Book Club Night Kit
The Amateur
Chris Bohjalian
Cozy night
A propulsive, twisty tale where a tragic accident on a manicured country club green cracks open a world of secrets. Perfect for a slow, snuggly night of gasps and gentle debate.
Sliders, Cider, and Secrets on the Green
Come in your softest sweater for a cozy night with Chris Bohjalian's The Amateur. There will be soup, spiced cider, and a lot of gentle gasping.
Reading level: Moderate
Pages: 293
Best for: A close-knit club that loves twisty stories but wants to talk about feelings, not just clues
Discussion
Warm-up
- 1.Grab a cozy seat. Where did you do most of your reading, and did the setting of this book pair well with your reading nook?
- 2.What is a small comfort (a snack, a blanket, a playlist) that got you through the tense parts of this one?
Digging in
- 1.The country club world runs on appearances. When in your own life have you felt the pull to keep something polished on the outside, and how did that feel?
- 2.The protagonist is a young prodigy carrying enormous pressure. Did any of her moments make you want to reach into the page and offer her tea, and why?
- 3.Bohjalian writes ordinary people caught inside extraordinary trouble. Which character did you find yourself feeling most tender toward, even if you did not fully approve of them?
- 4.Golf, greens, clubhouses: this world can feel both idyllic and suffocating. What mood did the setting leave you sitting with when you closed the book?
Going deep
- 1.Without giving anything away, was there a moment that genuinely unsettled you, and what do you think it stirred up personally?
- 2.The story lives in the gray space between accident, blame, and what people will do to protect their own. How did the book shift, even a little, the way you think about second chances?
On the table & to sip
To eat
Clubhouse chicken salad sliders on soft rolls
A homey nod to the country club lunch counter, easy to plate and pass around a coffee table
Warm tomato soup with grilled cheese fingers
Pure comfort for a story with a dark undercurrent; something soft to hold while you gasp
Brown butter apple crumble with vanilla ice cream
New England orchard warmth honoring Bohjalian's Vermont roots
To sip
Spiced apple cider (warm, non-alcoholic) (no alcohol)
Cozy, autumnal, and perfect for cradling during the twistier chapters
Bourbon and honey hot toddy
A gentle nod to clubhouse drinks, softened into something snuggly
Chamomile-lavender tea with honey (no alcohol)
For calming the nerves after a particularly tense chapter
Run of show
7:00
Soft landing
Fireplace or candles on, blankets out, cider warming. Let people arrive slowly and settle.
7:15
Bowls and bites
Serve soup, sliders, and drinks buffet-style. Chat casually before diving in.
7:35
Warm-up circle
Two gentle questions to get everyone talking about how the book felt, not what it meant.
7:55
Into the story
Move through the theme questions. Encourage tangents and personal stories.
8:30
Deep breath, deep questions
Refill mugs, cue dessert, then tackle the two deeper prompts with softer voices.
9:00
Scorecards and next pick
Fill out scorecards, share favorite lines, and vote on next month's book.
Host tips
- Keep lighting low and layered (lamps and candles, not overheads) so the mood stays hushed.
- Put a basket of extra socks or throws by the door so guests can truly settle in.
- If a question lands heavy, pause and pass the dessert tray. Comfort first, analysis later.
Playlist
Hushed, lightly haunted acoustic warmth with a thread of unease
- 01 Skinny Love - Bon Iver
- 02 Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
- 03 The Night We Met - Lord Huron
- 04 Motion Picture Soundtrack - Radiohead
- 05 River - Joni Mitchell
- 06 Holocene - Bon Iver
- 07 Cherry Wine - Hozier
- 08 Vincent - Don McLean
Trivia
- 1.Which #1 New York Times bestseller by Bohjalian was adapted into a hit series starring Kaley Cuoco? (The Flight Attendant)
- 2.Which earlier Bohjalian novel about a midwife on trial became an Oprah's Book Club selection? (Midwives)
- 3.In what US state, often a backdrop for Bohjalian's fiction, does the author live and write? (Vermont)
- 4.The Amateur centers on a prodigy in what sport? (Golf)
- 5.What is the name for the person who carries a golfer's clubs and offers advice on the course? (A caddy)
- 6.In what year is The Amateur published? (2026)
- 7.Bohjalian is known for exploring moral gray zones in what broad genre? (Literary suspense (or domestic thriller))
- 8.Roughly how long is The Amateur, making it a very doable book club pick? (Around 293 pages)
Bookmarks
Print, cut, and tuck one at every seat, a small keepsake from the night.
Rate the book
Coziness of the read☆☆☆☆☆
Pull of the mystery☆☆☆☆☆
Warmth toward the characters☆☆☆☆☆
Emotional aftertaste☆☆☆☆☆
Would recommend to a friend☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book made me feel: ______________________
The moment I had to put the book down and take a breath: ______________________
A snack I would pair with this book next time: ______________________
That's a wrap
Thank you for coming
We hope the company was good and the conversation even better. Until the next chapter.