The Rom-Commers

Emma and Charlie embody the classic romance trope of "sunshine meets grump." Compare and contrast Emma and Charlie's attitudes towards love and romance at the beginning of the story. How do their perspectives evolve?

Why did Charlie treat Emma so dismissively to start? What elements of his personality and past experiences colored his attitude toward her. Would you have been able to forgive his actions towards her?

Discuss the significance of Emma's background as a romance screenplay writer. How does this influence her interactions with Charlie and her approach to their project?

How does the forced proximity of working together in Charlie's mansion contribute to the development of their relationship?

How does Emma's role as a caregiver for her father affect her personal and professional growth? How does the book explore the tension between pursuing personal dreams and family obligations? How do you think you would face a similar situation?

How does Center balance the treatment of serious topics such as death, serious illness, and guilt with the lighter, romantic elements of the story?

How does the author use the process of writing a screenplay as a metaphor for Emma and Charlie's developing relationship?

Let's talk about that brutal fight between Emma and her sister, Sylvie. Who do you think was in the right or wrong? Why did their fight escalate so dramatically?

A health scare false alarm figures prominently in the last section of the novel. What did you think of this plot device?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much were you feeling the chemistry between Emma and Charlie. Were you rooting for them? Why or why not.

Okay, last question is not really a question. Let's just talk about how much we loved Cuthbert the Peruvian Guinea Pig!