Hello Book Clubs!

Chicken Nugget Girl and Other Midlife Traumas is the perfect little book for busy book club members. It is short, hilarious and relatable. 

 

I have personally created a Book Club Discussion page to help guide your group. I hope you will enjoy. 

​

Book Club Discussion Sheet

​

Chicken Nugget Girl and Other Midlife Traumas
by Kate Torode

About the Book

Chicken Nugget Girl and Other Midlife Traumas blends humor, wit, and emotional honesty to explore midlife reinvention, identity, and the chaos of everyday life. Mallory Reynolds, our hapless yet relatable heroine, stumbles through corporate burnout, embarrassing mishaps, friendship dramas, and chicken-nugget-fueled epiphanies, proving that comedy and crisis often share the same seat in the car.

 

Discussion Questions

Character & Identity

1. Mallory Reynolds is both flawed and funny—what aspects of her struggles felt most relatable to you?

2. Do you see Mallory as a cautionary tale, a role model of resilience, or both?

3. How do her relationships shape her journey?

Themes & Humor

1. What did you think about the mix of comedy and serious topics (burnout, identity, trauma)? Did one element resonate more with you?

2. The title story hinges on a midlife realization in a parking lot—why do you think food and humor were used as vehicles for bigger truths?

3. Which scene made you laugh the hardest? Which moment hit unexpectedly deep?

Reflection & Connection

1. Did Mallory’s story remind you of your own midlife (or quarter-life) “chicken nugget moment”?

2. How does the book portray the balance between self-discovery and social expectations?

3. What role does friendship play in navigating chaos and personal reinvention?

Big Picture

1. If this book were adapted into a film or TV series, who would you cast as Mallory and why?

2. What’s one piece of advice you’d give Mallory after finishing the book?

3. How might the book spark conversations about embracing imperfection in your own life?

Activities (Optional)

• Nugget Night: Serve chicken nuggets (or your comfort food of choice) during the meeting.

• Parking Lot Confessions: Each member shares a “Mallory moment” from their own life when everything felt absurd.

• Casting Game: Pretend you’re the casting director for the Chicken Nugget Girl TV pilot. Who plays Mallory, Helen, Evan, and Chloe?

Favorite Quotes

Encourage members to share their favorite one-liners or passages from the book.