Synopses & Reviews
Last Night a DJ Saved My Life takes readers behind the velvet rope and inside A-list nightlife. At thirty-five, Destiny Day is at the top of her game. Having escaped her hardscrabble beginnings in the small Midwestern town she calls “East Boogie, Illinois,” she is the savviest sister walking around in a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. As New Yorks premiere party promoter, she has glitz, riches, and steers clear of any man who threatens to cramp her style. Her parties, held at the hippest clubs, are packed with hip-hop royalty; top celebs from the worlds of sports, film, and fashion; and New Yorks most successful power brokers. Destinys personal life takes a backseat to her career, but shes got two best friends and a string of men to keep her satisfied. However, when she meets Taye Crawford, an independent financial advisor, at one of her own fantastic parties, Destiny finds herself moving in a direction she never anticipated.
About the Author
lyah beth leflore is the coauthor of Cosmopolitan Girls. Having been a television producer and entertainment executive for over a decade, shes an insiders insider. Sean Combs, Biggie, Gerald Levert, Toni Braxton, and Mary J. Blige are among the numerous entertainers with whom she has developed professional and personal ties. She was an associate producer of the hit FOX television series New York Undercover, and producer of UPNs Grown Ups. She has worked at Uptown Entertainment and Alan Haymon Entertainment. Lyah lives in Los Angeles.
Reading Group Guide
1. Destiny lives by the rule “Get in, get yours, and get out.” Discuss how she applies this philosophy in both her professional and personal life.
2. Prior to meeting Taye, Destiny has a string of men and manages to separate herself emotionally from all of them except Malik. What makes her so vulnerable when it comes to him? Why do so many women fall victim to this type of passive-aggressive behavior when it comes to relationships?
3. What is the significance of Josephines comparison of Malik to the main character in the childrens book Wheres Waldo?
4. In the chapter “Love Rollercoaster,” the laundromat scene is an important eye-opening experience for Destiny. Discuss the revelation she has after spending the afternoon with Malik at the laundromat.
5. Destinys mother, Juanita, appears in her dreams and reflections throughout the book. What is the significance of her presence?
6. Destiny begins to question the meaning of love. Discuss where in the book this occurs and her ultimate journey to discover love.
7. Destiny is determined not to be like her mother, Juanita, but in many ways she is. How is she like Juanita?
8. Josephines therapy is going to the Fairway Market, while Maliks is going to the laundromat. What special places or activities provide “therapy” for you, and how?
9. Destiny has special connections with Rico, Izzy, and Josephine in terms of their life struggles. What is that connection? Discuss Destinys trust issues when it comes to friendships with people outside her small circle.
10. Spirituality plays a big part in Josephines character. Recount and discuss the chapters that reveal various revealing moments in the story for Destiny that eventually lead her to find her own spirituality.
11. When Destiny meets Taye Crawford, she quickly finds herself moving in a direction she never anticipated. Discuss the emotional challenges she is confronted with. How does he help her face her painful past and let go of fear?
12. Taye is able to break through barriers as no man has ever been able to do before with Destiny. What makes Taye so different than all the other men in Destinys life?
13. Josephine encourages Destiny to be open to something “shiny and sweet.” What does this mean to you? How do Rico and Izzy find that “shiny and sweet” gift in their lives?
14. Music plays a major role in Destinys life. She believes music can “unfurl a persons deepest desires.” Explore and discuss how music is used in the story. What is its significance in Destinys life, and how does the djs presence metaphorically save her life?
Destiny Day is, as Chaka would say, “Every Woman”-smart, sexy, savvy, and the shrewdest, most ambitious sista walking around Manhattan in a pair of Christian Louboutins. She is calling her own shots in the seductive A-list nightlife world. Destiny is also strong and resilient, having escaped hardscrabble beginnings in the small Midwestern town she calls “East Boogie,” East St. Louis, Illinois. The questions that follow are designed to spark a discussion that is poignant and compelling. I hope that your reading group finds inspiration in her story as you discover who the real Destiny Day is, after the dj spins the last jam and the partys over.