Apples Never Fall Sneak Peek

by Liane Moriarty

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Liane Moriarty comes a novel that looks at marriage, siblings, and how the people we love the most can hurt us the deepest in Apples Never Fall.

The Delaney family love one another dearly—it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other . . .

If your mother was missing, would you tell the police? Even if the most obvious suspect was your father?

This is the dilemma facing the four grown Delaney siblings.

The Delaneys are fixtures in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are the envy of all of their friends. They’re killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable?

The four Delaney children—Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke—were tennis stars in their own right, yet as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that’s okay, now that they’re all successful grown-ups and there is the wonderful possibility of grandchildren on the horizon.

One night a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delaneys are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs. If only that was all she wanted.

Later, when Joy goes missing, and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the police question the one person who remains: Stan. But for someone who claims to be innocent, he, like many spouses, seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney children think their father is innocent, two are not so sure—but as the two sides square off against each other in perhaps their biggest match ever, all of the Delaneys will start to reexamine their shared family history in a very new light.

Genres: Audiobook

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2021

About the author

Liane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty; the New York Times bestsellers Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist’s Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Alli White]

One of my most favorite books in a long time! So many great themes- family, tennis, relationships. It would be a good discussion. I loved the Australian reader voice, and the smart little jokes. Well worth the long listen.

[Clarissa Carter]

Usually I really like Liane Moriarty books. This one I struggled with pretty much from start to finish. The constant switching between oats and present made this harder to read. I don't think it could have been written any other way but it did make things take longer than I felt necessary to come to a point..

Every single major character in the plot has mental issues. They may not talk about it and may not admit it (at least not out loud) but this was a story about a hugely dysfunctional family. Several generations of dysfunctional family. The Delaney family has issues and will likely keep having them until they put all their cards on the table.

Savannah (not a Delaney) but affected by them in passing is very mentally ill. Not diagnosed but she has issues that really need some help. Pathological lying about everything big or small, eating disorder, and who knows what else. Trust me when I say the girl needs help, and she needs it yesterday.

[María José Jiménez Tubío]

2.5
The story is developed at a good pace and then…the story finishes in 20 pages???!!! Unbelievable!
I love the way the author links the facts and the events in the different chapters and involving different characters.

[Reader]

#16 of 2025. Good. Interesting

[Linda]

Loved this sampler and can’t wait for the Full length version

[KATHLEEN CALDER]

Not my favorite by LM, but good

[Suzanne parks]

This book was boring and confusing. Too many characters that I didn’t really care about. A no for me.

[Jennifer Congdon]

Too long....

[Marina]

Long and boring, thankfully listened to it on a faster setting so eventually got through it, no need for 72 chapters, got better at the end, but not for me.

[Krystal Kron]

There were good moments, but overall the book dragged for me.

[Rose Bedwell]

Way too long.

[Sue]

Oh this book was pretty boring. We spend very long time learning who each character is, flaws, phobias past present and future relationships and craziness. In this story Joy and Stan have been happily married for decades. They own and operate a tennis school. Each one of their 4 kids were coached and trained by their dad. None of them really play tennis anymore. One winter evening a stranger she’s up at their door and the parents take her in. From there Joy disappears and we spend the next 3/4 of the book wondering and wandering. I skippped most of it and headed straight to the end.

[Emily Kaufman]

I highly recommend apples never fall. Liane Moriaty develops her characters with such depth while exploring the dynamic of families and marriage all within the “mysterious” disappearance of the mother of the Delaney family. The story was funny, thought provoking, and engaging. Towards the end of the story some readers might find the last chapters excessive but I was so invested in the family that I enjoyed seeing their growth and development.

[Sue Molloy]

I listened to this book on CD. There’s something special about having a story read to you while on your drive to/from work or to the grocery store or just anywhere. I loved this book with all these characters each with their own stories and issues. I tried to read this book many years ago and just couldn’t get into it, not sure if my mind was elsewhere and just couldn’t focus or I just wasn’t in the reading mood … anyways, I’m glad I gave it another shot with the CD. Fantastic book!

[Necia Yates]

we are always guaranteed a good book and plot from this author. this one set around the world of tennis and the Delaney family, filled with dynamics, competiveness and how actions can influence another person's life. caution mental and eating disorders are covered in this book.

I listened as an audiobook and it certainly kept me wanting to keep going, retirement and gardening certainly helped.

[Carolyn Prentice]

Actually read in January 2026. A family of six and the many ways their relationships are dysfunctional from competition, jealousy, guilt, to bring about defeat instead of courage and success. The implication to me is the legacy a family has passed on for generations to come. What to avoid in this case.

[Cory]

Parts of this were interesting. Overall, though, the characters frustrated me and I thought the working out of the story was cheap. I did like The Husband’s Secret, so maybe I’ll try another book by this author.

[Ellen Martin]

Loved the sneak peek. Can't wait to read the rest.

[Aparna Kamath]

Audiobook. Loved tennis and set in Australia aspect. Interesting story but a little predictable. Easy listen and liked most characters

[Alison]

As always, lovely to read and once you get in to the first couple of chapters it’s very hard to put down! Twist at end was a bit disappointing and fluffy but really enjoyable book

[Donna Federoff]

I really enjoyed this book, it may be my favorite Liane Moriarty book. It had several surprises that I never saw coming.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I rarely , maybe never , do.

[Susan Bice]

Over 18 hours of reading but an excellent story.

[Lori Miller]

Laugh out loud hilarious

[Eliza Montgomery]

Great story. Very suspenseful. Not sure about the ending but Lianne Moriarty never disappoints!

[Luann.Houk]

I didn’t like this book, in fact I couldn’t finish it. It just seemed like the author was trying to fill pages and it was all nonsense. Awful!

[Mlmcchesney]

Such a witty book. Loved the character development. Probably would give this 3.5 stars. Didn’t like the F bombs

[Jessica]

Too much mundane details and when you think it’s going to be over it just keeps going and going. I oddly wanted to keep listening but also kept thinking let’s get to it already

[Stephanie DeBoer]

Kept me interested, but the ending was so disappointing and unrealistic. I had to force myself to finish reading the last handful of chapters.

[Maureen Powers]

Loved this story and their family dynamics, it didn't translate to the big screen, had to leave so many of the personalities out of the story

[Gwarmbein]

Outstanding! Unpredictable and captivating!
Highly recommend!