Are You Staying, Mandy Boyle?
A brilliant debut from Melanie Moore, Are You Staying, Mandy Boyle? will have you laughing, crying, and aching with the frustrations and joys of taking huge risks and falling in love big time.
Mandy Boyle is thirty-five, still living with her stepfather in his rent-stabilized apartment, and still stuck as a copy editor at The New York Times, awaiting the next big layoff. It wasn't supposed to be like this, but ten years ago, she put her journalism career on hold and moved back to the city to care for her dying mother. Of course, she can't be salty about that.
Then everything changes when Mandy wins a one-hundred-plus-year-old newspaper in Vermont and the apartment over it--a New Yorker's dream! The only catch? She must run The Liberty Eagle for one year and can't sell it to a conglomerate until that year is up. Sounds great, until Mandy discovers the Eagle is definitely old school, definitely not profitable, and that she is definitely in way over her head.
Suddenly she's a city girl thrust into a quaint Vermont town at Christmastime, where everyone knows everything about each other. One plus? The mechanic in the next building, Greg Stewart, who keeps trying to sell her snow tires, is very easy on the eyes. Mandy would like to know more about him, but he's plenty guarded. As she struggles to right the sinking newspaper, she bonds with people in the town, including a young woman who is losing her own mother to cancer, an emotional connection that cracks open Mandy's own guarded heart.
Through it all, Mandy is drawn to Greg. He just may be her best friend. Maybe the love of her life. But how can two such guarded hearts ever fully fall for each other--especially when Mandy is sure she'll be leaving by the time next Christmas rolls around?
These questions were provided by the publisher, Blackstone Publishing.
Book club questions for Are You Staying, Mandy Boyle? by Melanie Moore
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
The book takes place in both city and small-town settings. Do you prefer city or small-town? Why?
How do you think the change of scenery affects Mandy’s personal growth in the story?
Inheriting a failing business is a lot of work and stress to take on. Why do you think Mandy was willing to take the leap and step in at The Liberty Eagle?
Reading this book with your club?
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Create My ClubWhat are the pros and cons to a high-risk, high-reward situation like this?
One of the central facets of Mandy’s journey is community. How can community or lack thereof impact someone’s development, both in life and in business?
Do you think it would be easier to build community in a big city over a small town? If so, why?
What would you say Mandy’s greatest weakness is? Her greatest strength? Why?
The book deals a lot with guarded hearts and anxieties surrounding relationships. How does Mandy guard her heart? What does it take for someone to open their heart again once it’s been broken?
Second chances are rare. What would you give for a second chance in life?
If you were given a second chance to do your life over, what would you do with it?
Are You Staying, Mandy Boyle? Book Club Questions PDF
Download a printable PDF of these discussion questions to bring to your meeting.