Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura

Book Club Discussion Questions

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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Like Happiness alternates between the present day and flashbacks told through Tatum's letter. How did this structure contribute to your reading experience?
2. Discuss Tatum's growth as a person. What character flaws did you pick up on as you read about her life when she was young? How has she changed by the time she is writing her letter to Mateo?
3. Power and fame are major themes in the book. Did the novel change the way you think about the allure of fame and power dynamics between fans and their idols? Have you experienced or witnessed similar unbalanced friendships or relationships in your own life?
4. Tatum describes how she loved the books she grew up with but never fully identified with any stories until Mateo's book, Happiness. How did the lack of diverse representation in literature influence Tatum and Mateo's relationship, both positively and negatively?
5. Did Mateo genuinely care for Tatum? Suggested by Daybreak Little Free Library (South Jordan, UT)
6. What parallels did you notice between Tatum's life and the books she loves, such as The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith?
7. On her trip to San Antonio, Tatum's father asks her if she's ever considered whether Mateo is the devil. Do you agree or disagree with the parallels her father makes?
8. Do you view Tatum's relationship with Mateo to be a romantic one or something else? How do you view Tatum's romantic relationships that occurred outside of her friendship with Mateo?
9. During their last conversation, Tatum tells Mateo, "For a decade, I've lived a muted life, waiting for you to realize my importance." What is the connection between her toxic relationship with Mateo and her identity as a Chicana?
10. Why did Tatum hold onto the relationship with Mateo for so long? Suggested by Book Club (Medicine Lake, MT)
11. How do you feel about Mateo's final betrayal? Is there anything one can learn from the collapse of their friendship?
12. Why do you think Tatum was so infatuated with Mateo? Was it really because of his book, or with him as a person? Suggested by BCB! (Akron, OH)
13. Discuss the conclusion of the book and the conclusions that Tatum draws up in her letter.
14. How do you feel about the evolution of Tatum and Mateo's friendship by the end of the book? Why do you think the author chose to paint this relationship as complex rather than a simple villain/victim dynamic?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Celadon. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.