Count My Lies

1. How did Sloans's potential unreliability impact your understanding of the other characters, such as her mother, father, or even her past self? Did you find yourself questioning the motives and actions of different characters based solely on Sloane's account?

2. How does the dynamic between Sloane and her mother change throughout the story?

3. How did Sloane's interactions with her biological father and Mr. Evans affect her self-esteem and her ability to trust and form connections with others?

4. Why do you think Sloane lied so much? Do you think she could stop if she wanted to?

5. Most of the main characters lied - how did this contribute to the overall suspense and distrust in the story?

6. How did your perception of Violet change after she revealed she had been aware of Sloans's lies all along? How does this shift the power dynamics between Violet, Jay, and Sloane?

7. What do you think Sloane's continued feelings for Jay suggest about her character, and how might this hidden truth affect her relationship with Violet moving forward? Is she capable of letting go, or is this the beginning of another deception waiting to unravel?.

8. Given that their new lives are built on lies and shared secrets, do you think Sloane and Violet can truly trust each other-or are they destined to become each other's next threat? How much trust can exist in a relationship that began with mutual manipulation?

9. What did you think of the final twist? Were Violet's actions to frame Jay justified? Can you think of any better alternative choices?

10. How does the novel challenge traditional definitions of family through the relationships between Sloane, Violet, and Jay? What does it suggest about the difference between family by blood, family by choice, and the roles we adopt for survival?

11. In what ways do the characters' desires for love, belonging, or protection within a "family" unit drive their lies and actions? Do any of them achieve a true sense of family by the end-or is that just another illusion?

Book Club Talking Points:
This story involves twists and lies, prompting us to think about why people lie, how lies affect relationships, and the moral questions surrounding secrets. Additionally, it explores the ethics of dishonesty and the desire for revenge.