Honestly, I hate rating a book I failed to finish but NetGalley requires one so I have to rate it poorly.

I tried to get into the story but I didn't connect with the characters enough to be invested in their journey. Alas, at the halfway point I could not muster the effort to continue.

I did enjoy the witty dialogue offered by Abigail. Her presence was the highlight, for the most part, and her voice alone made it possible to get as far as I did. However, even that wasn't enough in the face of a story that dragged in far too many places and didn't offer enough substance to truly hold my interest.

I didn't care for The Guidebook--no matter how central it was to the story. It only served as a means of taking away from the characters and, as difficult as it was to maintain an interest in them, that was definitely not a good thing.

Perhaps if I'd been more familiar with the other works by this author, I'd have been more willing to hang in there and see how it ended but, by the halfway point I was still losing interest and couldn't see a reason to continue.

My apologies for not being able to do so but this was a case of not being the right reader for this book.

This was a really interesting book with a fascinating premise. Once I got into it I really enjoyed it. The characters were delightful and the book was very well-written.

Abigail's brother disappeared when she was 16 and her family never stopped looking for him. At the same time, she started receiving chapters from something called "The Guidebook" in the mail. She followed the directions in the chapters not thinking about anything long-term until 20 years later when she gets an invitation in the mail for a retreat where she'll learn the "the truth".

Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jaclyn Moriarty successfully makes the transition from YA to Adult Fiction with her novel, Gravity is the Thing. The book examines dealing with grief, change, and the unknown to follow. The main character, Abi, seems to have a life she enjoys. She has a young son, her own "happiness" cafe, and friends and family to support her. But Abi is searching for her own identity and answers to the losses she has endured. Abit was in her teens when she lost her brother, who was also her best friend. She has spent 20 years hoping that her brother ran off and started a new life, but knowing he wouldn't just leave her. Then her seemingly compatible marriage dissolves and she discovers she will be a single mother. Throughout all of these experiences, she has been receiving The Guidebook, one chapter at a time. This mysterious tome promises and provides a through line in Abi's existence and now, 20 years later, she has been invited to a retreat to discover why The Guidebook has been coming to her for all these years and the truth behind its purpose. This novel is a fresh and quirky look at dealing with the ever-changing landscape of life.

You can not be blue, can't be depressed while reading the special novel, set in Sidney, Australia and peopled with folks you would love to know. Abigail is a special sister, a supportive daughter, a good wife, and an indulgent mom. When the cards fall against her, she antis up and deals again. Self-pity is not on her agenda, though we of lesser internal fortitude would submit to it. I enjoyed the way the Guidebooks lead us through the world as Abi knows it, and help her find diversity and challenges along the way that she would not have otherwise been exposed to.

Oscar is an intrepid soul and the key to the heart of Abi. And the flying lessons are what holds this group of humans together, keeps the spirit of joy at the forefront of their lives. This is a novel you will not want to miss. I am pleased to recommend it to friends and family. It is a book that creates a deep well of satisfaction in your heart. And the need to look at air currents with a different attitude.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Jaclyn Moriarty, and HarperCollins Publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

“Eventually, you will find the kindness to forgive your former self for hope, and for mistakes.”

What a lovely, quirky read from Australian author Jaclyn Moriarty (yes, she is the younger sister of Liane Moriarty).

Our main character Abigail is a woman desperate for truth and answers. She doesn't know what happened to her younger brother 20 years ago, she doesn't know why her marriage fell apart, she doesn't know how to actually be happy (even though she ironically runs a business called The Happiness Café), and she definitely doesn't know why she has received random chapters from a self-help book ("The Guidebook") in the mail for the last 20 years. All of these doubts and questions are pried open when she is invited to an all expenses paid retreat weekend where she is promised the "truth" about The Guidebook. The "truth" is so wholly unexpected it sends Abigail off on a journey that she never asked for or could have predicted.

Every character we meet in this novel is a wacky delight. With a knack for writing characters that are unique and quirky but not caricaturish that I would equate to the writing of someone like Maria Semple, I found myself consistently laughing out loud at the thoughts, actions, and speech of our various cast of characters. Abi's son Oscar is adorable and hilarious in the way only 4 years old can be. Abi's inner monologues and musings on life were poignant and entertaining. “Life! Honestly! It’s just a series of rebukes from the universe for judgmental thoughts.” Wilbur is sympathetic, albeit seemingly insane. I found myself wishing most of the people in this book would be characters in my own life!

The answers to the questions Abi has been asking eventually come, with lots of twists and turns along the way. The way that every plot line and theme comes together at the end of the book is absolutely beautiful. Abi has been looking for happiness the whole time, and eventually she realizes that it might just be found in the grace found in a healthy relationship, both with others and ultimately yourself.

Gravity is the Thing

The story is a conglomerate of feelings, it is at once warm, loving, funny and also heartbreaking. The writing is wonderful and the character of Abigail Sorensen is quirky and very original. Her story swirls from past to present because that’s how her mind works, giving this very well written book a bit of flair.
My curiosity about Abigail and her story grabbed from the start. I had to keep going to the end - I just had to know.
I highly recommend this book. It is an enjoyable read with wonderful and interesting characters and lots of ups and downs, laughter and tears.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsPublishing for approving my request. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I liked this one, but didn't find the incredible connection to it that it seems so many readers did. The most compelling storyline for me was that of Abi's missing brother, and that part of the story was intriguing and sad, but much of it just didn't land for me (the segments of the Guidebook that were shared had me skimming, and while I think it was meant to be questionable, I just found the idea of all these teenagers receiving it and not finding it ludicrous... strange). Not totally for me, but based on rave reviews here and elsewhere it definitely is resonating well with other readers.

This book was definitely a surprise and not what I was expecting. I have mixed feelings about the story. I loved the mystery behind what happened to Robert and I liked reading about Abigail and learning about her life when she was younger and then when she was married. Unfortunately, I hated Tuesday flying lessons and everything about the Guidebook. I could not get into the Guidebook chapters. Were Rufus and Isabelle crazy??? It's a little strange ( A LOT strange) to send teenagers whom they didn't know, weird messages which they called the Guidebook and tell them not to tell anyone. It screams crazy. I would have been very disappointed when the truth behind everything was revealed on that island retreat. I was disappointed when I read it. It was just so absurd and then they met on Tuesdays and pretended everything was normal. Was not a fan of all the characters, my least favorite being Oscar. He was supposed to be four but he acted more like a two year old. the best part about the book was finally finding out what happened to Robert.

I do look forward to reading more books by the author because I loved "Feeling Sorry for Celia" and "The Year of Secret Assignments." This book just wasn't the right fit for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I tried so very hard to like Gravity Is the Thing. I really did. I forced myself to push on even though I'm a huge advocate of there are too many good reads to force yourself to finish one that doesn't keep you interested. Why? Robert. I wanted to know what happened to Robert.

I did like the character of Abigail and really thought Oscar was wonderful. I could have read an entire book filled with Oscar and his amusing yet dry, solemn statements.

I felt there was too much about the Guidebook and those bits were thrown in at odd times which served to throw me off. There never seemed to be a rhythm to this story and at about 25% I was already wanting to quit reading, but I kept hoping it would get better.

The author did a great job with Abigail and Oscar and I hate to leave a bad review, but I read an ARC from Netgalley (thanks to the publishers and author as well as Netgalley) and I do feel I should review it.

If you have read this author's YA books and enjoyed them, you may like this book. I've this novel compared to her sister's work so if you like Liane Moriarty, this book may very well work for you. If you're considering it, give it a shot. This seems to be (from reading other reviews) either a book you really enjoy or you just don't. There doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground.

Some readers will love this story of Abigail, a woman who had never gotten over the disappearance of her brother when they were 15 and 16 respectively. She's been receiving mysterious letters for a guidebook since that year and now, many years later, is invited to a gathering of others who were recipients. Turns out, the authors of the guidebook believed- truly believed- that people can fly. Abagail has had a lot of upheaval in her life- she's divorced and a single mom- but she's also got a certain amount of privilege (her step father fronted her the money for her cafe). She's interested in meeting men, and does. Most of all she wants to find her brother. The story slips back and forth in time to the extent that to my mind, it almost did Abigail a disservice- the technique made her harder to know. This felt too long to me; it sagged in the middle. I stuck with this to find out what happened to Robert more than for any other reason. The writing is good and the plot will no doubt appeal to many. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. A good opportunity to read a popular Australian author.

3.5 Stars. Overall, this was a heartbreaking, but at moments heartwarming and somewhat mysterious book. Abigail is a single mom to a young boy and a business owner who is trying to figure out her life. I stumbled a lot trying to get through the story. For some reason the formatting and the timing made it hard for me to follow the story, which made it drag a little for me. I just kept wondering where it was going. Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC.

Maybe one of my favorite characters this year. The cyclical thoughts that web and wind and wrap constantly in Abigail’s mind was eerily and cheerily familiar and made her so much fun to read. If you’ve heard of this or saw it and thought whether it’s worth reading, just read it.

This is the story of Abigail and how she copes with life. When she was a teen her brother disappeared. This caused her parents to divorce. Then she married the love of her life and he left her and their son for a younger woman. She finds strength in a stack of papers that have arrived throughout her life by mail. These papers are from the GUIDEBOOK. She thinks that maybe her brother has been sending her this book chapter by chapter over the last 20 years but doesn't really know. Now living in Sydney Australia, she receives an invitation to attend a conference by Guidebook. The story is sad but hopeful with fun sprinkled throughout the story. A wonderful story of moving on with life. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Gravity is the Thing will have you laughing, crying and feeling everything in-between. This is my first book to read by Jaclyn Moriarty. I understand that she normally writes young adult books. I believe she is an author worthy of following and will check out more of her books as her career develops.

Gravity is the Thing is a funny, odd, and satisfying read. It is like nothing I have read before. There is a mystery, a little romance, some magical realism (maybe), and a lot of really great characters. There are laugh-out-loud moments, and also some coincidences that are maybe too good to be true. I really love the narrative voice. Abi is a funny and super smart single mother looking for some kind of peace after a few rough tragedies in her life.

Highly recommend for fans of another Moriarty sister (Liane), Jill Mansell, and Marian Keyes. I like this for a book club pick too because there is so much to talk about, so many different angles to focus on.

This one is a DNF for me. I tought it would get good, I read the first few opages with excitment, but...as soon as the main characters gets the news about the letters she has been receiving.. I lost all interest, everything from then on seemed very strange. And where the author probably wanted us to see humor… I only saw inconsistency...

Gravity is The Thing is the debut adult novel by Jaclyn Moriarty. She is the sister to Liane Moriarty and Nicola Moriarty, which fueled my desire to read this book. Liane is one of my favorite authors. Gravity is the Thing begins informing you about the Guidebook. The Guidebook was received by a chosen group of people. Eventually these people come together. This all is the back story, Abi and her families story takes the spotlight. The book is broken up into parts and small chapter, flowing between the Guidebook and Abi's family. Abigail's brother disappeared as a teenager and was never found. You learn how this has affected Abi and her life as she has grown without knowing where Robert is. I had a hard time getting into this book and the back and forth was confusing to me. I would get really into learning about Abi's past and then get jerked back to the current day. I did want to give up 25% through, but I pressed on. I overall liked the story and appreciated Moriarty's style. I was in tears by the end of the book. I will be looking for more of her adult works. Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.


#GravityIsTheThing #NetGalley

As a teen, I was a huge fan of Jaclyn Moriarty’s quirky, personable epistolary YA, so I was really excited to see that she had written her first adult novel! It captures that same eccentric spirit as her YA works, but manages to be something completely different.

I don’t read a lot of adult ‘chick lit’, as I’ve rarely been able to connect with the characters due to them being in very different life circumstances to me – nothing against the genre or its readers! I was thrilled to find here that although main character Abi is a single parent to a five year old, she’s also weird in the same ways that Moriarty’s YA characters were weird – trying to figure out her place in life, not feeling like an adult yet, and ultimately embracing her own quirks. Abi’s voice has something unusual about it – she’s kind of overly dramatic but also worried about her own mundanity. It feels like she’s writing in her own diary, which is what I’ve always loved about Moriarty – it’s a talent to capture that self-conscious spark of someone writing about themselves and not have it be annoying! Abi was never annoying. She felt like a real person talking about things in the way that real people do.

The plot of the book centres around a mysterious self-help guidebook that Abi and others have been receiving excerpts from all their lives, delivered by post to wherever they are. She attends a weekend retreat that promises to solve the mysteries of the letters – except it turns out that it isn’t a self-help book using metaphors about flying, it actually is a guide to flying. Ridiculous though it is, she becomes drawn into a group of people who want to find out more. The conceit of the letters is so perfectly, weirdly Moriarty! It’s reminiscent of the pen-pal scheme that forms the backbone of her YA books, which instantly put me at my ease, but it does very different things. There’s a part of this book where you wonder if it’s going to be magical realism, but at its heart this is a novel about people embracing silliness and childishness, and finding themselves once they relax.

It’s very hard to categorise this book. It’s a delight to read, but it will make you think – it tackles some dark issues amongst its light-heartedness. It just feels like a book full of kindness and heart and love, and reading it made me smile. Four out of five stars from me!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced digital cooy of Gravity is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty in return for my honest review.

Gravity is the Thing has a very intriguing premise, but one that was lost in its execution. For years, Abi has mysteriously received in the mail chapters from The Guidebook, lessons and activities to navigate life. Abi relied on The Guidebook to uncover the mystery of her sixteen year old brother’s disappearance, convinced that he would return and that there was a connection between the two because the chapters started arriving on the day he disappeared. Flash forward, Abi is a single mother, divorced , and has received an invitation to a weekend retreat to learn the truth about The Guidebook. This was such a unique and engaging beginning. There was a cast of interesting characters with revealing back-stories. The novel tackled substantial issues, but with compassion, and in many ways this book was extraordinarily charming. I am very attracted to a quirky story. In fact, I search them out, but this novel takes quirky to a new level, sometimes to distraction. The story veered off in an odd direction, and too much time was spent there; after awhile it was all too much to absorb.

That being said, there were special moments that felt real and true. Oscar, Abi’s little boy, is spot on. I could have read about him forever. He was precious, loving, inquisitive and precocious, but also stubborn and demanding. The mother-son relationship was so recognizable, relatable and honest. Hats off to the author because these pages were brilliant. Abi’s loves for her son is palpable, and the reader falls in love with him too.

The disappearance of Abi’s brother and the effects it had on her and her family were also well done. The author captured the feelings of coping with such a loss over time and how the loss infiltrates all aspects of life. Although, the mystery was resolved, this reader found it improbable and unrealistic.

Abi’s marriage to Finn was another storyline that touched me. It was hopeful and loving, hurtful and messy. It was relatable and honest. It was these life moments, that the author portrayed incredibly realistically that reached me and connected me with the story.

I was glad I read the novel. I wish there had been more explanation of The Guidebook, why it was written, why specifically it was sent to certain children, and what it was trying to accomplish. This was the focal point of the novel, and yet there was too much left unexplained.
3 1/2 stars.

A light read about a heavy topic --processing the death of a sibling. There were several story lines here that seemed sort of disjointed. The premise was very odd and not entirely believable. A group of strangers get together because they have been receiving a book of instructions over the years starting with childhood. The son of the people who was sending the book holds "flight lessons" to teach the chosen to fly, but the sessions really end up as a way for these lonely individuals to find companionship. Strange. Also, there is a break up story line that just sort of falls flat because the characters are not very developed. Also, what happened to the brother was not really believable; it was just odd. Like most of the book. I didn't care about any of the characters or what happened to them, but I read to the end because it was an easy read..

I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.