The center of everything

Ruby’s experience may offer a starting point for talking about how grief can linger, and how people may not know what another person is carrying.

Gigi’s death precedes the story, and Ruby feels sadness and regret connected to her grandmother’s last day. The treatment is described as delicate, though grief remains central.

If Ruby’s regret reminds you of anything, what would you want her to understand about what a person can and cannot put right?

Consider reading together or checking in after chapters; the alternating timeline gradually reveals the roots of Ruby’s difficulties, so pauses can help a reader follow those connections.