DISCUSSION GUIDE

1. What information does the cover provide? Gloria is front and center, taking up much more space than Gary. We see her face clearly. Gary's face is more obscured—he is shown from the side, looking up at her. Why did the author and illustrator agree this was the direction to go?

2. A tandem bike is an unusual device to appear in a contemporary young adult book. How is the tandem bike used? Talk about the tandem bike as a symbol.

3. In addition to the tandem bicycle, various modes of transportation are sprinkled throughout. What does each one tell you about each character?

4. Food, both Vietnamese and Mexican cuisines, is also prominently featured. How is food used to show relationships between the characters?

5. Preston refers to Gary as a "white knight." What does he mean by that? Do you agree or disagree with that assessment?

6. Different characters have various degrees of "control" at different points of the book. When does Gary have control? When does Gloria? When do Preston, Jordan and the Roosters, or Conrad? When does Audrey?

7. The charm on Gloria's bracelet is a whale. Is that significant? Why or why not?

8. Gloria offers to help Gary understand Shakespeare by reading the play Twelfth Night. Why does Gary get defensive over the character Malvolio?

9. Gloria asks Gary if he believes in second chances. How often do characters get second chances in this story?

10. The story opens in the present but quickly flashes back to the start of the summer until it catches back up to the present at the very end. Why do you think the story was structured in this way?

11. "Before I met you, I didn't know who I was. I mean, I thought I did, but I would have been fine just being, you know?" What does Gary mean by this? How does Gloria change Gary's life? How does Gary change Gloria's?

12. Gary acknowledges that Gloria hates being called beautiful, but at the same time he says she might not ever be able to escape that. What do you think he means by that?

13. The original title of the book was This Is Not a Love Story. Do you think this would have been an appropriate title? Why or why not?

PLAYLIST

1. Bob Seger: "We've Got Tonight"

2. Jack's Mannequin: "The Mixed Tape"

3. Jackson Browne: "Late for the Sky"

4. Jim Croce: "Alabama Rain"

5. Billy Joel: "Rosalinda's Eyes"

6. Elvis Crespo: "Suavemente"

7. Carly Rae Jepsen: "Gimmie Love"

8. Brett Dennen: "Little Cosmic Girl"

9. Local Natives: "Mt. Washington"

10. Vampire Weekend: "This Life"

11. Angels & Airwaves: "The Adventure"

12. Khruangbin: "Maria También"

13. Kacey Musgraves: "Golden Hour"

14. Joe Pug: "The Flood in Color"

15. The Avett Brothers: "The Weight of Lies"

16. Paul Simon: "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"

17. The Beach Boys: "God Only Knows"

18. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Maps"

19. Phil Collins: "Take Me Home"

20. Radiohead: "Karma Police"

21. The Joy Formidable: "This Ladder Is Ours"

22. The Killers: "Smile Like You Mean It"