Stella’s relationships with her family members are strained. How do her relationships with Maura and Christian fill the emotional void left by her lack of familial support? What does the novel suggest about chosen family versus biological family?

The novel is told from the dual perspectives of Stella and Christian. What does having two perspectives reveal about each character? What does it add to the overall meaning of the text?

Christian kills two men throughout the novel with little remorse. In what ways does he depart from the conventions of a contemporary romance novel love interest?