35 Book Club Questions For The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

Book club questions for The Boyfriend include delicious food ideas and fun activity suggestions to make your gathering memorable and engaging.

Freida McFadden’s 2024 thriller,The Boyfriend is a gripping book club pick. If your reading group is looking for engaging discussion questions for this bestselling novel, let me help.

This blog post features 35 discussion-worthy questions for The Boyfriend book club. I absolutely loved this twisted thriller with its unexpected twists. It’s definitely one of my favorite Freida Mcfadden books.

This dark thriller follows Sydney Shaw, a single woman in New York with a streak of bad dates, who finally finds her perfect match ; a charming, handsome doctor. But when a string of brutal murders points to a man who dates women before killing them, Sydney begins to suspect her dream boyfriend might be hiding a deadly secret.

The Boyfriend is a must-read psychological thriller for your book group discussion. So, I hop this book club guide can help you talk about this thriller in depth.

Also, don’t forget to download the printable book guide.

The Boyfriend Synopsis

She’s looking for the perfect man. He’s looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can’t shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He’s charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim…

A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest.

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45 Book Club Questions For The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

1. How do you think Sydney’s past dating experiences affect how she sees relationships? Do you think her decisions are realistic?

2. What are some early red flags about Sydney’s new boyfriend? How would you have reacted in her situation?

3. Sydney struggles with trusting her instincts. Have you ever faced a situation where you ignored your gut feelings? What happened?

4. How does being set in New York City add to the story? Do you think it would’ve worked in a small town instead?

5. How does learning about Tom’s past make you feel about him? Did your opinion change as you found out more?

6. How does the book show loneliness and struggles in dating? Do you think it felt real?

7. How does humor lighten up the darker parts of the story? Did it make the book more enjoyable?

8. Do you think Sydney’s money problems made her settle for less in her love life?

9. The story switches between Sydney and Tom’s timelines. Did you like this, or was it confusing?

10. How does the book show obsession in relationships? Did it feel believable?

11. How does Sydney’s relationship with her mom help us understand her better?

12. Do you think the way online dating was shown felt realistic, or was it over the top?

13. What did you think of the twist? Did you see it coming, or were you surprised?

14. Sydney misses a lot of warning signs. Do you think this made the story more interesting or frustrating?

15. How was law enforcement shown in the book? Did it seem realistic?

16. How did Sydney’s best friend’s situation push her to make the choices she did?

17. The book talks about hiding who you are. How do you think this connects to the story?

18. What were the scariest moments when you thought Sydney might be in danger?

19. Did you guess Tom’s connection to the murders? What gave it away, or what threw you off?

20. How did the flashbacks to Tom’s past keep the story suspenseful?

21. Sydney seems unsure of herself. How does this affect her relationships?

22. How does the theme of control show up in both the murders and the relationships in the book?

23. How do characters like Sydney’s ex-boyfriend Jake help move the story forward?

24. Sydney has a good sense of humor. Did this make her more likable or relatable to you?

25. Did the story’s pace keep you interested, or did it feel too fast or slow?

26. What did you think of the mix of suspense and romance? Was it balanced well?

27. How does the title The Boyfriend connect to the story’s themes?

28. What do you think the author was trying to say about trust?

29. If you were Sydney’s friend, what advice would you have given her?

30. Sydney feels pressure to settle down because of her biological clock. How does this shape her choices?

31. How does Tom’s friendship with Slug affect who he becomes later?

32. Did you ever feel bad for Tom, even with what he did? Why?

33. How do you feel about stories where normal people turn out to have dark secrets?

34. What does the ending say about how much Sydney has changed?

35. If this book became a movie, what scenes or changes would you want to see?

Free Downloadable Book Club Questions PDF

Download the Pdf with all 35 questions.

Snack Ideas For The Boyfriend Book Club Meeting

Cheesecake Bites – A bite-sized version of the classic dessert will be a good snack to discuss the urban setting of the book and is easy to enjoy while chatting.

Dark Chocolate Truffles – The rich and slightly bitter flavor mirrors the book’s dark and suspenseful themes.

Bagels with Cream Cheese – A simple, iconic New York snack that connects to the city life Sydney is living.

Fruit Skewers – A refreshing and light option that’s easy to eat while mingling and complements other heavier snacks.

Mini Sandwiches – A versatile and convenient option that suits any gathering while representing a balance of casual and refined.

The Boyfriend Book Club Activity Ideas:

1. Character Red Flags Debate

Discuss the red flags in Sydney’s relationship with her boyfriend. Divide the group into teams to argue whether her suspicions were valid or if she overreacted.

2. Dating Horror Stories Sharing

Inspired by Sydney’s bad dates, let your members share funny or awkward dating experiences.

3. Murder Mystery Role Play

Create a simple murder mystery game where members take on roles, like detectives, suspects, and witnesses, to solve a case.

4. Book Soundtrack Creation

Work together to create a playlist of songs that match the mood, themes, or characters of the book.

Books To Read After The Boyfriend

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston: I read First Lie Wins before The Boyfriend. But I really think this would be a great book to read after Freida’s book. I find the suspense to be very similar! Checkout book club questions for First Lie Wins.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley :The Guest List was a gripping thriller. The story is set during a lavish wedding on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. But I find the characters and setting very similar to The Boyfriend. Also read book club questions for The Guest List.

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell : The Night She Disappeared switches between 2017, when 19-year-old Tallulah goes missing after a party at a mysterious house called Dark Place. Definitely a fabulous thriller for the fans of The Boyfriend. Also read book club questions for The Night She Disappeared.

Conclusion:

There you have the best list of discussion-worthy book discussion questions, food ideas and activity ideas for The Boyfriend book club gathering.

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