The Husband's Secret in Around the World in 80 Books

Jan 28, 2014 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club

This book is surprisingly fluffy considering its subject matter. Moriarty (no relation to James, I hope) does a good job of building suspense, but once the secret is out, the book sort of loses its oomph. I didn't want to put it down until I was about 40% in, when the secret is revealed. After that, I lost interest for the most part. The fourth star, however, is for the character of Tess, whom I liked very much. I didn't care much for her story, or the way that it really had very little to do wi ...more

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Nov 01, 2013 Ahsia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Good but predictable.

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Jul 06, 2015 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, chick-lit, audio, womens-day

I ended up feeling mostly disappointed in this book. It's not that it's not good - it is good, and I enjoyed listening to it, I laughed out loud at times, and felt like crying at others, and I really CARED about the characters. But I cared so much that I got really bummed when it didn't end the way I wanted it to for some of them!

The story is about Cecelia, and Tess, and Rachel. Each woman grapples with a pain that no one would want to carry. There is really no happy ending for any of them, not I ended up feeling mostly disappointed in this book. It's not that it's not good - it is good, and I enjoyed listening to it, I laughed out loud at times, and felt like crying at others, and I really CARED about the characters. But I cared so much that I got really bummed when it didn't end the way I wanted it to for some of them!

The story is about Cecelia, and Tess, and Rachel. Each woman grapples with a pain that no one would want to carry. There is really no happy ending for any of them, not with the hands they have been dealt. But I still found myself deeply disappointed in how some of the ends were tied up at the end.

This is the second book I've read by Ms Moriarty this year - the first was Big Little Lies - and this book follows the same formula: three women whose lives intersect in a school. In this one, the women don't know each other well when the book starts. First, we have Cecilia, who has just found an old letter her husband wrote to her, addressed "to my wife, to be opened only in the event of my death." Next is Tess, whose husband is confessing that he's in love with another woman, and that woman is her cousin and life-long best friend (this happens at the very beginning, so it's no spoiler, and I think it might be good to know going in). And finally there is Rachel, who works as a secretary a the school, and is a generation older than Cecilia and Tess. Rachel's story is the saddest, but the peace she finds at the end is the most satisfying of the three, for me.

The three women's stories are intertwined, but I felt a certain off-balance between the three. Rachel's story and Cecelia's story could not happen without the other, but Tess's story - while deeply moving - never felt central to the main plot. I was glad Tess was in the book, though, because she was the character I identified with the most.

I listened to the audiobook, and I was able to keep Rachel straight because the reader, Caroline Lee, used a slightly different voice for her. But I had a hard time keeping Tess's story straight from Cecilia - I kept thinking "wait, is this the one whose husband is cheating on her? or is this the one with the envelope?" - I don't know if that would have happened if I had been reading the book, maybe not.

The big reveal of what the letter says is not until (view spoiler). (if you're wondering, and spoiler tags if you're not) ...more

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Dec 25, 2013 Jayme Pendergraft rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, src-winter-2013

I definitely enjoyed this audiobook. We have several alternating views from varying characters that eventually come together in the end. It's an interesting look at how even minor decisions can impact the outcome of not only our own life, but of those around us. This book is interesting because I think a reader to could relate to a piece of each of the characters and not just identify with one over another.

The audiobook was VERY well read/performed. I think hearing the Australian accent gave thi ...more

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Nov 20, 2013 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: australia, dramatic, borrowed, contemporary, women, family, book-club

I don't usually buy hypes, but unexpectedly I enjoyed The Husband's Secret so much! For me, Liane Moriarty is like a better version of Jodi Picoult. Her story is more sensible, the characters are more believable, and the ending fits the whole plots. The Australian setting is also pretty nice- Sydney in Easter time (autumn, not spring) is different but great. I think I will try another Moriarty - just to satisfy my curiosity. Who knows, could be my new fave author! ...more

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Aug 08, 2016 alana rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

Bit traumatic for a new mom :S

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Sep 16, 2016 Jillian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A good, easy read with great characters in difficult situations. Would give this a solid 3.5 (can't WAIT till goodreads starts giving us 1/2 stars. The little things in life). A hair more developed than your average pop fiction. This kept me interested, engaged, and turning pages. ...more

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