Printable Book Club Questions for I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagán

Penelope at the beginning of the novel is unhappy. She allows herself to admit that there are times she wants out. When do you think she started to get so tired and resentful of her situation? Do you think Sanjay should have recognized it before she brought it up to him?
Let’s talk about Jenny and Penelope’s friendship. Why do you think Jenny hid her addiction—was she embarrassed, trying to keep up her image, etc.? Were you surprised when she passed away?
How did Jenny’s passing impact Penelope?
Let’s talk about the decision for Penelope and Sanjay to write lists about the changes they want in each other. Do you think that was a good idea? Why or why not? Would you do something like that with your spouse?
In a sense, the novel deals with identity. For Penelope and Sanjay, life in their ’20s in NYC is quite different from their upper 30s in the midwest. Was this an early mid-life crisis or something else? How is your situation different from 10 years ago?
What does the title mean in the context of the book? Let’s now the discuss the issue of saying “I’m fine,” when the opposite is true. When did that harm Penelope and set her back? Do you find yourself saying you’re fine when you’re not? Why do you think we, as a society, always try to pretend everything is ok?
When Penelope starts to get very honest with her husband, at work and to her noisy neighbor—she gets pushback that it’s too much. What’s the line between honesty is the best policy and saying I’m fine when you’re not? Is there truly a balance between those two actions? What would you have done if your were Penelope?
Let’s talk a bit about Jenny’s husband, Matt, and Penelope’s dynamic. Why do you think he was so against letting the truth about Jenny’s opioid addiction come out? What was the driving force to change his mind?
Toward the end of the novel, Penelope realizes that she went to Jenny first for many of her issues instead of talking to Sanjay. She starts to wonder if that caused an issue with her marriage. For instance, she says, “It was impossible not to wonder if her absence has created a vacuum that Sanjay had wanted to fill long before she was gone.” Let’s discuss this thought process. Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
What did you see as some of the key issues of Penelope and Sanjay’s relationship? Do you think they are fixed for the long-haul or will it be an ongoing process?