August Lane

August and Luke’s story is set against the backdrop of Black artists in country music. How does the book challenge your perceptions about who “belongs” in certain musical genres? Discuss the real-life Black country pioneers mentioned and how their erasure from mainstream narratives parallels the characters’ struggles.

“Another Love Song” haunts Luke for thirteen years, forcing him to relive his betrayal every time he performs. How does music function as both a blessing and a curse in the novel? Share examples from your own life where a song became permanently tied to a memory.

The fictional town of Arcadia, Arkansas, serves as more than just a setting—it’s almost a character itself. How does the small-town environment both nurture and constrain the characters’ dreams? What does the book reveal about Black rural life that’s often missing from popular culture?

Luke fled Arcadia to pursue fame while August remained to care for her grandmother. Compare their different choices and what each gained or lost. How do their different relationships with “home” affect their character development?

Luke built his entire career on lyrics he stole from August. Discuss whether his success justifies the betrayal, and how the lie affected both characters over time. Can artistic theft ever be forgiven when it launched one person’s career while destroying another’s dreams?

This is fundamentally a second-chance romance. What makes August and Luke’s relationship worth salvaging after thirteen years and such a profound betrayal? How do they each need to grow before they can be together?

August struggles with being “JoJo Lane’s daughter” while trying to establish her own musical identity. How do family legacies both inspire and burden the characters? Discuss other examples from literature or life where children of famous parents face similar challenges.

The book explores how trauma and secrets can be passed down through families. How do the characters break cycles of pain while honoring their heritage? What role does music play in both preserving and healing generational wounds?

Luke achieved fame by performing a watered-down version of his and August’s original song. Discuss the tension between artistic authenticity and commercial success. How do both characters define “making it,” and how do those definitions evolve?

The novel’s themes of reclaiming space and voice mirror current conversations about representation in country music. How do August and Luke each reclaim their narratives by the end? What does it mean to “rewrite the love song” both literally and metaphorically?

If your book club created a soundtrack for August Lane, what songs would you include and why?

Research one Black country music pioneer mentioned in the book (Linda Martell, DeFord Bailey, Charlie Pride). Share what you learned and discuss why their stories matter.