Saoirse

How does the name Saoirse — meaning “freedom” — reflect the protagonist’s emotional journey? What do you think freedom really means for Saoirse?

What do you think the book suggests about the possibility (or impossibility) of truly starting over?

Did you sympathize with Sarah’s choice to assume the identity of Saoirse to escape her dangerous life in the U.S.? Is what she did justifiable?

What does the novel reveal about the cost of keeping secrets?

Discuss Saoirse’s arrival in Ireland and how quickly she was swept up into Paul’s world. Do you think there was anything she could have done differently? Would you have made different choices in that position?

How do you think Saoirse uses her art to process her life? Does painting serve as a form of freedom, a form of confession, or both?

Discuss the author’s method of telling Saoirse’s backstory through subjects that she painted. What effect did this device have on your reading of these events?

How do past traumas continue to shape Saoirse’s life, even years after she has fled?

What moments in the novel suggest the possibility of healing — or reveal how fragile it might be?

How does the constant tension of the fear of being found out drive Saoirse’s actions?

How do Saoirse’s relationships with Paul and his family, Daithí, and her daughters reflect her desire for safety and love?

When Saoirse does find a loving partner in Daithí, why do you think she hides the truth about her identity for as long as she does?

Can you ever really “know” someone if they are hiding a big secret from you? How would you have reacted in Daithí’s shoes?

At what point did you feel the greatest sense of suspense or dread?

What role does the Irish coast play in shaping the mood and themes of the story?

How does the story make you reflect on your own beliefs about truth and reinvention?