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    Home » Blog » Book Club

    The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews

    Published: Jun 26, 2018 · Modified: Nov 14, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Book Club Kit for The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews includes book club discussion guide and party menu.

    A copy of The Weekenders sits on a table.

    Every year I try to find the best beach reads for our book club to enjoy. I look forward to our summer line-up all year!

    Of the pool side books I have enjoyed, there is one author that pops up again and again . . . Mary Kay Andrews.

    We selected her book Summer Rental during the first year of book club.

    Mary Kay Andrews (or MKA as our book club members lovingly refer to her as), remains one of the more popular authors in our club.

    I even had the chance to drive by the real world Tybee Island places featured in her book The Homewreckers.

    So I'm thrilled to share a repeat author with this month's pick!

    Peanut Blossom Book Club

    This book was our official July 2018 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

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      What is The Weekenders About?

      "Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Others come only for the weekends-and the mix between the regulars and “the weekenders” can sometimes make the sparks fly. Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on Belle Isle when things take an unexpected turn. While waiting for her husband to arrive on the ferry one Friday afternoon, Riley is confronted by a process server who thrusts papers into her hand. And her husband is nowhere to be found. 

      So she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it turns out that each of them has their own secrets, and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens...in a murderous way. Cocktail parties aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything.

      Told with Mary Kay Andrews’ trademark blend of humor and warmth, and with characters and a setting that you can’t help but fall for, the New York Times bestseller The Weekenders is the perfect summer escape."

      And then go grab a copy of The Weekenders so you can join us for our book club discussion next month! 

      The Weekenders Book Club Discussion 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? Would you have picked it up on your own?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 2:

      Belle Isle is a fictional beach town that is located along the North Carolina coast somewhere near Wrightsville Beach.

      Have you ever been to a beach town with grand old homes as described in the book? Where did you go?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 3:

      At first, Parrish refuses to help Riley break into Wendell's office to hunt for clues but then eventually is all-in helping her friend despite the questionable legality of their situations.

      How far would you go to help your best friend?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 4:

      Riley is surprised over and over again to discover how deep Wendell's deception goes after he dies--foreclosed houses, huge business loans in default, etc.

      Do you think you could be just as easily taken advantage of by your partner or do you keep a joint approach to all finances?

      How realistic was that plot line to you?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 5:

      What did you think of Riley's parenting style with Maggy?

      What are some examples of things she did well or didn't do well?
      What would you have done differently?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 6:

      What did you think of Riley's decision to stop seeing Nate after Maggy was hospitalized?

      Was Maggy just being manipulative or was Riley right to step away from that relationship?

      Do you have Tweens?
      Did you recognize similar behaviors?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 7:

      Did you have guesses about who killed Wendell? Did you spot any of the clues as the story went on?

      Were you surprised by the final revelation or not?

      ****COMMENTS WILL HAVE SPOILERS!****

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 8:

      Riley and Billy, even as adults, hide things from their mother.

      Are you able to have an open and 100% honest relationship with your parents or do you find yourself shielding them from things in your life they may not approve of?

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 9:

      Which plot point towards the end surprised you the most?
      Or did you see it all coming . . .

      ****ANSWERS WILL HAVE SPOILERS****

      See the online discussion here.

      Question 10:

      Riley finds she despises her new job in Raleigh and quits before the end of the first week.

      Have you ever found yourself in a totally wrong-fit position like that?
      What did you do?

      See the online discussion here.

      Book Club Party Menu

      For the book club party menu, pick some classic southern beach town treats.

      Serve spicy shrimp with a side of baked Savannah red rice for a simple dinner.

      Or keep things munchy and set out some pimento cheese with butter crackers and a platter of easy butterscotch brownies!

      • A blue plate has a pile of spicy shrimp with two lime wedges and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro over the top.
        5-minute Spicy Shrimp
      • The finished baked rice dish with tomato and bacon has a spoon ready to serve.
        Baked Red Rice with Bacon
      • A bowl of homemade pimento cheese is served on a plate with butter crackers.
        Homemade Pimento Cheese Spread
      • A batch of butterscotch brownies have been cut into squares on a piece of foil.
        One-Bowl Butterscotch Brownies

      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 Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews sits on a table.
        Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews
      • By Invitation Only by Dorothea Benton Frank
      • A copy of Malibu Rising sits on a table surrounded by books.
        Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
      • A copy of Slightly South of Simple sits on a table.
        Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey

      More Best Book Club Picks

      • A copy of The Reading List sits on a table surrounded by other books.
        The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
      • 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

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      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.

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