I love this author's ability to create intrigue out of the most mundane events. In this one, the Delaney family is in an uproar—the family matriarch, Joy has gone missing. Stan, her husband, with whom she shared a lifetime running a tennis school and playing competitively while raising their four now-adult children (Logan, Troy, Amy and Brooke) are all in an uproar, trying to figure out what might have happened to her.

Was Joy's disappearance something to do with the mysterious young woman who showed up at her and Stan's door several months ago? Or is it—as her children reluctantly begin to wonder—something to do with their dad, Stan? Has he (gasp!) done ... something to their mother? Unfolding over jumps backward and forward in time, we learn more about this close-knit family, all of whom have complicated relationships with each other and with their childhood playing and excelling at tennis. This book portrayed wonderfully what it's like to be in a long and happy marriage, with ups and downs, years of blissful togetherness followed by domestic drudgery and bouts of a deep conviction that you simply cannot stand the sight of your spouse for another fecking minute.

Audiobook Note: I read some of the book, but listened to much more. It's the first time ever that I remember preferring to listen to a book over reading it, because the narrator? One of the best I've heard at portraying the mood of a book, and not just portraying it, but enhancing and amplifying it.

Highly recommended for a nuanced but accessible read about the kind of drama that only occurs in families, and the ways in which an outsider can enter and upset the balance, though not always in a negative way. An exceptional listening experience and an excellent book.I love this author's ability to create intrigue out of the most mundane events. In this one, the Delaney family is in an uproar—the family matriarch, Joy has gone missing. Stan, her husband, with whom she shared a lifetime running a tennis school and playing competitively while raising their four now-adult children (Logan, Troy, Amy and Brooke) are all in an uproar, trying to figure out what might have happened to her.

Was Joy's disappearance something to do with the mysterious young woman who showed up at her and Stan's door several months ago? Or is it—as her children reluctantly begin to wonder—something to do with their dad, Stan? Has he (gasp!) done ... something to their mother? Unfolding over jumps backward and forward in time, we learn more about this close-knit family, all of whom have complicated relationships with each other and with their childhood playing and excelling at tennis. This book portrayed wonderfully what it's like to be in a long and happy marriage, with ups and downs, years of blissful togetherness followed by domestic drudgery and bouts of a deep conviction that you simply cannot stand the sight of your spouse for another fecking minute.

Audiobook Note: I read some of the book, but listened to much more. It's the first time ever that I remember preferring to listen to a book over reading it, because the narrator? One of the best I've heard at portraying the mood of a book, and not just portraying it, but enhancing and amplifying it.

Highly recommended for a nuanced but accessible read about the kind of drama that only occurs in families, and the ways in which an outsider can enter and upset the balance, though not always in a negative way. An exceptional listening experience and an excellent book.

This book is described as a slow burn and that is exactly what it is! I kept wondering if all of the storylines would ever tie up - is this a book about murder? A dysfunctional family? With a full cast of characters, a hefty page count, chapters with time flash backs and forwards, plus my busy summer, it took me a while to knock out this book. I was satisfied with the story arc and overall I enjoyed the book...but it might could have been shorter in page length! I adored the audiobook narrator - she did such a fantastic job!!!

This one was quite a lengthy read, and while it wasn't an un-enjoyable story, I just think that the same thing could have been achieved in a much more concise and compelling way. This story follows recently retired couple Stan and Joy. After hearing a mysterious knock on their door one night, Joy disappears, leaving readers to question what happened to Joy and who was responsible for her disappearance. Overall, the book was funny, and the audiobook reader was fantastic, but at over 400 pages, I just thought this one to be a little bit too long.

I loved this until the last few chapters. It kept my interest and I couldn't wait to see how everything would unfold, however I was underwhelmed with the ending. For me, the ending left much to be desired. I normally love Liane Moriarty's books.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4559485633

DNFing this ARC solely because of the narrator of this audiobook. I will undoubtedly pick this back up in physical form as I adore Moriarty's writing but seen as I kindly got given the audiobook version on Net galley, I'm going to have to rate this poorly. So sad.

The Delaneys are fixtures in their Australian community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. If only they had grandchildren.

One night, a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delaneys are more than happy to welcome them into their home, and she becomes a permanent guest. When Joy goes missing on Valentine’s Day and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the four Delaney children—Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke—debate whether to report their mother’s disappearance to police, because it would implicate their father. For someone who claims to be innocent, Stan seems to have a lot to hide.

“That was the secret of a happy marriage: step away from the rage.” Liane Moriarty, Apples Never Fall

Liane Moriarty’s novels are hit or miss with me, What Alice Forgot (3 stars), The Husband’s Secret (4 stars), Big Little Lies (5 stars), and this one was a miss. Apples Never Fall neither captured nor kept my attention. It was far too long—historical fiction kind of long—and too much of the plot went down rabbit trails that seemed to go nowhere. The characters were well developed, but all were unlikeable. The book was a slow burn, but not in a good way. It was a slog; tedious and boring, and the constant tennis references were tiresome. I finished the book, but I can’t recommend it. I was so disengaged in the story, I can’t even remember the ending. Many other reviewers enjoyed this book, but it only earned 3 stars from this one.

Published Date: September 2021
Genre: Psychological suspense
Read-alikes: Unraveling Oliver: by Liz Nugent, Under the Water by Paul Pen, Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger, Shelter by Catherine Jinks

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of the book.

Stan and Joy Delaney have been married for fifty years. Just like any couple that has been married for that long, they have their ups and downs. They are well known in their community and have recently retired from the tennis school they ran for decades. The four Delaney children have been seeking excellence since childhood, but none of them have been able to find the love their parents share. But then one day Joy sends her four children a cryptic text, and she disappears. Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke are completely baffled, and their father has been no help. The siblings are torn, did their father do something to their mother? Or is her disappearance tied to the stranger they invited into their home last year? Either way, the Delaney children are desperate to find their mother.


Apples Never Fall is the latest from one of the most popular authors on the planet. From the outside, the Delaney family looks nearly perfect. Most of the children have successful careers and are still very close. The Delaney children all seem a bit entitled, and that might be just the reason all of them have had relationship struggles. Obviously, there is a mysterious element to the story, but not once was I on the edge of my seat. The ending was almost a letdown. CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS Even though there is a lot of timeline jumping with this novel, it is fairly easy to keep it all straight. It just isn't as gripping as I had hoped.


Bottom Line - Of course, you should read Apples Never Fall. Liane Moriarty is wildly popular for a reason. However, manage your expectations going into it and you won't be disappointed.


Details:
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
On Facebook
Pages: 480
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Publication Date: 9/14/2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Liane Moriarty but this book really did disappoint. I didn't care for the narrator and that can affect my opinion of the story so I did switch to book form. Unfortunately, it seemed to just drag out. I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for providing me with this ARC!

My first Laine Morarity book, but most certainly not my last. As someone who grew up playing tennis, I loved that subplot that ran through the book. I think I’ve been reading too many suspense books, because I assumed pretty quickly who Savannah was, but not the full extent.

This book was full of twists and turns and the ending was…woah.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Filled with family secrets, a well-crafted plot, and the effortless flow that fans of the author love, APPLES NEVER FALL is a delightfully calculated mystery. Though this is not my favorite of Moriarty's book, the audio version of this novel was superb. I loved listening to Caroline Lee as the story unfolded.

This is the third book by Liane Moriarty that I have read. Her penchant for weaving multiple storylines and timelines seamlessly is impressive. This book, the story of a competitive tennis family, held my attention and I developed strong impressions of each of the characters, good and bad. As is often the case in life, there were many motives and deceptions that moved the story along. Had the ending been different (no spoilers) I may have given 5 stars.

It is very rare for me to not finish a book. I really tried with this one because I loved Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot, but after listening to several chapters and feeling like it was just taking forever and not interesting enough to keep my attention, I sadly decided I was done. I will try to revisit this in the future and see if my opinion changes.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio book. All opinions are my own.

Published 14 September 2021.

This was such a complex book with characters and interesting story lines. Great audio that added to the story

4.5*
This is a story of family dynamics. It’s about parents who are loving but also antagonistic and four siblings who are competitive and diverse. The parents formerly ran a tennis academy and tennis was their life. They played, their children played and the goal was to coach a player all the way to the top ranks in the tennis world. They had one such player but he eventually switched coaches. All four of the siblings were skilled players but none made it to the very top.

Tennis permeates every part of the novel – the parents’ relationships with their children, the competitive tension between the siblings and even between the parents themselves. As with many families, sibling taunts and teasing take center stage when the four are together. Add in the parents’ long held hurts and betrayals and one finds a dysfunctional family with a lot to settle. Secrets are revealed, truths are told and feeling are often hurt.

But things get extremely complicated when the mother disappears. As time passes, the police are alerted and they are concerned that something nefarious has happened. Then there’s also the issue of a strange girl who had recently shown up on the parents’ doorstep and quickly became part of the family. Could this stranger have something to do with the missing mother?

Family dynamics can be very complicated, even in a family that, on the surface, seems quite stable. Moriarty gives readers a family that’s flawed. She has crafted a stunning story of people who love but also harbor anger at their own relatives. The audio book is narrated perfectly by Caroline Lee. It was nearly impossible to stop listening because the story is so engaging and the characters are so complex and imperfect. Anyone who has read Moriarty will add this as one of their favorites of her books.

First, let me say that I Love Liane Moriarty. The Love Affair started with The Husband’s Secret. Then on to Big Little Lies. I was let down with Nine Perfect Strangers, and I am sorry to bring it up, but I was unsure if this would be a new favorite, or another book that made me sad.

Apples Never Fall is about a family whose lives revolve about tennis. There is a Lot of tennis in this book, a little too much for my taste. When mom disappears, the story turns to watch could have happened to the matriarch. The family does not know what to do, or rather, the kids are not sure. Could dad have something to do with mom’s disappearance? He does look like a good suspect. But how could that be? They are the family everyone thinks are pillars of the community and a “perfect” family. In reality they are anything but. The kids are beginning to wonder if their father could be to blame for the disappearance of their mom. Or could it be something else they have overlooked all this time?

I was not crazy about all the tennis in this one, but I did like the book overall and finding the ending to the mystery. It was satisfying in the end, but this was a very slow burn for me. I had to start it over several times because in the beginning I could not jump right in. I would not say this is a book that gets me over Nine Perfect strangers, but it is making me believe in one of my favorite authors again.

I was very fortunate to be able to listen to this book. That is why I was able to finish it like I did. I loved the narrator, and that made the book really come to life.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't seem to get into this book. The story was compelling, but this book was not for me.

The book was too long, and the story went nowhere. As for the characters, they were all lackluster and dull.

We also need to talk about the ending. It wrapped up way too nicely and was unbelievable. I'm starting to think Liane Moriarty may not be for me anymore.

Liane Moriarty did not disappoint with this book. I enjoyed the flawed characters and their individual backstories, the mystery surrounding Joy's disappearance, and the various relationships. I always enjoy the author's writing style, filled with witty banter and laugh out loud moments. One of the highlights of the experience is listening to the audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Caroline Lee.

While I didn't enjoy this book as much as The Husband's Secret or Big Little Lies, I did like it quite a bit more than Truly Madly Deeply.

Apples Never Fall tells the story of the Delany family. When their mom goes missing, the four grown siblings start reexamining their shared family tennis history. I’ve like Liane Moriarty for a long time - like I think I read Three Wishes in college. Anyways, I keep reading her new books hoping they will be as good as her older books, but they just aren’t. I liked Apples Never Fall, but I was a little disappointed in in because it wasn’t Big Little Lies good. I mean it’s a page turner - but it just kinda ends.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company and Macmillian Audio for my ARC!

Although not her most compelling book from the start, the author weaves a tale of intrigue throughout the book that draws the reader back for more. The narrator of the book did a wonderful job building the tension and letting it out slowly to the point that the listener did not know who to believe. Highly recommend!

I enjoyed the very complex family dynamic here. Like all of Moriarty's books, she really knows how to weave excellent characters together. Not her best, but still a strong story.