— A U T H O R B I O — — R E A D A L I K E S — Liane Moriarty is the Australian author More Like Her by Liza Palmer of six internationally best-selling novels, Three Wishes, The Last When Emma Dunham, the Anniversary, What Alice Forgot, The woman they believe is the height Hypnotist's Love Story and the number of female perfection, is murdered 1 New York Times bestsellers, The by her husband, Francis, Lisa and Husband's Secret and Big Little Lies. Her new novel, Truly Madly Guilty, was Jill discover that things aren't al- released in July 2016. ways what they seem, which forc- es them to come to terms with Her breakout novel The Husband's Secret sold over three the secrets of their own lives. million copies worldwide, was a number 1 UK bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of 2013 and has been translated into over 40 languages. It spent over a year on the New York Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky Times bestseller list. CBS Films has acquired the film rights. With the launch of Big Little Lies, Liane became the first Australian author to have a novel debut at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. An HBO series based on Two childhood friends reunite at a Big Little Lies is currently in production, starring Nicole summer retreat, each harboring a Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. horrible secret that would test the bounds of their longtime Writing as L.M. Moriarty, Liane has also written a children's relationship if revealed. book series, The Petrifying Problem with Princess Petronella, The Shocking Trouble on the Planet of Shobble and The Wicked War on the Planet of Whimsy. Liane lives in Sydney with her husband, son and daughter. In its review of her 2013 novel, The Husband's Secret, she Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand “...a lip-smacking and was referred to as "an edgier, more provocative and bolder successor to Maeve Binchy" by Kirkus Reviews. intelligently written novel.” Two women of a friendship trio Moriarty began work in advertising and marketing at a legal are shattered when their third publishing company. She then ran her own company for a -Entertainment Weekly companion accidentally while before taking work as a freelance advertising copywriter. In 2004, after obtaining a Master's degree at drowns, and in the aftermath, “A provocative page-turner” Macquarie University in Sydney, her first novel Three they realize that their loss Wishes, written as part of the degree, was published. extends beyond grief as their -Woman’s World layers of secrets and connections are gradually revealed. (Source: Goodreads.com, 2016) (Source: NoveList Plus, 2016) — D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S — — S U M M A R Y — 1) What were your thoughts when you read the Prologue 9) The concept of guilt also plays a major role in the novel. Rachel At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter that’s not meant about Pandora? feels that because of a brief flirtation with Toby Murphy she was to be read: My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve absent when Janie died. John-Paul continues to sacrifice things died. 2) When Cecilia finds the letter addressed to her from her that he loves, out of guilt for what he did to Janie. It seems that husband, "To be opened only in the event of my death," she is these characters have never been able to recover from the Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened tormented by the ethics of opening it. Do you agree with her feelings of guilt caused by their actions. Yet at the same time, after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his ultimate decision? What would you have done? other characters in the book do not appear to feel guilt in the same deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to way. Consider Felicity and Will. Do they have remorse for their destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of 3) Consider the title The Husband's Secret. Several characters affair? And does Tess regret her fling with Connor? What others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that in the book have secrets they hold on to that they eventually determines how guilty one feels-is it the situation, or is it letter while your husband is still very much alive. reveal. Felicity and Will share the secret of their affair to Tess; determined by the individual's character? John-Paul guards his secret from Cecilia until he is forced to Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly admit it. What are the ramifications of their secrets? Is secrecy 10) Tess and Felicity have a history of making snide comments successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and is ever warranted and justifiable? about other people. Tess realizes this only once she is out of the a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as comfort zone she's shared with Felicity for so many years. How has her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not 4) Tess has suffered her whole life from crippling social such negative energy affected her relationships with others? Do just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each anxiety. How has this made everyday situations a challenge for you think she and Felicity are actually cruel, or is there another other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering her? Why has she never confronted her problem? Why doesn't reason for their unkind behavior? repercussions of her husband’s secret. she tell anyone about it? 11) Ethics and morals are important themes in the book. Discuss Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought 5) The Berlin Wall is referred to throughout the novel as Esther how John-Paul, Cecilia, Tess, Will, and Rachel have each done -provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our works on her school project. And in fact, we learn that Cecilia something they would not have thought possible. Have you ever spouses—and, ultimately, our- met John-Paul on the day the Wall finally came down. What acted in a way that seems entirely out of character? How did you (Source: LitLovers.com, 2016) does the Wall signify in the book? feel? Does love cause people to do things they wouldn't normally do? 6) The story of Cannonball Harry was really striking. This man hijacked a train and drove full speed thru the barricades with 12) Consider the notion of betrayal in this book. Which characters his wife and four kids lying on the floor of the train, bullets have betrayed someone they love? Are their acts of betrayal flying over their head. Cecilia said if I had been his wife, I premeditated, or are they unplanned decisions that become would have said it’s not worth it; who cares if we’re stuck regrettable actions? When one person betrays another, can that behind this wall? At least we’re alive. Death is too high a price person be forgiven? Or is the damage irreparable? for freedom. What did you think of this story? 13) The novel is narrated in third-person and in past tense. Given 7) There was another thread running the story – The Biggest the intense focus on three women, why did the author choose to Loser. Do you think using that show with that title had any tell the story from this point of view? How does this perspective significance? Who was the “Biggest Loser”? add a sense of mystery and foreboding? 8) Grief is a major theme in the novel, and many of the 14) Cecilia has been married to John-Paul for fifteen years and has characters have suffered as a result of their losses. How has three children with him. Until she opens his letter, she seems to grief affected Rachel? Rob? Tess? John-Paul? How do they trust him and believe him to be the wonderful husband and father each cope? In what ways have their lives have been she's always thought him to be. But when she discovers his irrevocably altered as a result of their grieving? Do you think terrible, sinful secret, she begins to question him. How well can people can fully stop grieving and move on with their lives? one know one's spouse? Is it possible to ever completely know another person? 15) Is it Ok to ever keep a secret? (Source: LitLovers.com & MPPL, 2016) .