As an avid reader and author myself, I love books that keep me on the edge of my seat and thrust me into a world of secrets and lies. There’s nothing better than seeing trouble coming for a character and wondering how in the world they’re going to make things right. I read and write these types of stories—ones that are relatable, emotionally charged, and twisty. To me, they’re the most fun!
This book is the perfect blend of real-life, emotional situations, and twisty suspense. I love stories about the choices people have to make, and the fallout from those decisions (both bad and good). The author does an amazing job at putting the reader in the character’s shoes: I found myself asking what I would do in the situation. And even if you would do the opposite, you still get why the characters do what they do to achieve the one thing they want more than anything—to be a parent. Who can’t relate to that??
The Choices We Make was inspired by my younger cousins, it's letting them know to love the skin that they were born in. It's also about getting to know someone for the heart that's on the inside. It's not about looking at the color of their skin that is on the outside. It's about knowing what color is and really seeing it. But choosing to be friends with someone because of their character and not judging them because of their skin color, not letting that be the first thing you see. Don't let the skin color of the person stop…
The ultimate in twisty journeys, this book is like a rollercoaster. You think you know what happens, but chances are you’re wrong. At the heart are a group of female friends who are willing to do anything to help each other—even if it means covering up a crime. I love the way the book depicts the power of friendship, but even more so the secrets we all carry and what we’re willing to do to keep them hidden. So many choices and consequences in this one! Juicy and unputdownable.
*Published as BIG LITTLE LIES in Australia and the United States*
Liane Moriarty, million copy selling author of The Husband's Secret brings us another addictive story of secrets and scandal.
Jane hasn't lived anywhere longer than six months since her son was born five years ago. She keeps moving in an attempt to escape her past. Now the idyllic seaside town of Pirriwee has pulled her to its shores and Jane finally feels like she belongs. She has friends in the feisty Madeline and the incredibly beautiful Celeste - two women with seemingly perfect lives . . . and their…
I love books where female protagonists are longing for something, and in this case it’s acceptance—so relatable! The character in this story has to make a split-second decision (also one of my favorite tropes), and then deal with the consequences. On top of that, it was super fun to get a peek into the hospitality industry. Haven’t we always wondered who cleans our rooms at hotels? It’s a classic whodunnit but in a fresh, new way.
*THE NO.1 NEW YORK TIMES & SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER *WINNER OF THE NED KELLY AWARD FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION *A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME PICK
'An escapist pleasure' SUNDAY TIMES 'Delightful' GUARDIAN 'An instantly gripping and delightful whodunnit' STYLIST 'Smart, riveting, and deliciously refreshing ' LISA JEWELL
The question that comes to mind with this book is, “If you could make a simple choice to change your life even if you know it’s wrong, would you?” I kept wondering what I would do in the character’s situation. If you’re drawn to moral dilemmas, ethical decisions, and secrets and lies, this book is for you. A complete page-turner, I couldn’t put it down. There are twists you don’t see coming, but at the heart is a story about ideals and the mistakes we make trying to reach them.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • “A psychological thriller that captivated me from page one. What unfolds makes for a wild, page-turning ride! It’s the perfect beach read!”—Reese Witherspoon
A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller from the author of Mr. Nobody and The Disappearing Act.
“Steadman keeps the suspense ratcheted up.”—The New York Times
ITW THRILLER AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY GLAMOUR AND NEWSWEEK
If you could take someone else’s place, someone else’s life, would you? In this book, a woman assumes the identity of another, and tallies up a list of lies to keep her secret hidden. I’m fascinated by flawed female characters doing bad things—maybe that’s the fun of escapism through books! You’ll find yourself wondering if she’ll pull it off, what’s going to happen next, and then you’ll be surprised by plot twists along the way. Another page-turner to gobble in a single sitting!
"Deliciously duplicitous. . . . equally as twisty, spellbinding, and addictive as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl or Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train."-Library Journal (starred review)The mesmerizing debut about a coolly manipulative woman and a wealthy "golden couple," from a stunning new voice in psychological suspense.Some women get everything. Some women get everything they deserve.Amber Patterson is fed up. She's tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more-a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town…
Married college professors Christine and Joss thought they had it all—until Joss’s research pulls her further and further away, and strange bouts of forgetfulness put a wedge between them. Lonely and seeking the emotional connection she once shared with her wife, Christine forms a friendship with a student that quickly walks the line of right and wrong. Eighteen-year-old Abbie is an outcast desperate to fit in. When the most popular girl on campus suddenly befriends her, Abbie can’t believe her luck. But the friendship comes with strings attached—stealing exams from her mom’s computer for the in-crowd. Soon, both mom and daughter are in deep. When their secret lives collide, their indiscretions culminate in a catastrophe no one saw coming.
From the time I was a girl, I’ve loved stories that put a lump in my throat even as I’m laughing. As a fiction writer, that funny-sad tone is the one I go for in my own work. I gravitate toward female protagonists of all ages who break the mold—women who are intelligent and strong but who also have unconventional, quirky personalities. Women who can be hilarious, infuriating, and heartbreaking—sometimes all at once. Because they are complex and unique, these women tend to struggle with life’s challenges more than their contemporaries. That’s what makes their stories so interesting, and why I have chosen the books on this list.
When Mar’s husband divorces her, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy starting over, she’s ready for new adventures—as long as she can keep things casual. Each month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical consultant. . . and a handsome novelist who wants more than she can give. Mar learns from each encounter. But can she open herself up to true connection?
Surrounded by quirky, endearing characters, Mar navigates her…
"A fun, entertaining novel! I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book as much as I did." -Leslie A. Rasmussen, award-winning author
When Mar Meyer's husband divorces her for another woman, she reacts by abandoning everything in her past: her home, her friends, even her name. Though it's not easy to start over, Mar is young-looking, fit, and ready for new adventures-as long as she can keep things casual.
With each passing month, Mar goes from one acquaintance to the next. Among them: a fellow gym member down on her luck, a flirty hip-hop instructor, a bossy but comical…
