Book #7: This Might Hurt, Stephanie Wrobel

 From the Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold comes a dark, thrilling novel about two sisters—one trapped in the clutches of a cult, the other in a web of her own lies.

Welcome to Wisewood. We’ll keep your secrets if you keep ours.

Natalie Collins hasn’t heard from her sister in more than half a year.

The last time they spoke, Kit was slogging from mundane workdays to obligatory happy hours to crying in the shower about their dead mother. She told Natalie she was sure there was something more out there.

And then she found Wisewood.

On a private island off the coast of Maine, Wisewood’s guests commit to six-month stays. During this time, they’re prohibited from contact with the rest of the world—no Internet, no phones, no exceptions. But the rules are for a good reason: to keep guests focused on achieving true fearlessness so they can become their Maximized Selves. Natalie thinks it’s a bad idea, but Kit has had enough of her sister’s cynicism and voluntarily disappears off the grid.

Six months later Natalie receives a menacing email from a Wisewood account threatening to reveal the secret she’s been keeping from Kit. Panicked, Natalie hurries north to come clean to her sister and bring her home. But she’s about to learn that Wisewood won’t let either of them go without a fight.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Is fearlessness a worthwhile goal? Why or why not? 

2. How does fear affect Kit? What about Natalie and Rebecca? 

3. Has any character in the book achieved true fearlessness? Does such a thing exist? 

4. What does this novel say about the self-help culture? 

5. How does family trauma influence the main characters? 

6. How does each of the three women find and express control over her life?

7. Which of the characters did you most identity with? Why? 

8. How did you feel about the ending? Why do you think the author ended the book where she did? 

9. What do you think happened after "the end"?

10. How did you view cults before reading the book? In what ways if any, did your perspective change as you read it? 

11. Did you find yourself agreeing with any of Wisewood's principles? Did any of the exercises seem benign, even useful? If so which? 

12. At what point did Wisewood cross the line from well-intentioned to unethical? Who is to blame for that line being crossed?

13. Kit says to Natalie, "Scientist have proven it's not possible to empty a person's head against their will. You can't take over someone's mind." How much free will do you think a cult member has? 

14. Famous British illusionist Derren Brown said, "the more attentive a spectator is, the easier he is to be fooled. The more you watch, the more you'll miss." Which members of the Inner Circle are especially attentive spectators? Which of them are harder to full than the rest? 

15. Are you an attentive spectator?