Some of my favorite conversations about My Sweet Elisabeth have happened around a kitchen table, with a pitcher of sweet tea and a group of readers who were not afraid to disagree. Book clubs bring a story to life in a way no single reader can, and I am always honored when a group chooses this novel.
If your club is planning a night around the book, here are a few ideas to make it memorable.
Set a Southern table
You don’t need anything elaborate. A few simple touches can bring the world of the story into the room:
- Sweet tea with lemon and fresh mint
- Pimento cheese, deviled eggs or a warm peach cobbler to share
- Low lamplight, a few candles and an old quilt over the back of a chair
- A soft playlist of front-porch blues or bluegrass in the background
Discussion questions to get you started
- Which character changed the most from the first chapter to the last, and what changed them?
- How does the Southern setting shape the choices the characters make?
- Was there a moment where you disagreed with a decision Elisabeth made? Why?
- What role do family loyalty and long-kept secrets play in the story?
- Which scene would you most like to see on screen, and who would you cast?
- If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?
Invite the author
I genuinely love meeting readers. If your club would like to invite me to join the conversation, send a note through the Contact page with your club’s name, a few preferred dates and how many readers will be joining.
Book clubs bring a story to life in a way no single reader can.
However you gather, thank you for spending an evening with these characters. Stories were always meant to be shared out loud.
