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Cover of The last anniversary

The last anniversary

388 pages

A witty, page-turning exploration of an eccentric island family where everyone harbors a secret and happily-ever-afters must be forged, not found.

What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping onto a sun-dappled Australian island where every charming local is hiding a delicious secret. The pace is brisk and page-turning, driven by sharp wit and a cast of lovable, eccentric characters navigating the messy realities of family life. It balances a breezy, gossipy mood with genuine emotional complications, as women of different generations grapple with romantic regrets, feelings of being trapped, and the desire for independence. The prose is observant and humorous, effortlessly weaving an unsolved mystery into the fabric of domestic fiction. It is a perfect fit for readers who devour character-driven stories about unconventional families, hidden truths, and the empowering realization that you have to write your own fairy-tale ending.

Mood
  • gossipy
  • intrigue-laced
  • breezy
  • complicated
Tone
  • witty
  • warm
  • observant
  • eccentric
Pace
brisk
Themes
unconventional families · hidden secrets · romantic regrets · female agency · domestic complications
The writing
Sharp, witty, and observant, balancing humorous character quirks with a page-turning narrative flow.
The arc
Moves from lingering romantic regret and stagnation to self-discovery and the empowering pursuit of a self-made happily-ever-after.
Who it's for
Readers who delight in witty, character-driven stories about messy family dynamics, island settings, and women finding their own paths.
Content notes
  • family secrets
  • maternal distress

About the book

Sophie Honeywell always wondered if Thomas Gordon was the one she let get away. He was the perfect boyfriend, but on the day he was 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 MunroBabymystery.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.As she so adroitly did in her smashing debut novel, Three Wishes, the incomparable Liane Moriarty once again combines sharp wit, lovable and eccentric characters, and a page-turning story for an unforgettable Last Anniversary.

Description from Open Library.

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