Book Review: The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
Published in 2006
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
Sophie Honeywell always wondered if Thomas Gordon was the one who got away. He was the perfect boyfriend, but on the day he was going to propose, she broke his heart. A year later he married his travel agent, while Sophie has been mortifyingly single ever since. Now Thomas is back in her life because Sophie has unexpectedly inherited his aunt Connie’s house on Scribbly Gum Island—home of the famously unsolved Munro Baby mystery.
Sophie moves onto the island and begins a new life as part of an unconventional family, where it seems everyone has a secret. Grace, a beautiful young mother, is feverishly planning a shocking escape from her perfect life. Margie, a frumpy housewife, has made a pact with a stranger, while dreamy Aunt Rose wonders if maybe it’s about time she started making her own decisions.
As Sophie’s life becomes increasingly complicated, she discovers that sometimes you have to stop waiting around—and come up with your own fairy-tale ending.
Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite authors. This is the fourth book of hers I’ve read (although it’s the second one she’s written) and it did not disappoint. The Last Anniversary is a wonderful blend of mystery, serious issues and humor like her other books I’ve read.
Sophie is thirty-nine years old and can hear her biological clock ticking quite loudly. She’s starting to wonder if she should have broken up with her almost fiancé Thomas when one day he calls her out of the blue. He tells her that his Aunt Connie, who Sophie had barely known, has died and left Sophie her house on Scribbly Gum Island to her. Scribbly Gum Island is famous for being the place where the Munroe baby was found abandoned and Sophie just happens to be a huge fan of that story. She’s excited to be moving onto the island, where the Monroe Baby, now an adult, and her family live.
Sophie is welcomed by most of the family with open arms. The family members each have their own unique struggles and the narration switches back and forth between Sophie and various members of the family. I was completely drawn in to each person’s story, particularly Grace’s. Grace is a new mom who, to the reader, is obviously struggling with post-partum depression.. However, no one in the family notices and Grace just thinks she’s a horrible mother. I wanted to shake her husband for being so clueless. And her mother Laura was horrid!
The Last Anniversary has it all: Well-drawn characters, a well-plotted mystery and a good dose of humor to keep it from being too heavy I’m so looking forward to completing my mission of reading her entire backlist. And eagerly awaiting her next book!
My reviews of other Liane Moriarty books:
What Alice Forgot
The Husband’s Secret
Big Little Lies
