The Husband's Secret: by Liane Moriarty -- Expert Book Review & Analysis

by Expert Book Reviews

Expert Book Reviews presents a comprehensive review, analysis and plot summary of Liane Moriarty's novel The Husband's Secret.

Everyone has secrets, and The Husband's Secret explores three typical Australian couples who experience revelations but never learn other key secrets. Your secret might be that you came up with clever questions and insights for your book club meeting by using Expert Book Reviews to help you interpret the plot and suggest literary devices, like the book's consistent use of the fall of the Berlin Wall as a metaphor.

The story unfolds with consummate skill as each of three women discover heartbreaking betrayal. Cecilia finds an envelope hidden in the attic with the legend that it should only be opened after husband John-Paul's death. Meanwhile, Tess discovers that her husband and best friend have fallen in love. Rachel, who lost her teen-aged daughter in an unsolved murder case, frets that her remaining son and his wife are moving away to New York for two years with her grandson, a child that Rachel adores.

AN INSTANT BOOK CLUB PARTY!

The stage is set for suspense as readers ponder whether Cecilia will open the letter that her husband surely never expected her to read while he lived. Tess faces the complete devastation of losing her husband, business partner and friend. If you liked Liane Moriarty's What Alice Forgot or The Hypnotist's Love Story, you'll love The Husband's Secret.

This Book Review & Story Analysis conveniently lays out the hidden gems: plot points you might miss, symbols that only become obvious on a second or third read-through, and themes that affect your understanding of the story.

Table of Contents
• Book Review
• Section about author Liane Moriarty and how her sister inspired her to write
• Character Reference List
• Chapter-by-Chapter Plot Summary & Story Analysis
• Major Themes & Symbols
• Analysis of Key Characters
• Book Club Discussion Questions & Responses

It's like discussing the novel with your friends or going to a book club meeting. But you don't need to drive anywhere!

Packaged together in a fun and entertaining format, the entire discussion is delivered instantly to your device. If you haven't read The Husband's Secret yet, we'll let you know what to expect with savvy analysis and an honest review. If you're already reading the novel, then we'll be your tour guide through every chapter, heightening your enjoyment at every moment of intrigue, suspense, and humor.

Regardless, this is your map when you're deep in the intricate sub-plots and fascinating imagery of Liane Moriarty's novel. You'll see the book in a whole new way.

61 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2013

About the author

Expert Book Reviews is an imprint of BookScribed, an independent digital learning company with a mission to bring the joy of reading and insightful discussion of great literature to readers everywhere. Expert Book Reviews provides reviews of today’s hottest novels.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liane Moriarty has become a best-selling novelist in the UK and is slowly grabbing an American audience. I would not say she's a great novelist, in various respects her writing style reminds me of most of the other writers that grace the best-seller lists. Like many contemporary writers, Moriarty feels the need to tell the reader everything about her characters or explain the plot and theme of her novel, as opposed to just trusting the reader to well, figure things out on their own. She's not a subtle writer and doesn't quite have a flair for language that some of the more literary and accomplished novelists do, but she is a step above Jennifer Cruisie, Jane Green, Helen Fielding, and a few other female contemporary writers who unfortunately are associated with annoying chick-lit category of fiction. (Who came up with that category name by the way? It's sort of misogynistic. What ever happened to the far better category - "women's contemporary fiction" or how about just "general fiction"? That's actually where Ms. Moriarty's novel belongs - general/contemporary women's fiction.)

The story is about how the little decisions people make affect others in ways that they can't possibly begin to imagine. To ensure the reader gets that - there's an epilogue spelling out how if the characters in the novel made different decisions...their lives and the lives of everyone they knew would turn out differently. Also, we can't blame ourselves for everything - since our decisions and choices aren't isolated but rather they are compounded by the decisions and choices of everyone else. In this respect, The Husband's Secret reminded me a great deal of the film The Cloud Atlas.

Other than that - it was an entertaining and thoughtful novel, with the writer taking the time to delve into the messy emotions. Told in a stream of consciousness style, and in the limited points of view of three suburban Australian wives and mothers. Did at times feel like a throw-back tale to the 1970s and 80s, even though it took place in more modern times.

I do recommend it, but with the caveat that the writer does explain more than she should, and it is told in stream-of-consciousness, which is not everyone's cup of tea. Personally, I adore stream-of-consciousness...but again, not to everyone's taste. Also it's female centric, the men are important, but we are never in their point of view and they do come across as rather weak and inadequate. If you have issues with how the male characters in the series Downton Abbey are portrayed, you'll have difficulties with how they are portrayed here.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was entertaining on the first day of reading. Then I hesitated to complete the book because of so much repetition of details, emotions and events. How many times was ‘hot cross buns’ repeated? What was the significance of all the butter on the buns? Of Easter? It seemed to me that this book has been written by two or three writers. It could have been so much more. 💕

[Shereen Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my normal read but it was okay...
This book involved the lives of several different families that were going through trials and tribulations. And how perceptions can destroy how one may live their life.

[Dottie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, I don't get the bad reviews, it kept me entertained and guessing. I figured out some aspects of the book but not all. Overall I found it to be a quick and enjoyable read.

[Ivette]

👍

[Amanda Rosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, good twist

[Y.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. Excellent writing with a surprise ending.

[Josanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The early part of this book felt slow and rather cliche in a 'is her husband having an affair' type of way that doesn't really interest me so I doubted I could finish it. But I did like that the author created a few sub plots and an interesting window into the characters' minds, emotions, and questions about their lives so kept going. The secret becomes apparent mid way through and opens up an ethical issue. The book makes you think about how we have choices in life but also about how they impact others, how one thing triggers another, and how in an instant our lives can change. We cannot insulate ourselves fully from the vagaries of life or to tragedy. I wasn't overly fond of the ending, it felt abrupt and the epilogue left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. I think the novel could have been much more interesting if some of the unknowns in the epilogue had been part of the plot and part of the unravelling of the mystery. Overall it's an easy chick-lit read that keeps you guessing for a while with well drawn characters.

[Ravenswan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because this book isn't my usual fare I found it quite a fascinating read.
Being set in suburbia in contemporary Australia, it was refreshing to have a bunch of characters I could relate to (or at least, I saw echos of friends and family in many of the characters).
I actually know a tupperware super-mom! Despite their flaws I found the characters to be sympathetic and quite well rounded (mostly)
I have two issues (the first one is tongue in cheek)
-What do you mean Spiderman isn't a book character? He was only in a few thousand comics before being in a movie!! Aren't comics books? (that is a hint as to my usual reading matter)
-What parent would seriously be off having torrid sex while leaving their small child with 'grandma'

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it's very different from what I normally read !! I haven't read in a while so I heard about this and thought I would give it a go . And I wasn't disappointed as the writing and story lines and very well thought out and put together it did have a lot of plots with different character's but the author manger to keep you going with just enough story line for each plot that it didn't feel crammed or lost like some books can when there is so much plot changes . I did t see the end coming and that's what I think makes a good book :))

[mmk4 Koenen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book...loved the narrator...funny but someone from my book club HATED the reader..just shows how be all see or in this case hear things differently. This is the second book I have listened to by this author. I like her style and her cultural insights. The relationships seemed pretty real and the reactions to personal situations were very real as well. Again this book was set in Austrailia (home of the author) and see does seem to repeat some of same underlying themes that she did in Big Little Lies. I would recommend this as a good summer read.

[Pat Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liane Moriarty is one vibrant story teller. This book, filled with surprises, recounts "normal" people who all have gotten themselves into some hellacious jams. The author is able to weave these lives together in skillful ways while always having a bit of mystery brewing. This one is a page turner with messages that make you think about life in news ways.

[Dereka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a second listen-- I guess I never posted the first. I love Liane Moriarity-- chick lit raised three or four levels. Funny, insightful and beautifully read. The second listen was enhanced by knowing the "secret"--

[Gayle Anttila]

Loved it. Thanks, Mona

[Mary K Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in a long time!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book involved the lives of several different families that were going through trials and tribulations. And how perceptions can destroy how one may live their life.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

People show others to perceive as good while hiding who they really are. Interesting characters and keep reading to the last page.

[Carolyn Gwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't stand not knowing what was going to happen next & zipped through this book a bit too quickly. I'd rate 4 1/2 if I could .

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow to get started but then held my interest until the very end. Dynamic, humanly flawed characters kept me guessing what their next move would be. Definitely worth the read.

[Kay Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book rings nearly every moral bell one has. Very discussable in your book club. Questions available on line. Stick with it. Do you love the lead or not? What would you have done and when?

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has to be one of the best books I have ever read, could not put it down, brilliant

[Theresa Beauregard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very good. Just goes to show how we are all connected in some way.

[Ann Rutkoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book--a book club selection. Followed three families, each having problems/secrets to deal with. Characters were believable. Good closure.

[Judy Wiesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read.

[Melinda Butterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liane Moriarty's best seller identifies with her readers in a way that says we all are not alone.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and the story line keeps you interested... great book. You should read it. I recommend it!!

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK, but not as good as her "Big Little Lies".

[Nancy Reed]

Ok but sad

[Kaylee Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly love getting lost in Liane Moriarty's books - the twists and turns are never expected and nothing ever really ends in a "happily ever after" way, which the dark side of me enjoys.