51 pages • 1 hour read
Nicola SandersDon't Let Her Stay
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Content Warning: This novel contains descriptions of emotional abuse, death by suicide, and stigmatizing and potentially offensive language and stereotypes regarding people with mental health conditions. Its contents are reflected in this study guide.
How does the novel obscure the fact that Chloe is gaslighting Joanne? What narrative tricks does the author use to support Chloe’s version of events? Where does the author suggest Joanne’s narration is unreliable?
How does the novel use twists to recast and recontextualize events that already occurred? In what ways does this increase the narrative tension?
When Richard leaves for his trip in Chapter 33, do you think he is aware of the danger he’s leaving Joanne and Evie in? Do you think he always planned to come back early?
How does the novel’s mixture of modern and old-fashioned technology, cell phones and landlines for example, contribute to its overall tone and ability to create suspense? Consider instances where technology fails or instances in which the characters could have benefited from utilizing technology.
What do you think happens after the novel ends? How do you think Joanne will proceed knowing what she’s learned about Chloe?
How does the novel utilize pacing to build tension? How does Sanders insert time jumps when necessary? Consider sections where the chapters happen subsequently versus sections where they happen hours or days apart.
How does the Atkinson’s house in the countryside contribute to Joanne’s feelings of isolation? Could this story have taken place if the house were closer to civilization? What could have changed?
What are the most significant factors in Joanne’s change of trust in Chapter 37?
How do minor characters like Jim Preston, Roxanne, Solomon, and Helen help the novel’s story unfold? Which of these characters is most significant?
