Book Clubs that Travel: The Trials of Adeline Turner

Guest post by Angela Terry

Dear Readers, 

The Trials of Adeline Turner is a novel about a thirty-three-year-old attorney who has built her life around stability—but that all changes when she runs into her high school crush. Suddenly, unadventurous, nose-to-the-grindstone Adeline finds herself moving from her predictable life in Chicago across the country to San Francisco, falling into messy romantic situations, and trying to unravel an office sabotage plot before it ruins her career. 

As a former Chicagoan who moved to San Francisco twelve years ago, I remember how much fun it was to explore my new city. A quick internet search can provide you with the usual places to visit and things to do—tour Alcatraz, check out the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf, ride the cable car—but I’m going to introduce you to Adeline’s San Francisco. So bring your walking shoes, lots of layers, and your appetite!

While San Francisco is only seven square miles, each neighborhood has its own personality, as well as its own weather. Due to microclimates, some residents might be enjoying a baseball game at AT&T park with a sunny afternoon, while those out at Ocean Beach might be bundled up in jackets in a haze of fog. A tip on planning your visit: June and July are generally cold and foggy, inspiring the Mark Twain quote: “the coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco.” Which is why many times, Adeline grabs a wrap or cardigan before heading outdoors, and I suggest you do the same. 

Adeline’s law firm is in the Financial District on Market Street, the major thoroughfare that starts at the Ferry Building located on the Embarcadero. The Ferry Building, with its restaurants and shops, is mostly dedicated to all things food and hosts an incredible Farmer’s Market. Two nearby restaurants that Addie visits are: One Market, which has views of the Embarcadero, and Boulevard, a famed San Francisco restaurant that serves seasonal California cuisine in a beautifully decorated space. (Also close by is one of my favorites—Coqueta, a tapas restaurant on the water.) Further up Market Street and tucked under the Four Seasons Hotel is the Press Club, the wine bar where Adeline makes her first friend and meets her first date in the city. They serve an impressive selection of wines and beers, and it’s close to the SFMOMA, a museum focused on modern and contemporary art. 

Adeline’s apartment is in a Victorian house in Cow Hollow, a small neighborhood nestled between Pacific Heights and the Marina, and back in the day used to be where cows grazed. Today there is great shopping, eating, and coffee places on Fillmore, Union, and Chestnut Streets, where Adeline does a lot of window and actual shopping with her best friend. On Chestnut Street is a wonderful indie bookstore, Books Inc., and one of my favorite cupcake places, SusieCakes. And if architecture is your thing, check out the Victorian Home Walk or the Pacific Heights Mansion tours. 

If you’re looking for an easy walk or bike ride, head to Adeline’s favorite running path, starting at Fort Mason and follow the path along the Bay, through Chrissy Field, and to the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll enjoy gorgeous views of the bridge, Alcatraz, the Bay, and hills of Marin. This path also takes you past the Palace of Fine Arts, built in 1915 during the World’s Fair, and is worth a wander through. 

Other neighborhoods in the book are North Beach, where you can visit City Lights Bookstore, enjoy the house cappuccino at Tosca Café, and if you’re up for the climb, visit Coit Tower, a historic landmark built in 1933 that offers 360-degree views of the city. In the Mission, Adeline visits Beratta, an Italian restaurant known for its cocktails. And in SOMA she dines at 25 Lusk, a sexy restaurant slash bar near the ballpark, and visits Philz Coffee, where you can take your coffee to go and stroll along the waterfront. 

There are also so many nearby places to visit. Like Adeline does, cross the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito and visit its charming downtown and picturesque houseboats; hike in the Marin Headlands; and, of course, do some tastings in wine country. In the book, she visits Napa county, and more specifically Yountville and the Stag’s Leap District, known for their big, bold cabernets (which also pair well with the cover of the book). 

Cheers & enjoy your visit!

Book Club Discussion Questions:

In my group, we joke that we’re part book, wine, and therapy club. So, these questions for The Trials of Adeline Turner might get a little personal…. 

1. What did you think of Adeline’s reaction to running into Brad Summers, her old high school crush? Have you ever run into an old crush or unrequited love? And if so, what happened?
2. At thirty-three, Addie is single and dating. What did you think of her various dates? Eric, Adrian, Evan? Share your worst and/or best date. 
3. Have you ever moved away from family and friends to a place where you didn’t know anyone? Did you sympathize with Addie’s bouts of homesickness? How did you go about creating a new social circle?
4. Female friendship is a big theme of the book. What did you think about Adeline’s determination and difficulties in making new girlfriends as an adult? What were your feelings on her various friendships with Bridget, Elena, and Nora? 
5. Adeline is a lawyer who has dreams of becoming a writer. Is there any dream you’ve shelved and why? Do you think Adeline will be successful in finally pursuing hers?
6. What were your thoughts on Adeline being sabotaged at work? Did you guess the saboteur? Have you ever had to deal with a similar situation, difficult workplace politics, or someone trying to steal your job?
7. What are your thoughts on why Addie’s mom left her father and moved away? Did you think it was understandable? Forgivable? And what were your feelings on Adeline’s relationship with her dad?
8. How did you view Brad by the end of the book? Do you think Adeline’s final assessment of him was correct?
9. What did you think of Adeline’s ah-ha moment—that she had been merely existing and not living? Did you agree that Adeline was holding herself back in life for fear of getting hurt? Have there been times in your life when you played it “safe” and/or excuses you’ve told yourself for doing so?
10. Did you guess who Adeline would end up with romantically? Were you happy with her choice? And if you guessed, at what point in the story did you figure it out? 
11. Did you like the epilogue? Were you surprised where Adeline ends up? Do you agree with her that while her life might not look so different from the outside, it had fundamentally changed?

ANGELA TERRY is an attorney who formerly practiced intellectual property law at large firms in Chicago and San Francisco. She is a Chicago marathon legacy finisher and races to raise money for PAWS Chicago—the Midwest’s largest no-kill shelter. She resides in San Francisco with her husband and two cats and enjoys throwing novel-themed dinner parties for her women’s fiction book club. Her debut novel, Charming Falls Apart, was a 2020 Best Book Awards Finalist, 2021 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Winner, and 2021 Independent Press Awards Winner in Chick-Lit.