In honor of this month’s “Best of” theme, this book is one of the best breakout novels of the last decade. Breakout usually refers to a book from an author who’s been publishing for years that finally hits it big.
Liane Moriarty had been publishing for nine years when The Husband’s Secret was released in 2013. And, while her next novel, Big Little Lies, was the first to make it onscreen, The Husband’s Secret is the one that put her on the map in a new way.
The title follows three women, whose lives are changed by the eponymous secret, and Moriarty’s knack for giving the reader breadcrumbs until a big, final revelation is so effective, it continues to influence contemporary fiction years later.
Moriarty writes about serious issues with warmth and a sense of humor that seem at odds with the subject matter but work to great effect. And while The Husband’s Secret is a great read any time of year, its page-turning qualities make it the perfect read to enjoy on a summer day.
Raela Schoenherr is an editor at a Minnesota publishing company. Find her on Twitter at @raelaschoenherr.
