Same Time Next Summer

Compare and contrast Jack and Wyatt as characters. In what ways are they foils of each other? What do they each bring out in Sam? In the narrative present, why does Sam initially glorify her relationship with Jack and dismiss her connection with Wyatt?

Analyze the ways in which the narrative structure supports the novel’s thematic interest in The Challenges of Navigating Past and Present Relationships. Craft an argument that explains why the narrative toggles between the past and present, between the first- and third-person points of view, and between Sam’s and Wyatt’s storylines. What is the effect?

Discuss the ways in which Sam and Wyatt are their most authentic selves when they’re together. How does Annabel Monaghan structure their romantic arc to emphasize The Enduring Impact of First Love? Cite specific examples from the text in the narrative past and the narrative present to support your argument.

Consider Sam’s life in Manhattan with Jack, their apartment, her job, and her new pastimes. What do these facets of her life in the present convey about Sam’s relationship to control, order, and predictability?

In what ways does returning to Long Island and reuniting with Wyatt launch Sam’s self-discovery journey? What does this setting and this relationship bring out in Sam? What does she learn about her past and present self along the way?

Consider Monaghan’s use of water as a motif in the novel symbolic of renewal. How does this motif support Sam’s growth as a character over the course of her arc?

How does Sam’s regard for her relationship with Wyatt evolve over the course of the novel? What experiences, events, relationships, and conversations help her to see their past love with new eyes? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

In what ways does Sam learn to exercise her own agency to change her life? What does she do to reacquaint herself with her authentic identity? Particularly consider how her job, relationships, and living spaces relate to how she sees and expresses herself over time.