Chantel Simmons

1. After Poppy first learns that Parker has been cheating on her, she goes through a wide range of emotions, moving from disbelief, to anger, to sadness. How do you think you would react to this news? How have you or your friends dealt with this horrible discovery in the past?

2. While she waits for Parker to regain consciousness in the hospital, Poppy reminisces about their life together so far, and reveals many instances in which she compromised her true personality by showing only her mature, refined side to Parker. Do you think that Poppy made too many sacrifices in this regard? Should she have been more true to herself in displaying all parts of her personality, and not just the parts that best matched Parker? What does her decision say about herself and about Parker?

3. Do you think Poppy was right in deciding to give him a second chance? If you were in Poppy’s shoes, would you be afraid that your partner would still be prone to cheating again?

4. Poppy thinks that the answer to her problems with Parker is to change her appearance and physically transform herself into a clone of Sienna, one detail at a time. While Poppy’s plan is a very drastic one, the idea of changing oneself to attract a partner is an idea that most women have probably entertained at one point or another. How far have you ever gone in changing your appearance, either outwardly or inwardly? In retrospect, do you think you tried to change yourself too much?

5. In her quest to transform her appearance, Poppy undergoes several chemical treatments, including teeth whitening, a facial peel, and a spray tan – none of which initially work out quite like she plans. Share your most disastrous beauty-gone-wrong story and what you learned from that experience.

6. On one of their very first dates, Parker firmly told Poppy that he had no interest in ever becoming a father – an idea that Poppy easily agreed with as she also had no real urges to become a mother. Considering how adamant he previously was on this issue, do you feel it was fair of Parker to change his mind later on? How would the story have been different if it had been Poppy who had changed her mind? Who do you relate to best in this situation and why?

7. While Parker and Poppy continue to debate whether or not they should have children, Poppy begins to wonder if she’s a “horrible human being” for not wanting to be a mother. Do you think women who don’t want children are frowned upon more than men who don’t want them? Why do you think this may or may not be the case?

8. When thinking about Parker’s affair with Sienna, Poppy thinks to herself, “I assumed he’d liked everything about her: hair, face, clothes, shoes. Even nails. It was the whole package. Otherwise, you moved on.” Do you agree with this idea? Do you think that you have to love every part of a person, both the good qualities and the bad, to truly love them?

9. Do you think that Poppy should have been more supportive of Parker’s newfound interests or was she justified in initially being wary of these drastic new changes in Parker’s behaviour? Explain why or why not.

10. Aside from her best friend, Elin, Poppy feels unable to tell anyone else in her life about Parker’s affair because she feels that she must maintain her image of having a perfect husband, a perfect job, and a perfect life. If you were in Poppy’s position, how would you act?

11. Do you think Poppy made the right decision by accepting Colin’s offer to appear on This Morning behind Parker’s back? Do you think that if Poppy had initially told Parker about her run-in with Colin, he might have been more accepting of the situation?

12. Do you think that Poppy was justified in not telling Parker about her initial meeting with Colin? Can it ever be okay to maintain a friendship with an ex without your current partner’s knowledge?

13. When Parker tells Poppy he got fired from his job, he defends his lie by saying that he was afraid she would think he was a failure. If Parker had been honest with Poppy about this, do you think she would have been more understanding about his newfound desire for a baby and a house in the country?

14. One of the main lessons Poppy learns throughout the course of her story is that a couple doesn’t have to like all the same things and have all the same interests in order to be a happy couple. Do you agree with this idea? How important is it to you that you have similar interests as your partner?

Bookclub discussion questions by Suzanne Gardner.