From the author of the critically acclaimed What Alice Forgot comes a wonderfully fun, insightful novel about the crazy things we do for love.
Ellen O’Farrell is a bit unusual. She’s a hypnotherapist. She’s never met her father. And she can’t seem to keep a relationship going. (Okay, that’s more normal that we want to admit.) When Ellen meets Patrick, she’s hopeful nevertheless. But when he says he needs to tell her something, she fears the worst.
When Patrick reveals that his ex-girlfriend is stalking him, Ellen thinks, "Is that all? Actually, that’s kind of neat." She’s more intrigued than frightened. What makes a supposedly smart, professional woman behave this way? She’d love to meet her. What she doesn’t know is that she already has.
©2012 Liane Moriarty (P)2012 Penguin
"UNUSUAL STORY, WONDERFUL NARRATOR - AUSTRALIAN HIT"
The plot and characters are unusual (including a female stalker) that somehow all show varying levels of humanity, always with humor. The story is extremely well crafted, and the Australian accent of the narrator (and setting of the novel) adds to the charm.
The protagonist - the author does a great job of layering her emotional portrait.
I didn't laugh or cry, but I cared about the characters.
I've already recommended this book to several friends as a fun, captivating read.
"a twisted love story...so interesting!"
If you are someone who enjoys books about relationships & character studies, then this is the book for you. It's about what happens when a relationship ends, one party refuses to accept it, and how this affects the other persons new relationship.
Saskia and Patrick dated for 3 years. When he broke up with her, she simply refused be left and begins stalking him and his son. It's not with any violence--she just refuses to let him forget her, them, what they were. When Patrick falls in love with Ellen, she wants to get to know Ellen, as well and proceeds to, under the guise of a new client at Ellen's hypnotherapy practice. It's a story with lots of layers--Saskia and Patrick, Ellen's burgeoning interest in Saskia, Patrick and his family, Saski and Patrick's son, Ellen and her family, Saskia and her mother, Saskia and her lack of friends......they all play into the why's of how this 3 year stalking begins and ultimately what ends it.
It was funny, sad, interesting and insightful. Liane Moriarty really let's you get into the heads of Saskia and Ellen and what drives them and how they view their relationship with Patrick. She somehow made Saskia's stalking seem innocent and funny and a mind-game all at the same time. I felt for her and was appalled by her behavior at the same time.
Tamara Lovatt Smith's narration was excellent! She somehow walked the fine line between making Saskia likable and just short of manic. She really captured all of the characters well--so hard to do, especially in a book with many characters of different ages.
Loved it!
"Really good book!"
I really like the story and I like the way the author writes. I liked her other book as well. I was very sad when it was over.
"Fabulous!"
Loved this book. it is quite the suspenseful love story with the perfect amount of fun woven in! Just as good as What Alice Forgot!
"Loved this book!"
A creative and fascinating plot, read expertly by Tamara Lovatt Smith. Liane Moriarty has a gift for getting dialogue (and inner monologue) exactly right. I highly recommend this book as well as her earlier book called "What Alice Forgot".