Tag Archive for: Book review

I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb

Oprah Winfrey nailed it – “It’s not just a book, it’s a life experience”. And oh, what a twisting and turning life experience within the 900 pages of an incredibly engaging novel. Multi-themed and multi-generational, I Know This Much Is True, Wally Lamb, will take you on a rollercoaster ride that you will not want to get off. Ever. Yes, a life experience indeed!

Dominick and Thomas Birdsey are identical twins living in the fictional town of Three Rivers, Connecticut. Dominick is mentally typical, but Thomas is a paranoid schizophrenic. They were raised in a chaotic and abusive household. Ray, their adoptive step-father, was a former military man with an explosive temper. He was abusive to all of them, but his prime target was Thomas. Concettina, their mother, was a quiet, gentle, skittish woman plagued with a cleft lip and an inability to stand up to her husband. The identity of their biological father was unknown, but revealed much later in the book.

Dominick’s adulthood is even more complicated. He continues to struggle with the ramifications of his brother’s illness and his own lost childhood. He carries these issues into his marriage, which finally comes to a breaking point following the tragic death of his infant daughter. When Concettina is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Dominick promises to take care of Thomas after she is gone. A few years into this enormous undertaking, Thomas visits a public library, pulls out a knife, and cuts off his own hand in protest of the Gulf War. He’s then committed to a maximum security asylum. Dominick struggles to protect his brother from maltreatment in a flawed system that has no regard for human dignity, but he is losing his own life in the process. Dominick finds himself torn between his dedication to his brother and mounting resentment over what that is costing him.

Also presented in this novel is the intriguing backstory of Concettina’s father, Domenico Tempesto. After his mother dies, Dominick discovers an abundance of ancestral history in the pages of his immigrant grandfather’s detailed memoir. Domenico married his wife, Ignazia (Concettina’s mother), right after meeting her and in exchange for a dowry. Ignazia was in love with another man. She wanted nothing to do with Domenico, and this forced marriage threw her into a depression. Prosperine, Ignazia’s pipe-smoking, domineering sister, was part of the package and came to live with Ignazia and Domenico in their new home. The toxic dysfunction and abuse started immediately. When Domenico beat Ignazia on their wedding night, Prosperine promised to mutilate him if he ever hurt her sister again. That incident was just the beginning. The more Dominick reads, the more he learns about his delusional grandfather, generations plagued by mental illnesses, and the heartbreaking details of his mother’s own troubled childhood.

As with all of Lamb’s books, I Know This Much Is True offers rich layers of multiple themes: love, shame, loss, survival, abuse of power, suicide, child murder, family dysfunction, and of course the effects of mental illness on family dynamics. Lamb gives a poignant and moving presentation of just how heavily the mental illness of one weighs on many, falling like bricks upon the laps of each and every family member, and tormenting generation after generation. The love, commitment, and exhausting efforts of loved ones are met with the grim reality of their own utter powerlessness, which was felt deeply throughout the book. The imagery and descriptive details put the reader right alongside the characters, feeling the rising tension, the stress of unbalanced family function, the monumental sacrifices followed by resentment and guilt, the uphill battle against a broken system, and the heartache of a loved one’s tortured existence. I Know This Much Is True is an extremely intense, heavy, multi-layered novel that brings dark issues to the table in a deeply descriptive, affective, and honest manner. We are reminded that every generation contributes to family dysfunction, and despite interventions, we are still forever shaped by our beginnings. Tightly written across 900 pages, this novel is well worth the time and emotional investment. Lamb has done an excellent job and I enjoyed every page of this “life experience”. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to adult readers.

**Purchase at Amazon here.  (Please note that when you click and purchase the book through this link, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you).

“I wish people could understand that the brain is the most important organ of our body. Just because you can’t see mental illness like you could see a broken bone, doesn’t mean it’s not as detrimental or devastating to a family or an individual” – Demi Lovato

See my review for Wally Lamb’s The Hour I First Believed here.

 

Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate

This is one of my favorite novels of all time, but also the most heartbreaking. Inspired by true events, Before We Were Yours takes us on a rollercoaster ride through one of the most criminal adoption scandals in American history.

For more than 20 years, Georgia Tann was director of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, a black market baby mill disguised as a legitimate orphanage. During her tenure, she arranged for the kidnapping of approximately 5,000 poor children. The children were renamed and then sold out to prominent, wealthy, and sometimes famous clients (Dick Powell, Lana Turner and Joan Crawford to name a few). Tann’s crimes made her a millionaire, but forever destroyed thousands of families.

Wingate seamlessly intertwines two fictional families into real-life events surrounding the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. In 1939, the Foss family lived an unconventional but happy life on their shanty boat. When their mother went into labor with twins, the parents rushed to the hospital. Rill, a responsible 12 year old and the oldest of their five children, took care of her siblings during this time. That is, until corrupt police officers showed up at the door, forcefully seized the children and quickly brought them to the “orphanage”. Under the complete control of a merciless director, the Foss children lost their identities and lived in constant fear of separation, all while enduring neglect, abuse, malnourishment, molestation, and an unthinkable tragic loss. As they eventually lost everything they ever knew and were placed with new families, they had to face the realization that their futures were no longer their own, and nothing would ever be the same again.

Fast forward to present day. Avery Stafford comes from a wealthy, political family and has a successful career. Her grandmother, Judy, suffers from dementia and her father, a senator, is diagnosed with cancer. Avery travels back home to assist her family. When she makes a political appearance at a nursing home, she meets May, an intriguing elderly patient who mistakenly thinks Avery is her long lost sister. When Avery later finds a mysterious photograph in May’s room, she begins to investigate and discovers a long kept secret that could potentially destroy their political family forever.

Lisa Wingate did an excellent job of drawing on so many emotions while presenting one of the most shameful crimes ever committed against American families. One painful image I cannot get out of my mind is that of a father coming to the orphanage to get back his son, Lonnie, only to be told that the boy had been adopted out. The devastated man fell to his knees and sobbed on the porch. He was then picked up and put back in his truck, where he sat all day looking for his son, who was long gone. He would never see Lonnie again, and there was nothing he could do.

This novel is educational and thought-provoking on so many levels. The deeply interwoven themes include crime, politics, family, the abuse and exploitation of children, greed, child murder, and abuse of power. We are reminded of the horrific results from combining power and authority with corruption and greed. Georgia Tann had enormous power. The poor had no recourse. They were deemed “unfit” due to their social standing and the political pull Tann had with judges. The results were devastating. We are left to wonder how anybody could get away with this, yet throughout history evil power has allowed for so much to happen. Still, when it happens in America and children are involved, it hits even closer to home. As a parent, this novel absolutely tore my heart out. I did some research and learned some of the affected families had successfully reunited decades later, but so many others went to their graves never knowing what happened to their children or siblings. Years later, Georgia Tann’s crimes finally caught up with her, but she died of cancer before ever even going to trial.

Before We Were Yours is a gripping page turner that you will not be able to put down, nor will you forget about it after you are done. You will fall in love with the Foss children, who were forever shaped by their history, yet somehow found the strength to survive. Poignant and well written, I loved reading Before We Were Yours and highly recommend this novel.

***You can purchase your copy of this book at Amazon here. Please note that when you click and purchase the book through this affiliate link, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own.

“For the hundreds who vanished and for the thousands who didn’t. May your stories not be forgotten. For those who help today’s orphans find forever homes. May you always know the value of your work and your love.”

Lisa Wingate, Before We Were Yours, 

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Kira-Kira, Cynthia Kadohata

Kira-Kira is a Newbery Medal winning novel by Cynthia Kadohata. Although Kadohata had previously written other books, Kira-Kira was the first one she wrote for younger audiences.

It wasn’t easy being Japanese and living in America in the 1950s. Katie lives in a small rented house in Iowa with her parents and older sister (and best friend), Lynn. After their Oriental food store goes out of business, the family relocates to Georgia, where her parents find work in the poultry industry. Life is hard. The parents work around the clock under deplorable working conditions in a company owned by the extremely wealthy, powerful, and tyrannical Mr. Lyndon. Katie’s mother wears special pads to work that are designed for urine breakthroughs, because the company doesn’t allow unscheduled bathroom breaks. Her father’s working hours are so long that he often sleeps at the hatchery during the few hours he has between shifts. The mother has another baby, but when babysitting stops being available, Katie and her baby brother sit in their hot car during her mother’s long shifts because they have no place to go and are not allowed in or near the building. They rent a small, cramped apartment and struggle to make ends meet. They are shunned in their community for the work they do and for being Japanese, however, they are an extremely loving and close-knit family. Despite their many hardships, they have each other. Katie and her sister, Lynn, share an unbreakable bond. Lynn teaches Katie about everything under the sun, including the word kira-kira, which means glittering. This becomes Katie’s favorite word and she uses it to describe everything she sees, from butterflies to Kleenex. Lynn teaches Katie to focus on the future, which she promises will be brighter because she is saving to purchase a house for the family. But then, the unthinkable happens. A horrible diagnoses changes everything, and their already difficult lives shatter.

Narrated in Katie’s optimistic voice, Kira-Kira is a story of love, family bonds, loss, and survival. It is a story of racial prejudice, clashing cultures, schoolyard cruelties, the sting of middle school social ranking, and the ever-present line in the sand between the haves and the have-nots. Kadohata interweaves each and every one of these themes into a novel that is a gripping, honest portrayal of life in the deep, rural south during the 1950s. We see a family of undeniable integrity struggling to make it while enduring brutal treatment, followed by an unimaginable tragedy. We see the core of human emotions and vulnerabilities, and the strength to endure and survive.

The family characters in this novel were likable and relatable. The parents were hard-working, honest people who deeply loved and cared about their family. I especially enjoyed the close sisterly relationship between Katie and Lynn. Lynn was the responsible, studious older sister who was always protecting Katie, and guiding her through their world with kindness, time, patience and support. Then there was Katie, the sweet but not so serious little sister. Katie was smart, but unconcerned about grades, had a tendency to be impulsive, and got herself into trouble at times. Yet, she was quite lovable and had an endearing innocence about her, and I loved how Kadohata found ways to insert humor into her dialogs:

Lynn was the bravest girl in the world. She was also a genius. I know this because one day, I asked her, “Are you a genius?” And she said, “Yes.”

As time went on, I enjoyed seeing Katie’s character evolve and mature throughout the book in a coming of age sort of way, and these transitions flowed beautifully. It was easy to become engrossed in this novel. I felt deeply for the characters, and shared their wide range of emotions – anger, sadness, humor, grief, admiration. For young readers navigating the social scene at school, I think this novel is highly relatable as it clearly demonstrates the pain of social hierarchy during this vulnerable stage in life. Kira-Kira is well written, educational and offers a vivid, poignant look at the human spirit and what we will do for those we love. I highly recommend this historical fiction novel for tween and teen readers.

**Purchase Kira-Kira at Amazon here. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click and purchase the book through this link, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own.

Since the publication of Kira-Kira, Cynthia Katohata has written several additional books for young readers that focus on the struggle of Japanese-Americans. If you enjoy Kira-Kira, then I highly recommend The Weedflower, a novel about a young Japanese-American girl living in an internment camp. See my review for Weedflower here.

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you – always. — Oprah Winfrey

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Weedflower, Cynthia Kadohata

Weedflower, Cynthia Kadohata, is a historical fiction novel for middle school readers. Cynthia Kadohata is a Newbery Award winning author of Kira-Kira. Weedflower is the story of a young Japanese-American girl and her struggles with loss, loneliness, war, racism, and life in an internment camp during the World War II era.

Sumiko was twelve years old and lived on a flower farm in California. She and her little brother had lost their parents years ago in an accident, but they were taken in by their loving and supportive extended family. They all lived and worked together on the flower farm, a job that Sumiko enjoyed. The book opened with Sumiko very excited to be the recipient of a birthday party invitation. As the only Japanese student at her school, she was used to being ignored or teased by other children. So when Marsha, a popular classmate, invited her to a party, Sumiko was thrilled. For the first time in her life, she felt proud and special. When the day finally arrived, Sumiko wanted everything to be perfect. She wore her best dress and brought an expensive and impeccably wrapped present. But everything turned sour the moment she arrived – the moment Marsha’s stunned mother came to the door and saw her. When Marsha invited her whole class to the party, her mother hadn’t realized that a Japanese child was a classmate. She quietly stepped out on the porch, explained to Sumiko her concerns over what her husband and others would think, handed her a piece of cake, and quickly sent the devastated child home.

Life for Sumiko and her family only got worse from there. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed and the United States entered into World War II shortly thereafter. Japanese-Americans, suspected of being spies, were sent to internment camps. Sumiko’s family lost everything they owned and became prisoners. Her new life was on a dusty camp set in a scorching hot Arizona desert, which had previously been an Indian reservation. Barely fed and living under horrible conditions, Sumiko found ways to survive. She planted a flower garden and dreamed of owning her own flower shop someday. She met a young Mohave boy, Frank, who eventually became her first real friend. It was difficult to comprehend the treatment of those imprisoned, but also refreshing to see Sumiko authentically evolve and mature despite the hardships.

Weedflower is the story of a lonely, rejected adolescent girl longing for acceptance in the midst of a world crisis and explosive racial divides. The author’s father was an internment camp survivor, so this is clearly an issue close to her heart and realistically represented throughout the novel. Kadohata gave an honest description of the brutality against incarcerated Japanese-Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. These events were presented poignantly, but without being overly graphic in my opinion. Weedflower is well-written, educational, well-paced and age appropriate. Sumiko’s character is sweet, likable, and relatable and I think middle schoolers will connect with her social struggles and desire to belong. I admired her determination to survive and her unwavering empathy despite the circumstances. This novel offers multiple themes – loss, family bonds, friendship, war, the power of perseverance and of course, racism. As we all know, the overall racism themes still apply today as this sadly continues to be an issue in our nation. In light of recent events, including violence against Asian-Americans, it is critical to open a dialog with our youth about these issues, and to keep these conversation going. There is much work to be done and everybody deserves a voice. Weedflower would make a great conversation starter between young people and adults, a platform on which to begin these important dialogs.

I highly recommend Cynthia Kadohata’s Weedflower for middle school students, teachers and parents. Kadohata has written many books for this age group. In an educational setting, an author study on her work would make for rich, engaging discussions. Please see my review of her novel, Kira-Kira. There are several parallels between these two novels. Kira-Kira is a story of another young Japanese-American girl struggling with similar social and discrimination issues, but during a different era. Both novels are thought-provoking and excellent choices for young readers.

This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions remain my own. Purchase Weedflower at Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Rf4bw9

“I feel like I speak for many Asian Americans when I say I am fearful, a little angry, and frustrated at the uncertainty of the entire situation.” Benny Luo

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Day of Tears, Julius Lester

Day of Tears, Julius Lester (1939-2018) is a historical fiction novel for teens and tweens, based on actual events. On March 2nd and 3rd of 1859, the largest and most devastating slave auction in American history was held in Savannah, Georgia. Ironically, as soon as the auction began, the skies darkened and heavy thunderstorms ensued. Torrential downpours lingered for two days, ceasing only when the auction ended. Many referred to this as the day God cried, or “the weeping time”. Over 400 slaves were sold. Some families were separated forever, many of whom were denied the chance to even say goodbye. Sobbing children were ripped away from their mothers, couples were separated, human beings were shipped away like cattle, their fates unknown.

Pierce Butler owned a large, inherited plantation and hundreds of slaves in Savannah, Georgia. He had been married to actress and abolitionist Fanny Kemble, but Butler’s need for control and their opposing views on slavery caused the marriage to end in divorce. Pierce used his influence to take custody of their two daughters, Sarah and Francis, but family tensions continued. Francis, eager to please her father, supported slavery. Sarah, like her mother, opposed it. Pierce couldn’t accept Sarah’s views and the two were constantly at odds. Three of Butler’s slaves, Mattie, Will, and Emma were a family that had been with the Butlers for three generations. In Fanny’s absence, Emma was a committed, loving caretaker to the girls, and she bonded deeply with them. Sarah was especially close to Emma, who was like a maternal figure to both girls.

Pierce, once wealthy, lost most of his money gambling. In order to satisfy his debts, he held a massive slave auction and made over $300,000. But his problems were far from over. The auction not only tore slave families apart, but his own as well. The horrible decisions he made during those two days impacted all of them forever, breaking relationships and forever changing the course of his family.

Day of Tears, Julius Lester, is written in the multiple voices of several characters, slaves and owners. This book seamlessly transitions through different points in time, as we hear from some characters as children and then as adults years later. Written in a play/script form, Day of Tears is a fast-paced, smooth, extremely poignant, heavy read. Lester always did a phenomenal job of placing the reader right in the middle of his chapters. I was right there at the auction, standing heartbroken in that sweltering hot, overcrowded stable, breathing in the stench of sweaty bodies, listening to deafening, pelting rain and claps of thunder. Flashes of lightening offered glimpses of trembling slaves, packed like sardines in the stalls, waiting to be sold like meat to the highest bidder, holding their children for the last time. Then there were the finely dressed bidders, fanning themselves, laughing, socializing, acting like over-zealous holiday shoppers celebrating their purchases without a fleeting thought for the human beings in front of them, who were viewed as nothing more than a business transaction. I left a piece of my heart inside this book.

Parents, this book is educational and based on true events in history, but also a heavy and, at some points, disturbing read. I think this book would make a gripping, engaging piece of a slavery study for middle school teachers. However, I recommend using caution given the graphic nature of certain scenes. Day of Tears is extremely well-written, and brings out the emotional side of history because it connects us to the families and real people affected, and we clearly feel their struggles. It serves as a painful reminder of one of the most shameful parts of American history, and how far people will go in the name of greed. I recommend this book for middle school aged readers and adults alike. It would make a great conversation starter about an appalling piece of American history. Rest in peace, Julius Lester, and thank you for giving a voice to the victims of slavery. Nobody deserves it more than them.

To see more of Julius Lester, check out my review of his book, Let’s Talk About Race.

To purchase, click the Amazon link here. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click this link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you.

“Man puts manacles on his fellow man; God never.” Lyman Abbot

 

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Educated: A Memoir, Tara Westover

Educated, Tara Westover, is an inspirational, autobiographical memoir that takes us on a journey through a highly dysfunctional, fundamentalist and, at times, abusive upbringing to an ivy league education.

Westover, the youngest of seven children, was raised in an isolated, mountainous area in Idaho. Her Mormon parents, “Gene” and “Faye” were radical survivalists. Gene had a paranoid conviction that government officials were plotting against him, and responded by readying supplies and making preparations for an FBI siege. Fearing that the educational system was all about brainwashing, public school was forbidden and the Westover children were homeschooled. The children were birthed at home because their parents rejected the medical establishment. Faye, a holistic herbalist, treated every injury and illness with herbal remedies. The children were repeatedly denied medical care of any kind, even in serious, life-threatening situations.

Tara spent much of her childhood assisting her mother with herbs, and tending to the dangerous work in her father’s junk yard. During her teens, she endured physical abuse from her brother, “Shawn”, who took pleasure in repeatedly humiliating and beating her. Although Tara’s parents were made aware of the abuse, they refused to intervene on her behalf and at times, wouldn’t even acknowledge that it happened.

When Tara made a decision at 16 to properly educate herself, she got ahold of a study guide, devoured the contents, and against all odds, passed the ACT exam. From there, she was accepted to Brigham Young University. Despite her father’s staunch disapproval, Tara held her ground and left the only world she ever knew. After 17 years of never stepping foot in a classroom, Tara started college. She soon discovered, however, that the path between her sheltered existence and the educated world would prove bumpy. Being part a large university with no real world exposure was a challenge to say the least, and she embarrassed herself on more than few occasions. Westover recalled a lecture in which she innocently raised her hand and asked what the Holocaust was, which infuriated people because they thought she was intentionally denying it. Her roommates took issue with her lack of hygiene when she continually neglected to wash her hands after using the bathroom. Even years later, as her education continued and she climbed the ladder to the ivy leagues, she still struggled with the refined settings – evident by her lack of proper attire at formal gatherings. She had to learn and grow over time, all while battling an inner struggle between embracing her new life and remaining loyal to her roots and to the family that betrayed her on so many levels.

The themes! Oh, the themes! Where shall I begin? Social hierarchy and class distinction, mental illness, family values, abuse, and of course, education. Education is a means to self improvement, but it can draw a dividing line between two completely worlds. It seems that her parents felt threatened by Tara’s achievements and independence. I wonder if this comes from a loss of control, their irrational fear of the outside world, or perhaps even selfishness (don’t better yourself so I can feel better about myself). Still, it is difficult to grapple with parents who intentionally hold their children back, or reject them for choosing their own path. In Westover’s case, it seems that the parents were so terrified of anything outside of their own existence, but yet they ignored the many real dangers right inside their own home.

While much of Educated accounts Gene’s mental illness and extremism, I was most taken aback by Faye’s refusal to protect Tara. With motherhood comes a primal urge, as well as a responsibility, to protect one’s child. When Tara confronted Faye about her physically abusive brother, Faye allowed the abuse to continue, and even downplayed it in order to protect (and enable) the abuser. History was rewritten at the expense of the victim, as is so often the case in highly dysfunctional families.

When Westover transitioned into the ivy league world, there was such a contrast between her own background and that of her new peer group. Social hierarchy and class distinction are always alive and well. When she found herself among the wealthy and extremely well bred, she had to adapt, navigate and learn. Refusing to return to the familiar, she persevered and earned her place among those in her new surroundings – but against much greater odds.

Tara Westover did a brilliant job of taking the reader through her journey and transformation. Educated is well balanced, well written, and flowed beautifully from start to finish. She is an inspiration and reminds us that there are no excuses for not rising above a challenging situation and succeeding. Westover’s journey has earned her the respect of highly successful and influential people (Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey to name just a couple). I highly recommend this memoir. Grab a copy and enjoy it. You won’t regret it!

Note: To be fair, some members of the Westover family have disputed Educated and denied Tara’s account of their family life.

“An education is not so much about making a living as making a person.” – Tara Westover

***Purchase your copy of Educated at Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3uwt19i

**Please note that when you click and purchase the book through this link, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own.

 

 

The Husband’s Secret, Liane Moriarty

The Husband’s Secret begs the question – Just how well do we really know those we love? Are secrets ever meant to be shared? How does one deal with a perpetually haunting past mistake, one of epic proportions and far-reaching repercussions, alone?

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

Purchase the book at Amazon here. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click and purchase the book through this link, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own.