HER ONE REGRET

Donna Freitas is the author of a number of award-winning, critically acclaimed books, including the novel The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano (published in twenty languages), the memoirs Consent and Wishful Thinking, and over a dozen novels for children and young adults. She has a PhD in Gender Studies and Religion, and teaches creative writing. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Sunday Times, and many other newspapers and magazines, and she has been interviewed on The Today Show, CNN, and All Things Considered. A native Rhode Islander, she splits her time between the US and Barcelona.

“This book manages to be simultaneously a page-turning crime thriller and a deep exploration of one of the ultimate mothering taboos—regret. Absolutely extraordinary.” —Emily Oster, bestselling author of Expecting Better

“A lively and fast-moving novel about women and the complexity of their interior lives. There is not enough literature about motherhood regret and Donna Freitas has done something unique and brave—opening up the topic in a courageous, unique, passionate way through this suspenseful story of Lucy, Michelle, Julia and Diana and countless other women.” —Emma Gannon, author of Olive and Table for One

“As she did in The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, Donna Freitas proves she can ‘say the unsayable’ and weave thorny, important questions about women’s lives into a compelling, entertaining, and provocative suspense novel. Her One Regretis bound to spark conversations about motherhood and marriage while keeping readers guessing about the disappearance at the heart of this subversive mystery.” —Andromeda Romano-Lax, author of The Deepest Lake

“Smart, addictive, utterly compelling and shockingly honest—a page turner with a deep, emotional core. So many brilliant observations about women’s lives—this book made me feel so seen, while it kept me guessing.” —Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable and Careering

“Her One Regretis both a gripping work of fictional suspense and a brilliant, unflinching confrontation of one of humanity’s greatest taboos: regretting the choice to become a mother. Freitas writes with exquisite precision about the emotional nuances of motherhood and the enormous strain it places on women, their sense of self, and their relationships. Readers who have ever harbored fantasies of escaping the constraints of motherhood – that is, nearly all mothers – will find themselves lovingly reflected in this wise and beautiful book.” —Molly Millwood, PhD, author of To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma

1. In ‘Her One Regret,’ we see inside the minds of four women, each of whom is also a mother: Lucy, Michelle, Julia, and Diana. How do these four women’s experiences of motherhood overlap, and how do they differ?

2. In her article, Melody Cho writes: “Do we truly believe that this woman, a regretful mother, does not exist? That she isn’t allowed to exist? What do we fear might happen if we find out sometimes women really do regret becoming mothers? (195)” What was your initial response to these questions, and has it changed after finishing the novel?

3. The friendship between Michelle and Lucy is central to the novel. Though people around her are convinced otherwise, Michelle never stops believing Lucy has been taken. How does the novel highlight the importance of female friendships, and the loyalty they inspire? Consider what happens when David tries to take the information he’s learned from Michelle to the police. How does this unwelcome intrusion demonstrate the importance of listening to women when they say they feel a certain way?

4. Lucy’s case causes retired detective Diana to reconsider past cases involving disappearing mothers, such as Joanna and Maeve. How does Diana’s revisiting of previous cases impact the narrative? How does it impact the larger conversation about the demands of motherhood, society’s perception of mothers, and postpartum depression? Consider the real-life women like Maeve who have been driven towards a tragic end for themselves and their children. What does this tell us about the importance of mental health support for mothers?

5. Besides maternal regret, are there other aspects of either womanhood and motherhood you feel society views as taboo to discuss? If a woman’s regretful feelings towards becoming a mother exist before the baby is born, like we see through Julia and Lucy, why is it hard to believe that they are still present after? What does this say about personal instinct vs. societal expectations?