"All This Could Be Different" by Sarah Thankam Mathews

“I am trying, late in the evening, to say something about love, which for many of us is not separable from the other shit.”

Themes: Desire; Shame; Family Dynamics; Friendship; Belonging; Intimacy; Class; Gender

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the root of Sneha’s intimacy issues?

2. How does Thankam Mathews portray textured friendships? What does Sneha learn from her friends? What is the role of platonic intimacy and love in Sneha’s life?

3. How is gender explored throughout the book? How is the gender binary critiqued, and by who?

4. Do you think the Midwestern setting is well-established? Why or why not?

5. Discuss the power dynamics in Sneha’s relationship with Thom.

6. What did you think about Sneha’s downstair neighbor? Why did Thankam Mathews choose to make her important to the plot?

7. How does Sneha cope with her trauma and shame? How does it affect her relationships?

8. How does Sneha’s view on love change from the beginning of the novel to the end?

9. What did you think about the discussions of collectivism and community in this book?