Travel Book Club: My Year Abroad Discussion (May 2025)
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
It’s time for the next discussion in our 2025 Travel Book Club! In May we read My Year Abroad and I’ve compiled some questions below to get the discussion started! Share your thoughts, then check out what we’re reading next month!
Caution: Spoilers Ahead!
So My Year Abroad is a wild, sometimes bizarre ride that follows this young, aimless college kid named Tiller. He’s a bit of a blank slate — not super ambitious, just kind of floating through life in this sleepy American suburb. That is, until he meets Pong, this super charismatic and mysterious Chinese-American entrepreneur. Pong sort of sweeps Tiller off his feet and pulls him into this crazy international business venture that takes him across Asia.
Suddenly, Tiller’s in the deep end — jetting around to exotic locations, rubbing elbows with eccentric characters, drinking weird teas, and getting tangled up in shady deals. It’s like Eat Pray Love meets Breaking Bad, with a touch of The Hangover. But underneath all the globe-trotting chaos, it’s really about Tiller trying to find out who he is. He’s constantly getting pushed out of his comfort zone, and by the end, he’s not the same kid he was when it all started.
Interwoven with this is a second storyline that’s quieter and more grounded. It takes place after the trip, when Tiller is living under the radar with a woman named Val and her son, trying to piece himself back together. That part adds emotional depth and a sense of healing after all the madness.
The writing is sharp and often funny, with lots of observations about culture, capitalism, food, identity. It’s also very extra at times, with long, meandering sentences and scenes that feel almost surreal. I’ll admit that I struggled to really get into this one, but I stuck with it and once I did, I was happy that I had!
Discussion Questions | Share Your Thoughts on Facebook
- What did you think of Tiller as a narrator? Did you find him relatable or frustrating?
- Pong: mentor or manipulator?
- What do you make of Tiller’s transformation over the course of the novel?
- How did you interpret the relationship between Tiller and Val? Was it healthy, co-dependent, or something else?
- What role does food play in the novel, both literally and symbolically?
- How does the book portray American identity versus Asian identity, especially through Tiller’s and Pong’s experiences?
- The novel touches on issues of privilege and race. How effectively do you think it handled these themes?
- What did you think about the pacing and structure — the way it jumps between the past (Asia) and present (suburbia)?
- Did you feel like Tiller and Val were in hiding, or healing? Or both?
- Were there any characters you wished the book had spent more time on?
- How did the ending land for you? Satisfying? Ambiguous? Frustrating?
- If you were in Tiller’s shoes, would you have gone on the trip with Pong?
Vote for June’s Book
If you like it, put a pin on it!
Lori Barbely
Hi, I’m Lori, the Chief Travel Officer for Mostly Solo Travel! I created this site for solo (and would-be solo) female travelers. My goal is to inspire your trips, give you practical advice on how to plan, and to ease your fears so you can explore the world on your own.
