The Summer of Broken Rules

Although Luli is mostly a side character, she is crucial to Meredith’s character development. Conduct a character analysis of Luli’s role(s) in the novel. What archetype(s) does she fulfill and how does she contribute to Meredith’s character development?

The Summer of Broken Rules is a romance novel that challenges many of the conventions and tropes typical of romance fiction. Compare and contrast The Summer of Broken Rules to another romance fiction novel of your choice. Consider how each novel demonstrates or challenges typical genre conventions, tropes, character archetypes, and plot development in your analysis.

Martha’s Vineyard is a very different place for Meredith in the Epilogue than it was in Chapter 1. Assess why that might be. What do you think Meredith might have learned in the year between Chapter 23 and the Epilogue that would continue to improve her previously tinted view of Martha’s Vineyard?

Wit’s bruised face serves as a symbol for Meredith’s healing but is not frequently mentioned throughout the novel. Why might that be? What might K. L. Walther be trying to say about grief and healing by using Wit’s bruise as an almost invisible symbol?

The rise of social media has made information more accessible, but it has also made us more personally judgmental. Trace Meredith’s use of the social media app Instagram throughout the novel and analyze how it influences her relationships and interactions. Consider how she used it, and what she posted on it before, during, and after Michael and Sarah’s wedding.

The Summer of Broken Rules was a hit on BookTok in 2021. Write a script for a video you could create and post on BookTok talking about your experiences reading this book, your thoughts, and your overall opinion of the book. You can watch some reviews to get a sense of how BookTok usually presents their ideas, but you can also make the video script completely your own.

Analyze the title of the book: The Summer of Broken Rules. How does the title of the novel relate to the main premises of the book itself? What significance does the title hold in relation to Meredith and her journey through the week?

Consider the influence of social media on your own life and how you present yourself online. Is your social media presence more like Meredith’s before the novel or how she grows to present herself during the novel and at its conclusion? Explain your position, using examples from the text to support your points.