What are good book club discussion questions for The Deal / The Mistake / The Score / The Goal / The Legacy?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: If you could pull up a chair in one of the Briar hockey guys' messy shared living room for a night, which book's gang would you want to hang out with, and what would you bring?; Which moment in the series made you laugh out loud or grin at the page, and where were you curled up when you read it?; These characters show up for each other like family. Who in your own life is your version of the group that barges in with pizza when you need it?; Plenty of the couples start out guarded or prickly with each other. What did it feel like to watch someone slowly let their walls down, and has anyone ever been patient with you like that?; Several characters carry pressure from parents, reputations, or expectations about who they should be. Did any of that feel familiar, and which character did you most want to give a hug?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a The Deal / The Mistake / The Score / The Goal / The Legacy book club?

Food: New England Clam Chowder in Bread Bowls, Game-Night Chili with a Toppings Bar, and Warm Apple Cider Donuts. Drinks: Rinkside Hot Cocoa Bar, Spiked Maple Apple Cider, and Irish Coffee Nightcap.

The Deal / The Mistake / The Score / The Goal / The Legacy Book Club Questions, Food & Host Guide

Warm-up questions

1 If you could pull up a chair in one of the Briar hockey guys' messy shared living room for a night, which book's gang would you want to hang out with, and what would you bring?
2 Which moment in the series made you laugh out loud or grin at the page, and where were you curled up when you read it?

Digging in

1 These characters show up for each other like family. Who in your own life is your version of the group that barges in with pizza when you need it?
2 Plenty of the couples start out guarded or prickly with each other. What did it feel like to watch someone slowly let their walls down, and has anyone ever been patient with you like that?
3 Several characters carry pressure from parents, reputations, or expectations about who they should be. Did any of that feel familiar, and which character did you most want to give a hug?
4 The series makes small gestures feel huge, like a song, a text, or showing up at the right moment. What's the smallest romantic or kind gesture that has ever meant the world to you?

Going deep

1 By the end of your favorite book in the series, which character had healed or grown in a way that stayed with you, and why did that change feel so comforting to watch?
2 Coming back to the same friend group across several books can feel like coming home. How did your feelings about the whole Briar crew change from the first book to the last, and what will you miss most?

On the table

New England Clam Chowder in Bread Bowls

A nod to the Massachusetts setting. It's hearty and warming, the kind of meal you'd want after a cold night at the rink. Store-bought bread bowls keep it easy.

Game-Night Chili with a Toppings Bar

Big-batch comfort food for a house full of hungry hockey players. Make it ahead in a slow cooker so the host can relax.

Warm Apple Cider Donuts

A New England fall classic, sweet and cinnamon-dusted, just right for a college-town autumn. Warm bakery donuts in the oven if you don't want to fry.

To sip

Rinkside Hot Cocoa Bar No alcohol

Rich hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipped cream, and peppermint, like something you'd sip in the stands while watching the Briar boys skate.

Spiked Maple Apple Cider

Mulled cider sweetened with maple syrup, with a splash of bourbon for guests who want it. Serve it in mugs for that crisp fall evening feeling.

Irish Coffee Nightcap

A Boston-friendly warm drink for the last, most heartfelt part of the conversation.

Soft, acoustic, and a little lovesick. Music for curling up under a blanket while snow falls on campus.

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