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What We Give Away
Food, lies and second-chance love make for a delicious dish. So why can’t Leslie take a bite?
When NYC journalist and rising media star Leslie Molina-Allen returns to rural Pennsylvania to care for her beloved aunt, she never expects to be tossed into the orbit of her first—and only—love, Chef Risto. With his larger-than-life presence and unapologetic confidence, Risto is everything Leslie has spent years trying to forget. But working at his Puerto Rican restaurant forces her to confront more than just their unfinished past. It challenges the very foundation of her identity.
For as long as Leslie can remember, food has been the enemy. Something to be mastered, not enjoyed. When her aunt encourages her to think differently, Leslie begins a transformational journey to heal her relationship with food, her body, and the only man she’s ever loved.
With a booming restaurant and his culinary star is on the rise, Chef Risto has everything he’s ever wanted. Except Leslie. But their past is a tangled mess of hurt feelings and unspoken longing.
Can these fated mates rekindle their love and find happiness?
Steamy, emotional, and deeply resonant, What We Give Away is a love story about breaking free, reclaiming joy, and finding the courage to live—and love—on your own terms. Perfect for fans of slow-burn, high-stakes romance with a powerful message, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.
This discussion guide was provided by the publisher, DartFrog Books.
Book club questions for What We Give Away by Paulette Stout
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
What was your initial impression of Dot’s claims about the diet industry? How do those opinions compare to how you felt at the end of the book?
Weight and body size expectations impact everyone. How did the pressures Leslie faced compare to those of Dot and Gabby? Are those different than Risto’s?
Fighting corruption is central to Leslie’s identity. How does her investigation into the diet industry compare to other areas of government and societal corruption? What’s similar and what’s different?
How did Leslie’s disordered eating impact her relationship with Risto?
How did Risto’s forced weight loss mirror Leslie’s journey to a larger body?
Why did Risto submit to his agent’s request, despite a lifetime of being comfortable in his body?
Thinness is a societal ideal. But how did Leslie’s disordered eating hold her back?
How did Leslie’s mother’s expectations impact Leslie’s career trajectory? Could she have achieved similar success without it? Why or why not?
How was Risto breaking up with Leslie in the past essential to their reunion?
What stereotypes about weight and body sizes do you hold in your own life? How has the book changed those perceptions? If not, why not?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition. How did Leslie’s journey change her relationships with other people in her life before and after treatment?
Leslie was a public person undergoing a personal transformation. How would you have reacted in similar circumstances?
How did Leslie’s interactions with Kaelen Reed change as she gained awareness about her condition? Could she have achieved this sooner?
How did Kaelen Reed’s childhood experiences impact how he behaved as an adult? How were these different than those experienced by Leslie’s mother?
How will Risto and Leslie’s reunion impact their professional lives?
What We Give Away Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the What We Give Away discussion questions