Book #17: The Return, Rachel Harrison

An edgy and haunting debut novel about a group of friends who reunite after one of them has returned from a mysterious two-year disappearance.

Julie is missing, and the missing don't often return. But Elise knows Julie better than anyone, and she feels in her bones that her best friend is out there, and that one day she'll come back. She's right. Two years to the day that Julie went missing, she reappears with no memory of where she's been or what happened to her.

 Discussion Questions: 

1.This book revolves around the friendship between its four characters. Did you find these relationships compelling? Did they remind you of any of your own friendships? 

2.     Much of the tension between Elise and her friends comes from the differences in their situations: finances, careers, location. How much responsibility do you think each character bears to bridge that gap? 

3.     How did Elise’s affair make you feel about the character? Why do you think she made those choices? 

4.     The Red Honey Inn is a striking, memorable setting. How much does this contribute to the increasing atmosphere of horror? 

5.     Why do you think Elise chooses to stay with Julie when Mae and Molly leave? 

6.     Have you ever had a friend change so much you don’t recognize them? 

7.     What do you think happened to Julie? Does it matter whether we know the answer? 

8.     What do you think the future holds for Elisa, Mae, and Molly? 

9.     Are you a regular horror reader? Why do you think we like to be scared? 

Want the kit for your discussion, find it here: Book Club Kit

About the Author: 

Rachel Harrison was born and raised in the weird state of New Jersey. She received her bachelor’s in Writing for Film & Television from Emerson College. After graduating, she worked on TV game shows, in publishing, and for a big bank. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their cat/overlord. This is her first novel.