Mitch’s review of The Husband's Secret > Likes and Comments
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I can understand why you wouldn't like this book if you like Harlequin novels.
Some Harlequin novels have a lot more depth than this novel has. The author tried too hard to "push the envelope" and failed, because in the end it is a cliche after all.
Mitch wrote: "Some Harlequin novels have a lot more depth than this novel has. The author tried too hard to "push the envelope" and failed, because in the end it is a cliche after all."
Guess I must be missing the merits of Harlequins. Obviously, they have a huge readership and are a successful enterprise. However, I'll stand with those who loved "The Husband's Secret" and hope Moriarty keeps on writing her delightful novels.
You are totally right Mitch. The premise did sound fascinating but the execution is dreadful.
if this would be a good beach read as many say, it would sure ruin my vacation.
Totally agree with Mitch. Doesn't matter your gender, writing is writing and this is very mediocre.
I agree with Mitch...about harlequins! Most are drivel but every so often a truly talented writer is discovered. Some very well respected best selling authors got their start with Mills and boon and Silhouettes
agree totally with mitch. well done on your review, you are not alone! Mary
I agree with Mitch. I finished reading only because I cannot leave a book unread. Major let down.
Oh shame. Not sure how you can say there was no character development when ALL of the women clearly grew throughout the novel and learnt more about themselves. Also, why do we need characters to be LIKEABLE all the time? Just a question.
I liked it only slightly better. I think your review was pretty accurate.
I agree 100% with this comment. I felt the same way. Totally mis-guided. Stopped reading it, ages back. Terrible.
I'm glad I'm not the only person who felt this way! I still see it topping the best selling charts and it baffles me! But if others enjoy it, then that is all that matters! Reading should be enjoyable, so those who do I am glad! I just personally did not. Thanks for the comments!
I felt it was the biggest waste of my time. Thought maybe I was missing something so I kept reading. Felt bad because I wasn't "getting it". After one month, I put it down but I always finish what I start so I ended up picking it up and when I got to the part where she read the letter, I skimmed to the end to get it over with. The end was a HUGE disappointment as well. Glad there are people out there that know a bad book when they read it.
I'm glad you were spared this Avaline! Yay to a fellow Harlequin fan haha.
Jo wrote: "Oh shame. Not sure how you can say there was no character development when ALL of the women clearly grew throughout the novel and learnt more about themselves. Also, why do we need characters to be..."
Jo, the characters don't have to be likable for me to love a book (I LOVED Gone Girl and who was likable in THAT book?) but I do have to feel something for the characters and also, I admire good writing and this book didn't have it (in my opinion).
As I said above, I liked it slightly better than Mitch did but honestly, with so many great books out there I wouldn't recommend this one. I thought it was mediocre, at best.
Mitch...I love that you are a harlequin fan!!!!!! So many people slam the genre....but there are much worse books out there. I just got this from the library, I might decide not to read it.
I agree with this whole review. I couldn't stand any of the three main female characters, so I don't think it's just because you are male!
I've received a few messages from readers who were angry about this review. Therefore I am glad that others agree with me!
I haven't made it past the second chapter. I thought it was me...but this book is dull, confusing, and the language seems a little dumbed down, like the author is addressing children. As much as I hate not finishing it, life is too short and there are too many excellent entertaining books to get through, to waste any more time on this one.
I cant believe people get angry with you over your thoughts. This is the best part of this forum, for us to read each others opinions and draw our own.
kudos to you for giving us your thoughts and listening to our. Keep being honest!
i love reading the bad comments cause that helps me judge how bad the book really is and if i want to spend the time reading it
I live on the Sydney northern beaches and I just guess that Liane is from this area too. Yep you can find that kind of people (Cecilia Fitzpatrick) around here. For it I have to give Liane the credits, but it is a very boring soap opera kind of book. Don't waste your time and money.
Sorry you didn't like The Husband's Secret. Just finished it and thought it was great. The themes touched on so well in the epilogue have always fascinated me.
uhh.. just started reading.. feel like putting it away after reading the above reviews..!!
Daniela Boksjo wrote: "I live on the Sydney northern beaches and I just guess that Liane is from this area too. Yep you can find that kind of people (Cecilia Fitzpatrick) around here. For it I have to give Liane the cred..."
I agree with your line "boring soap opera kind of book" - that describes this book exactly but SOOO many people in my book clubs just loved this book and I totally don't get it.
Absolute drivel (the book - not the review).
I totally agree with this review.
Trying hard to like this book and the people in it ... So far it is a struggle !
I agree with Mitch; tried hard, couldn't get into it at all. Also agree about the mediocrity of many recent "bestsellers".
Agree with Mitch. Writing awful and I found the constant 'whine' highly unnerving. Had to stop reading and I very rarely not see a book through to the end.
Well I finished it but unhappily. Way too irritating.
Agree with your review. I give up on this one!
I had to give mine back to the library as it was on hold, and when the librarian asked if I wanted to go back on the list, I said "nah." I agree Mitch: I have been dying for a real page turner and am not finding one. I'm a writer and have been to so many workshops/conferences where the agents and publishers tell us what we NEED to do to write a publishable book--then I read the "best sellers" and think "WHAT?!" Orange is the New Black was the worst one for me--broke all the "rules" and was so bad, I gave up on p. 82. I mean, a good little girl goes to prison and...nothing bad happens?!! Please. I didn't get far enough into this book to find out what the secret was but then I realized I didn't care anyway. WHERE are all the good books?
Just wondering...which page turners do you recommend?
Mitch, we are sometimes very much baffled by our fellow readers! I, for one, couldn't believe the huge success 50 Shades... got! What a crappy, unrealistic, ridiculous story!!! IMHO, of course.
And this was on the the Good Reads top fiction of 2013. sad
I should have read the reviews before reading this book. It was a total waste of my reading time.
The book wasn't that bad actually. I didn't predict everything that was going to happen. I thought Polly would die, but she didn't. I bet none of you predicted the things that no one would know at the end of the book which the author told us.
Daniela Boksjo wrote: "I live on the Sydney northern beaches and I just guess that Liane is from this area too. Yep you can find that kind of people (Cecilia Fitzpatrick) around here. For it I have to give Liane the cred..."
Daniela - You were able to say what I couldn't pinpoint about the quality of this book: it was like a poorly written soap opera. I have to add that when I reflect on this book, the author's attempt to weave together people's lives was poor at best.
I though your review was a little harsh, Mitch. I found it readable and entertaining. It was a light easy read, I did have to puzzle over the Berlin Wall for a minute! Oh, and shame on folks who are angry at you! I never understand why people take such offense over a differing opinion!
I think your review was right on. I finished the book disliking all the characters and felt as if they learned nothing and didn't grow at all over the course of the narration. I had high hopes and was very disappointed.
The book was actually nice it's not that bad .. Yea it got bored in the middle and stopped reading it for 2 weeks but overall it's an "okay" book I wouldn't call it terrible
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Nov 06, 2013 01:34PM
I can understand why you wouldn't like this book if you like Harlequin novels.
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Some Harlequin novels have a lot more depth than this novel has. The author tried too hard to "push the envelope" and failed, because in the end it is a cliche after all.
Mitch wrote: "Some Harlequin novels have a lot more depth than this novel has. The author tried too hard to "push the envelope" and failed, because in the end it is a cliche after all."Guess I must be missing the merits of Harlequins. Obviously, they have a huge readership and are a successful enterprise. However, I'll stand with those who loved "The Husband's Secret" and hope Moriarty keeps on writing her delightful novels.
You are totally right Mitch. The premise did sound fascinating but the execution is dreadful.
if this would be a good beach read as many say, it would sure ruin my vacation.
Totally agree with Mitch. Doesn't matter your gender, writing is writing and this is very mediocre.
I agree with Mitch...about harlequins! Most are drivel but every so often a truly talented writer is discovered. Some very well respected best selling authors got their start with Mills and boon and Silhouettes
agree totally with mitch. well done on your review, you are not alone! Mary
I agree with Mitch. I finished reading only because I cannot leave a book unread. Major let down.
Oh shame. Not sure how you can say there was no character development when ALL of the women clearly grew throughout the novel and learnt more about themselves. Also, why do we need characters to be LIKEABLE all the time? Just a question.
I liked it only slightly better. I think your review was pretty accurate.
I agree 100% with this comment. I felt the same way. Totally mis-guided. Stopped reading it, ages back. Terrible.
I'm glad I'm not the only person who felt this way! I still see it topping the best selling charts and it baffles me! But if others enjoy it, then that is all that matters! Reading should be enjoyable, so those who do I am glad! I just personally did not. Thanks for the comments!
I felt it was the biggest waste of my time. Thought maybe I was missing something so I kept reading. Felt bad because I wasn't "getting it". After one month, I put it down but I always finish what I start so I ended up picking it up and when I got to the part where she read the letter, I skimmed to the end to get it over with. The end was a HUGE disappointment as well. Glad there are people out there that know a bad book when they read it.
I'm glad you were spared this Avaline! Yay to a fellow Harlequin fan haha.
Jo wrote: "Oh shame. Not sure how you can say there was no character development when ALL of the women clearly grew throughout the novel and learnt more about themselves. Also, why do we need characters to be..."Jo, the characters don't have to be likable for me to love a book (I LOVED Gone Girl and who was likable in THAT book?) but I do have to feel something for the characters and also, I admire good writing and this book didn't have it (in my opinion).
As I said above, I liked it slightly better than Mitch did but honestly, with so many great books out there I wouldn't recommend this one. I thought it was mediocre, at best.
Mitch...I love that you are a harlequin fan!!!!!! So many people slam the genre....but there are much worse books out there. I just got this from the library, I might decide not to read it.
I agree with this whole review. I couldn't stand any of the three main female characters, so I don't think it's just because you are male!
I've received a few messages from readers who were angry about this review. Therefore I am glad that others agree with me!
I haven't made it past the second chapter. I thought it was me...but this book is dull, confusing, and the language seems a little dumbed down, like the author is addressing children. As much as I hate not finishing it, life is too short and there are too many excellent entertaining books to get through, to waste any more time on this one.
I cant believe people get angry with you over your thoughts. This is the best part of this forum, for us to read each others opinions and draw our own. kudos to you for giving us your thoughts and listening to our. Keep being honest!
i love reading the bad comments cause that helps me judge how bad the book really is and if i want to spend the time reading it
I live on the Sydney northern beaches and I just guess that Liane is from this area too. Yep you can find that kind of people (Cecilia Fitzpatrick) around here. For it I have to give Liane the credits, but it is a very boring soap opera kind of book. Don't waste your time and money.
Sorry you didn't like The Husband's Secret. Just finished it and thought it was great. The themes touched on so well in the epilogue have always fascinated me.
uhh.. just started reading.. feel like putting it away after reading the above reviews..!!
Daniela Boksjo wrote: "I live on the Sydney northern beaches and I just guess that Liane is from this area too. Yep you can find that kind of people (Cecilia Fitzpatrick) around here. For it I have to give Liane the cred..."I agree with your line "boring soap opera kind of book" - that describes this book exactly but SOOO many people in my book clubs just loved this book and I totally don't get it.
Absolute drivel (the book - not the review).
I totally agree with this review.
Trying hard to like this book and the people in it ... So far it is a struggle !
I agree with Mitch; tried hard, couldn't get into it at all. Also agree about the mediocrity of many recent "bestsellers".
Agree with Mitch. Writing awful and I found the constant 'whine' highly unnerving. Had to stop reading and I very rarely not see a book through to the end.
Well I finished it but unhappily. Way too irritating.
Agree with your review. I give up on this one!
I had to give mine back to the library as it was on hold, and when the librarian asked if I wanted to go back on the list, I said "nah." I agree Mitch: I have been dying for a real page turner and am not finding one. I'm a writer and have been to so many workshops/conferences where the agents and publishers tell us what we NEED to do to write a publishable book--then I read the "best sellers" and think "WHAT?!" Orange is the New Black was the worst one for me--broke all the "rules" and was so bad, I gave up on p. 82. I mean, a good little girl goes to prison and...nothing bad happens?!! Please. I didn't get far enough into this book to find out what the secret was but then I realized I didn't care anyway. WHERE are all the good books?
Just wondering...which page turners do you recommend?
Mitch, we are sometimes very much baffled by our fellow readers! I, for one, couldn't believe the huge success 50 Shades... got! What a crappy, unrealistic, ridiculous story!!! IMHO, of course.
And this was on the the Good Reads top fiction of 2013. sad
I should have read the reviews before reading this book. It was a total waste of my reading time.
The book wasn't that bad actually. I didn't predict everything that was going to happen. I thought Polly would die, but she didn't. I bet none of you predicted the things that no one would know at the end of the book which the author told us.
Daniela Boksjo wrote: "I live on the Sydney northern beaches and I just guess that Liane is from this area too. Yep you can find that kind of people (Cecilia Fitzpatrick) around here. For it I have to give Liane the cred..."Daniela - You were able to say what I couldn't pinpoint about the quality of this book: it was like a poorly written soap opera. I have to add that when I reflect on this book, the author's attempt to weave together people's lives was poor at best.
I though your review was a little harsh, Mitch. I found it readable and entertaining. It was a light easy read, I did have to puzzle over the Berlin Wall for a minute! Oh, and shame on folks who are angry at you! I never understand why people take such offense over a differing opinion!
I think your review was right on. I finished the book disliking all the characters and felt as if they learned nothing and didn't grow at all over the course of the narration. I had high hopes and was very disappointed.
The book was actually nice it's not that bad .. Yea it got bored in the middle and stopped reading it for 2 weeks but overall it's an "okay" book I wouldn't call it terrible
