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THE HUSBAND'S SECRET
by Liane Moriarty ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 30, 2013
Moriarty may be an edgier, more provocative and bolder successor to Maeve Binchy. There is real darkness here, but it is...
There are more than enough secrets to go around in the intertwining lives of three women connected to a Catholic elementary school in Sidney.
Australian Moriarty ( The Hypnotist’s Love Story , 2012, etc.) experiments with the intersection of comedy and tragedy in her slyly ambitious consideration of secrecy, temptation, guilt and human beings’ general imperfection. Superorganized, always-on-the-go Cecilia is a devoted mother who constantly volunteers at her daughters’ school while running a thriving Tupperware business. Not quite as perkily perfect as she seems, 40-year-old Cecilia yearns for some drama in her life. Then, she finds a sealed envelope from her husband that is to be opened only in the event of his death. John-Paul is very much alive, but the temptation to read the contents is understandably strong. Once she does, she can’t erase the secrets revealed. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, 30-something Tess’ husband breaks the news that he’s fallen in love with Tess’ first cousin/best friend/business partner. Furious, Tess moves to her mother’s house in Sydney. Enrolling her 6-year-old son at St. Angela's, Tess runs into former lover Connor, and sparks re-ignite. Formerly an accountant, Connor is now the school’s hunky gym coach and is crushed on by students, teachers and parents like Cecilia. One holdout from the general adoration is widowed school secretary Rachel. Connor was the last person to see her 17-year-old daughter Janie before Janie was strangled in 1984. Still grief-stricken and haunted by a belief that she could have prevented Janie’s death if she hadn’t been seven minutes late to pick her up, Rachel is increasingly convinced Connor is the murderer. As the women confront the past and make hard decisions about their futures (the novel’s men are pale and passive), their fates collide in unexpected ways.
Pub Date: July 30, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-399-15934-3
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Amy Einhorn/Putnam
Review Posted Online: April 9, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2013
GENERAL FICTION
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A LITTLE LIFE
by Hanya Yanagihara ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2015
The phrase “tour de force” could have been invented for this audacious novel.
Four men who meet as college roommates move to New York and spend the next three decades gaining renown in their professions—as an architect, painter, actor and lawyer—and struggling with demons in their intertwined personal lives.
Yanagihara ( The People in the Trees , 2013) takes the still-bold leap of writing about characters who don’t share her background; in addition to being male, JB is African-American, Malcolm has a black father and white mother, Willem is white, and “Jude’s race was undetermined”—deserted at birth, he was raised in a monastery and had an unspeakably traumatic childhood that’s revealed slowly over the course of the book. Two of them are gay, one straight and one bisexual. There isn’t a single significant female character, and for a long novel, there isn’t much plot. There aren’t even many markers of what’s happening in the outside world; Jude moves to a loft in SoHo as a young man, but we don’t see the neighborhood change from gritty artists’ enclave to glitzy tourist destination. What we get instead is an intensely interior look at the friends’ psyches and relationships, and it’s utterly enthralling. The four men think about work and creativity and success and failure; they cook for each other, compete with each other and jostle for each other’s affection. JB bases his entire artistic career on painting portraits of his friends, while Malcolm takes care of them by designing their apartments and houses. When Jude, as an adult, is adopted by his favorite Harvard law professor, his friends join him for Thanksgiving in Cambridge every year. And when Willem becomes a movie star, they all bask in his glow. Eventually, the tone darkens and the story narrows to focus on Jude as the pain of his past cuts deep into his carefully constructed life.
Pub Date: March 10, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-385-53925-8
Page Count: 720
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2015
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by Hanya Yanagihara
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THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
by J.D. Salinger ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 15, 1951
A strict report, worthy of sympathy.
A violent surfacing of adolescence (which has little in common with Tarkington's earlier, broadly comic, Seventeen ) has a compulsive impact.
"Nobody big except me" is the dream world of Holden Caulfield and his first person story is down to the basic, drab English of the pre-collegiate. For Holden is now being bounced from fancy prep, and, after a vicious evening with hall- and roommates, heads for New York to try to keep his latest failure from his parents. He tries to have a wild evening (all he does is pay the check), is terrorized by the hotel elevator man and his on-call whore, has a date with a girl he likes—and hates, sees his 10 year old sister, Phoebe. He also visits a sympathetic English teacher after trying on a drunken session, and when he keeps his date with Phoebe, who turns up with her suitcase to join him on his flight, he heads home to a hospital siege. This is tender and true, and impossible, in its picture of the old hells of young boys, the lonesomeness and tentative attempts to be mature and secure, the awful block between youth and being grown-up, the fright and sickness that humans and their behavior cause the challenging, the dramatization of the big bang. It is a sorry little worm's view of the off-beat of adult pressure, of contemporary strictures and conformity, of sentiment….
Pub Date: June 15, 1951
ISBN: 0316769177
Page Count: -
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1951
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by J.D. Salinger
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The Husband’s Secret, Liane Moriarty
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has been blessed with a beautiful family, a successful career, and the respect of her community. While looking for something else in her attic one day, she accidently comes across a mysterious, sealed envelope, on which her husband scribed: For my wife, Cecilia Fitzpatrick – To be opened only in the event of my death. Curious, she holds on to the letter but wrestles with whether or not to open it. (Wow, I personally would have ripped that thing open in no time! But then again, patience and self-control have never been my strong suits.) Anyway, Cecilia gets even more concerned after confronting her husband, John-Paul, who becomes terrified and begs her not to open it. Over time, one anxious what-if thought leads to another, until Cecilia just can’t stand it anymore and finally opens the letter. All at once, a dark secret is unleashed, floodgates open, their perfect world crumbles, and Cecilia is faced with a horrible dilemma.
Tess, who suffers from social anxiety, is married to Will and they have a son. Felicity is Tess’s cousin and her life-long best friend. The three of them run a business together – TWA Advertising. All is generally well except for one problem – Felicity and Will are having an intense, emotional affair and have fallen in love. Tess is left to make life-changing decisions, all while trying to cope with the betrayal of the two people she loved and trusted most.
Rachel is mother to Rob and grandmother to young Jacob. She adores little Jacob and loves nothing more than spending time with him. When Rob and his wife, Lauren, decide to relocate, Rachel is devastated. She never recovered from the tragic loss of her daughter years ago, and it feels like she is now, in a sense, losing her grandson too. She struggles to cope with her life, which is about to become even more empty.
The Husband’s Secret is set in Australia and follows the lives of these three central, but different, characters. The transitions between them are seamless and flow beautifully. The book is well paced, engaging, and well written. I applaud Moriarty’s ability to write so poignantly about dark issues while providing breaks of humor that are interwoven tactfully and at appropriate times. Striking a balance between sadness and lightness in the same novel is no easy task, but Moriarty accomplishes this in a manner that is neither offensive nor threatening to the developing story lines and themes. The dark sides of this novel are gripping and thought-provoking, but balanced with the comic relief of daily antics in life with young children. I enjoyed the relatable family themes throughout the book. The Husband’s Secret is packed with mystery, the complexities of relationships, the disastrous, life-altering ramifications of long hidden secrets, and several jaw dropping surprises in the epilogue. If you loved reading Big Little Lies and Truly , Madly, Guilty, then The Husband’s Secret will not disappoint. I look forward to reading more from this gifted author.
“The trouble with the truth is that it can change everything…” Liane Moriarty
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The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty Review
When Cecilia Fitzpatrick finds a letter from her husband, hidden in their attic and designated as only to be read if he dies, Cecilia is more than a little bit intrigued. What could her loving husband, John-Paul, want to tell her that he can’t when he is alive? When she does decide to disregard John-Paul’s request and open his letter, she unburies a secret that involves two other women in her community.
Rachel Crowley has been living with every parent’s worst nightmare for years. Her daughter, Janie, was brutally murdered when she was in high school and her murder remains unsolved although Rachel is convinced that the school’s PE teacher, Connor Whitby, is responsible and she’s determined to make sure he is brought to justice.
Tess O’Leary isn’t even supposed to be in the picture but when her husband and cousin reveal they are having an affair, Tess packs up her son, Liam, and goes home to her mother to lick her wounds and decide what she’ll do next. But when she runs into her old boyfriend, Connor, her situation becomes even more complicated.
All three women are on a collision course that will lead to exposed secrets and dire consequences for everyone involved.
I picked up a copy of this book on a whim when I found it at a thrift store and for what I paid for it, I’m overall happy with it. If I had paid full price, perhaps not as much. The husband’s secret is revealed fairly early on, perhaps around 25% into the book. Therefore, this story isn’t so much a mystery or thriller but rather a story that builds on tension. We spend most of the book waiting to see what Cecilia will do with her husband’s shocking revelation and how Rachel and Tess become intertwined with it. This tension is something Ms. Moriarty does really well and it did have me turning page after page.
When the tension is finally broken we get a good but somewhat flat ending. The consequence for John-Paul’s secret is terrible but it didn’t have me shocked. It was just fine (and I hate using that word if you have read the book and knows what happen but hopefully you know what I’m getting at). I did like the epilogue, revealing how secrets often have us go down paths in our lives we weren’t supposed to.
The character development is good but while on the topic of characters I am forced to ask, what is the point of Tess’ character? Cecilia and Rachel become linked and it makes sense why, but I was left wondering if the story would have had the same outcome if Tess hadn’t been involved and while a good argument could be made for why Tess was needed I just don’t see the real value Tess adds to the story. Yes she becomes involved with the person Rachel believes killed her daughter but she has no real impact on the outcome of that plot line.
This book is overall solid and a good beach read but I don’t think it will be one I return to in the future. The secrets have already been revealed.
3 out of 5 stars
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Book review: the husband’s secret by liane moriarty.
It’s been a while since my last book review so I am happy to be back with my review of The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. BE AWARE: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAINS SPOILERS.
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Book Review: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Book Review: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Then there’s Tess O’Leary, whose Melbourne-based life is about to implode after her husband and her first cousin/best friend/business partner confide to her — in oh-so-supportive tones — that they’ve fallen in love, but they’re sure the three of them can make it all work out for the best.
And poor, sad Rachel Crowley, the school secretary, harbors secret hatreds and sorrows stemming back 28 years — back to the day that her teen-age daughter Janie was murdered by an unknown assailant in a crime that remains unsolved.
These three women’s lives intersect and collide with unexpected and life-changing results in The Husband’s Secret — which I stopped thinking of as chick-lit and realized was just a terrifically well-written contemporary novel by the time I’d read 20 pages or so.
The ball really starts rolling when Cecilia stumbles across a letter from her husband, John-Paul, to be read after his death. The issue, though, is that John-Paul is still very much alive. Cecilia might have just left it alone, tucked away in the file with their wills, until she sees his extreme reaction to her mentioning that she found the letter. Knowing that he’s hiding something potentially explosive (is he gay? is he a child predator? does he have a mistress or second wife somewhere?), Cecilia rushes to open the letter… and what she reads is beyond anything she might have expected, a secret so shocking that their lives will never be the same. And then, of course, Cecilia must not only deal with new truths about the man she thought she knew, but must also decide what to do with this information — which impacts her family’s future, her daughters’ well-being, and the lives of others as well.
The secrets in this novel weigh heavily on the secret-keepers. Knowledge can be a burden, and the characters are in constant struggles to decide what’s right and what’s wrong. But what if what’s right for yourself might be completely wrong for your children? What if you share what you know, and even more lives are ruined? What good is the truth, if it doesn’t ease suffering but only leads to new and different suffering?
There are no easy answers. It seems simple, at first, to judge Cecilia and make assumptions about what she should do. I can’t say that I think she’s correct — but the author skillfully guides us through Cecilia’s thoughts and emotions, so we readers truly understand why her actions unfold as they do, whether we agree or disagree.
Tess’s story was a little less compelling for me, as it relates only tangentially to the other main storylines, and yet her dilemmas are real and potentially life-changing as well. Is it worse that her husband and cousin didn’t actually have an affair? They say they’re in love, but out of respect for Tess, haven’t allowed themselves to sleep together, and it’s the purity of it all that really drives Tess mad — if it had just been a sleazy little affair, perhaps it would be easier to get past. But what does it mean for Tess, all this silent longing and noble sacrifice, and can she reclaim her marriage, if not for herself, then for the sake of the family she and her husband have starting building with their son?
Throughout it all, the writing simply sparkles — and it’s the humor and wit of the writing, which shines through in a myriad of small but telling moments, that lulls you into thinking that this is a light, almost comedic domestic tale before the shocks, deep emotions, and tragic outcomes take over.
A few prime examples — one for each of the three main women: (and for more, see this week’s Thursday Quotables post, where I share a few other favorite lines from this book):
Tess thought about how Will had once told her that he hated walking behind a woman late at night, in case she heard his footsteps and thought he was an ax murderer. “I always want to call out, ‘Its all right, I’m not an ax murderer!'” he said. “I’d run for my life if someone called that out to me,” Tess had told him. “See we can’t win,” said Will.
All these years there had been a Tupperware container of bad language sitting off to the side in her head, and now she’d opened it and all those crisp, crunchy words were lovely and fresh, ready to be used.
Lauren was the perfect daughter-in-law. Rachel was the perfect mother-in-law. All that perfection hiding all that dislike.
Reading The Husband’s Secret was one of those random odd reading experiences for me, where I went in with one set of expectations, only to realize I had it completely wrong. For whatever reason, I seemed to have remembered reading something about this book comparing it to Gone Girl , and never realized that I must have confused this with another book I’d picked up at about the same time. So, I started The Husband’s Secret expecting a dark, twisted novel full of psychological warfare and endless mindgames… and then, after reading about Tupperware, school projects, and Easter bonnets, started feeling like I was reading something suspiciously like “chick lit” — only to be startled as I went along by the depth of the characters, the seriousness and sadness underlying all the brisk, shiny writing, and the ultimate tragedy of the lives forever changed, for better or worse, by secrets kept and shared.
Australian author Liane Moriarty has crafted a real and honest look into the souls of three women with three very different lives. It’s impossible to read The Husband’s Secret without coming to care deeply about the characters. Agree or disagree with their decisions and actions, you’ll still wish these women well and feel both hope and sorrow for their experiences. I ended the book very satisfied with how the story wraps up, and yet wishing I could know more about the rest of these women’s lives. That, to me, is the sign of a successful novel: A plot that satisfies and engages throughout, wraps up without cliffhangers or loose ends, and leaves you wanting to stay in the characters’ company for just a bit longer.
I definitely recommend The Husband’s Secret … and look forward to reading more by this author.
_________________________________________
The details:
Title: The Husband’s Secret Author: Liane Moriarty Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam Publication date: 2013 Length: 394 pages Genre: Adult contemporary fiction Source: Purchased
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2 thoughts on “ book review: the husband’s secret by liane moriarty ”.
A great review of a book that made my top 10 of 2013! I also read What Alice Forgot which while totally different and more firmly ‘chick-lit’ was another brilliant read by a skilful writer.
Thank you! I was just looking into What Alice Forgot — I’m glad to know you recommend it! I’m definitely interested in reading more by this author.
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Book summary and reviews of The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
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The Husband's Secret
by Liane Moriarty
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Book summary.
At the heart of The Husband's Secret is a letter that's not meant to be read: My darling Cecilia, if you're reading this, then I've died... Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret, something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive... Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all - she's an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia - or each other - but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband's secret. Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses - and, ultimately, ourselves.
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"Simultaneously a page-turner and a book one has to put down occasionally to think about and absorb, Moriarty's novel challenges the reader as well as her characters, but in the best possible way." - Publishers Weekly "Starred Review. Moriarty may be an edgier, more provocative and bolder successor to Maeve Binchy." - Kirkus "Moriarty examines the ease with which darkness can spread into relationships. Weaving stories from multiple perspectives keeps this one interesting all while leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. This great summer read is hard to put down." - Library Journal "In The Husband's Secret , Liane Moriarty has created a contemporary Pandora whose dilemma is spellbinding. Shocking, complex and thought-provoking, this is a story reading groups will devour. A knockout!" - Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author "Secrets can be sinister; they can eat you alive. But they can also set you free. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty demonstrates this power with one of the most entertaining stories I have read in ages. Perfect for book clubs - lots to debate in these pages. I just loved it." - Dorothea Benton Frank, New York Times–bestselling author of The Last Original Wife
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Liane Moriarty Author Biography
Liane was born in Sydney, Australia in the spring of 1966. It was a beautiful day, according to her mother, who has an excellent memory for weather. A few hours after Liane was born she smiled directly at her father through the nursery glass window, which is remarkable, seeing as most babies can't even focus their eyes at that age. Her first word was 'glug'. This was faithfully recorded in the baby book kept by her mother. As the eldest of six children, Liane was the only one to get a baby book so she likes to refer to it often. She can't remember the first story she ever wrote, but she does remember her first publishing deal. Her father 'commissioned' her to write a novel for him and offered an advance of $1. She had no agent, so accepted his first offer and wrote a three volume ...
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Book Review: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Joy of Joyful Antidotes is back with us today with her latest book review – The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty.
Do you know when you meet an author for the first time and you automatically know you are going to be friends? That is exactly how I felt with Liane Moriarty. Let me tell you why.
The Husband’s Secret by Liana Moriarty is based around a letter John Paul Fitzpatrick wrote to his wife Cecilia – with the intention that she read it only after he has died. Unfortunately, pillar of the community Cecilia unexpectedly finds the letter and its contents change not only hers but Rachel and Tess’ lives forever.
I was initially surprised on opening this book that it was told from the viewpoint of three people (Cecelia, Rachel and Tess) and not just one (Cecelia) as I had imagined. Being caught off-guard like that confused me at the beginning but at the same time, I was already looking forward to seeing how the three stories intertwined. It all became clear from page 65 onwards and The Husband’s Secret really began to kick off for me.
I would say the first half of the book is more about the characters rather than the secret contained within John Paul’s letter. The author keeps it interesting though and doesn’t include any unnecessary information. Actually, I don’t think the conclusion would have had as much of an impact as it did if I hadn’t got a real understanding of the characters from the offset. Additionally, the events of this book play out over the course of a week. So much happens in these seven days that the author doesn’t have time to dawdle over minor character details, which ultimately means the reader isn’t bored. Nowhere near, in fact.
This was a really great book for me but I already knew that less than one-third of the way in. Still, I wasn’t prepared for the last three pages of this book. These three pages were so interesting they completely changed my viewpoint and escalated my feeling of The Husband’s Secret from love to absolutely adore. If that claim doesn’t rope you in to buying a copy, I don’t know what will!
This is a book filled not only with secrets but with lessons in karma and an internal struggle with how easily you would forgive the mistakes made by the characters in this book. I really cannot wait to pick up another book from Liane Moriarty. If you have any suggestions on what I should choose next, leave a comment below.
This post first appeared on Joyful Antidotes . It has been re-published here with permission.
Joy is an Irish girl living in Berlin, a full-time content marketer and an almost full-time blogger. She started her blog Joyful Antidotes in 2011 after completing an internship on the news team of an NGO. It was at that point that she decided she would dedicate most of her energy to a career in writing, whether it be through or blog or as an employee at a company. Over the years her blog has grown from a digital diary of her life in Berlin to a forum for book reviews.
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Book review: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Review by natasha miller.
I’ve been a member of a book club since June 2018. It is hosted by one of my good friends, Ali. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty was our latest read, chosen by Amy. Her brother had bought it for her as a Christmas present, knowing she likes stories with a twist and realistic characters.
The back cover blurb:
Mother of three and wife of John-Paul, Cecilia discovers an old envelope in the attic. Written in her husband’s hand, it says: to be opened only in the event of my death. Curious, she opens it – and time stops. John-Paul’s letter confesses to a terrible mistake which, if revealed, would wreck their family as well as the lives of others. Cecilia wants to do the right thing, but right for who? If she protects her family by staying silent, the truth will worm through her heart. But if she reveals her husband’s secret, she will hurt those she loves most...
The story focuses on three main characters; Cecilia, Tess and Rachel. We learn about their families and follow them through their individual and interlinking stories.
When I started reading the book, I’ll be honest, I thought I was going to hate it! I was considering stopping. It was heavy – there was an affair (which I hate, whether it’s in a book or film) and the death of a young person. So, there are definitely some triggers for people to be aware of. As such, I thought the book might bring my mood down.
I also thought the change in focus, from one character to another, every time you reached a new chapter would become very confusing (I’ve found that before with some books). So, I was going to ask the other members of the book club if they’d gotten any further than me and had found the story improved, or whether I should stop reading!
I didn’t ask or stop reading though. Instead, I persisted just a little longer and it definitely paid off. In fact, my thoughts on the book did a 180 degree turn and I became hooked and would now say I highly recommend it! The story didn’t bring me down or make me cry (although, I think it possibly could for some anxious mothers).
It also proved to be a real page turner. Personally, I often find it hard to focus on reading a book. I enjoy reading but seem to have a bad habit of scrolling through Facebook on my phone (or doing just about anything on my phone), instead of what I want to be doing! I know I’m not the only one. – Mindless scrolling and time-wasting. Even when I need to read a book for the book club, I find it hard until the looming deadline means it has to happen. However, quite amazingly, this was not an issue while I was reading The Husband’s Secret .
I wanted to keep reading and find out what was going to happen. Liane Moriarty has truly mastered this technique and the hooks were there from the outset of the story. That’s probably why I didn’t get as far as asking my friends if I should stop reading the book. There are teasers throughout the story, with Moriarty keeping you guessing.
The story has a lot of characters, what with the main characters’ families and friends, which – as I said – can get confusing, but it didn’t. It is so well-written that you do not lose track or get muddled. It, instead, adds to the interest and pull of the book as you’re invested in all the different characters and what is happening to them. They range from children through to grandparents, so there is going to be a character around your age who you can relate to. It’s not just that though. I found I could relate to all of the characters, regardless of their age or gender. Moriarty has a good grip on the inner workings and thoughts of people.
For me, there were no tears shed or laughs during this book, but it ticked the boxes of being a great read. The closing chapter added a thought-provoking aspect to the story as well; a nice and different touch.
I’d say the story is great for female, adult readers who like something a bit gripping, where there’s a little mystery and suspense. The book genres noted online are: Psychological fiction, psychological thriller, women’s literary fiction, domestic fiction, romance.
I’ve given the book a winning 5/5 rating for being such a page-turner. It kept me engrossed and off my phone; a big achievement!
Some other thoughts from the book club
Amy said she really enjoyed the book and that it had some amazing twists.
Monica commented that she, too, really enjoyed the twists and turns, especially the last chapter.
Jen said the author was ‘clever knitting together the different threads.’ She said it had well-paced plot development and good characterisation.
Mandy commented that she ‘found the short bursts going from one person and time period to another one, a bit difficult to follow at first,’ but that she ‘loved the honesty and subtle humour in the writing,’ finding that really engaging. She is now keen to read more of Liane Moriarty’s books.
The book club’s overall rating was an impressive 4.6/5.
Play the Kahoot!
If/when you have read the book, why not checkout my fun Kahoot! quiz about The Husband’s Secret here . You can play it with your friends/family, or, like us – as part of a book club.
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Books, crafts & story time, book review: the husband’s secret by liane moriarty, the husband’s secret by liane moriarty.
Description: Cecilia seems to have a wonderful life, a devoted husband (John-Paul) and great children, until one day she comes across a letter from her husband that is to be open upon his death. Her husband’s letter describes his deepest darkest secret, a secret that affects herself, her husband and the community she lives in.
Tess works alongside her cousin (Felicity) and husband (Will) at a company they founded together. Tess is horrified to find out that while they have not slept together, Felicity and Will are in love. Tess now must decide how to proceed with this huge betrayal.
Rachel, a loving grandmother, cannot seem to live in the present. Rachel is unable to move past the tragedy of her daughter’s murder. Janie was murdered as a teenager and Rachel constantly thinks about what her life would have been like now and of the murderer who got away.
This is a story about secrets, betrayal and guilt.
Review: My friends and I all decided to read this book and get together after to discuss it so this review reflects all of our opinions. We all agreed that it had a slow start and took us about 50 pages before we got into it, once we got about half way we were all trying to make time to read. Initially it is difficult to keep straight who is who since the book is written from different point of views but once you become invested in each character it is easy to remember. The author beautifully weaved the narratives and lives of each character, their connections may not be obvious right from the start but she nicely and intricately connects each person. It was a very interesting and captivating story that led to a great discussion about guilt, secrets and betrayal (we all felt firmly about girl code). Also, the epilogue rocked (how often do you hear that?!). We would definitely recommend this story to others.
Book Discussion:
Would we tell our significant others a huge secret like John-Paul’s? Would we feel bad about sleeping with the hunky PE teacher? (consensus: hell no) Is an emotional affair worse than a physical affair? How does guilt affect each character differently? Can you ever fully know a person? (another resounding no) What in the world was up with the Berlin wall references? (answer: too much symbolism)
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Book Review: The Husband’s Secret
October 22, 2016
- Title: The Husband’s Secret
- Author: the lovely Liane Moriarty
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Structure: Interlocking stories
- First Line: “It was all because of the Berlin Wall.”
Okay, I’m going to narrow it down to 5. They’re not necessarily the top 5, but just 5 because I can ramble forever about Moriarty’s books. So, here’s the good (great!) in no particular order.
- The conversation is too realistic. I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel with such realistic and eloquently described conversation pieces. It really moves the book along.
- The plot twists were excellent and unexpected. I won’t ruin it for anyone, but some were subtle and some were in your face. It makes for a good balance.
- The characters are ridiculously relatable. I am not middle-aged nor a mother (but if you are, you’ll love it), but I still found pieces of myself in each character. It was comforting and humorous.
- It made you think. There were several lines (and paragraphs) that I should write down somewhere for later, to remind myself.
- Liane Moriarty knows humor. I definitely laughed out loud multiple times. The humor is downright cynical at times, which is just how I like it.
The only negative that crossed my mind is that it is a long read (i.e. 394 pages). Though I didn’t feel anything was repetitive, I did think that some conversation pieces could have been cut for the sake of brevity. To each their own. I didn’t mind it too much because it showed what the characters are made of.
The Sweet Spots
In this section, I cover some of my deeper, personal thoughts. Books are meant to make you think. I always think the best books are the ones that help you discover pieces of yourself.
- Did this book remind you of anything that has happened to you?: I can’t think of any particular, stand-out memories that I find really connects to the stories. Rather, I felt a rather strong connection to Tess (the introverted character with social anxiety). I also felt drawn to the questions the characters repeatedly asked themselves as they thought through tricky situations.
- Did this book give you any new ideas of yourself?: It made me think about what I would do, which made me realize something: people go through terrible, unbearable things every day. It’s easy to look from the outside and judge them based on their reactions, however rational or irrational. But until we actually experience something similar, we have no idea. Pity doesn’t suffice. People need compassion. Forgiveness doesn’t come easy.
- What lesson did you learn?: To continue from the previous point of forgiveness, I think I learned that the easy part is putting on the “show” for people. It’s easy to say, “Look at me! Everything is perfect on the outside! Therefore, no need to worry”. The book really drove home the fact that we can bear some truly awful things while still struggling with our inner monologue. It made me ask the question, “Do we forgive the people who’ve wronged us for the sake of living our lives?”
I think this book is awesome. The language is not so exquisite that you need a PhD to keep up. The story moves quickly (yes, you will be up till 3 am, but we sacrifice for great things). If you like this one, I suggest Big, Little Lies as well.
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Liane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, The Husband's Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty; the New York Times bestsellers Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist's Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband ...
It is a sorry little worm's view of the off-beat of adult pressure, of contemporary strictures and conformity, of sentiment…. A strict report, worthy of sympathy. Share your opinion of this book. There are more than enough secrets to go around in the intertwining lives of three women connected to a Catholic elementary school in Sidney.
The Husband's Secret is set in Australia and follows the lives of these three central, but different, characters. The transitions between them are seamless and flow beautifully. The book is well paced, engaging, and well written. I applaud Moriarty's ability to write so poignantly about dark issues while providing breaks of humor that are ...
The husband's secret is revealed fairly early on, perhaps around 25% into the book. Therefore, this story isn't so much a mystery or thriller but rather a story that builds on tension. We spend most of the book waiting to see what Cecilia will do with her husband's shocking revelation and how Rachel and Tess become intertwined with it.
Review: I picked up The Husband's Secret after reading Moriarty's other book What Alice Forgot. At first I was surprised at how different the ending were What Alice Forgot has a more upbeat/optimistic ending while at the end of The Husband's Secret there seemed to be a lot of unresolved issues. But all in all I think that the ending was ...
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Author interviews, book reviews and lively book commentary are found here. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.
Expert Book Reviews presents a comprehensive review, analysis and plot summary of Liane Moriarty's novel The Husband's Secret. Everyone has secrets, and The Husband's Secret explores three typical Australian couples who experience revelations but never learn other key secrets.
The Husband's Secret. by Liane Moriarty. Publication Date: July 30, 2013. Genres: Fiction. Hardcover: 416 pages. Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam. ISBN-10: 0399159347. ISBN-13: 9780399159343. Cecilia Fitzpatrick unearths a Pandora's box when she discovers a letter from her husband, John-Paul, to be opened only after his death.
The Husband's Secret is one tricky book. It lulls you into thinking that it's some sort of chick-lit look at married life and motherhood, with its opening chapter introducing a powerhouse of a woman, Cecilia Fitzpatrick, who is perfect at just about everything: She's president of the PTA of her kids' Sydney private school, a Tupperware saleswoman par excellence (her not-always-the ...
The Husband's Secret is a novel by Liane Moriarty that was first published on 30 July 2013. The novel tells the story of three women, whose lives unexpectedly interconnect after one of them discovers a devastating secret.
The Husband's Secret. by Liane Moriarty. Publication Date: July 30, 2013. Genres: Fiction. Hardcover: 416 pages. Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam. ISBN-10: 0399159347. ISBN-13: 9780399159343. Cecilia Fitzpatrick unearths a Pandora's box when she discovers a letter from her husband, John-Paul, to be opened only after his death.
Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well.
Really, really big secrets from two husbands. Written by Liane Moriarty, this is the story of three women living in Sydney, Australia, who barely know each other when the book begins but whose stories intertwine in surprising and heartbreaking ways: • Cecilia Fitzpatrick is the happily married mother of three girls, Isabel, Esther, and Polly.
Liane Moriarty is the Australian author of eight internationally best-selling novels: Three Wishes, The Last Anniversary, What Alice Forgot, The Hypnotist's Love Story, Nine Perfect Strangers and the number one New York Times bestsellers: The Husband's Secret, Big Little Lies and Truly Madly Guilty. Her books have been translated into over ...
Joy of Joyful Antidotes is back with us today with her latest book review - The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. Do you know when you meet an author for the first time and you automatically know you are going to be…
The Husband's Secret. Paperback - March 3, 2015. by Liane Moriarty (Author) 4.2 140,775 ratings. Goodreads Choice Award nominee. See all formats and editions. SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE—THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF BIG LITTLE LIES AND HERE ONE MOMENT. At the heart of The Husband's Secret is a letter that's ...
Book World: 'The Husband's Secret' by Liane Moriarty. Sometimes the idea of reading another unabashed "women's" novel, where the men have eyes like "beaten copper" and the ladies ...
In The Husband's Secret, Liane Moriarty has created a contemporary Pandora whose dilemma is spellbinding. Shocking, complex and thought-provoking, this is a story reading groups will devour. A knockout!" Emily Giffin Download an excerpt from The Husband's Secret Are you in a Book Club? Get the Reader Guide
I've been a member of a book club since June 2018. It is hosted by one of my good friends, Ali. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty was our latest read, chosen by Amy. Her brother had bought it for her as a Christmas present, knowing she likes stories with a twist and realistic characters.
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty Description: Cecilia seems to have a wonderful life, a devoted husband (John-Paul) and great children, until one day she comes across a letter from her husband that is to be open upon his death. Her husband's letter describes his deepest darkest secret, a secret that affects herself, her husband and the community she lives in.
The Basics Title: The Husband's Secret Author: the lovely Liane Moriarty Genre: Contemporary Fiction Structure: Interlocking stories First Line: "It was all because of the Berlin Wall." The Good Okay, I'm going to narrow it down to 5. They're not necessarily the top 5, but just 5 because I can ramble forever about Moriarty's books. So, here's the...Read the Post
Best Book Club Guide. Our summary page for The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty includes Book Club Discussion Questions, Author Website, Summary, Talking Points, Review, Reader Comments and Reading Guide .
The Husband's Secret: Book Review by Dinh. Summary: The story pivots on three main characters: Celia, Tess and Rachel. Celia has what appears to be a perfect life. She has a successful Tupperware business, a great husband and three wonderful kids. When she finds a letter in the attic from her husband John-Paul to
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie: A Satirical Novella at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.
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