Book Club Discussion Questions: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
- Elise
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
For those of you that haven't or couldn't attend book club lately, we're publishing this months' discussion questions here. All previous book club selections have been posted, complete with summary, discussion questions and, when necessary or appropriate, additional resources to better understand the topic or context. Here are the questions from our current title, First Lie Wins. We hope these questions spark discussions of your own.
First Lie Wins
by Ashley Elston
Summary:
REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK | #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.” —Reese Witherspoon
Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.
The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.
Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job isn't like the others. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.
Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there's still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge. . . . -- Publisher Description
Discussion Questions
Penguin Random House Reese's Book Club Official Questions:
Identity plays a significant role in First Lie Wins. Evie assumes various aliases for her jobs and ultimately allows her Lucca Marino identity to take the fall for crimes she didn’t commit in order to protect her future. Why is the name Lucca Marino so important to her? Do you think your name is essential to your identity? Why or why not? And will she be happy as Evie Porter?
Evie and Ryan are both morally gray characters. Despite her life of crime, there were lines Evie wouldn’t cross: not leaving Miles unattended after his mother was injured, giving financial advice to Tyron, changing critical information about Ryan’s business so Mr. Smith wouldn’t be able to take it from him. Do you think this behavior redeems Evie in some way? Why or why not?
Evie’s path to crime began as a way to pay for the medicine and medical treatment her mother needed. In today’s world of high health-care costs, Evie believed she had no other option. Do you sympathize with Evie or think she was wrong to turn to a life of crime? Should she have continued in that line of work after her mother died? Discuss.
What are your thoughts on the author’s use of flashbacks? Did each flashback give you further insights into Evie’s actions or thought processes in the present? How so?
Evie’s mother dies when Evie is still quite young, yet rather than seek out community, she takes on a job that is inherently isolating. Why do you think it was so important for Evie to find the others who worked for Mr. Smith? Do you think Evie finally found her family with Devon, Amy, and Ryan? By the end of the book, do you think Evie has achieved what she originally hoped she might? What is the significance of her garden?
Evie leaves an origami swan behind when each job is complete. What do you think this specific calling card means? Do you think Evie enjoys the chase? Or is there a part of her that wants to be found out? Is it possible for both to be true?
Evie says, “There are the short cons and there are long cons and I’ve just finished the longest one of my life.” Did you know Evie was one step ahead of Mr. Smith the whole time? When did you realize who George was? Did you expect any of the reveals throughout the book?
Mr. Smith suggests that he and Evie are more alike than she might wish: they both con and manipulate others. Do you think Evie is aware of how much they actually resemble each other? At the end, it looks like Evie will take over Mr. Smith’s business—do you think that’s really what she wants? Can she do that job and also live happily ever after with Ryan?
The Literary Lifestyle Questions:
Discuss the meaning of the title, First Lie Wins, particularly in the context of this quote: “There’s an old saying: The first lie wins. It’s not referring to the little white kind that tumble out with no thought; it refers to the big one. The one that changes the game. The one that is deliberate. The lie that sets the stage for everything that comes after it. And once the lie is told, it’s what most people believe to be true. The first lie has to be the strongest. The most important. The one that has to be told.”
The author, Ashley Elston, described Evie Porter as “morally gray.” How is this presented in the novel?
Reese Witherspoon described this book as “a cat & mouse game.” How is this presented in the novel?
Compare and contrast First Lie Wins to other con artist books you’ve read.
Compare and contrast First Lie Wins to other psychological thrillers you’ve read.
Compare and contrast First Lie Wins to other Reese’s book club books you’ve read.
Why did the author choose to begin the novel with Evie meeting Ryan’s friends?
Why did the author choose a Southern setting (Louisiana, Georgia, etc.)?
What attracts Evie to Ryan Sumner and why?
Was this job the only logical choice for Evie?
Discuss the motivations behind Evie’s actions throughout First Lie Wins.
Compare and contrast Evie and Ryan.
Discuss Evie’s past and how it affected her present.
Discuss the imposter Lucca Marino storyline.
Discuss the Amy Holder storyline.
Discuss the Andrew Marshall storyline.
Discuss Devon’s role in Evie’s life.
Why did the author use flashbacks and multiple timelines so heavily?
Discuss the significance of the origami swans.
Discuss the theme of identity in First Lie Wins.
What roles do truth and lies play in First Lie Wins?
Discuss the pacing of this suspenseful thriller.
Were you able to keep track of this complex plot?
Did you find any holes in the execution of such a detailed plot?
Did the identity of Evie’s boss, Mr. Smith, surprise you?
Compare and contrast Evie and Mr. Smith.
What did you think was in the deposit box?
Do you believe Ryan and Evie told each other the truth?
Did the ending of First Lie Wins surprise you?
What do you think Evie will do in the future?
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