Cup of Coffee Book Club discussion

Miri comes from a very different background to Natalie, Mason is an orphan, Christina's parents are very strict.

Contrast Irene with Christina's parents, they must be similar ages. Apart from a couple of comments here and there, Irene seems to have taken Miri's arrival all in her stride. She could have been ultra-strict too but I think she had the sense to know when to lay down the law and when to relax a bit.
It was interesting to pick up on Miri's struggles with her own teenage daughter - shows how the wheel turns - although they had their moments, I think Miri and Rusty mostly had a good relationship.
And I think that while Miri initially thinks a wardrobe of cashmere sweaters is the mark of a good parent, she comes to see that it's love and - I suppose, good guidance, is that the best way to put it?! - instead. Mason and Christina don't have that, so they go looking outside the family for that love. Christina finds it but Mason isn't so lucky.

It was quite a tragic love story really, between Mason and Miri. Like i mentioned before, I felt that Blume made us really sympathise with Mason, and therefore want them to work it out. Another demonstration of how naive in so many ways these young characters are, and so very young despite them having to grow up fast for varying reasons - the tragic events, and Mason being an orphan etc.

I think Blume really wants us to take away a lesson that love is stronger than money - and the ones who follow their hearts and feel genuine support flourish, regardless of where it comes from. Christina never doubted her love for her boyfriend, and her concerns were whether her family would disown her or not. There was never a moment that she considered breaking up with him. And look how they turned out!

Yes I agree, and also thought it was brilliant that Christina and Jack 'made it' in the end. Having their own plane!

Yes that was rather far fetched but all very heart warming!!