July Invite & June Replay: "Read Like a Writer" Book Club

+ Discussion Qs for our July book club pick, CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Evelyn Skye

Jun 24, 2025

∙ Paid

Hello, Protagonists! In this post, you’ll find:

🎥 The video replay of our June meeting

📚 Your invitation + discussion questions for Crazy Rich Asians

🗓️ Book Club schedule for the rest of 2025

💛 RSVP & Zoom link (below the paywall)

“Read Like a Writer” Book Club is for our community members who want to dive even deeper into how great books work. Come nerd out with us! 🤓

🎥 Replay: Remarkably Bright Creatures

If you missed our last Book Club meeting, you can now watch the full replay above.

We had such a fantastic discussion of Remarkably Bright Creatures and talked about:

Narrative Structure & POV
- The novel alternates perspectives, including that of Marcellus the octopus.
  - What effect does this shifting POV have on the pacing and emotional weight of the story?
- How does the inclusion of an animal narrator challenge or expand the traditional structure of a novel?
  - Would the book still work without Marcellus’s sections?
Theme Integration
- What are the core themes (e.g., grief, connection, memory)? How are these explored subtly through setting and character choices rather than overt exposition?
- How does Marcellus the octopus metaphorically support the novel’s deeper messages?
Genre-Bending
- This novel straddles literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and feel-good fiction with a quirky edge. How do the genre elements intersect?
- Why do you think this book resonated so broadly with readers to become a breakout debut?

During the “behind the scenes of craft” portion, we explored:

Book marketing and publicity
- Why I decided not to quit Instagram
- What do you as the author do vs. what does the in-house marketing and publicity team do?
- How does a freelance publicist fit into the picture?
- What are the most important parts of marketing and publicity?
- What actually moves the needle?
- Paid social media, e.g. ads on Instagram and Facebook

As always, the replay is available to paid subscribers to keep our discussions cozy and private.

📚 You’re Invited: Crazy Rich Asians

Our next Book Club pick is:

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick, she doesn’t realize he’s one of the most eligible (and wealthy) bachelors in Asia. Thrust into a world of private planes, couture gowns, and ruthless family expectations, Rachel must navigate opulence, gossip, and class warfare in this sharply funny and emotionally layered novel about love, identity, and belonging.

BONUS—Film Adaptation Discussion:

Feel free to watch the movie and/or read the screenplay (available HERE).

Meeting Date:

🗓️ Sunday, July 20, 2025
🕗 8pm ET / 5pm PT
📍 Zoom link below the paywall

💬 During the book discussion, we’ll chat about:

There are many POVs—do they work together to form a cohesive arc, or do some feel extraneous?
- What might have been the reason for keeping or cutting these in the screenplay?
- Who is the most surprisingly compelling character—and why?
The voice is both satirical and emotionally sincere. How does the author balance those tones?
- Does it ever feel like the book is winking too much at the reader?
The author immerses readers in a lavish world, often pausing to detail clothes, food, and social history. What techniques does he use to pull that off without info-dumping? (or does he fail?)
What major structural or character changes did you notice between the book and screenplay?
If you were to adapt your own story with a sprawling cast, what would you keep in mind after reading this?

💬 During the “behind the scenes of writing” portion, we will talk about:

How do you build a long and sustainable career in publishing if your first book (or two) is not a huge success?
- Why is the “mortality rate” in publishing so high (many author do not publish more than two books)?
Author visibility—how do you keep readers aware of your books when you’re not actively launching a new novel?
- How can you introduce new readers to your backlist while you’re working on your next book?
Wishlist: we’ll see if we can answer these questions:
- Are there any great craft books on self-editing (i.e., how to take your draft to something polished enough that you can query or self-publish)?
- Are there any case studies/examples of publicity and marketing campaigns that made a book “big”?

Whether you’re a curious reader or a fellow writer, we’d love to have you join. No need to be “an expert”—just bring your thoughts and your love of books.

✨ Introverts welcome: Cameras on or off. Your presence is enough.