What are good book club discussion questions for The Mistake?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: What were you curled up with (drink, blanket, spot on the couch) while you read this, and did the book feel like a comfort read or a page-turner for you?; The guys' off-campus house is a noisy, loyal little household. Which friend group or roommate situation from your own life came to mind as you read?; The story is built around making up for a mistake. What does a real apology feel like to you, and what makes you believe someone means it?; Grace is finding her footing in her sophomore year. Did her story bring back how you felt at 19 or 20, and what would you whisper to that version of yourself?; Logan's easy charm seems to hide some heavier feelings. Did any moment make you want to give him a hug, and why did it land for you?.

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

Food: Baked Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese, Warm Soft Pretzel Bites with Beer-Cheese and Honey-Mustard Dips, and Apple Cider Donuts or Maple Blondies. Drinks: Second-Chance Hot Chocolate Bar, Penalty Box Spiked Cider, and Maple Oat Latte.

Cozy night

The MistakeBook club questions, food & host guide

Elle Kennedy

A cozy book club night for The Mistake by Elle Kennedy. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.

Friends who love a comforting romance, a good laugh and a heart-to-heart over something warm to drink

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A warm, funny and swoony college romance about second chances, where a charming hockey player has to earn back the trust of the girl he let down. It's perfect for a blanket-and-cocoa night when your club wants to laugh, sigh and swap stories about the people who made them feel seen.

Why it works for clubs

Second chances and forgiveness give everyone a personal story to share
Alternating his-and-her chapters spark gentle talk about seeing both sides
Banter and humor keep the conversation light and easy
Its themes of self-worth and belonging hit home at any age

Themes & mood

Second Chances Swoony Found Family Feel-Good Cozy Romance

Reading level

Easy

Warm-up questions

1 What were you curled up with (drink, blanket, spot on the couch) while you read this, and did the book feel like a comfort read or a page-turner for you?
2 The guys' off-campus house is a noisy, loyal little household. Which friend group or roommate situation from your own life came to mind as you read?

Digging in

1 The story is built around making up for a mistake. What does a real apology feel like to you, and what makes you believe someone means it?
2 Grace is finding her footing in her sophomore year. Did her story bring back how you felt at 19 or 20, and what would you whisper to that version of yourself?
3 Logan's easy charm seems to hide some heavier feelings. Did any moment make you want to give him a hug, and why did it land for you?
4 Which small, everyday moments between characters (a joke, a shared meal, a quiet night in) felt the most comforting to read, and why do those little moments matter so much?

Going deep

1 Deciding whether to give someone a second chance can mean protecting yourself and staying open at the same time. How did Grace's choices along the way make you feel, and did they change how you think about your own boundaries?
2 By the last page, what feeling did the book leave you with, and has this story nudged you to reach out, forgive or finally let go of something in your own life?

On the table

Baked Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese

Cheap, filling college comfort food made cozier, the kind of meal a houseful of hungry hockey players would polish off in minutes.

Warm Soft Pretzel Bites with Beer-Cheese and Honey-Mustard Dips

A homemade take on hockey-rink concession snacks. Store-bought dough keeps it easy, and dipping from a shared bowl gets people talking.

Apple Cider Donuts or Maple Blondies

A sweet nod to the book's New England college setting. Serve warm so the whole room smells like fall on campus.

To sip

Second-Chance Hot Chocolate Bar No alcohol

Rich cocoa with marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint sticks and caramel so everyone makes their own. It's forgiving, fun and fully non-alcoholic.

Penalty Box Spiked Cider

Warm mulled apple cider with a splash of bourbon or spiced rum. It's New England autumn in a mug, a little indulgent and good for sipping slowly.

Maple Oat Latte No alcohol

A toasty maple coffee or chai latte, like the late-night study fuel of college life. Make it decaf so nobody's up all night.

Soft acoustic love songs and mellow indie, low enough to talk over and warm enough to feel like a hug

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