1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you find January or Gus more relatable? Did you like either character more at the end of the novel than at the start?
• Did you expect January and Gus to get together? Were there any points in the novel you thought they might not end up together?
• Beach Read deals with a lot of sensitive subjects. Did you expect this of a romance? Why or why not? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Have you ever discovered a secret that changed your view of a person? How did you react to this? What would you have done if you were in January’s place? 
• How do you work with people who have opposite values to yours? Has there ever been a Gus to your January, or vice versa? 
• Have you ever felt incapable of doing your job like January and Gus did due to writer’s block? How did you feel in this situation? Would you have tried something drastically different if you were in their place?
• Did you agree with how January and Sonya treated one another? Is there anything you think either woman should have done differently? 
• Have you ever been in love with an idea like January is in love with love? How did this affect your outlook on the world? 

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