I am trying to wrap up my 2014 reviews by posting some mini-reviews for things I neglected to review in full. This is the Liane Moriarty Binge Read Edition.
I had been hearing a lot about Liane Moriarty’s books since The Husband’s Secret started getting billed as a Gone Girl readalike last year. So when her 2014 release started getting tons of buzz, too, I decided to give her book a try. I have seriously enjoyed every last one of them and Moriarty has become an author for me to watch.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
This book starts out with someone dying at an elementary school fundraiser. Then it flashbacks and follows three slightly different suburban kindergarten moms in the lead-up to this tragic event. Madeline is the experienced mom; the kindergartener is her youngest child. She’s on marriage number two and her teenage daughter from her first marriage is giving her some trouble. Celeste is beautiful, rich, and married to a charming man and is a full-time mom to her twin boys. Jane is single mom to her kindergarten son and does freelance work to support her family. Despite their different backgrounds, the moms become friends. But alongside these domestic concerns and bonds of friendship are some darker, more serious concerns all of which culminate in the death at the fundraiser. Part mystery, part chick lit.
What I liked: the pacing, the characters, the easy balance between serious and funny, and all the little mysteries to solve along the way
What I felt meh about: the ending felt a bit drawn-out and anticlimactic to me
All in all: I loved this book so much that I bought my mom a copy. And picked up two more Liane Moriarty books. One of the best books I’ve read this year.
The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty
Ellen is a hypnotherapist who has just begun a relationship with Patrick. Patrick is a widower with a son. He also comes with a stalker, his ex-girlfriend, Saskia. Ellen is initially fascinated by Saskia and intensely curious about what would drive a woman to the insane lengths Saskia goes to in stalking Patrick. We also get Saskia’s point of view, here, watching as her obsession takes over her life and as she repeatedly inserts herself into Patrick and Ellen’s lives and relationship. This is the story of love beginning and love ending and of a relationship crowded with people from the past.
What I liked: hearing both Saskia and Ellen’s points of views, seeing the character development for both Saskia and Ellen, the thoughts about love ending and beginning, the very crowded relationship that was Ellen and Patrick’s (both his deceased wife and his stalker are in the background all the time)
What I was meh on: it’s a somewhat slow and quiet story
All in all: It was definitely intriguing and this one has stuck with me more than I expected it to. Something about Ellen and Saskia just really got under my skin.
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Cecilia finds a sealed letter from her husband, intended for her to read only after he dies. She cannot overcome her curiosity and reads the letter only to discover her husband’s horrible secret which has the potential to destroy their lives and ripples through the community, as well.
What I liked: the multiple points of view (also includes the views of two other women in the community), her child characters are very real and funny, Moriarty’s understanding of marriage and motherhood, the examination of grief and guilt and moral ambiguities and the millions of what ifs and unanswered questions in life
What I was meh on: the title and blurb are a bit misleading as the husband’s secret was a very small portion of the plot, it was not as hard-hitting as Big Little Lies, and while I liked it, it was probably my least favorite of the three Moriarty books I’ve read
All in all: I’m definitely going to work my way through all of Moriarty’s books. This was a good, but didn’t resonate with me like The Hypnotist’s Love Story or wow me like Big Little Lies. Recommended, but I think I’d push Big Little Lies first.
Don't Take My Books Away 