The House We Grew Up In

Although the novel is told by an omniscient third-person narrator, the point of view is also split between several characters. How does this affect the way the plot unfolds?

Why do most chapters start with Lorelei’s emails to Jim, and why do you think no emails from him are included until the end of the book?

All of the characters go on journeys to find out more about themselves. Who do you think undergoes the biggest change and why?

Lorelei is a divisive character. Do you see her more as a self-centered figure like Meg, or as a loving figure who is full of life like Vicky and the children around her? Is it possible to see a connection between these two views?

Contrasts are made throughout the book between Lorelei’s Cotswolds house and Meg’s house in London. What are the essential differences and similarities, and how do these places reflect their owners?

Lorelei’s children each respond differently to Rhys’s death. Compare and contrast their behavior and examine how their choices reflect their arcs and the book’s themes.

There are several geographical locations mentioned in The House We Grew Up In, including England, Spain, Thailand, and Australia. What role do these different settings play in the text? What do they offer for the characters?

This book is not a thriller, but it includes genre elements like the secrets gradually being revealed to the characters and the reader. Is this tactic successful? Why might Lisa Jewell have chosen to incorporate suspenseful elements in a family drama?