Regrets

Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty is a contemporary novel set in Australia. I found it took me a while to get into the story but once in, I became immersed.

The novel is a study in suburban life for three very different families. Their lives all pivot on an event and nothing is quite the same again. Liane Moriarty has the reader guessing what happened as the action moves backwards and forwards between present day and a BBQ weeks earlier. I kept trying to guess the main event but failed miserably.

Liane Moriarty shows how different people react differently to the same event. They all witness it in a unique way. They are all united by the fact that they all have guilt and regrets from the youngest to the oldest. The novel explores how they all deal with this.

There is the theme of friendship running throughout. The novel shows how a friendship evolves and changes over the years when two are unequally yoked.

Within the story there are several instances of PTSD linked to the main event. No one could prevent what unfolded so now they each try to control what they can.

The novel explores the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. Life is not all about money. Money can buy a great many things but it cannot buy health or happiness.

Truly, Madly, Guilty was a very unique novel that I enjoyed once I got into it. It was a perfect study of suburban life and the various unique but ordinary people that one may meet daily.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON