Brief Summary: Cecilia finds out her husband’s secret, Rachel just wants closure, and Tess just wants things to go back to normal…..kinda.
Review
Setting
This book is told in third person limited point of view and shifts between three characters. It’s my favorite type of narrative perspective. The story takes place in Australia. Because of a past event that we get flash backs in which take place in 1984 there are things that date this book. I like that we get some cultural references.
Characters
If I could pin point one thing I love about Liane Moriarty’s books it’s that her characters, even when unlikeable, are engaging. I was invested in the three main characters; Cecilia, Rachel, and Tess. I didn’t always like them or their decisions but I could empathize with them. Even, or perhaps especially, their bad decisions made sense. Also, Liane Moriarty is an author who gets that even when you are an adult, it doesn’t mean you’re always well put together or wise. There are times you are silly and dramatic and you don’t act “your age”.
I think this is best captured not by a main character but by the principal of a school, Trudy. Trudy loves working with kids and, at times, acts like a kid.
Plot
The three stories of Cecilia, Rachel, and Tess are intertwined. Though, I think it’s fair to say that it’s mostly between Cecilia and Rachel for the main plot where Tess’ story is a type of add on. That’s not a bad thing and Tess’ story is interesting in itself. Cecilia’s story is primarily learning her husband’s secret that can ruin her family and Rachel’s story is about finding closure for the death of her daughter. Tess’ story is how she handles and navigates finding out her husband and cousin have fallen in love with each other (though, they didn’t sleep together. They think that’s important she knows entirely.)
I liked the plot and the pacing. The only thing that I had a moment of “huh” at was the ending. There are a couple of moments of “what could have happened if x, y, and z didn’t happen” that the author explores. I thought this was a bit of a strange add on.
Overall
I do recommend this book to those who like contemporary novels and like reading about morally ambiguous/corrupt situations.
May you get lost in a book,
Chrissy