Love and Other Words

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of death and child abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does the dual timeline structure enhance or detract from your experience of Macy and Elliot's love story? Did you find yourself more invested in one timeline over the other? Have you read other books that employ this narrative structure—(e.g., Taylor Jenkins Reid's Maybe in Another Life)?

2. What was your initial reaction the novel’s portrayal of grief and loss? Did you find the descriptions authentic? Why or why not?

3. How effective was the authors' use of books and reading as a foundation for Macy and Elliot's relationship? What did this shared passion reveal about the characters?

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

1. Macy struggles to communicate her grief, preferring to appear "normal" so that she will not be known as "the girl with the dead parent." Have you ever found yourself hiding parts of your identity or experience in order to fit in? How did this choice affect your relationships?