Contents (12)
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR PHOTOS OF YOU
“A deeply emotional story that will remind you that life is a gift, and it’s never too late for love.”
—Kelly Rimmer, bestselling author of The Secret Daughter
“Yes, you will no doubt have tears but hey, who didn’t have tears when they read JoJo Moyes’s Me Before You? I implore you to read this book. It will stay with you for long after you have finished the last page.”
—The Oxford Observer
“For fans of Me Before You.”
—Next
“Heart-wrenchingly romantic, this book will leave you wanting to hold your loved ones just that little bit closer.”
—Emma Cooper, author of The Songs of Us
“There was a life-affirming aspect that kept me turning the pages all through the day and long into the night…fresh and humorous, so honest.…Many moments stole my breath and left me weeping.…Highly recommended.”
—TheresaWrites.com
Photos of You
Reading Group Guide
Questions for Readers
- Photos of You has a highly emotional central premise. Do you think the author does this subject justice through her characters and her writing?
- Can you talk about the role of Ava’s friends in the story and the support they give her?
- What do you think of the idea of a wedding without a groom? Do you think it’s appropriate, given Ava’s unique situation?
- Bucket lists have become a popular concept in recent years. Do you think they can inform your life in a positive way?
- How realistic do you find the notion of a national magazine offering to help Ava plan and document her wedding?
- Can you discuss the relationship that Ava has with her family in the story?
- Do you think James is a suitable hero for Ava?
- Was the ending satisfying to you? Would you have wanted Ava’s story to end in any other way?
Q&A with author
Tammy Robinson
Photos of You has such a strong central premise. How did you come up with the idea for the story?
The idea actually came from an online news article that my agent sent me. It was about a beautiful young Japanese woman with a terminal illness who decided to have a big fashion photography shoot wearing a dozen or so wedding dresses. She wanted the whole pampering experience of having her hair and makeup done by professionals and feeling like a princess bride for a day, as she knew she’d never have a wedding day for herself. It got me thinking about the different things we would all wish for when faced with our own mortality.
My father volunteers for the Make-A-Wish foundation here in New Zealand, and it’s hugely important to him to really talk to the children and find out what it is they’d love to do or have. Sometimes when he arrives at a house he’s already been briefed that they would like a bedroom makeover or a trip to the amusement parks on the Gold Coast in Australia. But when he actually sits and talks to the child, what they would really love is something they worry might be too outrageous or unachievable, like being a mermaid for a day or being immortalized in graffiti artwork on a building.