Reading Group Questions

The Messy Lives of Book People/The Book Share

1.     Liv Green and Essie Starling live very different lives. Liv is a busy cleaner, wife and mum of two, struggling to make ends meet. Essie lives a quiet, solitary life of luxury. Which woman did you relate to the most? Which woman’s life would you prefer to lead and why?

2.     Essie leaves Liv a very unusual last request and unexpected inheritance. Have you ever been left anything unexpected in a will?

3.     Hannah Cardinal and the Platinum office staff don’t always treat Liv with respect. Should Liv take some responsibility for this? Have you ever found yourself in a similar position at work, and did you stand up for yourself? If not, why not?

4.     We learn of Essie’s death early on in the book. How is her spirit kept alive on the page? What did you learn about her life and how did it change your opinion of her?

5.     Liv steps into Essie’s world and is seduced by her lifestyle. If you could step into someone else’s shoes for six months, who would it be and why?

6.     Liv has wanted to be a writer since childhood but was too embarrassed to share her dream with others. Did you have a childhood dream, and did you follow it? Did you tell others about it, or keep it to yourself?

7.     Georgia Rory is an important character in Essie’s fiction. How did Georgia influence and inspire change for Liv?

8.     What was your favourite scene in the book and why? Did reading the book impact your mood? If yes, how so?

9.     Liv and Jake endure various marriage struggles throughout the book making Liv question their future together. Ultimately, she decides she wants to make things work between them. Did you agree with her decision?

10.  What do you think Liv will do next? What might her life look like in two years’ time and beyond?