Oona Out of Order

While Oona doesn’t usually pass on spoilers to herself about the future, she does when it comes to investing. What role does Oona’s money play in the novel?

Character names are often important, and the name “Lockhart” evokes particular imagery. Is that imagery positive or negative, and how does the name reflect Oona’s character? Do those same connotations apply to Madeleine, or does the imagery shift depending on the character?

Oona repeatedly complains that her time traveling makes it difficult to maintain romantic relationships. Is this an accurate assessment of what causes Oona’s relationships to fail? What is the book’s overall message about romantic love?

Discuss the novel’s use of the time loop trope (such as Kenzie introducing Oona to Kate Bush and her introducing Kate Bush to Kenzie). How do these time loops intersect with the novel’s consideration of free will versus destiny?

What distinguishes the “high” Oona gets from music from other highs she experiences? What makes it a healthy “obsession” whereas others are not?

One of the major themes of the book concerns Enjoying the Good Moments and Being Here Now. How does the novel use time travel to explore this theme?

Several of the novel’s symbols overtly relate to time—Dale’s watch, Oona’s hourglass tattoo, etc. Time is also important in music, which is a recurring motif. How do these symbols and motifs work together to illuminate different aspects of time?

The book’s part titles allude to popular songs, which in turn establish the tone for each section and foreshadow what is about to happen in Oona’s life. Choose one of the songs and read the lyrics (accessible online). How do they reflect what is happening in the story or with Oona’s character in that particular section? Is there a song you think would be better suited as a title?