The Husband's Secret

I'll start this review by admitting I'm a huge fan of Liane Moriarty. Once I pick up one of her books, I have a hard time putting it down. Her writing is superb, and her character development is exceptional, which makes her one of my go-to authors when I'm looking for a good read. THE HUSBAND'S SECRET poses the question: What would I do if I were in this situation? The story centers on Celia finding a letter written by her husband with instructions to open it in the event of his death. She can't resist opening the letter, and a huge secret is revealed. Life as Celia knows it is threatened. As the story continues, many characters are introduced who are all intertwined with this secret. Slowly and masterfully, Moriarty explains how they are connected providing a very emotional read. This book would make a tremendous book club selection.

Berkley; Reissue edition (March 3, 2015) - Fiction - 464 pages

Imagine your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret-something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others too. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all-she's an incredibly successful business woman, a pillar of her small community and a devoted wife and mother.

Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia-or each other-but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband's secret.

1. When Cecilia finds the letter addressed to her from her husband-"To be opened only in the event of my death"-she is tormented by the ethics of opening it. Do you agree with her ultimate decision? What would you have done?

2. Several characters keep secrets: Felicity and Will hide their affair; John-Paul hides the truth from Cecilia. What are the ramifications? Is secrecy ever warranted?

3. Tess suffers from social anxiety. How has this shaped her choices? Why has she never confronted it or shared it?

4. Esther's school project on the Berlin Wall recurs throughout. What does the Wall symbolize in the novel?

5. Grief is a major theme. How have Rachel, Rob, Tess, and John-Paul been altered by loss? Can people fully stop grieving?

6. Guilt also drives decisions. Contrast Rachel and John-Paul's guilt with Felicity/Will and Tess/Connor. Is guilt situational or rooted in character?

7. Tess and Felicity's snide commentary affects relationships. Are they cruel, or is something else at play?

8. Discuss morals and out-of-character acts by John-Paul, Cecilia, Tess, Will, and Rachel. Does love push people beyond their principles?

9. Which characters betray someone they love? Are these betrayals premeditated? Can betrayal be forgiven?

10. Why tell the story in close third-person across three women? How does this add mystery and foreboding?

11. How well can we know a spouse? After Cecilia opens the letter, how does trust shift, and what does the novel suggest about knowing another person?

This book will create a dynamic discussion on several topics. It presents the reader with personal questions to ponder: Do I really know my partner? Can I survive betrayal? What price would I pay to protect my family? Strong characterization and intersecting storylines offer rich ground for conversation.