For fans of One Day by David Nicholls, Charlotte Rixon's latest book, After the Fire explores the twists and turns of a friendship and love affair between Beth and Nick over the course of 14 years, from when they met as freshers at university and into their adult lives and careers. How can either of them move on when neither of them can stop looking back? As our Expert Reviewer Maureen Stapleton aptly says, "you’ll have to read this lovely book until the end to find out what happens".

With topics of grief, love, marriage, career crises and family drama there's lots for a book club to discuss in After the Fire. We're excited that we have some questions from author Charlotte Rixon herself to get your book club discussions started. Thank you to Charlotte and to Aria Fiction for sharing these questions with us. 

1) How did the alternating timelines affect your perception of Nick and Beth’s characters, and their evolution throughout the novel? What would you say were the characters’ major areas of growth as they aged?

2) Discuss Beth and Nick’s different reactions to the fire. How do you think you would react if you went through a similar experience at that age?

3) Nick is devastated by the fact that he didn’t go back into the building to try to save Anna. What impact do you think his mother’s condition had on his need to ‘save’ people?

4) How do you feel Beth’s career helped her cope with her pain after the fire? Do you think she enjoyed being famous?

5) Why do you think Nick went on to work in finance after university? Which aspects of this career do you think he enjoyed?

6) Why do you think Nick stayed with Maggie for so long? Do you think he really did love her?

7) What do you think drew Beth to Vaughan? Discuss their relationship dynamic.

8) What impact do you think both Beth and Nick’s parents’ relationships had on their subsequent views of romantic relationships?  

9) How do you think Rosa really felt about Beth? Do you think if Rosa had been honest about her feelings straight after the fire, this would have impacted Beth’s own feelings of guilt?

10) After the exhibition, when Beth drunkenly confesses her feelings, why do you think Nick turns her down?

 11) What is your opinion of Beth and Nick’s dynamic at the end of the book? How do you see their future panning out?