52 pages • 1 hour read
Pretty Girls
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death, sexual violence, graphic violence, and gender discrimination.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. Discuss which facets of Pretty Girls were most exciting, emotionally resonant, or surprising for you. Which narrative mysteries were you most invested in, and why?
2. Compare your experience reading Pretty Girls to your experience reading Karin Slaughter’s other titles. For example, how do the conflicts and mysteries central to Pretty Girls parallel those in titles like Pieces of Her, The Good Daughter, or False Witness? If this was your first experience reading Slaughter, are you interested in reading more?
3. What other contemporary psychological thrillers is Pretty Girls in conversation with? For instance, you might compare Slaughter’s handling of the genre with titles like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Marcy Kubica’s She’s Not Sorry, or Stacy Willingham’s All the Dangerous Things.
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Discuss your response to the plot twist that Paul Scott faked his own death. How did this revelation change your impressions of the characters and the narrative world? Were you surprised by it? What makes for a good plot twist, in your opinion?
2. The novel explores themes of beauty and femininity. What facets of Slaughter’s explorations resonate with your own familial, cultural, and/or personal beauty standards?
3. Claire Scott and Lydia Delgado rekindle their relationship after Paul’s alleged death. How does their dynamic compare to your own sibling or family relationships? Which facets of their relationship did you find most believable?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. The novel explores feminist themes related to femininity, beauty standards, and motherhood. How does Slaughter use Claire’s and Lydia’s physical appearances and attitudes toward motherhood to comment on contemporary gender politics?
2. The novel is set in present-day Atlanta, Georgia. Explore how this setting relates to the novel’s social and political dynamics. How would Claire and Lydia’s attempts to solve the mystery of Julia’s death differ if they were working with another state’s justice system?
3. Paul Scott turns out to be a nefarious character guilty of murder and sexual abuse. How does Slaughter use his character to explore the history of violence against women in the United States?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. The novel is written from the third-person limited point of view and traces Claire’s, Lydia’s, and their father, Sam Carroll’s, perspectives. How does this point of view choice reflect the novel’s central themes and/or dictate the narrative stakes?
2. Compare and contrast Claire and Lydia. How does the novel develop their characterization?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. Imagine that you are adapting Pretty Girls for the screen. How would you structure your adaptation—as a film or a limited series? Whom would you cast in the leading roles, and which narrative elements would you maintain or change?
2. Create a playlist that mimics the plot line of Pretty Girls. Consider how each song might evoke the tension, plot twists, or mysteries central to the novel. Share your playlists and discuss the reasoning behind each chosen song.
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