For Fans
This page is dedicated to you, my loyal readers, and fans of The Truth About You and From Villain to Hero. Here's where you can find those little extras, all because you're awesome, and because you took the time to look.
Book Club Discussion Guides
The Truth About You is an excellent choice for your next book club read. And, we've made leading that discussion easy wwith our book club discussion questions. These questions are designed to help readers reflect on The Truth About You’s deeper truths about domestic violence, societal assumptions, and complex family dynamics. They are based on and the rich themes found in the story.
Read or download the questions below and prepare for lively and insightful discussion at your next book club meeting.
Adult Book Club
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What are some of the less visible forms of domestic violence or abuse portrayed in the novel?
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When does an act qualify as abuse, and when is it just “bad behavior”?
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How did the story challenge traditional views of what a domestic violence victim or perpetrator looks like?
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Did it change your assumptions about who causes harm and who is harmed?
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The novel presents Greg as a complex character. Do you believe he is an abuser, a victim, or both?
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How was Greg different from how society often frames abusers? How was Paula different from how society often frames abusers?
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Society often judges victims who “go back” as weak or beaten down. Would you say domestic violence victims should automatically end any relationship in which they experience abuse, they should stay to see if their abusive partner changes, or it depends?
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In this novel, Paula re-engages with Greg despite the abuse and the protection order. Did this broaden your view of why victims might remain in relationships with the person who caused them harm?
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How do characters like Meg and Brenda represent prevailing societal narratives about domestic violence?
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In what ways are those narratives helpful, and in what ways might their views be limiting or even harmful?
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What biases within the legal or support systems were exposed in the story?
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Did anything surprise or disturb you about how these systems handle cases like Greg’s?
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The book highlights the different standards in how we treat emotional issues like anxiety, depression or addiction versus domestic violence. Do you believe domestic violence should be treated like other behavioral health problems?
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Why or why not?
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Lucy has compassion for Greg, even after he hits her mother. That compassion grew as she learned about his experiences and began to understand the source of his reactions. Do domestic violence offenders deserve compassion, even though they have caused harm to someone they love?
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Did your compassion for Greg change as you read through this story?
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How did reading this book affect your understanding of domestic violence and its complexities?
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Did it challenge any of your personal beliefs or introduce you to ideas you hadn’t considered?
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What truth about human relationships did you take away from this novel?
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How might those truths apply to your own relationships or how you support others?
Student Book Club
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Describe the different types of abuse shown in the book. How might emotional or psychological abuse go unnoticed?
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Why is it hard to decide whether Greg is “a bad guy”? What does that say about how we judge people?
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Lucy feels bad for Greg, even after he hurt her mom. Why might someone still care about someone who did something wrong?
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Should Paula have let Greg come back? Why or why not?
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What do you think the author wants us to understand about domestic violence that people often misunderstand?
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How do friends and family in the story help or hurt the situation? Who gives good advice, and who misses the mark?
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Did this book make you think differently about relationships or red flags? Explain.
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What are some good ways to support a friend if you think they’re in a harmful relationship?
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What lessons from the book can apply to how we treat people who mess up?
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How did this book make you feel? What will you remember most?
Character Cards
Want the inside scoop about the major characters in The Truth About You? Check out these character cards, or download the card by clicking on it, or share it to your social media account.
Which character was your favorite? Click on or hover over that character's card then like it by clicking on the heart icon.
Why did you like this character?
Which character did you dislike the most?
Why?
Which character would you say is most like you?
