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53 pages 1 hour read

Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone

A Merry Little Meet Cute

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Book Club Questions

A Merry Little Meet Cute

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

  • What do you think about the novel’s premise about an adult film star acting in a feel-good holiday movie? Does the humor of this come across as intended?
  • Who is your favorite character, and why?
  • Would you say this novel is convincing as a romantic comedy? What are some of your favorite moments between Nolan and Bee?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

  • What do you think about Nolan’s efforts to rehabilitate his image? How have you handled moving on from incidents or situations that caused you embarrassment or regret?
  • Bee’s teenage love of INK and her immersion in the fandom is a big part of her initial attraction to Nolan. Can you relate to that type of infatuation? Who were your celebrity crushes at that age?
  • What do you think about the novel’s message about the meaning of Christmas? Would you agree?
  • What do you think about the novel’s message on love? Would you agree that support and loyalty are big parts of enduring love?
  • Would you want to live in Christmas Notch? Why or why not?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

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

  • What is your response to the book’s handling of different attitudes toward sex work and the porn industry? What elements are believable to you?
  • Would you say the book succeeds with its parodies on romantic comedies, holiday movies, and adult entertainment? Do you think this humor is an effective way to help audiences reconsider cultural norms and expectations?
  • Do you find the novel believable in how it represents the conflict between public and private selves for celebrities? What about this portrayal do you find most convincing?

4. Literary Analysis

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

  • Discuss the novel’s use of alternating first-person points of view. How is your perception changed by being inside the heads of both protagonists?
  • The book follows the pattern of a romantic comedy to parody this genre and its appeal, in part by making Duke the Halls a romantic comedy between a time-traveling modern-day woman and a 19th-century English duke. Would you say the novel is successful in its use of the familiar beats like the meet-cute, the crossing of different worlds, the third-act breakup, and the final reconciliation?
  • Explore the novel’s body-positive messages as they are conveyed through the character of Bee. What about Bee’s experiences as a plus-size woman do you find most relatable, revealing, or convincing?
  • Consider the other couples in the novel—Angel and Luca, Gretchen and Pearl, Bee’s moms, or Teddy and Steph—and discuss how these relationships provide context for Nolan and Bee’s relationship as well as the central message about love and romance.
  • Discuss how the novel confronts differences between—and blending of—fantasy and reality. Which of the book’s situations or problems do you think best illustrate this?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

  • Write a treatment (the summary of a script) or, if you’re feeling inspired, a script for your own holiday-themed Hope Channel movie.
  • You’ve been hired as Teddy’s script advisor for a Hope After Dark movie. What do you think the story should be about? Who will you cast as the leads and quirky supporting characters?
  • Write your own lyrics to an INK song. If you’re in the holiday spirit, you might choose “All BeClaus of You.”

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