It's been two decades since Hazel last laid eyes on Teddy. She has managed to keep her secrets tucked away, hidden in the crevices of her mind. But she often wonders what happened to him and what her life would have been had he never left her.

In the summer of 1986, thirteen-year-old Hazel yearns to escape her dysfunctional family life, plagued by a self-absorbed, nosy mother, a passive father, and a moody older sister who loathes her. Everything changes when Hazel meets her sister's older boyfriend, Teddy. The stakes are high as a forbidden romance ensues. They squirrel away in a secret apartment, drinking, smoking, and daydreaming of escaping to a glamorous life in Europe.

By summers end, Hazel is devastated when Teddy abandons her to travel the world without her, leaving her heartbroken and shattered. Despite the pain, Hazel redefines herself, discovering a hidden talent and finding new love, eventually marrying, and starting a family.

But years later, a chance encounter with Teddy during a visit back home thrusts Teddy back into her orbit, and Hazel is forced to confront the trauma and the repercussions she had buried for so long.

As Teddy attempts to manipulate Hazel into reliving their history and pursuing a life they once dreamed of, she becomes increasingly aware of the hold he once had over her as a vulnerable girl. As a result, Hazel's peaceful existence slowly begins to unravel, and inexplicable events start to unfold around her: a cryptic note draws her to a mysterious yet oddly familiar place where she suddenly finds herself holding a gun over her own mother.

The Lucid Nymph is a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the scars that trauma leaves behind. It is told through the eyes of a young woman who must navigate the adversities of adulthood and acceptance, while still grappling with the ghosts of her past.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with DartFrog Books.

The Lucid Nymph

The Lucid Nymph Book Club Questions PDF