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Book Club Night Kit
The Amateur

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 1.Without giving anything away, was there a moment that genuinely unsettled you, and what do you think it stirred up personally?
  2. 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

  1. 01 Skinny Love - Bon Iver
  2. 02 Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
  3. 03 The Night We Met - Lord Huron
  4. 04 Motion Picture Soundtrack - Radiohead
  5. 05 River - Joni Mitchell
  6. 06 Holocene - Bon Iver
  7. 07 Cherry Wine - Hozier
  8. 08 Vincent - Don McLean

Trivia

  1. 1.Which #1 New York Times bestseller by Bohjalian was adapted into a hit series starring Kaley Cuoco? (The Flight Attendant)
  2. 2.Which earlier Bohjalian novel about a midwife on trial became an Oprah's Book Club selection? (Midwives)
  3. 3.In what US state, often a backdrop for Bohjalian's fiction, does the author live and write? (Vermont)
  4. 4.The Amateur centers on a prodigy in what sport? (Golf)
  5. 5.What is the name for the person who carries a golfer's clubs and offers advice on the course? (A caddy)
  6. 6.In what year is The Amateur published? (2026)
  7. 7.Bohjalian is known for exploring moral gray zones in what broad genre? (Literary suspense (or domestic thriller))
  8. 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.

The Amateur
The Amateur
The Amateur

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.