Delightful. Liane Moriarty’s novel The Last Anniversary is a wonderful blend of chick lit, drama and cosy mystery. The subtitle, ‘sometimes you have to come up with your own fairytale ending’ is the attention grabber and a sentiment that many women will identify with.
Moriarty’s protagonist Sophie Honeywell projects the image of an independent, sophisticated 39 year old career woman who knows and gets what she wants, but deep down she yearns for something more. She secretly hopes for a fairytale ending, and is wondering when her white knight is going to show up? Meanwhile, on a little island called Scribbly Gum, formidable elderly matriach Connie Thrum is writing her will, and in so doing setting in motion a chain of events that will influence her beloved Doughty clan long after her passing. And what really happened to the parents of the Mystery Munro Baby?
The Last Anniversary is not your typical chick lit. The cast of characters is eclectic and complex, ranging from newborn babies through to feisty grandmothers and frumpy overweight housewives to sexy single gardeners. The very serious subjects of post partum depression and sexual identity are handled with respect and understanding. The story is told from many characters perspectives, a stylistic element that promotes a feeling of empathy for each of the characters. Moriarty has created characters that we would all like to have in our lives – they display human weaknesses but all are fundamentally good people at heart. It is hard to describe, but a reader gets the impression the author really cares for all of her characters, not just her protagonist, allowing each to grow and develop for her readers. Historical flashbacks also add real depth and heart to the telling of this story.
Despite the sometimes serious subject matter tackled in the novel, it is brimming with funny moments that are sure to make any reader, young or old, smile. Readers are treated to wry banter such as the following from the very first page:
‘Neither of us is going to jail, you ninny. One day we’ll be sweet little old ladies and we’ll probably forget that it didn’t happen the way we said it did.’
‘I can’t imagine us as sweet little old ladies.’
‘It does seem unlikely.’
The Last Anniversary is a delightful and heartfelt pick-me-up for women living in today’s fast-paced world.
Liane Moriarty grew up in Sydney, Australia. Other best-selling novels by Liane Moriarty published internationally include Three Wishes and What Alice Forgot.
The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty, a Book Review - Not Your Typical Chick Lit
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