The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty is my very first novel from the author. I picked this one from New York Bestsellers List. The synopsis looked promising. Although the reviews were mixed. So decided to try and form my own opinion.
My rating: 3/5. A good one time read. Definitely never going to make to my list of favorite novels. A predictable mystery and dragging storyline reduces the charm. I will say read it at your own risk.
Review
Secrets! What big secret are you concealing from your loved ones? Do you imagine even for an instant that your spouse might be holding back their own secrets? Or your best friend hides a secret even from you? What about the secrets that your parents never mentioned? Can those secrets affect the direction your life takes? Or they have altered the lives of everyone involved?
I never reflected on these questions. I was sure my parents don’t hide from me. But after reading this novel and mulling over our conversations, I believe the existence of hidden mysteries in my family itself. These secrets shaping the future developments was a notion I never imagined.
The author calls attention to the power of secrets throughout her book. She narrates the story of three women and how their secrets connect them.
The three stories progress together towards the climax. You have one chapter for one story and then the next for second story and the next for third story, then back to the first story and the cycle continues to repeat. Kind of keeps you on your toes.
With the detail happenings in every character’s lives, the stories tend to become dull at one point.
The Three Women
Cecilla, a superwoman, catches herself on crossroads after learning her husband’s secret. She sees herself incapable of concentrating on daily mundane chores. I hope I never find myself in her predicament. She has to choose what is acceptable morally vs what is suitable for her family and children. Her husband’s secret has now become her secret.
Tess has her life set. A profitable business, a doting husband, a supportive cousin sister and a wonderful child. Until one day her whole life upturns. Her husband’s secret makes her abandon her home and move back with her mother. Here, her life crosses path with that of Cecilla and Rachel.
Rachel, our third character, is an old woman. Her daughter died at a very young age. Now her world revolves around obsessing over who murdered her. She is constantly fantasizing of how her child would have lived if she had survived. She suspects the present P.E. teacher (boyfriend of her daughter back when she was alive) is the killer. But she hides her suspicions from everyone. Even though her doubts were driving her towards insanity. They even lead her to a heinous act.
The writer captures women jealousy very well. The insecure thoughts that both Tess and Cecilla felt when they meet each other for the first time are totally relatable. There are few inner dialogues which felt real and relatable to me. Especially the Tess. Her social awkwardness and anxiety over meeting new people.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I will again say, a good one time read.
