The Teacher

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How does The Teacher use plot twists to keep the reader engaged with the plot and character relationships? Did any of these twists surprise you?
• What is the emotional impact of the novel’s big revelations, such as Eve finding Nate and Addie together or Jay’s true identity, and what feelings do they evoke in readers?
• How does The Teacher compare to other psychological thrillers about revenge and betrayal, such as the classic film Fatal Attraction or the TV series How to Get Away with Murder? How does The Teacher stand out in its portrayal of manipulative relationships and the consequences of deceit?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• Reflection on your own experiences with trust and betrayal. How do the betrayals in the novel, particularly Nate’s manipulation of Addie and Eve, resonate with your own experiences or fears?
• Do you agree or disagree with Eve’s decision to take matters into her own hands? What issues does this raise about law enforcement and the nature of justice in personal affairs?
• What is the psychological impact of manipulation and control and how does it change the outlook of characters like Addie, who are manipulated by those in positions of power?
• Which character do you relate with most in the novel and why? How would you change the outcome of that character’s storyline in the novel?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.

• How does The Teacher contribute to the ongoing conversation about boundaries, consent, sexual assault, and harassment, such as the #MeToo movement?
• How is gender portrayed in the novel? What are the cultural and societal expectations placed on the women and girls, particularly in the context of Eve’s initially perfect life and Addie’s status as a star pupil. How does the novel challenge or reinforce stereotypes about women’s societal roles?
• Compare and contrast the main male characters of Art, Nate, and Jay. What do they have in common? How are they similar and different in their treatment of the women or girls in their lives and their beliefs about social responsibility?
• Does the novel portray any healthy relationships? If so, how do they differ from the dark, twisted relationships that exist among the main characters?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.

• How does Eve progress from a seemingly perfect, upstanding teacher to a sadistic person bent on revenge? What new elements of her personality does the plot reveal, and how does her past influence her present? 
• How does Nate use his position of power to control Addie and others around him? What does this reveal about the dangers of authority when it is abused?
• Compare and contrast The Teacher with Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita. How does each novel portray seduction between student and teacher? In what ways do the novels differ based on their genres and the way they handle themes of sexual attraction between adults and minors?
• How does emotional and psychological manipulation operate among the novel’s adult characters versus the teenage characters? How do both of these differ from the manipulative dynamics that exist between the adults and students in the novel?
• What is the significance of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven in the novel? How does the theme of poetry inform the characters’ relationships and plot?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book’s content and themes.



• Write a letter to your childhood bully or someone who mistreated you. What would you say to that person? How does writing the letter make you feel?
• How does the novel depict cycles of psychological manipulation repeating themselves from generation to generation? What can someone do to stop this cycle?

Need more inspiration for your next meeting? Browse all of our Book Club Resources.