Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
A cozy book club night for Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.
Clubs that love memoirs, gentle reflection, and conversations that feel like good therapy with friends
"Get the book" is an Amazon affiliate link; we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you.
A therapist's candid, funny memoir about seeing her own therapist while treating her patients, this book opens up tender conversations about being human together.
Why it works for clubs
- Weaves multiple patient stories with the author's own life, giving everyone something to connect to
- Balances warmth and humor with real emotional depth
- Invites personal sharing without forcing heavy disclosure
- Short, episodic chapters make it easy to discuss favorite moments
Themes & mood
Warm-up questions
- 1 What was the cozy little ritual you fell into while reading this (a favorite chair, a mug, a time of day)?
- 2 Was there a passage that made you laugh out loud or smile in recognition? Share the moment if you can.
Digging in
- 1 Lori writes that we often confuse comfort with happiness. What's something that comforts you, and how did the book make you think about it?
- 2 Which of the patient stories stayed with you most warmly, and what about that person felt familiar or tender to you?
- 3 The book treats grief, love, and ordinary worry with the same care. Did reading it shift how you sit with your own small daily feelings?
- 4 Wendell becomes a quiet presence in Lori's life. Who has been a 'Wendell' for you, someone who listened without trying to fix?
Going deep
- 1 The idea of our 'prison of our own making' comes up gently throughout. Without giving anything away, was there a moment in the book that made you want to be a little kinder to yourself?
- 2 By the time you closed the book, what did it leave you wanting more of in your own life: rest, honesty, connection, something else?
On the table
To sip
Soft, hopeful, lamp-lit folk and piano for unhurried talking
Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.
Run of show
Host tips
- Keep lighting low and warm (lamps and candles over overhead lights) so people feel safe being honest
- Have a 'pass' rule for any question, this book touches real feelings and nobody should feel pressed to share
- Set out blankets or throws on couches, it signals 'stay a while' and matches the vibe of the book
Bring your softest sweater and your favorite mug. We're spending a slow evening with Lori Gottlieb, warm soup, and the kind of conversation that feels like a long exhale.
Trivia
-
1
What is Lori Gottlieb's profession outside of writing this memoir?Answer: Psychotherapist
-
2
In what city is Gottlieb's practice based?Answer: Los Angeles
-
3
In what year was Maybe You Should Talk to Someone first published?Answer: 2019
-
4
Gottlieb writes a popular advice column for which magazine?Answer: The Atlantic
-
5
Before becoming a therapist, Gottlieb worked in what industry in Hollywood?Answer: Television and film (entertainment)
-
6
What is the first name of Lori's own therapist in the book?Answer: Wendell
-
7
The book is structured around stories of how many of Lori's patients, plus Lori herself?Answer: Four patients
-
8
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone has been adapted into development for what kind of screen project?Answer: A television series
Bookmarks
Rate the book
Print pack
- Folded invite cards with the headline on the front
- Question cards (one per question) for passing around the circle
- Printed bookmarks on cardstock as take-home keepsakes
- Half-sheet scorecards with a pencil at each seat
- A small 'tea menu' card listing the drink options
Get the kit in your inbox
We'll email you this kit now, then a friendly nudge before your meeting so planning never sneaks up on you.
Build a free kit for any book
Pick your next read, choose a vibe, and get discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide in about a minute.
Build my night