Liane Moriarty
2013
4/5 stars
Cecilia has it all together; she's the perfect wife, mother, and Tupperware saleswoman. She's looked up to and envied by her friends. Her perfect life comes crashing down, however, when she discovers a letter written by her husband, which contains his deepest secret.
In the same neighborhood, Rachel lives with a 30 year old grief that she is unable to surrender. Her entire life is shaped by her loss, and she has settled all her hatred on one man she views as the cause. Now, her life is entwined with Cecilia's in a manner she would never have expected.
Tess comes to that neighborhood to stay with her mother after her marriage seems at an end. She begins a relationship that ties her to Rachel, though neither woman realizes it.
This is an excellent book; it is gripping from the beginning and stays compelling all the way through. Moriarty fleshed her characters well, built up the emotions nicely, and presented a twist toward the end that was unexpected.
One thing I disliked, however, was the fat shaming; this is the second book I've read by Moriarty, and both have pushed perfect bodies.
The other thing that kept this book from being five stars was Tess' story. The story itself is fine, and as well written as the rest, but it really didn't connect to the main plot the way the other two stories did; it almost felt like filler.
Despite those two negative points, it's a fantastic read that I would recommend universally.
