Sign up for our newsletters to receive our Most Anticipated Books of 2025!

Book Club Discussion Questions for Women's Hotel by Daniel M. Lavery

Summary |  Excerpt |  Reading Guide |  Reviews |  Beyond the Book |  Read-Alikes |  Genres & Themes |  Author Bio

Women's Hotel by Daniel M. Lavery

Women's Hotel

A Novel

by Daniel M. Lavery
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (8):
  • Readers' Rating (1):
  • First Published:
  • Oct 15, 2024, 272 pages
  • Rate this book

About this Book

Book Club Discussion Questions

Print PDF

In a book club? Subscribe to our Book Club Newsletter!

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

  1. Discuss the significance of Daniel M. Lavery's choice to focus on a specific time period and setting in American history, and how this adds depth and meaning to the overall narrative of Women's Hotel.
  2. Women's Hotel has a full cast of fascinating, rich characters. Explore the intricate dynamics between them, especially during critical events like Moving Day. How do these dynamics influence their relationships and interactions?
  3. The interplay between personal ambition and communal living is a central narrative strand. How do the aspirations of individual characters at the Biedermeier influence both their personal trajectories and their relationships with others?
  4. Can you discuss how Carol, Lucianne, and Katherine play a role in the keydecisions within the Biedermeier?
  5. How does Mrs. Mossler's approach to managing the hotel contribute to the interpersonal dynamics amongst the characters, and how does it impact their lives?
  6. How does Katherine's relationship with her faith and her struggles with alcoholism influence her character development and interactions with others in Women's Hotel?
  7. As the Biedermeier becomes a microcosm of larger societal dynamics, how do the friendships and conflicts within its walls mirror the shifting landscape of women's rights and experiences post-World War II?
  8. What internal conflicts does Stephen, the elevator operator, face, and how does his character provide insight into the gender dynamics and societal expectations of the era?
  9. How does the Women's Hotel serve as a symbol of resilience and empowerment for its female residents, despite the challenges and obstacles they face in their personal lives? Reflect on the relationships and interactions among the women in the hotel. How do these relationships evolve throughout the book, and what do they indicate about the themes of friendship, support, and community?
For the full book club kit please refer to this link.

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

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $50 for 12 months or $18 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

BookBrowse Book Club

  • Book Jacket
    Let's Call Her Barbie
    by Renée Rosen
    She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.
Book Club Giveaway!
Win Help Wanted

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

From the best-selling author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. comes a funny, eye-opening tale of work in contemporary America.

Enter

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Beast of the North Woods
    by Annelise Ryan

    When a local fisherman is mauled to death, it seems like the only possible cause is a mythical creature.

  • Book Jacket

    Going Home
    by Tom Lamont

    Going Home is a sparkling, funny, bighearted story of family and what happens when three men take charge of a toddler following an unexpected loss.

  • Book Jacket

    The Secret History of the Rape Kit
    by Pagan Kennedy

    The story of the woman who kicked off a feminist revolution in forensics, and then vanished into obscurity.

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

T the L

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.