Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (2018)

Every time Liane Moriarty comes up, I feel a little glow of having 'discovered' her with her first novel Three Wishes (2004!) Every single novel since then has been a treat.

Rich characterizations and complex relationships in unique situations are Moriarty's stock in trade. This novel is no different and has a particularly unique setting. Nine strangers meet at a health resort. Secrets unfold. Unexpected things happen. AND there's a kickass, menopausal, romance writer heroine called Frances. 

Endearing, absorbing, and so readable.

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty (2011)

Liane Moriarty is one of those authors that just speak to me.  She has such wonderful insights into character and relationships and builds such compelling, believable characters.

This novel is about Ellen O'Farrell, a hypnotherapist in her mid-30s, who just met a promising new man.  Things are going well until he tells her that he has a stalker--a woman he broke up with three years ago.  The story is told in alternating sections from Ellen's (3rd person) POV and Saskia's 1st person POV (the stalker).  Slightly quirky and very endearing, I think Liane Moriarty is a great readalike for Maeve Binchy.  Just change the setting from Ireland to Australia!  But keep the compelling characters and relationships and satisfying plots.

"I was stunned.  I'm not sure why.  I think I just never expected him to be important enough to make any significant changes in his life, but of course, he doesn't know that he's only a minor character in my life.  He's the star of his own life and I'm the minor character.  And fair enough too."

See also:  What Alice Forgot and Three Wishes.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas (2008)

Staggeringly good Australian novel about a group of friends and family and the aftermath when one of them slaps another's child at a backyard barbecue. Each chapter is about a different person in the group and their perspective on the event, and the story unfolds as each character is explored (not in a Rashomon way--the story just keeps progressing through the book). Amazing character writing--incredibly insightful into so many characters and their relationships. Just beautifully written and fascinating. 

 Also, loved the multiculturalism of the characters and how much of their characters are linked to their cultural heritage--an idea that doesn't come up that much in American literary fiction (not without making a big stinking deal about it). Amazing, absorbing, insightful.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (2009)

Absolutely adored this novel about a woman who falls down at the gym, hits her head and wakes up with amnesia. Her last memory is of being pregnant with her first child, happily married, and a new homeowner. But it's actually ten years later, she has three children, and is in the midst of a messy divorce. Not only that, but her sister is oddly distant. The beauty of this book is in Alice's slow discoveries of what has happened in the past year, how she (and others) have changed and why. Wonderful, vivid characters, and Moriarty is wonderful with relationships, particularly sisterly relationships. Delightful and humorous but full of insight and complexity as well.

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty (2005)

An utterly delightful novel about Lyn, Gemma and Cat--triplets in various stages of matrimonial and romantic drama, as well as drama in their relationships with each other and their parents. Fabulously endearing characters, fabulous quotes about being a sister. Must read.