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We Need to Talk About Kevin
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September 2025 Buddy Reads > We Need to Talk About Kevin

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message 1: by SarahKat, Buddy Reads (new) - rated it 4 stars

SarahKat | 6355 comments This thread is to discuss We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.

Pages: 400 pages

Length: 1 month (September)

Participants: SarahKat, Beth

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?


message 2: by SarahKat, Buddy Reads (new) - rated it 4 stars

SarahKat | 6355 comments Hi Beth! starting this one tonight


message 3: by SarahKat, Buddy Reads (new) - rated it 4 stars

SarahKat | 6355 comments I am 29% through the audiobook, December 25, 2000.

(view spoiler)


message 4: by SarahKat, Buddy Reads (new) - rated it 4 stars

SarahKat | 6355 comments 74 %, in the middle of March 8, 2001

(view spoiler)


message 5: by SarahKat, Buddy Reads (new) - rated it 4 stars

SarahKat | 6355 comments 92% on April 5, 2001

(view spoiler)


message 6: by SarahKat, Buddy Reads (new) - rated it 4 stars


Beth | 1616 comments OMG, Sarah, I forgot to put this on my list of books to read! I will get to this one next week before you close this out on the 25th.


message 8: by Beth (last edited Oct 12, 2025 07:28AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Beth | 1616 comments I'm 75% into the audiobook (March 8, 2001).

This is a book that has been on my TBR for a very long time. It's one of those titles that just sticks with you.

As you mentioned, this was a very challenging read. I've had many of the same feelings as Eva... wondering if my personality was right to be a mother, trying to balance my needs against my partner's (what do you do when the two of you want things that are mutually exclusive?), etc.

What she went through... dealing with Kevin who, from the very beginning, seemingly rejected her. And her husband never believing her perspective and always siding with Kevin. Which I do get to a point... who's going to believe that a baby has it out for their mother? Especially when their relationship with their father is so positive?

And yes... as soon as they had Celia, it was fairly obvious that something (things) were going to go wrong. As you said, that she so clearly trusted and loved her brother, and he just didn't, or couldn't, or wouldn't, or whatever applied.

And, like you, I would highlight the heck out of this if I was reading it rather than listening.

This book is like watching a train wreck... you don't want to look, but you can't look away.


Beth | 1616 comments I am finished, and I am numb. This left me with very similar feelings as Defending Jacob: A Novel. I need to digest this, and then I can write more.


message 10: by SarahKat, Buddy Reads (new) - rated it 4 stars

SarahKat | 6355 comments Beth wrote: "I am finished, and I am numb. This left me with very similar feelings as Defending Jacob: A Novel. I need to digest this, and then I can write more."

I will stay away from that book then. This one was enough. Even after finishing it a month ago it makes me feel ill to think about.


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