1.Even if Phillip had come back, would he have been able to stay with Kiki? Was the idea of the inevitability of their parting part of what makes their relationship so romantic?

2. How does the fact that there are no real obstacles between Kiki and Eric make her feel about their relationship?

3. Why did the author wait until the very end to let us know that Kiki and Phillip had a "last encounter?" What does she try to do by holding on to this detail?

4. What, in the end, convinces Kiki to move on with her life and open up to people again?

5. What is the main conflict in the mother/daughter relationships in this book: between Kiki's grandmother and mother, and between her mother and Kiki?

6. Why did stories of Kiki's grandmother and her family hold such importance for Kiki?

7. The meeting of Kiki and her grandmother would have been a very dramatic climax for the book--it's what the book was leading up to. Why does the author choose not to have that happen?

8.Does Eric take Kiki's needs seriously? Is this important to Kiki? Why or why not?

9. Is the idea of not recovering after the loss of a husband/boyfriend a romantic one for Kiki?

10. Why did her father leave--and stay out of touch with Kiki?