You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac is one of those stories that will leave a lasting impact on me. I compare it to how I felt after Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, both feature emotional journeys that take you to unexpected places. The following book club questions will contain spoilers so if you haven’t read the novel yet, check out my preview and review first.
Okay, so if you’re reading this far, you’ve read the entire book, right? Oh wow, the love story that develops between Jess and Adam was so wonderful. I was disgusted at him in the beginning and didn’t think there was any way Jess would get back together with him. I first thought Jess would end up with the neighbor Charlie but of course, it all was going to lead to Adam. When thinking about each character’s arc, I think Adam’s stands out the most from when we first meet him to the man he becomes. Jess and Adam’s developing romance was so natural and believable in my opinion. I think this is one of my favorite romances I’ve read in recent years.
But I have to address the serious topic. I’ll admit I did not know much about Huntington’s disease and how devastating the disease is to the person carrying it and to the family. And I did not know about the gene being passed from parent to child. What a cruel disease and my heart goes out to anyone who’s been impacted by it. While it was hard to read about it, I think it really showcases how scary it is to see someone you love fall ill and also your own fears of getting sick. I’m glad I learned more about this disease and remain hopeful there will one day be a cure.
Book Club Questions for You Me Everything
- The story is told from the perspective of Jess. Do you like first-person narration? Why or why not?
- We learn that Jess’ mom encouraged her to visit Adam to connect father and son. At first, why did you think her mom was so insistent on it?
- We slowly learn that her mom is suffering from Huntington’s disease. Did you know much about this disease beforehand?
- What was your impression of Adam at the beginning of the book? How did it change as the book went on?
- Did you expect Adam and Jess to connect again or did you think she was going to have a different romance? What did you think of their romance?
- What did you think of the location and the Château de Roussignol? Have you ever taken a vacation to somewhere like that?
- The secondary characters, Natasha and Becky, both have mini arcs. What did you think about those storylines? Are you curious about what will happen between Natasha and Ben?
- When Jess finally reveals to the reader that she carries the gene for Huntington’s disease, what was your reaction? Did you suspect it or were you taken by surprise?
- Why do think it was so hard for her to tell Adam about the disease?
- Let’s talk about the ending. The proposal, her mom passing and where they are a year later. Where do you hope the story goes after the final page?
- Love is a huge theme of the book. What are other some other themes you picked up on?
- A lesson from the book is not take anything for granted. What other lessons are there from the story?
