1. Can you understand why Julia was unable to get out of bed for the first six weeks after Caitlin’s death? How would you have responded in her circumstances?
2. Do you think the lack of communication between Julia and Ben contributed to Haley’s emotional desperation? Why or why not?
3. If the family had known that Izzy was talking to her dead sister, how do you think they would have responded? Why was Izzy talking to Caitlin?
4. When Julia decided to take the road trip to Maine with Haley, do you think it was a good idea or a bad one? Did you see the logic in her reasoning?
5. Why did Julia take Izzy with them? Would it have been better for Izzy if her mother had left her home? Would it have been better for Haley if Izzy had stayed in Nevada?
6. Why do you think Ben refused to take the road trip to Maine with his family? Do you think he was justified in his reasoning?
7. How do you think events would have played out differently had Haley’s pregnancy test been positive?
8. Did Caitlin’s death weaken or strengthen Julia’s relationship with Haley and Izzy? How did her death affect Ben and Julia’s relationship?
9. Why do you think Izzy shut Haley out so completely? If Julia hadn’t gone back for Izzy, would Izzy and Haley have ever been able to repair their relationship?
10. In the epilogue, Julia and her girls seem to be doing well. Do you think a family can ever recover from such a tragedy?