I Hope This Finds You Well

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were your favorite and least favorite aspects of Jolene Smith’s character? In what ways was she relatable and/or unrelatable?
• What other workplace romances does I Hope This Finds You Well remind you of? How does Sue’s novel compare to these works?
• What were your favorite and least favorite scenes in the novel? What emotional reactions did these scenes elicit, and why?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• The novel explores themes of empathy and judgment. Which facets of Jolene’s interpersonal relationships surprised you? Did you relate to how she sees her friends and coworkers?
• Jolene and Cliff become involved even though they’re coworkers. Did this raise any ethical or practical concerns for you? Would you ever pursue a relationship in a workplace setting?
• I Hope This Finds You Well explores alienation, particularly in the context of the workplace. How did Jolene’s vocational experience resonate with your own? 
• The novel explores complex parent-child relationships. Which characters’ familial situation resonated most with you, and why? Did you find some family dynamics more believable than others?
• I Hope This Finds You Well explores notions of integrity and privacy.