The Last Love Note

When the reader meets Kate in the Prologue, she has just recently lost Cam and isn't sure how she'll handle raising Charlie.

When Chapter 1 begins, how has Kate's life changed? How do you think she feels about life two years after Cam's death?

Kate's first interactions with Justin were chaotic, to say the least. How do you think meeting Justin began to change things for Kate? Why do you think things began to change?

Kate and Hugh seem to connect quickly once she starts working for him. Why do you think Hugh so easily showed up to support Kate and Cam? How do you think things might have been different for Cam and Kate without Hugh?

In Chapter 15, the reader finally learns what illness led to Cam's death. Did the illness surprise you? Have you ever dealt with a family member with this illness? What was that like?

Just after Kate and Hugh get to the beach house, Kate says, "I hate how grief reduces you." What do you think she means by this? Why do you think she feels this way?

On their first night at the beach, Hugh and Kate talk about their work together. At one point, Kate says that her mother thinks she has gotten too comfortable with Hugh.

Do you think Kate and Hugh's relationship is too comfortable? What about their relationship was important for Kate after Cam's death? What held her back from focusing more on their relationship?

When Kate begins to think she is falling for Hugh, how did you feel about that? Was it a surprise to you? Why or why not?

Despite her feelings for Hugh, Kate knows she needs a change and worries that if she doesn't make it, she'll go right from grieving to being in a new relationship. Do you think Kate made the right choice? Have you ever needed a change and had to make an unexpected choice to get to that change?

Before the author revealed what Cam asked Hugh, how did you feel about Hugh keeping Cam’s secret from Kate? Once Kate figured out what the question was, did your feelings change? What would you have done if you were Hugh?

Kate has concerns about falling in love again, both because of outside judgment and her own fears about betraying Cam.

Where do you think those fears come from? Why do you think some people judge widows for falling in love again?

After losing the one you truly love, can you ever love someone else in the same way?

What was the saddest moment in the novel for you? What about the most joyful?

Humor and grief can go hand in hand. How does humor help? Has it helped you?

How did you feel about the end of the novel? What did Kate's story inspire in you?

Mothering through loss is rendered in heart-wrenching details in this novel. What is a parent’s obligation to be upbeat for the children during times of trauma? Therapists say it helps to show real emotions to kids. Does that have a natural limit?