Title: The Husband’s Secret
Author: Liane Moriarty
Publication: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pages: 496
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.
REVIEW:
One of my book clubs was recently on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We finally got back together to meet….remotely of course. Zoom meeting for the win. Now that we finally got to discuss our February book in June we are back on track and able to move down the list with the next book. The Husband’s Secret was next in line. For some reason, I was not exactly thrilled to read this book and I have no clue why. Was it because I thought it a fluff book….even though I read more than my fair share of fluff with romance novels it just struck me as something I didn’t want to read. However, I girded my loins and jumped in with both feet.
Cecilia, Rachel, and Tess are three separate women. One is known for her organizing skills and a pillar in her community. One is known as the one who’s daughter did over 20+ years ago and her killer was never found she is also a well-loved secretary at the local school. The last one runs a business with her husband and cousin and has crippling social anxiety that she self-diagnosed after reading a Reader’s Digest article. An event in one of their lives will thrust all these women together in different ways. Can they each survive the sudden changes in their life? This book was absolutely amazing. I can’t believe that I was so against reading this book, it rather embarrasses me to admit that I was so against this book in the first place. The author left my jaw on the floor several times with twists that I did not see coming even in the slightest.
The way the author weaves these three women together is subtle ways is exquisite. She connects them in the slightest way but the events in each of their lives eventually affect each other in one way or another. I could relate to the characters in some way. With Tess its the social anxiety, while mine is not crippling I do experience it on some level in large crowds. With Rachel its the death of a loved one. My sister died suddenly and tragically when she was 20. I always think about what if. With Cecilia, it is wanting to be that person. My children’s school does not have the parent involvement but if they did I would probably be that mom. I have already recommended this book to several people and will be reading more things by this author. I know I have Little Fires Everywhere and would like to read if before watching the series that I have heard so much about. Hopefully, it is just as good as this book.
STAR RATING: 5/5
Pick up your copy of The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty on Amazon or check your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. Check out more from author Liane Moriarty on her website here!