Printable Book Club Questions for This Is Not How It Ends by Rochelle B. Weinstein

The story starts off with Charlotte intervening and helping Jimmy, Ben’s son. What did you think about the opening?
For a portion of the story, it alternates between the past when Charlotte and Phillip fell in love to the present where there’s distance. Let’s talk about the beginning of Charlotte and Phillip’s love story. How did this storytelling style slowly reveal the distance that grew between Charlotte and Phillip?
In the present, Charlotte is lonely with Phillip gone all the time. At one point she believes she’s pregnant and he doesn’t seem excited, which pushes her away even more. Charlotte’s mother passed away from cancer so Phillip is all she has. Let’s talk about how her loneliness really impacted her.
Now let’s talk about the growing friendship and eventual romance between Charlotte and Ben. Why do you think they were so drawn to each other? What do you think about their romance?
During the hurricane, Charlotte and Ben finally give into their feelings and sleep together. Charlotte is going to tell Phillip that she’s leaving him but she finds out that Phillip is in the hospital. She’s devastated and pushes Ben away. Let’s say that Phillip wasn’t sick—do you think Charlotte would have left him?
Did you start to suspect that something more was going on with Phillip? What did you think when you found out that he had cancer?
Why do you think it was so important for Charlotte to still marry Phillip even as he was dying?
Phillip passes away and Ben moves back to New York with Jimmy. Why do you think Charlotte couldn’t be honest with how she felt to Ben?
Charlotte eventually finds a letter from Phillip where he tells her he knew that she and Ben fell in love and he gives her the ok to go and live her life with him. Let’s discuss the letter.
What did you think about when Charlotte went to New York and the restaurant employees made it sound like Ben was with a wife? Did you think it was over or do you know it would end happily?
And yes, it’s a happy ending—with Charlotte and Ben marrying and her getting pregnant. Let’s talk about the ending!
What do you think are some of the key takeaways and lessons from this story?
If they made this book into a movie or TV series, who do you think should play the key major roles?