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Book club questions for The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner explore the themes of love, body image, family dynamics, self-discovery, and the impact of past choices on one’s present life.
This book kept me up late several nights in a row just devouring this story! I loved all of the characters and the life secrets they had.
In this novel, Jennifer addresses many everyday challenges that women and girls go through, such as struggles with body weight and how it affects their relationships. The book also touches on the topic of abortion, and most importantly, it explores how people learn to deal with all these things.
What were your impressions of this novel? ✨
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
I hope you will enjoy the thoughtfully crafted book club questions tailored for The Breakaway in this blog post. Further below you will also find a downloadable PDF version I’ve prepared for your book clubs (available at the bottom of the post), along with supplementary suggestions for books that share similar themes and narratives.
Let me know if you find these book club questions useful. I’m excited to hear your unique perspectives during your book club discussions!
Book Club Questions | Additional Recommendations | Printable List
About the Story
The Breakaway follows the story of about Abby Stern, a 33-year-old woman who is about to marry her childhood sweetheart, Mark. She’s content with her life, despite not having a stable career and struggling with her body image.
However, when Abby reconnects with a man named Sebastian from her past, and her mother, Eileen, joins her on a cycling trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, her life takes unexpected turns. Over the two-week journey, Abby and the group of cyclists confront their secrets, form new friendships, and Abby reevaluates her beliefs about herself, her mother, and love.
This isa heartwarming and empowering story about love, family, friendship, and self-discovery.
About the Author
Jennifer Weiner is a bestselling author known for her novels and contributions to literature.
Her books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and Mrs. Everything, have garnered widespread acclaim and have been translated into multiple languages, with over 11 million copies in print across 36 countries.
Beyond her writing, Jennifer has made appearances on national television programs and has been recognized for her advocacy for women’s voices and body positivity.
She holds a degree in English literature from Princeton University and started her career as a journalist before venturing into fiction writing. Jennifer is a dedicated feminist and continues to use her platform to amplify important social issues.
Book Club Questions for The Breakaway
Disclaimer: the following discussion questions contain spoilers, so proceed with caution if you haven’t finished the book yet.
- In “The Breakaway,” characters often grapple with the idea of choice. Abby must choose between settling into a traditional life as a podiatrist’s wife or pursuing a deeper connection with a man she’s drawn to. Morgan faces a choice that challenges her faith and family ties, while Eileen sends Abby to Camp Golden Hills to ensure she has options in life. Discuss how these characters make their choices and the influence of their personal beliefs and experiences compared to societal expectations. How does the novel contribute to the ongoing discussion of women’s freedom and choice in contemporary America?
- The term “breakaway” in cycling refers to the moment when a rider separates from the pack to take a lead. What is Abby “breaking away” from in the story? How do other characters also experience their own forms of “breaking away”?
- Abby finds comfort and acceptance in her relationship with Mark, a man she’s known for most of her life. In contrast, a relationship with Sebastian would push her out of her comfort zone. Is being comfortable in a relationship the same as settling? Is it necessarily a bad thing?
- Abby’s relationship with her mother, Eileen, is complex and marred by years of body shaming. How do you think Abby’s perception of her mother evolves throughout the story, especially during their time together on the bike trip? Have you experienced or witnessed a similar evolution in real life?
- The novel features a mix of relationships, including long-term ones like Abby and Mark’s and more recent ones like Abby and Sebastian’s. How does the story explore the dynamics of these relationships? Do you think Abby’s experiences with both Mark and Sebastian help her grow and make her final decision about her romantic future?
- The older couples on the bike trip reveal unexpected facets of their personalities, including their past as swingers. How does this revelation impact the story and the dynamics within the group? How do these characters challenge stereotypes about older individuals and relationships?
- Sebastian argues that he did nothing wrong in his online interactions with women because he didn’t misrepresent himself. How do dating apps impact our perception of relationships? Do they encourage authenticity or reward those who perform what they believe potential partners desire? Who bears responsibility in this situation—Alyssa, who assumes men will eventually seek more than just hookups, or Sebastian, who takes her at her word?
- Abby’s friend, Lizzie, represents an alternative path to a fulfilling life compared to the one Abby saw modeled by her mother and other adults.
- What draws Abby to Lizzie’s lifestyle, and what makes her apprehensive? How do Abby’s values evolve throughout the book?
- Abby is in her mid-30s, an age when many of her friends are settling down. She resists the conventional path of a desk job, marriage, and suburban living. To what extent is Abby’s struggle a timeless one, and how much is it specific to women in their mid-30s today? Did Abby’s situation resonate with you or remind you of someone you know? Why or why not?
- Morgan seeks help from Kayla, an adult outside her family, because she fears her mother’s judgment. Establishing trust with adults is crucial for teenagers, but when should adults keep the secrets of someone else’s child, and when should they involve the child’s parents? Do you think Kayla, Abby, and Eileen made the right decisions? What would you have done in their shoes?
- The bike trip brings together a group of strangers, and we witness the formation of a surprising and close-knit community by the end of the journey. Explore the theme of building connections and community in the novel. Do we reveal our truest selves among strangers? How do the main characters experience personal growth through conversations with people they’ve just met?
- The book explores the concept of secrets and how they can impact relationships and personal growth. Are there secrets in your own life or experiences with others’ secrets that you can relate to the characters’ experiences in the novel?
- Jennifer Weiner often incorporates relatable and realistic elements into her novels. Which aspects of “The Breakaway” did you find most relatable or thought-provoking? Are there personal experiences that you connected with while reading the book?
- Abby’s journey during the bike trip is not only physical but also emotional and transformative. How does the experience of leading the trip change her perspective on life, relationships, and her own capabilities? Have you ever had an experience that pushed you out of your comfort zone and led to personal growth?
- Morgan, the teenage girl on the bike trip, faces a challenging situation related to her sexual health. How does the novel handle this sensitive topic, and how do the characters react to her situation? Have you encountered similar themes in other books or real-life situations?
- How does Abby’s journey toward self-acceptance evolve throughout the story? Are there moments or scenes that particularly resonate with you on this topic?
- Without giving away the ending, how did you feel about Abby’s final choice in terms of her romantic future? Were you surprised by the outcome, and how did it affect your overall impression of the book?
- What aspects of “The Breakaway” will stay with you the most?
- If you could ask Jennifer Weiner one question about “The Breakaway” or her writing process, what would it be?
Additional Recommendations
Hope you enjoyed the book club discussion questions and reading guide for The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner!
Here are some more of my book club recommendations related to this book:
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Happiness Falls is a gripping novel that follows the harrowing journey of an Korean American family in Virginia when their father mysteriously disappears after a walk in a nearby park.
As they search for answers, they must confront their own secrets and navigate the challenges of communication, love, and human connection, all while racing against time to find their missing patriarch, with the unique perspective of their non-verbal younger brother adding complexity to their quest.
For my book club questions and printable reading guide for this book, click here.
Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
In “Mother-Daughter Murder Night,” Lana Rubicon, a successful businesswoman, is forced to recover from illness in a quiet coastal town with her daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack.
Their peaceful stay takes a thrilling turn when Jack discovers a dead body while kayaking, turning them into amateur sleuths trying to solve the murder mystery and protect their family.
As they delve deeper into the investigation, they unearth hidden family vendettas and land disputes, ultimately learning to rely on each other in the face of danger.
To read my review of this book, click here.
For my book club questions and printable reading guide for this book, click here.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
In this beautiful and moving novel about family, love, and growing up, Ann Patchett once again proves herself one of America’s finest writers.
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family’s orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake.
As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.
Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart.
As in all of her novels, Ann Patchett combines compelling narrative artistry with piercing insights into family dynamics. The result is a rich and luminous story, told with profound intelligence and emotional subtlety, that demonstrates once again why she is one of the most revered and acclaimed literary talents working today.
To read my review of this book, click here.
For my book club questions and printable reading guide for this book, click here.
Printable PDF
Feel free to distribute these discussion questions to your book club members before your meeting. Simply click the link below to download and print the PDF file.
Happy reading! ❤️