FICTION

Truly, Madly, Guilty

Flatiron: Macmillan. Jul. 2016. 432p. ISBN 9781250069795. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250069818. F
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OrangeReviewStarThree couples, one ordinary day, one barbecue. Clementine and Sam have a rock-solid marriage and are parents to two beautiful little girls. Clementine's best friend Erika and her husband, Oliver, enjoy their child-free lifestyle. Friends since their youth, Clementine and Erika have a complicated relationship. Tiffany and Vid enjoy entertaining in their mansion with the sprawling backyard, but they have their secrets. They all come together when Vid invites Erika and Oliver to their house for a cookout at the last minute, and she in turn, invites Clementine, Sam, and their girls. What starts out as an ordinary afternoon quickly takes a turn for the worse. Moriarty's fans will rejoice at her latest title (after Big Little Lies), as she tackles marriage, parenthood, friendship, and sex, in this provocative and gripping read. Alternating between present day and the day of the barbecue, the author builds suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats wondering what happened to cause such fallout among the couples.
VERDICT This novel sheds light on the truths that we all fear as parents, spouses, and friends. It's perfect for those long summer days, but readers will have to pace themselves to not devour it in one sitting. [See Prepub Alert, 2/21/16.]
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