• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peanut Blossom
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Book Club
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • HOLIDAYS
  • BOOK CLUB
  • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • HOLIDAYS
    • BOOK CLUB
    • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Book Club

    The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood

    Published: Mar 23, 2017 · Modified: Aug 20, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Share
    • Email Friend!

    Book Club Kit for The Book that Matters Most by Ann Hood includes book club discussion questions and party menu.

    A copy of The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood sits on a table.

    One of my favorite things about the Peanut Blossom Book Club for Recovering Readers is getting recommendations from all the different members on fun things to read outside of our official picks.

    I love when a book that wasn't even on my radar gets called out as something someone thinks would make an excellent choice.

    April's selection is just one of those books!

    I hadn't even heard of The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood until someone who had just finished it recommended it to us.

    I'm super excited about the discussion possibilities it will have!

    Peanut Blossom Book Club

    This book was our official April 2017 pick for the Peanut Blossom Book Club.

    Want to see what we're reading today? Check out our book club book list here.

    • Piles of book club books sit on a set of stairs
      Best Online Book Club for Busy Women

    Want Free Reminders for Each Book?

    Sign up for my book club newsletter right here:

      Built with ConvertKit

      What is The Book That Matters Most About?

      "Ava’s twenty-five-year marriage has fallen apart, and her two grown children are pursuing their own lives outside of the country. Ava joins a book group, not only for her love of reading but also out of sheer desperation for companionship. The group’s goal throughout the year is for each member to present the book that matters most to them. Ava rediscovers a mysterious book from her childhood—one that helped her through the traumas of the untimely deaths of her sister and mother.

      Alternating with Ava’s story is that of her troubled daughter Maggie, who, living in Paris, descends into a destructive relationship with an older man.

      Ava’s mission to find that book and its enigmatic author takes her on a quest that unravels the secrets of her past and offers her and Maggie the chance to remake their lives."

      Go grab a copy of The Book That Matters Most here.

      The Book That Matters Most Book Club Questions

      I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.

      You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!

      Question 1:

      What did you think of this month's pick? Is it something you would have chosen for yourself?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 2:

      How many (if any!) of the books mentioned in The Book That Matters Most have you read? Would you count any of them as a book that really mattered to you?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 3:

      How is reading as a group different than reading alone? Do you prefer one to the other?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 4:

      Why do you think the author chose a book club to center the book?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 5:

      As a parent, I found Maggie's plot line incredibly disturbing. Do you feel this added or detracted to the overall story?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 6:

      As a parent, I found Maggie's plot line incredibly disturbing. Do you feel this added or detracted to the overall story?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 7:

      **SPOILER**

      What In the World with Charlotte hiding out in Paris all these years?!

      Even considering her book and the "why" of it all, can you imagine abandoning your living daughter to go live in France? Let's chat about the ending and your thoughts about how the book ended.

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 8:

      What is the book that matters most to you AND what is the lesson you took from it?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 9:

      "Because I think it's like impossible to pick such a book. When you read a book, and who you are when you read it, makes it matter or not."
      - Kiki from The Book That Matters Most by Ann Hood

      To all my favorite Recovering Readers: Thank you for joining my tribe! How I adore that we read what is RIGHT FOR US at this moment: light, fun, interesting books with no pressure to be overly brainy or serious. We've read everything from romance to YA to historical fiction and I love that you roll with the punches each and every month.

      Which book from our club came at the right time for you?
      Or do you have one you'd like to recommend we read in the future?

      See the online discussion here.

      Book Club Party Menu

      For the book club party menu, enjoy these tasty nibbles with your book club friends:

      • A crostini toast has diced peaches, blueberries, and fresh thyme leaves on a blue plate.
        Peach Blueberry Salsa Bites
      • A plate of roast beef crostini with horseradish cream and cherry tomatoes.
        Roast Beef Crostini
      • 2 crostini toasts are topped with diced strawberries and a sprinkle of fresh basil to show the strawberry bruschetta appetizer. A plate of crostini sits in the background.
        Fresh Strawberry Bruschetta
      • A dish of baked jalapeño artichoke dip shows diced red peppers and green onions. There's a serving spoon taking a scoop. A bowl of crackers sits in the back.
        Jalapeño Artichoke Dip

      You May Also Enjoy

      If you enjoyed this book, you'd likely enjoy these other fun book club picks from through the years:

      • A copy of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry sits on a table.
        The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
      • A copy of the book The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes sits on a table.
        The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
      • Collage of four book covers: Lilac Girls, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, Regretting You, and The Silent Patient.
        The Best Book For Your First Book Club Meeting
      • Collage of four book covers: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1984, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, and Little Women.
        15 Classic Novels to Read Again

      More Best Book Club Picks

      • A cover of the book What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
        What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
      • A copy of the book club book The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon is on the table.
        The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
      • A book club party at a dinner table next to a photo of a pile of books and two recipe ideas.
        All the Book Club Dinner Ideas You'll Ever Need
      • A copy of The Last Thing He told Me sits on a table.
        The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

      Reader Interactions

      Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      Hi, I'm Tiffany!
      I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

      More about me →

      What's Trending Now

      • A photo collage shows the variety of recipes that can be made in a bread maker.
        50 Best Bread Machine Recipes
      • A blue baking dish filled with mac and cheese with bread crumb topping. A serving spoon has removed a portion to show the creamy elbow noodles.
        Make Ahead Mac and Cheese
      • An airfryer basket has 7 seasoned chicken tenderloins golden brown and cooked.
        Healthy Chicken Tenderloins in the Air Fryer
      • Two salmon filets are surrounded by fresh green beans in an air fryer basket.
        How to Cook Salmon in Air Fryer

      Popular

      • A freezer-friendly metal pan holds an 8x8-inch apple crisp with crumble topping.
        Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp
      • A stack of the best books for book club in 2023
        Best Book Club Picks 2023
      • A taco salad made with mini frozen tacos.
        10-minute Trader Joe's Meals
      • A young kid's hand is holding a homemade pizza lunchable.
        30 School Lunch Ideas for Kids
      • A collage of easy dinners for busy nights.
        30 Quick Dinners for Busy Nights
      • A photo collages shows several easy dinner ideas kids could make.
        Easy Dinner Ideas for Yo-Yo Nights {You're On Your Own!}
      • A meal train dinner kit featuring supplies for tacos sits in an aluminum tray for delivery.
        30 Clever Meal Train Ideas with Recipes
      • Harry Potter themed snacks are in a platter with a witch hat sitting next to an open copy of a Harry Potter book.
        21 Harry Potter Snacks for Movie Night

      Footer

      As Seen On

      The Taste of Home Logo
      The Pioneer Woman Logo
      The Country Living Logo
      The Buzzfeed logo
      The Good Housekeeping Logo

      About

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Contact
      Privacy Policy
      Disclaimer

      Favorites

      Bread Recipes
      Soup Recipes
      Quick Dinner Recipes
      Harry Potter Fan Club
      Reading with Kids

      Holidays

      Easter Recipes
      4th of July Recipes
      Catholic Celebrations
      Thanksgiving Recipes
      Christmas Recipes

      Recipes

      Appetizers
      Dinners
      Salads
      Side Dishes
      Desserts
      Brunch
      Homemade Pantry

      ↑ back to top

      Copyright © 2023