After I Do

What events lead to Lauren and Ryan’s separation? How do these events create tension and accelerate the pacing in anticipation of the couple’s time apart?

How does Lauren’s first-person perspective influence the narrative? Are her descriptions of her marital problems wholly reliable and accurate? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text to support your interpretation.

How do the women in Lauren’s life influence her journey toward greater personal growth? Consider her evolving relationships with Rachel, Leslie, Lois, and Mila. What do these women offer Lauren, and how do they help her to evolve?

How does Lauren present herself at the novel’s start? How does her internal monologue capture her internal evolution, and what experiences contribute to her change?

How do Lauren and Ryan benefit from reading each other’s email drafts during their separation? Are any of these confessional moments damaging, or do they allow the characters to embrace constructive change?

Explore David’s function as a narrative device. What does his presence teach Lauren about intimacy?

Compare and contrast Lauren and Rachel. How do the sisters relate to each other? What do they learn from one another, and how does their relationship offer an alternate example of what love can be?

What events and realizations cause Lauren to accept that she and Ryan are still deeply connected to one another? What marks the decisive turning point in their separation?