Super Bloom

What was your first impression of Joan? What about the other staff at Apex Inn & Spa?

Cher and Joan have been friends for a long time, since 7th-grade band class. Do you remember the first time you met your middle school best friend? What happened? If you’re still friends, how has your relationship changed over time?

If you were in Joan’s position, would you have taken Carmen’s offer? What kinds of things could you share about your workplace (or a former workplace) if someone asked you to share some trade secrets? 

Joan is dealing with a lot of grief at the beginning of Super Bloom, so much so that she doesn’t want to connect with any of her coworkers. Why do you think connecting with her coworkers was so hard for Joan? Do you think building those relationships would have helped her move forward after Samuel’s death more quickly, or would it not have mattered?

When Joan was keeping a journal for Carmen, it activated something in her that had long loved writing. Have you ever kept a journal? Why did you start, and what has it been like? Share a little about your journey journaling (or why you might want to start).

At Apex Inn & Spa’s Christmas party, Joan ends up with a gift in the Yankee swap (you might also refer to this as a white elephant or a gift exchange) that reminds her of her relationship with Samuel and helps to inspire Snow Globe. Have you ever received a gift that unexpectedly meant something or inspired some art? What was that experience like? Do you feel like this moment was a turning point in the story? Why or why not?

On page 132, Joan is giving a client a massage when the client has an emotional release. At first, she feels like she doesn’t know what to do, but that changes. It also triggers an emotional release in Joan, and she ends up confiding in Lou after the appointment. Do you feel like this moment was important for Joan’s personal growth? Why or why not? How do you think it changed Joan’s relationship with Lou? What about her relationship with herself?

Both of Joan’s parents were very supportive, but it was her father who was constantly urging her to get back to writing. Then later, Joan discovers that a teacher had encouraged her to invest more time in her writing, but she assumed he hadn’t thought she was good enough. Why was Joan’s father so supportive of her writing? How do you think Joan’s assumption that her teacher wasn’t supportive changed whether or not she pursued her dream? How did it change once she knew the truth? Have you ever had a parent or other adult in your life who was supportive of a dream of yours? How did that change whether or not you pursued that dream?

When Joan starts to fall for Tony, she begins opening herself up in all sorts of new ways. Why do you think Joan found Tony so intriguing? After all the time she spent grieving Samuel, what do you think pushed her to begin moving on? What about Joan’s relationship with Tony was important for her growth, even when things were tough for them?

Joan meeting Quinn sets off a series of events, including Joan joining a book group, becoming friends with Deli, and telling Quinn about her book. How do all of these moments end up changing Joan’s life? How would the story have changed without the supporting cast of characters? 

In Chapter Thirty-One, Cher and Joan have an important conversation, opening up to each other in a way they haven’t in a long time. What do you think got them each to this point? Have you ever had a moment like this with a friend? Did it strengthen or weaken your relationship?

For several chapters, Joan is being followed by a white van, which she believes is being driven by Carmen. When she finally confronts the driver, it turns out to be Samuel’s mother, Patty. Who did you think was in the van? Were you surprised by who it turned out to be? How do you think Patty and Joan’s conversation healed both of them?

After hurting her hand due to writing and working at Apex, Joan begins a downward spiral that gets her kicked out of the grocery store. Her relationship with Tony comes to a screeching halt and ends with her finding Carmen in her house. Ultimately, Carmen gets Joan to admit that she has been writing her own novel and ends up taking the notebook with her. How did Joan get to this point? Did you think Carmen would find out, or were you sure Joan would get away with it? What did you think about Carmen taking the book with her? Was it justified?

After Carmen takes Joan’s novel, Cher organizes several of Joan’s friends to help her reclaim it. Were you surprised by which of the people in the novel came to support Joan? How do you think this made Joan feel?

How did you feel about the epilogue of Super Bloom? How does  the title and the knowledge Samuel shared with Joan about super blooms parallel Joan’s story? Have you ever experienced a super bloom of your own?