Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno begs all sorts of questions about appearances, the merits that lead to fame and the costs that come with it, what loyalties one owes to their family… We can go on. And we did! Check out these questions to kickstart your conversation about this oh-so-fun and oh-so-relevant novel. Tread carefully – or not at all! – if you've not finished the novel yet. Spoilers below!
1. The Benedetto family has had more than their share of the limelight. In the public eye, they seem unscathed by whatever fame throws their way, but out of the direct path of the camera, we see that some of the sisters do indeed feel a little bit of the burn. Which sisters do you think feel it a little more? Why?
2. Benedetto patriarch Dominic Benedetto spends most of his time in the pool house, working out away from his family. As his fortune evaporates and his daughters continue to live like there's no tomorrow, he resigns himself to losing the battle. What are the biggest external factors that influence his response and approach to his financial situation? What internal factors do you think come into play?
3. At one point in the novel, one sister begins to pursue another's potential object of affection. And yet, the consequences of this betrayal of loyalty seem minimal. Do most sibling sets contain this capacity to overlook certain offenses? Or are the Benedetto sisters unique in this characteristic?
4. So much of Meet the Benedettos is about appearances – what version of oneself one puts out into the word – what they mean, and what they can get one in life. What appearances have been most fruitful for the Benedetto sisters? Is there a different picture they might paint that could affect the media's vantage point?
5. Author Katie Cotugno was inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice quite a lot while writing Meet the Benedettos. The classic novel has provided endless inspiration to creatives for decades. What is it about this – and perhaps other – classic novels that come into play in the lives of young women again and again? What is timeless about their themes?
Want more about Meet the Benedettos, including perfectly paired wines and a delicious recipe, coupled with a fabulous playlist? Check it out here.