The Heartbreak Hotel

Henry notices Lou for the first time years before their love story begins. Have you ever formed an important relationship after an initial missed connection?

The Comeback Inn is a place to heal from grief in any of its forms. What do Lou and her guests learn about grieving in their time at the inn? How does grief both hold these characters back and help them grow?

We meet Lou at a tough moment in her career, when she’s struggling with Goldie’s perception of her as a failure. How do Lou’s and Goldie’s understandings of success change by the end of the book? How do you measure success in your own life and career?

Lou and Henry are both keeping secrets. Are these secrets understandable? Forgivable? Would you have kept the same secrets in Lou’s or Henry’s shoes?

If you could spend a day with one guest from the Comeback Inn, who would you choose and why?

Are you more of a Lou—open about discussing pain and grief—or more of a Henry—reserved about the hard things? Has that changed over time? How has it shaped your experiences?

Henry is a veterinarian. What role do animals play in Henry’s life and in this book? What role have animals played in your life?

Lou and Mei take turns supporting each other—Lou, after Mei’s breakup; Mei, when Lou’s mom is in trouble. How does platonic love play a role in this love story? How have close friends supported you through tough moments in your own life?

Would you ever want to run a bed-and-breakfast? Why or why not?

Lou and Goldie have different experiences of, and approaches to, their mother. What creates this rift? How do their relationships change

by the end of the book?

What do you think it is about Lou that makes Henry want to start really living again after experiencing so much grief? What is it about Henry that makes Lou want to trust again?

Lou naturally falls into a caretaker role in many of her relationships. Where is the line between being a supportive friend and being taken advantage of? Have you ever felt like “the mom friend” in your own life? This tends to be a woman’s role—why do you think that is?

Lou’s recipe for processing grief includes open conversation, time outside, and rest. What tools have helped you work through grief in your own life?

Lou and Goldie are opposites, but they love each other immensely. Do you have any relationships like this? How do you navigate differences between the close people in your life?

Should Lou have closed the Comeback Inn? Do you think it’s closed for good?

If Lou and Henry got a sequel, what would be next for them?