1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were your overall impressions of The Drowning Woman? Discuss what you liked most and least about the novel.
• Compare this novel to others by Robyn Harding, such as The Party, Her Pretty Face, The Arrangement, The Swap, The Perfect Family, or The Haters (see Authorial Context in Background for brief descriptions), and/or to other novels in the same genre, such as Who Is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews, Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister, or Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. What are some similarities and differences?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• Reflect on any part of The Drowning Woman that evoked a strong emotional response (such as Lee’s experience of someone breaking into her car while she was in it and stealing her belongings; Lee’s saving Hazel when she apparently tries to drown herself in the ocean, and their subsequent bonding; or the revelation of Hazel and Jesse’s deception). Why was the scene impactful, and to what extent did the previous plot development heighten the impact?
• Discuss how the novel’s