READERS GUIDE

Introduction

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
 
1. Talking at Night is about relationships, and the novel delves into the emotional and moral complexities of what we owe ourselves and each other. At any point, did you feel a character made a choice that seemed right in theory, but in practice resulted in nobody feeling satisfied? Were there moments when you had expected—or hoped—a certain character would make a different decision? Explain when and why.
 
2. Both Rosie and Josh are attracted to Will, and yet when Josh reveals his true feelings to Rosie, she reacts by pushing Will away. Teenagers are notorious for letting emotion get in the way of communication; how could things have worked out differently if they’d been honest with each other?
 
3. Rosie and Will feel a magnetic pull toward each other throughout the course of the novel, despite geographic distance and intimate relationships with other people. Why do you think they are drawn to each other? Do opposites really attract, or is there something deeper at play here? Discuss.
 
4. At first glance, Rosie and Simon’s relationship is sensible and straightforward, and they each care deeply for the other. And yet the more time passes, the more Rosie realizes she isn’t truly in love with Simon. Still, when Simon falls ill, she feels she owes it to him to return to help him. Do you think Rosie was right?
 
5. Rosie and Will both feel deep guilt about Josh, guilt that dictates decisions they make later in life. Do you think they are at fault for what happened the night of Will’s birthday? And for whom do you think the repercussions are the worst? Why?
 
6. Rosie feels a lack of support and understanding from her mother and sometimes even from her friend Marley, who tries her best but can’t always empathize with Rosie’s experiences. Instead, Rosie turns to music for salvation. Why do you think she finds comfort in music?
 
7. The title of the book, Talking at Night, refers to the numerous conversations Will and Rosie have over the years. Do you think they are more open with each other in person or on the phone?
 
8. Rosie feels a constant pressure to be high achieving, and it often turns into a problematic sense of perfectionism. How do you think this perfectionism affects her relationship with her mother? With Simon? With Will? Discuss.
 
9. Do you think Will and Rosie were right to return to each other at various points in the novel? What does this say about second chances? And do you think they made the right choices in the end?