You know how sometimes you’re at a fancy dinner party, and everyone’s laughing and having a grand old time, but there’s this undercurrent of tension you can’t quite put your finger on? That’s exactly what reading Liane Moriarty’s “Apples Never Fall” feels like. On the surface, it’s all polite conversation and tennis trophies, but underneath? Oh boy, it’s a pressure cooker of family secrets just waiting to explode. And let me tell you, when it does, it’s more satisfying than finally mastering that backhand you’ve been working on for years.
The Set-Up: Love Means Nothing in Tennis… and Maybe in This Family
So here’s the deal: we’ve got the Delaney family, right? Stan and Joy, the parents, are like the king and queen of the local tennis scene. They’ve run this super successful tennis academy for decades, churned out a few stars (but never quite the next Serena Williams, if you know what I mean), and raised four kids who are all… well, let’s just say they’re works in progress.
Everything’s ticking along just fine—or so it seems—until this random girl named Savannah shows up on Stan and Joy’s doorstep one night, all bruised and dramatic. Being the nice folks they are, they take her in. But faster than you can say “double fault,” Joy goes missing, and suddenly everyone’s looking at Stan like he’s about to get hauled off to the big house.
Now, I’ve gotta hand it to Moriarty – she knows how to set up a premise that’ll keep you turning pages faster than a Wimbledon ball boy. From the get-go, you’re wondering: What’s Savannah’s deal? Where’s Joy? Is Stan hiding something? And don’t even get me started on the Delaney siblings. Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke are all grown up now, but man, those childhood tennis rivalries are still simmering just below the surface. It’s like a powder keg of family drama just waiting to explode.
Meet the Players: A Family of Misfits
Let’s break down this dysfunctional family tree, shall we?
Stan: Picture a grumpy old tennis pro who’s about as warm and fuzzy as a piece of sandpaper. He’s got more opinions than Roger Federer has Grand Slam titles, and he’s not afraid to let ’em fly. But is he a killer? That’s the million-dollar question.
Joy: The long-suffering matriarch with a smile that could charm the pants off a statue. She’s spent decades smoothing over Stan’s rough edges, but has she finally had enough?
Amy: The oldest and most volatile of the Delaney kids. She’s got more issues than a magazine stand, but hey, at least she makes killer brownies.
Logan: Mr. Calm, Cool, and Collected. He’s like the eye of the hurricane in this family storm, but even he’s got some skeletons in his closet.
Troy: The golden boy turned finance bro. He’s got more money than sense, but don’t tell him that. His ego’s already the size of a hot air balloon.
Brooke: The baby of the family and a physiotherapist. She’s always trying to fix everyone’s problems, but maybe she should focus on her own for a change.
And then there’s Savannah, the wild card in this whole mess. Is she a damsel in distress or a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Moriarty keeps you guessing right up until the end, and let me tell you, it’s more twisty than a pretzel factory.
The Match: Love, Lies, and Lobs
Okay, so Moriarty’s plotting here is tighter than my yoga pants after Thanksgiving dinner. She bounces back and forth between the present-day investigation into Joy’s disappearance and flashbacks to the months leading up to it. It’s like watching a really intense tennis match, your head whipping back and forth as she serves up twist after twist.
The genius of it all is how she weaves in all these little details that seem insignificant at first, but end up being total game-changers later on. Like, there’s this whole subplot about Harry Haddad, a former student of the Delaneys who went on to become a tennis superstar. At first, you’re like, “Why should I care about this guy?” But trust me, it all comes together in a way that’ll make your jaw drop faster than a failed drop shot.
And don’t even get me started on the family dynamics. Moriarty nails that weird mix of love and resentment that only siblings can have. One minute the Delaney kids are at each other’s throats, the next they’re banding together to figure out what happened to their mom. It’s messy and complicated and so, so real. I mean, who among us hasn’t wanted to throttle their sibling one minute and fiercely defend them the next?
The Scorecard: Themes That’ll Make You Think
So what’s Moriarty really getting at here? Well, for starters, there’s the whole question of how well we really know our parents. The Delaney kids thought they had their folks all figured out, but Joy’s disappearance forces them to reexamine everything they thought they knew. It’s like finding out your mom had a secret life as a roller derby queen or something.
Then there’s the way our childhood experiences shape us. All four Delaney kids were tennis prodigies, but none of them quite lived up to their potential. Now they’re all dealing with that disappointment in different ways. It’s like they’re still trying to win their dad’s approval, even as adults. I mean, who hasn’t felt like they’re constantly trying to prove themselves to their parents, even when they’re pushing 40?
And of course, there’s the big question at the heart of it all: How far would you go to protect your family? Would you lie to the police? Cover up a crime? It’s easy to say you’d always do the right thing, but when it’s your own flesh and blood on the line… well, things get a lot more complicated.
The Style: Aces All Around
Look, I’m gonna level with you—Moriarty’s writing style is like a good martini at a swanky Manhattan bar. It goes down easy, but it packs a punch. She’s got this way of mixing humor and tension that keeps you on your toes. One minute you’re chuckling at some snarky comment from Amy, the next you’re on the edge of your seat wondering if Stan’s about to crack under police questioning.
And can we talk about her dialogue for a sec? It’s so natural, you feel like you’re eavesdropping on real conversations. The banter between the siblings is especially on point. You can practically hear the years of inside jokes and old arguments bubbling up in every exchange. It’s like being at a family reunion, but way more entertaining and with less risk of getting cornered by your weird Uncle Bob.
But what really sets Moriarty apart is her ability to get inside her characters’ heads. She’s got this knack for capturing all those little thoughts and insecurities we all have but never say out loud. It’s like she’s got a direct line to the human psyche or something. Reading “Apples Never Fall” is like having a really intense therapy session, but way more fun and with fewer copays.
The Final Score: Game, Set, Match to Moriarty
Alright, let’s cut to the chase – “Apples Never Fall” is a winner, plain and simple. It’s got all the ingredients of a great thriller – a mysterious disappearance, family secrets, and enough red herrings to stock a fish market. But what really makes it special is the way Moriarty uses all that suspense to dig into some deep truths about family, ambition, and the weight of expectations.
Is it perfect? Nah. There are a couple of plot threads that don’t quite pay off, and if you’re not into tennis, some of the sports talk might go over your head faster than a Novak Djokovic serve. But honestly, those are minor quibbles in what’s otherwise an ace of a novel.
If you’ve read Moriarty’s other books like “Big Little Lies” or “Nine Perfect Strangers,” you know she’s got a talent for peeling back the layers of seemingly perfect lives. “Apples Never Fall” fits right into that wheelhouse, but with an extra dose of family drama that kicks it up a notch. It’s like she took all the best parts of her previous books, mixed them up in a literary blender, and came out with this delicious smoothie of a novel.
And hey, speaking of “Big Little Lies,” if you’re more of a visual person, you’re in luck. “Apples Never Fall” has just been adapted into a miniseries by Peacock, starring Sam Neill, Annette Bening, and Alison Brie. It dropped this March 2024, and let me tell you, it’s been the talk of the town. I mean, Sam Neill as Stan? That’s some pitch-perfect casting right there. It’s like they pulled the character straight out of my imagination and onto the screen.
The Verdict
Look, at the end of the day, “Apples Never Fall” is like that one friend who always has the best gossip at brunch. It’s fun, it’s addictive, and it’ll keep you guessing right up until the last page. So grab yourself a copy, maybe mix up a Pimm’s Cup (it is a tennis book, after all), and settle in for a wild ride. Just don’t be surprised if you start side-eyeing your own family by the time you’re done. After all, every family has its secrets – some are just juicier than others.
And who knows? Maybe by the time you finish the book, you’ll be inspired to dust off that old tennis racquet in your closet and hit the courts. Just… maybe don’t invite your siblings for a friendly match. You know, just in case.