FalseFriends
Subjective Mood is well suited to book clubs because it raises questions about grief, trust, manipulation, and the challenges of starting over. After her husband dies during the Covid pandemic, Bianca moves to Málaga to learn Spanish and build a new life. Living in an unfamiliar country, she has to decide whom she can trust and whether her own judgement is reliable.
The title refers to the grammatical term subjunctive mood, which is used to express doubt, possibility, wishes, and uncertainty. Those same ideas run throughout the novel, inviting readers to explore the links between grammar and storytelling. Inspired by the author's experiences of living in Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Spain, and by learning Spanish in Málaga, the novel also explores what it means to search for a place that truly feels like home. As the first book in the False Friends series, it encourages discussion about how the grammatical themes, the language school setting, and the school's hidden secrets connect to the wider story.
Discussion questions
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How did Bianca change after her husband's death?
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Do you think moving to Spain gave Bianca a fresh start, or did it leave her more vulnerable?
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Which part of Bianca's journey did you find most relatable or believable?
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How did the Covid pandemic change the mood of the story for you?
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Bianca learns Spanish as an adult. How do you think learning another language changes the way people see themselves?
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Have you ever lived abroad or started over somewhere new? Did Bianca's experiences feel realistic?
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At what point did Ramón's attention stop feeling friendly and start feeling uncomfortable?
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Why do you think Bianca responded to Ramón the way she did?
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How much do you think Bianca's past influenced the choices she made throughout the novel?
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The title Subjective Mood plays on the grammatical term Subjunctive Mood. How do ideas like possibility, uncertainty, and "what if" connect to Bianca's story?
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Were there moments where you questioned whether Bianca's instincts were right?
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How did the appearance of someone Bianca thought she'd lost change the way you saw the story?
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Do you think Bianca was happier on her own, or did she need someone to rely on?
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If you were in Bianca's position, would you have made the same decisions?
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Which scene stayed with you the longest after you finished the book?
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Did the ending surprise you? Why or why not?
Themes
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Starting over after loss
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Life after COVID
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Living abroad
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Learning a new language
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Finding where you belong
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Loneliness and connection
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Trust and betrayal
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Obsession
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Psychological manipulation
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Hidden identities
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Perception versus reality
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New beginnings
Imperative Ember is the second novel in the False Friends series, returning to Instituto Guerrera, the Spanish language school where the series' psychological experiments continue. Moritz arrives in Málaga hoping that learning Spanish will help him rebuild his life, but his synaesthesia affects the way he experiences memories, emotions, and the people around him. At the same time, Lola's fascination with fire shows how childhood experiences can continue to shape someone's life. The novel also draws on the grammatical imperative, using commands and instructions to reflect its themes of influence, control, and obedience
Discussion questions
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What did you think of Moritz? Did you relate to him?
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How does Moritz's synaesthesia affect the way he sees the world?
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Why do you think Moritz relies so much on routine?
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Did your opinion of Lola change as you learned more about her?
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Can you understand why Lola became the person she did?
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When does helping someone become controlling?
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How does learning Spanish change Moritz during the story?
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Which character did you trust the most? Did that change by the end?
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Did Instituto Guerrera ever feel like a safe place to you?
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How does being far from home affect the choices Moritz makes?
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Were there moments when you weren't sure what was real? How did that affect your reading?
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What part does the San Juan festival play in the story?
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Do you think our childhood has a lasting effect on who we become?
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How does guilt affect the choices different characters make?
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What does the grammar theme of the imperative add to the story?
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Do you think people sometimes like being told what to do? Why?
Themes
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Living with synaesthesia
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Learning to trust yourself
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Quieting an overwhelmed mind
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Starting a new life abroad
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Learning Spanish
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Following the rules
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The lasting effects of childhood
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Living with guilt
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Fire and obsession
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The San Juan Festival
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Trust and manipulation
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What is real and what isn't
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Memory and perception