Little Secrets

The third-person narration alternates between Marin Machado’s and McKenzie Li’s storylines. Explore the narrative and thematic effects of this formal choice. How do Marin’s and McKenzie’s points of view develop the novel’s explorations of Conflict and Loyalty in Intimate Relationships? How does the interplay of their storylines nuance each of their perspectives?

Explore the ways in which losing Sebastian changes how Marin sees herself and her life. How does her life change in the aftermath of Sebastian’s disappearance? Why does she blame herself, and how does her guilt influence her sense of self-worth?

McKenzie’s childhood trauma influences her relationships in the present. Explore the ways in which McKenzie’s relationship with her father bleed into her relationships with other men. What is the place of trauma within the narrative’s themes?

Compare and contrast Marin’s and McKenzie’s respective relationships with Sal, or J.R. In what ways are both women attached to Sal? Why do they extend grace to Sal even when he mistreats them, and how do these dynamics develop the novel’s explorations of Conflict and Loyalty in Intimate Relationships?

Explore the ways in which each of the primary characters makes decisions inspired by their grief, guilt, and pain. What encounters with loss and disappointment have Marin, McKenzie, Derek Machado, and Sal experienced? How do these experiences distort their emotions and drive them to secrecy, manipulation, and revenge?

What moral quandaries does the primary characters’ desire for revenge raise for them? How does their desire for control in their lives complicate their sense of self and grasp of right and wrong? Consider Marin’s actions against McKenzie, McKenzie’s actions against Derek, and Sal’s actions against Marin.

Marin takes measures to recover from the trauma of losing her son, including therapy and a support group. In what ways are these measures either genuine or superficial? How does she eventually learn to reconcile with her pain, and what initiates this transformation?

In what ways are all of the primary characters guilty of selfishness? Why might the author have opted to portray each character as selfish in some way? How does this fit into the tropes of the psychological thriller?