Book Club Guide for Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Written by Michelle Watson

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Book Club Guide | Reading Guides

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August 15, 2024

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For the longest time, I didn’t want to read Rebecca because I thought it would be too scary. (I’m a serious wuss.)

But this book isn’t filled with paranormal horror. It’s suspenseful and tense in the most literary way. Even if you’re not a fan of modern thrillers or ghost stories, I think you’ll love this one.

It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, packed with intrigue, romance, and more twists than a pretzel factory. It’s the perfect mix of mystery, drama, and gothic flair, guaranteed to spark lively discussions and maybe a few dramatic gasps.

That’s what makes it a juicy book club pick.

This article has what you need to get started, but if you grab the full book club guide for Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, you’ll get a beautiful PDF that comes with:

Reading schedule to finish before your next book club meeting
Additional discussion questions
Rebecca-themed game to add laughter to your book club meeting
Character list
Themes, motifs, and details to notice
A visual mood board
Recipe pairing
Craft idea
Film and TV adaptations
Casting Call printable activity

Get the Guide

Book Details for Rebecca

Title: Rebecca
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Genre: Gothic fiction, mystery, romance
Publication Date: 1938
Original Publisher: Victor Gollancz Ltd.
Page Count: 448
Recommended Audio Versions:
- Narrated by Anna Massey (Orion Publishing Group)
- Narrated by Emilia Fox (Hachette Audio)

Intro to Rebecca

Buckle up, folks! Rebecca whisks you away to the eerie and enchanting Manderley, where our shy, unnamed heroine marries the dashing widower Maxim de Winter. But wait—there’s a twist! She’s haunted (figuratively, not literally) by the ghost of his first wife, Rebecca, who was seemingly perfect and loved by all. Our new Mrs. de Winter has to unravel the mysteries of Rebecca’s life and death to find her own place in the world. Cue the drama!

About the Author

Meet Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989), the queen of atmospheric and suspenseful tales. Born in 1907, this British literary powerhouse gave us gems like Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, and the story “The Birds,” which Hitchcock famously turned into a film. Du Maurier had a knack for creating stories that stick with you long after the last page.

Discussion Questions for Rebecca

Why do you think the new Mrs. de Winter remains nameless? (It’s not just to drive us crazy!) Maxim says she has a “lovely and unusual name,” and she herself is surprised that Maxim spelled it correctly. What names do you think fit our heroine?
Do you think that the narrator was right to accept Maxim’s proposal? What were her motivations for doing so, and how do you feel about them?
It’s no secret that the new Mrs. de Winter starts out insecure. What external and internal factors feed her insecurities? Why does she compare herself to Jasper, the dog?
Did your opinion of Maxim change over the course of the novel? In what ways does this story overlap with the fairy tale of Bluebeard?
What’s the deal with Mrs. Danvers? Is she a purely skeletal monster, or is there anything sympathetic about her?

There are lots more questions in the PDF book club guide.

Read-Alikes for Rebecca

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

More gothic goodness and another romance with major Bluebeard vibes.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Mysterious and gripping. Enter a majestic English manor and meet the enigmatic authoress who lives inside.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Victorian suspense to the core. Amateur sleuths Walter Hartright, tutor, and Marian Halcombe, pupil, must unravel a sinister plot to save the family.

Rebecca’s Tale by Sally Beauman

Dive into this 2001 sequel to Rebecca, which was officially approved by the Du Maurier estate. Why was Rebecca so evil? This book attempts to write her twisted history.