That Summer

That Summer is set almost entirely in two locations: Cape Cod and the Philadelphia suburbs. Compare and contrast these two settings with reference to the novel’s themes.

What genre is That Summer? Discuss how and why the novel does and does not fit into generic conventions.

That Summer has a large cast of supporting characters, including Daisy and Hal’s family members and the other staff at the Abbey restaurant. Select one of these supporting characters and examine how they contribute to the harm or healing of the main character(s). Examine at least 2-3 examples from the text through the lens of one major theme.

Using at least three characters as examples, discuss the role of motherhood in That Summer.

Consider the function of descriptions of food and cooking in That Summer. How does this motif mirror Daisy or Diana’s character development?

The two Dianas are foils for each other in That Summer. Identify and discuss another pair of characters who mirror or contrast each other in interesting ways.

That Summer is narrated from four different perspectives. What impact does this alternating narrative have on the novel? Would the novel have been more or less effective if it had been told from only one point of view? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Jennifer Weiner uses both a prologue and a coda to bookend her novel. How do these narrative features provide a larger commentary on the issues underlying the novel, particularly that of the #MeToo Movement?