Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Three couples—Sam and Clementine,  Oliver and Erika, Vid and Tiffany—all gathered together for the first time at a barbeque. When Erika and Oliver are impulsively invited to their next-door neighbor’s home for a barbeque, she explains her oldest friend, Clementine, and her husband are coming over. Rather than being deterred, the gregarious Vid quickly extends the invitation to them as well, though he’s never met them. Everyone agrees, and six adults and three children come together for an evening that will change all their lives, put relationships at risk, and make them all wish the barbeque had never happened.

Having read three other books by Moriarty (The Husband’s Secret, Big Little Lies, and What Alice Forgot) I was excited to start reading this one, certain I was in for yet another great adventure in reading. Truly Madly Guilty is the very definition of a page-turner—once you start reading, it’s hard to stop. The characters are richly described and the details of what happened at the barbeque are revealed at the perfect pace—quickly enough to satisfy your curiosity, but without giving up too much too soon.

While the story centers on the three couples and their children, several secondary characters are introduced that propelled the story along in ways I didn’t anticipate (some more poignantly than others) and made the story even more enjoyable than it already was. The actions and motivations of one of these secondary characters, in particular, broke my heart. As much as I wish I could discuss who it is and why they affected me in such a way, it’s one of those things best discovered as you read it yourself. Just have a box of tissues handy… you’re going to need them!

If you’re a regular reader of my reviews, you know that I’ve given out several five star ratings lately. It may not seem to be the case, but I give serious thought to it before I give out my best rating, and declare something is a Book Worth Reading. I’ve simply been on a streak of picking excellent books to read this summer, I guess. I’m thrilled to say that Truly Madly Guilty was a fantastic read, but I’m not at all surprised. With some authors, you know before you even read the first word that you’re starting something wonderful. Liane Moriarty is one of those authors. Get yourself a copy of this book today. You’ll be glad you did!

I received an advance copy of this book courtesy of Flatiron Books via Netgalley .

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Author: Liane Moriarty
Title: Truly Madly Guilty
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publication Date: July 26, 2016 by Flatiron Books
Rating: 5 stars

About the Book

Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong?

Sam and Clementine have a wonderful, albeit, busy life: they have two little girls, Sam has just started a new dream job, and Clementine, a cellist, is busy preparing for the audition of a lifetime. If there’s anything they can count on, it’s each other.

Clementine and Erika are each other’s oldest friends. A single look between them can convey an entire conversation. But theirs is a complicated relationship, so when Erika mentions a last minute invitation to a barbecue with her neighbors, Tiffany and Vid, Clementine and Sam don’t hesitate. Having Tiffany and Vid’s larger than life personalities there will be a welcome respite.

Two months later, it won’t stop raining, and Clementine and Sam can’t stop asking themselves the question: What if we hadn’t gone?

In Truly Madly Guilty, Liane Moriarty takes on the foundations of our lives: marriage, sex, parenthood, and friendship. She shows how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than what we do, and how sometimes it is the most innocent of moments that can do the greatest harm.

About the Author

Liane Moriarty is the Australian author of six internationally best-selling novels, Three Wishes, The Last Anniversary, What Alice Forgot, The Hypnotist’s Love Story and the number 1 New York Times bestsellers, The Husband’s Secret and Big Little Lies.

Her breakout novel The Husband’s Secret sold over three million copies worldwide, was a number 1 UK bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of 2013 and has been translated into over 40 languages. It spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller list. CBS Films has acquired the film rights.

With the launch of Big Little Lies, Liane became the first Australian author to have a novel debut at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. An HBO series based on Big Little Lies is currently in production, starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.

Writing as L.M. Moriarty, Liane has also written a children’s book series, The Petrifying Problem with Princess Petronella, The Shocking Trouble on the Planet of Shobble and The Wicked War on the Planet of Whimsy.

Liane lives in Sydney with her husband, son and daughter.