Daydream

Analyze the ways in which Halle’s family life shapes her identity and affects her character arc. How does the novel use her familial situation to explore the nature of family and familial expectations? How does Halle’s understanding of family change over the course of the narrative?

Both Henry and Halle face personal challenges during the academic year. How are their challenges different or similar to one another’s? How do these challenges inform their character arcs and personal development?

Explore the ways in which Halle and Henry’s initial friendship arrangement reflects the “friends to lovers” trope common to the romance genre. How does Daydream conform to, or diverge from, some of the common uses of this trope?

How does Halle’s regard for friendship evolve over the course of the novel? What experiences and relationships contribute to this evolution?

Compare and contrast Halle’s dynamics with Will and Henry. How do the two men shape her understanding of herself and what she wants in a relationship? What does the novel suggest about the nature of healthy partnerships versus unhealthy ones?

Analyze the roles of art and storytelling in Daydream. How do these creative endeavors shape the protagonists and influence their developing understanding of their own identities and their connection with one another?

Explore the novel’s examination of sexuality and sexual experience. How do the characters’ sexual experiences shape their understanding of love and intimacy? How do their sexual experiences mirror their emotional changes over the narrative?

Daydream is set in a fictional college campus. How is this setting described in the novel? How does this campus setting help shape the novel’s coming-of-age themes?