The questions below are grouped by theme and meant for discussion, not quizzing — there are no right answers. Each group is spoiler-free except the last, which is set aside for readers who have finished the book and stays closed until you choose to open it.
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Friendship
Pooja and Phil begin as little more than employee and employer — and a fairly frosty version of that, at first.
- Phil is, by his own admission, difficult to work for in the early chapters. What do you think finally lets Pooja see past that — and what does it take, in general, to rebuild trust with someone who hasn't given you much reason to?
- The friendship between Pooja and Phil crosses a wide gap in age, background and culture. What do you think makes it work anyway?
Ambition and family expectation
Pooja's dream of a career in dance and theatre runs headlong into her family's hopes for something more conventional.
- Pooja's parents equate a degree and a stable job with love and protection. Do you think that's a fair way to read their pressure on her — or something more complicated?
- At one point, Pooja insists furiously on her own independence to her brother. What does "independence" mean to her in that moment, and does it match what independence means to you?
Identity and belonging
Pooja describes herself as a fusion of being British and Indian — and she's not interested in giving up either half.
- How does the novel portray Navratri and garba as more than tradition — as something Pooja actively returns to and draws strength from?
- Where else in the book do you see characters negotiating between two cultures, two expectations, or two versions of themselves?
Independence and care
Pooja is, in a very literal sense, paid to care for Phil. The novel is curious about what that does to a relationship.
- At what point does Pooja and Phil's relationship stop being transactional? Is there a single moment you'd point to, or is it more gradual than that?
- Pooja's friend Tracey is wary of how attached Pooja becomes to her employer. Do you think that wariness is fair?
For reading groups who have finished the book
The questions below assume you've read to the end. Reveal only when you're ready.
Contains spoilers — click to revealSpoiler questions
- The novel's final part is titled 'Not Ready to Say Goodbye.' Looking back, where do you see that feeling building earlier in the book — maybe before you expected it to?
- Phil reflects that "legacy is about giving; unfortunately, I have taken." By the end of the novel, do you think he has changed that balance?
- How does the ending reshape your understanding of everything Phil did for Pooja earlier in the book?
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