The Last Mrs. Parrish

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How does this novel compare with other narratives concerning domestic abuse, like Big Little Lies, The Great Alone, or Safe Haven? What messages about domestic abuse do these various narratives give, and where does The Last Mrs. Parrish fit among them?
• Part 1 of this book is told through the perspective of Amber, who is portrayed as a terrible and unredeemable person. Did having a central character like this affect your overall reading experience?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Amber is a static character who does not grow. What emotions did she elicit in you? Did you sympathize with her at any point? Did you pity her? Why?
• This is not a novel where revelations of abuse lead to the dissolution of the marriage. Rather, Daphne waits as events escalate and she can successfully jump through several interpersonal and legal loopholes. What emotions did you experience throughout the novel as Daphne slowly plots her escape from Jackson? Were any parts of the novel hard to read?
• Near the end of the novel, Daphne and her children escape Jackson, but Amber—though villainous—and her innocent child are still victims to Jackson’s abuse, until he is arrested. What did you think of this section of the novel? At the end of the novel, were the plot points satisfactorily tied up?
• Amber tries to take Daphne’s place because she envies her and Jackson’s “perfect” marriage. Only much later is the truth revealed. Have you ever thought you wanted something in life, only to realize the reality of that thing is much different than the idea of it?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• What are the ethical ramifications of how this text portrays abuse? For instance, Amber lies about being sexually abused. What ramifications does this type of behavior have for people in the real world? Partially due to her secret history, Daphne frames “Amber,” who is really Lana, positioning her into a relationship with Jackson. Though Amber is portrayed as unredeemable and unsympathetic, Jackson also starts abusing her when she has a child, and Daphne thinks Amber got what she deserved. What narratives about abuse are being wrought here? What are the potential real-life ramifications of these depictions?
• What lessons does this novel impart about the ways abuse can manifest in relationships? After all, from the outside, the Parrish couple seems perfect. Only when the novel shifts for Daphne’s perspective does the reader see the extreme extent and variety of abuses Jackson carries out. Why is understanding the difference between appearance and reality an important lesson to consider in the modern world?
• In what ways does Jackson’s identity as a blue-eyed, “gorgeous,” conventionally attractive white man, and Daphne’s identity as a beautiful, blue-eyed, blonde, and conventionally attractive white woman, affect how the abuse in their relationship is registered? How do their privileged racial and economic identities interact with the novel’s themes of abuse?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• In what ways are Amber and Daphne foils? What are their main differences, and how does the contrast between them define each of their characters?
• Money serves a multi-faceted role in this text. What are the many roles of money in the narrative, from a driver of the plot, to a motivator for characters and their arcs, to a thematically important motif, to a symbol?
• Why is this novel filled with static, flat, and unchanging characters rather than dynamic characters? What effect does that have on your reading experience?
• Daphne is arguably the only character who grows throughout the novel. What does her journey and growth look like? Is it mostly internal, external, etc.?
• How does the symbol of the turtle relate to Daphne’s character, her growth, and the pacing and unfolding of the narrative action?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• One of the potential criticisms of this novel is that characters like Amber are completely flat and one-dimensional. If you were casting a film adaptation of this novel, who would you cast in her role to try to make her character more interesting and dynamic?
• At the end of the novel, Daphne and her children are safe from Jackson, who has been arrested. What do you imagine happens in a continuation of their story? What about Amber, who now also has had a child by Jackson? In your continuation, does she become repentant, redeemable, or reformed?

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