Haunting Adeline

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

1. One of the most controversial scenes in Haunting Adeline is the scene in which Zade uses a gun to assault Adeline. How did this scene affect your impressions of Zade and Adeline? Did you feel this scene was important in their journey?

2. Haunting Adeline discusses the fine line of “dub-con” (i.e., “dubious consent”) fantasies. What is your view on dubious consent? Do these fantasies affirm or call into question your own feelings and knowledge about consent?

3. Imagine you are in the position of either Adeline, Zade, or Adeline’s friend, Daya. How would you react to being stalked by your own love interest? How might you advise Adeline if you were her friend?

4. Haunting Adeline proposes an extensive underworld of human trafficking and sexual abuse. Is such an underworld realistic? What about Zade? Could one person, with Zade’s skills, make the kind of difference in this underworld that he does in the novel?

5. The “enemies to lovers” trope is popular in contemporary romance. How would you react if one of your “enemies” expressed an interest in you? Have you ever developed feelings for someone you never expected to see in that light? If not, do you think this trope is realistic?

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

1. Consent is a major topic in contemporary discussions of feminism, women’s rights, sexual assault, and interpersonal dynamics in relationships. How does Haunting Adeline contribute to this discussion?

2. The term “rape culture” is used to describe a culture in which sexual assault is trivialized or even celebrated in media, social groups, or society at large. Does Haunting Adeline play into rape culture in the United States, or does it combat it? How so?

3. Technology plays a significant role in the story, as it does in many contemporary romances. Could this story exist in a setting decades prior? How do Zade’s technological skills both propel the narrative forward and create unique problems for the characters? Does the novel offer any sort of commentary on the ubiquity of technology in contemporary society, especially as it pertains to relationships?

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

1. The novel alternates between Adeline’s or Zade’s perspective, giving the reader both characters’ thoughts and ideas. Does this structure promote a greater understanding of the plot? How might splitting the focus of the narration between two characters be a useful narrative device?

2. Adeline is described as being largely “ordinary,” while Zade is extraordinary in size, strength, and intelligence. How does this disparity impact the realism or relatability of the characters? What function does the contrast serve?

3. Carlton’s series is called the Cat and Mouse Duet, and Zade’s nickname for Adeline, “little mouse,” reflects this title. How does the motif of Zade calling Adeline “little mouse” influence your understanding of their relationship? Is it possible for a cat and a mouse to have an equitable and balanced relationship? Is the motif accurate, or is Zade less powerful (and predatory) than this nickname would imply?

4. Adeline’s home, Parsons Manor, is a unique setting reflecting Adeline’s unique life and background. How does her home influence your understanding of her character? How do her relationships with her grandmother and mother, specifically in the context of Parsons Manor, influence the narrative?