Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual harassment and child sexual abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Discuss your experience reading Playworld. Which scenes, plot points, or scenarios were most emotionally resonant for you, and why?

2. Compare and contrast Playworld to Ross’s previous titles, Mr. Peanut and Ladies and Gentlemen. What thematic and narrative overlaps do you notice between Ross’s novels?

3. Compare Playworld with other literary coming-of-age stories. For example, how does Playworld resonate with bildungsroman such as Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, Tove Ditlevsen’s The Copenhagen Trilogy, or Marieke Lucas Rijneveld’s The Discomfort of Evening?

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

1. How did you respond to Griffin Hurt’s relationship with Amanda West? Which aspects of their dynamic were most and/or least resonant to you, and why?

2. The novel explores the complexities of Navigating Challenges in a Fast-Paced Environment. Compare and contrast Griffin’s coming of age in New York City to your own experience. Did you have similar challenges and responsibilities? How did place define them, and how did you navigate them?