- What was your emotional reaction to Rachel’s journey? At what point did you feel most connected—or disconnected—from her?
- At what point do you think Rachel and Jeremy’s marriage truly began to fall apart? Was it gradual, or was there a defining moment?
- Rachel says she didn’t lose herself in marriage; she became more of who she wanted to be. Do you agree with her? How do you interpret what she ultimately “lost”?
- Jeremy claims he needed time to “find himself.” Do you see his decision as honest, selfish, or something in between?
- Do you believe love can survive long periods of emotional neglect? Why or why not?
- What is the difference between loving someone and being “in love” with them, as portrayed in Rachel and Jeremy’s relationship? Can one exist without the other?
- Rachel develops feelings for Juan while still married. Do you consider this emotional infidelity? Does it matter?
- Juan waits for Rachel rather than asking her to leave her husband. Do you see this as respectful, passive, or something else?
- Jeremy insists that Rachel wouldn’t be leaving if Juan weren’t in the picture. Do you think he’s right?
- Is it possible to fall out of love with someone and still genuinely love them? How does the novel explore that idea?
- Rachel says she is “leaving for herself, not for Juan.” Do you believe her? Why is that distinction important?
- How does Juan differ from Jeremy in the way he loves Rachel? Which differences matter most?
- Maribel acts as both a friend and a moral voice. How did her perspective influence Rachel’s decisions?
- Rachel’s journey is not just about love, but about identity. In what ways does she begin to rediscover or redefine herself?
- What role do Rachel’s new friendships play in her transformation?
- Rachel tries to “find her way back” to the love she once felt for Jeremy but ultimately cannot. Do you think love can be recovered once it feels lost—or does it transform into something entirely different?
- The novel ends with a glimpse into Rachel’s life years later. Did the ending feel satisfying to you? Why or why not?
- Rachel describes herself as having had “two great loves.” Do you agree with that framing? Can both relationships be meaningful in different ways?
- Jeremy admits he was happy but “didn’t know it.” What do you think the novel is saying about awareness and gratitude in relationships?
- The novel suggests that love is a daily choice. Do you agree? What does that look like in real life?
- What does the story ultimately say about the difference between being loved and being truly seen?
- Do you believe Rachel found what she was truly looking for? Or is that question still open?
1. Salvador leaves Argentina to pursue his dreams of “success” though he did not define what success would look like. How could he have improved his chances of reaching the American Dream?
2. In the 1960s, America was the land of opportunity. Many immigrants still see the United States that way. Do you agree?
3. Salvador was very excited to arrive in New York. What do you think New York represented to immigrants in the 1960s? Is there a place in America that represents the same today?
4. Salvador is inspired to come to America after hearing John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address. What do you think he found so inspiring?
5. Luisa leaves everything behind to follow the love of her life to a foreign country. Women often are expected to give up everything for a men’s dreams, especially in previous decades. Why do you think women have been so willing to do this? Do you think women still abandon their goals for men?
6. Part of Salvador’s struggles involved finding the right job or career. Most immigrants are willing to take any job to survive which usually means that they take humble, low-paying jobs. Is it possible to achieve the American Dream doing this type of work?
7. What is the American Dream? How do you define it?
8. Is the American Dream real or is it a myth?
9. What is success? How do you define success? How do you know when you’ve succeeded?
10. Which of Salvador’s decisions helped him or damaged his ability to succeed?
11. Do you think our destiny in life comes down to pivotal points in our lives or important decisions we make? If so, at which point was Salvador’s fate decided?
12. Maintaining a happy marriage and their love alive becomes a challenge for Salvador and Luisa as the years go by. How do you think the drudgery of daily life, stress, and society change marriage? Is it possible to stay in love through the struggles of life?
13. Was Salvador a good father? Why or why not?
14. Was Luisa a good mother?
15. How do you think Salvador and Luisa’s relationship and their choices affected their children?
16. Argentina gets involved in a war with England in the 1970s and the United States backs England. How did this affect Salvador and his feeling about his adopted country? Were his actions justified and logical?
17. Did you feel Salvador faced discrimination? Why or why not?
18. At the beginning of the novel, Salvador and his father exchange letters often. How did those letters impact Salvador’s behavior and mental stability?
19. Some themes in Let Us Begin are loyalty/betrayal, honesty/deceit, friendship, disappointment, discouragement. Where do you see these played out?
20. Which other themes did you notice?
1. When the story opens the main character gets a call from her sister that her mother has a terminal illness. Aside from being in medical school, why do you think Margarita reluctant to return home?
2. Julia writes about a dysfunctional family. How accurate do you think the portrayal is to actual families? Does it resonate with you?
3. The story is about a daughter who returns home to care for her dying mother. What other themes did you find in the story?
4. It’s obvious that Margarita and the hero, Ray have feelings for each other, but they’ve both been hurt by the actions of the other. Do you believe in second chances? How difficult do you think it is to have a relationship with someone you once loved and lost?
5. In many ways Margarita seems to be the one this family counts on to get them through the possible loss of their mother/wife. But Margarita can barely take care of herself. Why do you think the author chose such a flawed character to be the healer?
6. What do you think about the relationship dynamics between the two sisters? How are Margarita and Jessica different? Is it common for two sisters to be so different?
7. How does the setting of an old California town that used to be surrounded by orange groves add to this story?
8. There are different types of healers in the book. Margarita is a medical student, her mother, Grace is a pediatrician, the great grandmother was a curandera. What else do these characters have in common? What is the author telling us about healers?