Five Bush Weddings book club notes

As a photographer, Stevie’s been to enough bush weddings to last a lifetime. When’s it going to be all about her?

This witty and relatable book will make for a lively discussion that is sure to be a hit with your reading group!

Discussion points and questions:

• Have you ever been to a bush wedding? Did you recognize any of the scenes or details from the weddings in the book?
• Stevie isn’t where she thought she’d be in her early thirties, and neither is Johnno. When you were nineteen, what did you think your life would be like? Did the reality match up?
• If you were a photographer, would you ever agree to work at your ex’s wedding to their new partner? Why, or why not?
• When Stevie’s best friend Jen starts to move ahead on big milestones without her she acts out in a way she later regrets. Have you ever felt left behind? How did you react?
• Do you think Stevie is right to think that people are judging the choices she’s made, or is it more her own expectations she’s struggling with?
• Stevie’s Mum, Paula, has decided to try online dating and has some mixed results. Have you tried online dating? What advice would you give to your mother or an older friend who was going to try it for the first time?
• Mabel (The Bush Telegraph) thinks she provides an essential service by spreading news and matchmaking throughout bush communities. Do you think gossip or interfering in other people’s relationships is ever justified? Why?
• Johnno’s family assumes he’s the best person to take over Haven Downs, but Kate turns out to be the better fit. Have you ever felt pressure from your family to conform to certain expectations? Did gender play a role?
• Stevie’s history with Tom makes it hard for both her and Johnno to see each other as a romantic option. Would you ever go out with a friend’s ex, or can a person’s history make them off limits?
• Who would you like to see play the roles of Stevie, Johnno, Charlie and Mabel in a movie adaptation?