An ordinary afternoon barbeque turns into a traumatic event with lasting consequences…
There’s not much summer time left so you only have a few more weeks to sneak in a good beach read. Luckily, Liane Moriarty’s brand new page turner Truly Madly Guilty is out just in the nick of time.
The book primarily revolves around Erika, an uptight professional trying to overcome a tragic childhood; and Clementine, a cellist trying to balance her passion with motherhood. Erika and Clementine are childhood “friends” who may have vastly different ideas about what their friendship entails. One of my favorite things about Moriarty’s books is the complex relationships between the female characters. Her heroines are never completely good or completely bad.
Truly Madly Guilty flashes between a dramatic event a few months in the past and the present day. The day of the barbeque is seen from the viewpoint of everyone in the story. There’s so much buildup to that day that I admit that I read ahead a time or two because I got so anxious! Also as a total aside can I just say how much I always chuckle at these novels that wealthy suburban Australia is so similar to wealthy suburban America? It is very relatable to me.
While I didn’t like this as much as my favorite Moriarty novel, Big Little Lies (I can’t wait for the miniseries), it was very entertaining and hard to put down. This book is less of a mystery than some of the others so it may not be for everyone. I personally found Erika and her husband’s storyline particularly interesting and honestly moving. I love when the least likeable character at the beginning of the book has you rooting for her by the end.
Enjoy your last few weeks of summer reading!
Originally published August 24, 2016
Hilary
Wednesday 24th of August 2016
Oh this sounds right up my alley! I need a new suspense drama. Thanks!