Pick a conversation that resonated most with you. Several difficult conversations take place throughout the book. How do they cope with the reality of their situations?Ħ. Consider what could have been for some of these characters if things had been slightly different. Missed or lost connections are an important theme throughout A Little Hope. What can be learned from having a variety of perspectives at different stages of life?ĥ. When Alex and Kay tell Greg and Freddie about Alex’s daughter, Freddie reflects she could forgive Greg for anything, “if it meant they could get to Alex and Kay’s age.” Each relationship informs others throughout the novel. How do you think their relationship compares to most male friendships? What does their dynamic add to the novel?Ĥ.

Do you or have you lived in a small town? What is your network of friends and family like? How does your own compare to that of the characters?ģ.

What do you make of his emotional response?Ģ. Greg confronts his diagnosis in a head-on, almost aggressive way. It is a story that celebrates the power of small but genuine interactions in the face of challenging times.ġ. From there, A Little Hope sprawls out through the Tyler’s network of friends and neighbors, and each character finds they are far from alone in experiencing pain, loss, and fear.Ī Little Hope is a deeply affecting debut novel about the personal struggles of friends and family living in a Connecticut town. Greg Tyler has a successful career, a loving wife and daughter, and a dizzying cancer diagnosis that has him asking himself hard questions. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. This reading group guide for A LITTLE HOPE includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. “A quietly powerful portrait of small-town life…told with wisdom and tenderness” (Mary Beth Keane, author of Ask Again, Yes) A Little Hope is a deeply resonant debut that immerses the reader in a community and celebrates the importance of small moments of connection. Throughout their town, friends and neighbors face the most difficult of life’s challenges and are figuring out how to survive thanks to love, grace, and hope. But when Greg is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, the sense of certainty they once knew evaporates. An “immersive…illuminating” ( Booklist) and life-affirming novel following the residents of an idyllic Connecticut town over the course of a year, A Little Hope explores the intertwining lives of a dozen neighbors as they confront everyday desires and fears: a lost love, a stalled career, an illness, and a betrayal.įreddie and Greg Tyler seem to have it all: a comfortable home, a beautiful young daughter, a bond that feels unbreakable.

A quiet life ethan joella