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The Bodyguard: A Novel
by Katherine Center

Published: 2022-07-19T00:0
Hardcover : 320 pages
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Katherine Center's The Bodyguard is “My perfect 10 of a book. As funny and sweet as all the very best nineties rom-coms, but with Center’s signature heart-tugging depth. I wish I could erase it from my mind just to read it again for the first time. A shot of pure joy.”?Emily Henry, ...
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Introduction

Katherine Center's The Bodyguard is “My perfect 10 of a book. As funny and sweet as all the very best nineties rom-coms, but with Center’s signature heart-tugging depth. I wish I could erase it from my mind just to read it again for the first time. A shot of pure joy.”?Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers

She’s got his back.
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

He’s got her heart.
Jack Stapleton’s a household name?captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

They’ve got a secret.
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he goes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah?against her will and her better judgment?finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, says no one will believe it.

What could possibly go wrong?
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.

“Great rollicking fun! Prepare to laugh and swoon and grin your pants off.”?Helen Hoang, New York Times bestselling author of The Heart Principle

"Absolutely, unequivocally delightful!"?Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

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Discussion Questions

Jack and Hannah both experienced the loss of someone important to them before meeting each other. How do you think this helped them form a unique bond?

How did Hannah’s prior knowledge of Jack as a celebrity and as a character in movies impact her expectations of him? Were her expectations accurate or inaccurate?

When, do you think, was the pivotal moment that Jack fell in love with Hannah? When was that moment for Hannah?

Do you think the portrayal of Jack as a movie star is an accurate representation of fame? Discuss.

What is the significance of the scene in which Jack and all of the other Thanksgiving guests raise their hands to choose Hannah over Kennedy Monroe? What did that say about Jack’s character?

Discuss the theme of forgiveness in Jack’s character arc and its importance. How does this impact his relationship with his family? How does it impact his relationship with Hannah?

Do you think Hannah and Jack would have fallen in love if they had met in a different context? How did Hannah being Jack’s bodyguard hinder or help their relationship?

What is the significance of Jack holding on to his brother Drew’s secret for so long? Why do you think he finally told the truth? How did revealing the truth impact him?

While the book is a love story between Jack and Hannah, the theme of self-love is explored through Hannah’s character. How did Hannah’s character grow during the course of the book? Discuss.

The theme of familial love is explored in the stark difference between Jack’s family and Hannah’s upbringing. On page Hannah tells Jack’s mother, Connie, “I guess you remind me of the mom I always wished I had.” What did Hannah learn about familial love from the Stapleton family? What did Jack gain from learning about Hannah’s childhood?

On page 259, Hannah says, “Every chance you take is a choice. A choice to decide who you are.” Does this statement resonate with particular times in your life? Which of your choices are you most proud of?

Katherine Center has been called “the reigning queen of comfort reads,” and she talks a lot about how stories have a unique ability to comfort and nourish us. Was reading The Bodyguard nourishing for you? What do you look for in a “comfort read”?

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