When we picked And Don’t Look Back by Rebecca Barrow for our January FYA Book Club selection, I had no idea how, um—applicable? depressing? galvanizing? all of the above?!!—the title would be heading into 2025. But here we are! And the good news is that, whatever’s on your mind, this novel will completely wipe all thoughts away with its thrilling mystery and gasp-worthy reveals. Y’all, there are SO MANY juicy twists, and I absolutely can’t wait to convo about all of them with my book club this month.
Check out our discussion questions below, and if you’ve already read the book, feel free to add any questions of your own in the comments!
Icebreaker
If you had to assume a new identity, like Harlow did, in high school, what different “type” of person would you have felt like you could convincingly play? And why?
Discussion Questions
Warning: vague spoilers ahead!
- Did Rebecca Barrow paint a believable portrait of Harlow and her mom’s life on the run? And were there any moments in the book when you had to choose to suspend your disbelief?
- Do you feel that Barrow crafted authentic characters that gave the book emotional depth? Why or why not?
- In what ways (if any) did Barrow show the impact of the constant moves and new identities on Harlow’s development?
- Which of the reveals did you guess? And which ones took you by surprise?
- Was there any point when you wondered if Sloane was right, and there really was something supernatural happening at the Severn House?
- Real talk: would you have moved into the house like Harlow did?!!
- How did your opinion of Cora change over the course of the book? How did you feel about her as a mother at the book’s conclusion?
- Did Cora’s timeline as a teen make you feel old? (I have to ask because I sure did!)
- If you were in Harlow’s shoes, would you have reacted differently to the story of what happened to Eve? Why or why not?
