Book club questions for Dove by Georgia Harper.
1. What do you think Dove is really asking with the question “What would you do if there were no men for a day?” How do the different responses reflect broader social issues?
2. Many women’s answers on the wall relate to fear or restriction. How does the novel explore the relationship between gender and safety?
3. Dove values independence and self-sufficiency, yet she forms deep emotional connections. Why do you think she had, until now, determinedly avoided commitment and connection? How do you interpret these tensions in her character?
4. Noah struggles with guilt, responsibility, and desire. How does he see himself? Do you receive him as sympathetic, flawed, or both? What drives his choices?
5. So many people in the novel are hiding things – Noah, Bella, Dove, Emily. How do secrecy and honesty shape the relationships in the novel?
6. Did you have an idea as to what was making Bella unwell? How might her journey with her sexuality be different today, if at all?
7. The novel portrays different forms of power—physical, emotional, social. How do characters like Nathaniel, Dr O’Leary, and Noah each represent or exert different kinds of control?
8. What did Dove's relationship with Dark symbolise?
9. How do past events—such as Dove’s experience with Dr O’Leary, Hazel’s earlier experiences, or Noah and Emily’s history—continue to shape present decisions?
10. Bella’s diary entries offer a different perspective. Does her viewpoint deepen or your understanding of the story’s themes?
11. Mablethorpe is a small town where everyone knows (or thinks they know) each other. The small community limited access to healthcare options for residents. How does this environment influence characters’ behaviour and choices?
12. The novel resists simple “good vs bad” judgments. Which characters or actions did you find hardest to judge, and why?
13. If there was a real 'Dove's Wall', would you write on it? What would you write?
The author has created her own wall on Instagram. If you would like to add your thoughts, or see what others have to say, go to @doveswall
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