What are good book club discussion questions for Evvie Drake Starts Over?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: What was the first scene or moment that made you settle in and feel at home in this book?; If Evvie's kitchen table could talk, what kind of conversations do you imagine it would remember? Did any of yours come to mind?; The book is full of small daily comforts (coffee, porches, walks into town). Which little detail did you most want to bring into your own life?; Evvie and Dean both carry quiet versions of being 'stuck.' Did the way the story sat with that feeling comfort you, or stir something up?; Friendship (especially Andy and Evvie) is the warm undercurrent of the book. Who in your life would you want as your 'Andy,' and why?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a Evvie Drake Starts Over book club?

Food: Slow-simmered chicken and dumplings, Warm blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream, and Cheddar biscuits with honey butter. Drinks: Maple cinnamon hot cider, Honey chamomile tea with lemon, and Bourbon and apple cider toddy.

How do I host a Evvie Drake Starts Over book club night?

A tender, funny novel about a young widow and a former pitcher who rents her upstairs apartment, both quietly trying to start over in a small Maine town. It is warm, hopeful, and full of small moments that feel like a hug.

Evvie Drake Starts Over Book Club Questions, Food & Host Guide

Warm-up questions

1 What was the first scene or moment that made you settle in and feel at home in this book?
2 If Evvie's kitchen table could talk, what kind of conversations do you imagine it would remember? Did any of yours come to mind?

Digging in

1 The book is full of small daily comforts (coffee, porches, walks into town). Which little detail did you most want to bring into your own life?
2 Evvie and Dean both carry quiet versions of being 'stuck.' Did the way the story sat with that feeling comfort you, or stir something up?
3 Friendship (especially Andy and Evvie) is the warm undercurrent of the book. Who in your life would you want as your 'Andy,' and why?
4 The Maine setting feels almost like a character. How did the town's mood shape the way you read the story, and where would you want to curl up there?

Going deep

1 Grief in this book is complicated and rarely tidy. Was there a moment that captured something about loss or moving forward that felt true to you?
2 Without giving anything away, how did the book leave you feeling as you closed it, and did any part of it gently nudge you to start something over in your own life?

On the table

Slow-simmered chicken and dumplings

Pure New England comfort, the kind of dish you eat on a quiet evening when you want to feel taken care of.

Warm blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream

A nod to Maine's beloved blueberries, homey and a little indulgent.

Cheddar biscuits with honey butter

Soft, buttery, and easy to pass around the couch, perfect for a low-pressure night.

To sip

Maple cinnamon hot cider No alcohol

A warm mug in your hands that tastes like a Maine porch in autumn.

Honey chamomile tea with lemon No alcohol

Gentle, soothing, and ideal for slow conversations.

Bourbon and apple cider toddy

A grown-up version of the cider for anyone who wants a little extra warmth.

soft, hopeful folk and acoustic indie, like late afternoon light through a kitchen window

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