Most of all, my love and thanks to my husband and literal lifesaver, Emlyn Rees for everything – and for coming up with a cracking title.

Reading Group Questions

1. How does the author create a sensory experience of swimming in the sea using language? Do you ever swim in the sea? Did reading the book make you want to?
2. Did you particularly identify with any one of the Sea-Gals, and what they are going through, over the others? If so, which one, and why?
3. Homelessness, and the struggles the homeless community faces, is a strong theme in the book. How did you respond to this theme? Did it shed light on any aspect of being homeless that you may not previously have considered?
4. ‘At its essence, this is a novel about female friendship.’ How true is this statement? Discuss how the author creates a sense of camaraderie between the Sea-Gals.
5. ‘She often feels, if not lonely, then certainly detached from the fun-loving person she used to be.’ Can you identify with Claire’s feelings of detachment from her younger self? Why do you think she’s feeling this way?
6. What do you think of Maddy’s decision to post so honestly on her Instagram account about her experiences? Do you think that Maddy has changed by the end of the novel? If so, how?
7. The novel is set during the Covid lockdown of 2021. What impact does this have on the story?
8. Discuss the author’s portrayal of grief and loss. Do you think that by the end of the novel, Dominica is starting to come to terms with her loss? If so, what do you think has helped her the most along her journey?
9. Would you say that body-positivity is a theme in the book? What did you make of Claire’s decision to pose for Helga’s life-drawing class? How do you think this decision impacted her confidence?
10. ‘I totally identify as an old hag. I always draw in a new box on those government forms when they ask me.’ What was your response to Helga as a character, and her attitude towards growing old? Did anything about it surprise you?
11. In the novel, the characters learn about the impact of pollution in the sea. Did any of the information shock you? Does it make you feel more inclined to get involved in campaigning for change?
12. ‘When I was your age, women never talked about the menopause at all.’ Do you think that this has changed? If so, what positive effects does this change bring in society?

Extract

If you loved Lifesaving for Beginners don’t miss another uplifting and heart-warming novel from Josie Lloyd, out now!

Sometimes we need our friends to help us find our feet…

When Keira first receives her breast cancer diagnosis, she doesn’t want to have to tell her family, or step back from work. She doesn’t want to sit in a hospital, or be part of a group of fellow cancer patients. Cancer is not her club.