book club guide
Alone isn't a failure
A reading companion for groups and solitary readers alike.
About the novel
Agata never imagined that traveling alone would become the most transformative journey of her life. From the tranquil silence of Chinese monasteries to the restless rhythm of New York City, and finally back to her Tuscan home among olive groves, every step challenged her, stripped away illusions, and brought her closer to herself. Alone Isn't a Failure is a novel about more than crossing borders — it's about crossing the invisible boundaries within ourselves: the fears of solitude, the weight of expectations, and the illusions of love.
Key themes
Passages to discuss
"It wasn't New York's chaos or China's countryside peace that changed her. It was realizing that everything she was searching for had been within her all along."
"Relationships aren't the cure. They're the mirror. And what you see in them depends on whether you've faced yourself first."
"Errante evocatively conveys Agata's enthusiasm for the places she visits through her admiring attention to detail... Errante's prose is intimate without being precious, and her debut novel marks the arrival of a distinctive new voice in literary fiction."
— Kirkus Reviews
Discussion questions
Agata travels to China, New York, and Tuscany — each place strips away a different illusion. Which place in the novel resonated with you most, and why?
The novel argues that "relationships aren't the cure — they're the mirror." Do you agree? Can you think of a relationship in your life that acted as a mirror?
Agata feels "not enough" for much of the story. Where do you think that feeling comes from — society, family, love? When have you felt it?
The title reframes solitude as a beginning rather than a failure. Has a period of being alone ever led to unexpected growth in your own life?
Ada writes that "the real journey begins within." Do you think physical travel is necessary for inner transformation, or can it happen anywhere?
The monastery scenes in Fujian offer Agata stillness. What does stillness look like in your own life — do you seek it or avoid it?
Agata finds that everything she was searching for had been within her all along. Was this revelation earned, or did it feel too easy? How does a person arrive at that truth?
The book explores female empowerment without making it a slogan. Which moment in the novel felt most quietly powerful to you?
Rituals for your meeting
Before your meeting, each member writes one sentence about a place that changed them — share these to open the discussion.
Bring a tea or drink that reminds you of a journey — real or imagined. Ada weaves drink rituals through the novel.
Choose one journaling prompt from the novel to write on quietly before discussing: "What am I still searching for outside myself?"
Where to find the book
available in all online bookstores and orderable in physical bookstores via IngramSpark.
Reading this with your book club? Ada would love to hear from you.
info@adagerrante.com