gut say 'yes please' or 'absolutely not'? Why?

Digging in

1 Which character did you most want to wrap in a blanket and feed soup to, and what about their story moved you?
2 Weddings have a way of stirring up old feelings. Did any moment in the book remind you of a real wedding (yours or someone else's) you've attended?
3 The island itself almost feels like a character. How did the setting make you feel as a reader, and did it remind you of any place from your own life?
4 Foley jumps between narrators. Whose voice felt the coziest to settle into, and whose made you want to keep reading with the lights on?

Going deep

1 So many of these characters are keeping something tucked away. Without spoiling anything, which secret did you find yourself most sympathetic toward?
2 Looking back on the whole book, what feeling did it leave you with, and is that the feeling you wanted from a story like this?

On the table

Mini beef and Guinness hand pies

A nod to the Irish setting, warm and easy to nibble on the couch

Cheddar and chive soda bread with salted butter

Homey, rustic, and very 'windy island kitchen'

Sticky toffee pudding cups

A classic British Isles comfort dessert, indulgent in a cozy single-serve size

To sip

Irish coffee

Whiskey, coffee, brown sugar, soft cream on top, the ultimate cozy nightcap

Mulled cider with apple and clove

Warm, fragrant, and feels like coming in from the wind

Honey vanilla steamer (warm milk with honey and vanilla) No alcohol

A soothing non-alcoholic option that pairs with the dessert

Hushed folk, soft Irish strings, and gently moody acoustic, like a fireplace with the wind outside

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