Apples Never Fall: Now a major TV series starring Annette Bening and Sam Neil, from the creator of Big Little Lies Paperback – 19 Sept. 2024

I am a fan of Liane Moriarty and have enjoyed all of her other books. This one did not disappoint. Good plot, well written and keeps you guessing right to the end. I did find the main character in it slightly irritating as, I felt, she wouldn't listen to anyone else and seemed to make everything about her. That being said, being a mother myself, I could relate to the way she was thinking. All in all a very good read.

I was ready to give this five stars until I got towards the end. I was enjoying it so much and then the author had to bring the pandemic into it, which completely ruined it for me, and this has been the same for several other books I’ve read recently. I do not need or want to have to relive the nightmare that was the pandemic and lockdowns, I want to read a book and be entertained and to lose myself in the story and the characters. The actual ending would have been good if the pandemic and lockdowns had never been mentioned; it’s really made me very annoyed.

I'm a big fan of Liane's books, and Apples Never Fall did not disappoint. An intriguing, tangled story of family, love, lies, and competitiveness. I think it highlights that you never really know a person, truly know a person. People are complicated and only reveal what they want to reveal to their loved ones and outside of that circle. An amazing read! I might watch the tv series , even though I know the story now, just to see how it's been adapted to screen. Can't wait for Liane's next big seller !!

The story centres around the Delany family, a well know family of tennis players, with Stan and Joy being the head coaches in a tennis school. Then there’s the disappearance of Joy Delaney suddenly and how her four children come to terms with her disappearance and begin to ask questions about their father and mother’s relationship.It is also about a girl called Savannah who Joy and Stan Delaney took on as a lodger (when she randomly turned up at their doorstep one night without them even knowing who she was) a year before Joys disappearance and who has also become a prime suspect in Joys disappearance.The book has a multitude of characters who are around Joy and Stan Delaney and their 4 children. Various chapters tell the story from the neighbours and friends perspectives which is incredibly long winded.The characters are not particularly likeable,especially the four children and I found it really unbelievable that their mother Joy was missing and there was not an ounce of emotion, they just seemed completely self-centred and immersed in themselves and their lives. I just could not feel any empathy for any part of the story.However the book is a good holiday read, for the simple fact that it is entertaining and it’s an easy story to follow, I just found there were so many holes in the plot. Towards the end when the big revelation of why Savannah had integrated into the Delaneys family life and where Joy had disappeared to for 21 days (with her husband Stan about to be arrested for her murder), the story fell apart for me entirely.Bearing in mind the authors books have become best sellers, I expected so much more from this author.

Like other reviewers, I would have given this book five stars except for the 'pandemic' ending, which seemed totally unnecessary and looked like it had been bolted on as an afterthought. Perhaps it was ticking a government box?! Apart from that I really enjoyed the book, felt it was well written and had a number of twists and turns that were cleverly created.

Absolutely loved this book. Basic plot is mum disappears; husband is suspected of murder and the complicated truth and lies loves and betrayals of the family start to untangle.What makes this book so well written is the characters- nobody is entirely good or bad and it's not just a mystery but speaks of hopes and dreams- achieved and dashed, the complexity of love and conflicted loyalty, how the truth about people is complicated and changing times. I liked all the characters- they felt real. If you can only deal in black and white maybe you won't like this book.I liked the way Joy Delaney was portrayed - a woman in her 60s not elderly as the media constantly describe but a person still wanting more out of life and the way the author writes is very satisfying littering unnoticed clues to the truth.Some have complained the book ends in the pandemic lockdown but that's real life - it would have weird to pretend it didn't happen and one of the themes of the book is change.

Introducing us to Joy and Stan Delaney and their four grow up children. The action centres around the disappearance of Joy, who seemingly wakes up one day and leaves without a word, but did she leave or did something more sinister happen. The story follows two timelines flashing back to September/October of the previous year and back to the present time following the investigation into Joy's disappearance and the effect it has on her family. Is a mystery visitor, Savannah, involved, or is it just a coincidence that she showed up at the Delaney's home? All these questions and more are answered. I can wholly recommend this book.

I was looking forward to reading this and then planned to watch the series. I am now almost half way through and I am getting so bored with it! I just keep thinking ...get on with it!I will persevere to the end, and hopefully it will get a bit more exciting. I watched the first 2 episodes of the series and the characters (of the 2 daughters) are nothing like the book ..also the visit to Savanna's place to pick up her things was completed changed!Update: Now having finished the book, it definitely improved ..I actually enjoyed it towards the end... so I have amended my rating from 2☆ to 4☆