Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage Book Club Questions
10 discussion questions for Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden.
October 18, 2026
Spoiler warning: some questions touch on how the book ends. Best read after you've finished it.
Discussion questions
- How did the setting of Martha’s Vineyard during the early days of the pandemic contribute to the atmosphere of Belle Burden's story?
- What were your initial impressions of Belle’s husband, and did they change as the memoir progressed?
- Do you think there were signs in Belle's marriage that hinted at her husband's departure, or did it truly come out of nowhere?
- How did Belle's exploration of her own family history impact her understanding of her marriage and her husband's departure?
- Was Belle right to question and re-evaluate her marriage after her husband left, or should she have focused on moving forward without looking back?
- What role does the nickname “Belle the Good” play in understanding her character development throughout the memoir?
- Can you relate to Belle's journey of transformation and finding her voice after a major life upheaval?
- Which moments in the memoir did you find to be the most emotionally powerful, and why?
- How did the memoir's structure, with its blending of past and present events, affect your engagement with Belle's story?
- Do you agree with how Belle ultimately chose to view her marriage and her husband's decision to leave, or would you have approached it differently?
These questions were drafted with AI help for book clubs using Lapwing.
Reading Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage with your book club?
Lapwing keeps your club's reading list, votes and meeting dates in one place, free. Members pick the dates that suit them, and the book everyone wants rises to the top.
Start your book club
