52 pages • 1 hour read
Ana HuangThe Striker
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. What were your first impressions of Asher Donovan’s and Scarlett DuBois’s love story?
2. How does The Striker compare to other sports romance novels you’ve read?
3. Compare The Striker to other novels by Ana Huang. How is this novel similar to or different from her other titles?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Did you relate to Asher’s or Scarlett’s storyline more? Discuss what resonated with you about their personal experiences and conflicts.
2. How did you respond when Asher and Scarlett’s relationship began to develop? Have you ever had a similarly unexpected romantic dynamic?
3. Do you agree with how Asher and Scarlett tried to navigate their familial, professional, and personal conflicts? What would you have done similarly or differently if you were them?
4. How did you respond to Asher’s and Scarlett’s family relationships? What felt most and least authentic about their familial cultures?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. The Striker is a contemporary romance novel that explicitly deals with romantic and sexual relationships. Discuss the representations of dominance, submission, and power in Asher and Scarlett’s relationship. Do you agree or disagree with these representations?
2. Asher and Scarlett are involved in stereotypically masculine and feminine sports. Analyze how these sports relate to their characters and the book’s subtextual commentary on gender roles and stigmas.
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. Analyze the novel’s point of view. How do Asher’s and Scarlett’s intersecting narrations relate to their character arcs and personal growth journeys? How would the novel be different if it were written from a different point of view?
2. Discuss the evolution of Asher’s character. Do you think he would have changed without Scarlett? Do you think his evolution is authentic or superficial?
3. The novel is primarily set in various locations around London, England. How do these micro and macro settings relate to the characters’ evolutions and the novel’s themes?
4. Discuss Vincent DuBois’s role in the overarching plot line. How would you categorize his character? Is he more than a narrative device?
5. The Striker is a contemporary romance novel. How does the novel satisfy and subvert the expectations of the genre? Discuss key tropes, plot points, and narrative devices.
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. Imagine that you were to fall in love with your sibling’s or close friend’s rival. Would you keep the relationship a secret the way that Asher and Scarlett do? What conflicts would arise in your personal life as a result of this forbidden affair?
2. If The Striker were adapted into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? What plot points would you omit, develop, or add? Would Asher and Scarlett have the same ending?
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