Lights Out

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Reflect on Aly and Josh’s traumas. Do either of them evoke a specific response for you? Why or why not?

2. What is your view on Aly and Josh’s use of “con-dub-con,” or consensual dubious consent? If you have read other dubious consent stories, do you like Lights Out more or less?

3. Do you find Aly and Josh to be relatable characters? What elements of their lives make them relatable or unrelatable?

4. Have you ever had a fantasy or obsession that you wanted to come true? What kinds of risks are involved in pursuing a fantasy as Aly does?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Social media is becoming ubiquitous. What does Lights Out reveal about social media platforms like TikTok? Does the novel make you consider your interactions with social media in a new light?

2. In the modern day, technology is both a boon and a potential danger. How does technology both help and harm the characters, and what does this balance reveal about modern life?

3. With the rise of understanding about consent and sexuality, how does Aly’s story resonate with contemporary women’s issues? How is Josh either a “good” or “bad” man in relation to these issues?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The arc of Aly and Josh’s love story is stable, even as events occur that threaten to challenge their relationship. What is the impact of Allen constructing the romance in a linear fashion, rather than including devices common to the genre like a third-act break up or forced separation?

2. Aly and Josh are both dynamic characters, meaning that they grow over the course of the novel. This happens in a multitude of ways, but what are some changes you see in each character? How have Aly and Josh improved or regressed from the beginning to the end of the novel?

3. The themes in the novel cover ideas ranging from fantasy to trauma. Which theme stands out most to you (even if it is not present in the guide)? What do you take from that theme that might change the way you view future novels and media?

4. Fred is a unique symbol, as he represents multiple concepts, like love, child-rearing, responsibility, and trust. How does Aly’s relationship with Fred reflect real-life pet ownership? If you have pets, would you trust them to determine if a potential partner is a good person? Why or why not?