A “sharp and funny romantic tale” (O, the Oprah Magazine) from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers.Ellen O’Farrell is a professional hypnotherapist who works out of the eccentric beachfront home she inherited from her grandparents. It’s a nice life, except for her tumultuous relationship history. She’s stoic about it, but at this point, Ellen … She’s stoic about it, but at this point, Ellen wouldn’t mind a lasting one. When she meets Patrick, she’s optimistic. He’s attractive, single, employed, and best of all, he seems to like her back. Then comes that dreaded moment: He thinks they should have a talk.
Braced for the worst, Ellen is pleasantly surprised. It turns out that Patrick’s ex-girlfriend is stalking him. Ellen thinks, Actually, that’s kind of interesting. She’s dating someone worth stalking. She’s intrigued by the woman’s motives. In fact, she’d even love to meet her.
Ellen doesn’t know it, but she already has.
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I picked this up because I’m considering writing a thriller with a hypnotherapist protagonist and was searching for thrillers/mysteries with a psychologist background, and came across this! I read it during a tropical getaway and loved it. It was a perfect beach read — it’s women’s fiction* with humor, some romance, and a dash of thriller. All of the characters, even the secondary characters, felt well-rounded. I loved the alternating POVs of the third-person protagonist (hypnotherapist Ellen) and the first-person stalker (Saskia). And I loved reading about Ellen’s hypnotherapy practice — hypnosis is so fascinating to me, and I can’t wait to do more research here. Let me know if you’d recommend any other books on the subject!
*Note that even though this is categorized as a psychological thriller on retailers, I would say it’s more of a women’s fiction with a few thriller/suspenseful moments sprinkled in. But definitely a fun read, and I’d highly recommend!
As a writer myself, I’m very picky about the books I read. I loved this one. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, and that’s fine. It kept me reading and reading, too late into the night. Ellen was real and easy to identify with, and the other characters were well-developed and relatable, too. In the last quarter of the book as things were resolved I found myself dissolving in tears (very unusual for stoic me) over and over. For me, it was quite satisfying. I will look at more of this author’s work.
I found this book very readable and liked the portrayal of the main character who had a history of unfortunate relationships. There was definitely intrigue with the stalker girlfriend.
Ellen is a single woman, a hypnotherapist by profession, who begins dating a Patrick, a widower with a young son, a nice man who works as surveyor. Just as she begins to think he could be “the one,” he tells her he’s being stalked by an ex-girlfriend. She’s very curious at first, and finds the whole idea fascinating, until she realizes that Patrick’s stalker is one of her clients.
Although the beginning dragged a little (I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Ellen to finally catch a glimpse of the stalker), the character development and the end made up for it. You really got a 360 degree view of all the characters and their motivations, and as the reader, you got to know the characters’s lives. The author took her time with the end, too, and the reader learns what happens to all the characters, including the secondary ones.
Liane Moriarty is such an excellent writer, of course. This is one that I especially loved.
I liked it very much. Good character study.
How would you react if your new boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend is stalking him and now you? Hypnotherapist Ellen was intrigued – until things took a turn. This story deals with so many issues: grief, abandonment, love, family, loss, hope, families torn apart and put together, insecurities, jealousy, anger, the importance of friends. The author has woven a tale that keeps the reader engaged to find out what will happen. She creates believable characters that you recognize as people you have in your life and she puts them in believable situations. The basic story of Ellen, Patrick, and Siskia is complicated by the other layers of life for them involving their parents and extended families. It reminds the reader that every situation has ripple effects for you and those close to you. Definitely a book I recommend.
A great psychological thriller. I couldn’t put it down. Love the books by Liane Moriarty and the setting in Australia. One if my favorite authors. I can always count on her to deliver a great novel!
Generally, I read mysteries. But I really enjoy Liane Moriarty’s work. Her characters are so well drawn and the stories are quirky, but feel bizarrely true to life. A+++
The fourth book I read from this author and I think I’m hooked. She writes in a way that makes me feel like I know these people right from the beginning and I have to find out their story. At the heart of it, it’s about finding love, learning to accept that sometimes love ends, it’s also about learning to be a parent, and so much more. There is a lot happening and if you like your stories to be complex and about real people with all their flaws and idiosyncrasies, then this one is for you. If like me you’re not sure about the title, just know that hypnotherapy is only what the main character does and plays a very secondary role in this quirky and fun tale.
Enjoyable book but it dragged in parts for me. I’ve read several of Liane Moriarty’s books and have enjoyed all of them but this was not one of my faves. With that said, it was still a good story, funny, romantic, uncomfortable and frustrating in places, endearing in others.
Could not put down, compelling read – so believable
As always, Leanne Moriarty delivers.
Love all Lianne’s books. All great reads and this one was not a disappointment.
Thought provoking. You’ll change your mind several times over as you read this book. Well developed and believable ending.
Great summer book by the pool.
A fun, and at times thoughtful read.
This book was quirky and a definite page turner. I liked the characters and the twists and turns in the plot.
The start of her books are sometimes slow but keep reading as you will love the books she writes!!!
This is about the 3rd book I have read by Moriarty and its my favorite so far. All have been interesting.