Oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book! I feel as if I really got to know every character. Very well written with a fantastic plot. I’ll definitely be recommending it to everyone! Thank you #netgalley

This is the delightful story of the dysfunctional Delaney family. Mother, Joy, has gone missing and her four adult children fear that the prime suspect might be their father. When the police begin to investigate it is clear that there are a number of secrets and lies within the family. The siblings have to decide what to believe and which side they should be on. Sharply observed characters, witty and clever writing, an astute plot and the neat way all the strands in the novel are pulled together makes this an incredibly good read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Apples Never Fall is an absorbing, well-written novel which, although a mystery at its heart, is more about the complicated lives of the main characters: the Delaney family. They’re a big Tennis family, with both Joy and Stan Delaney having played at a high level and then ran a coaching business until their retirement, and their adult children – Amy, Troy, Logan and Brooke – also playing when they were younger. We learn at the beginning of the book that the mother, Joy, has gone missing. Is it connected to the strange house guest they had last year, Savannah, who turned up at their house one night at random following a fight with her boyfriend? Or has her husband Stan done something to her? The book itself felt pretty long when I was reading it – and it is almost 500 pages, after all – but I found myself completely absorbed in the story. I think it could perhaps have done with some editing, but Apples Never Fall is tightly plotted and, as you get towards the end of the book, it feels like you get so many moments of realisation and seemingly unimportant things become tied up nicely. If you’re looking for a book that will be fast-paced and all about mystery, this isn’t for you. Although we see some chapters from the perspective of Christina (the detective, who I really liked), who is investigating Joy’s disappearance, we don’t focus on that a huge amount. The story jumps backwards in time to the lead up to Joy’s disappearance, and back to the present day as the family tries to cope. We also see inside the characters’ thoughts and, through this, we see memories from when they were very young. We learn that Stan is certainly no perfect dad, which makes us start to wonder if he could be hiding something. There’s some humour within its pages as well as well developed characters that feel convincing, although they sometimes seem a little naive. The way they interact together is really interesting and feels like a reflection of many true life families – everyone has their roles to play, whether intended or not and sometimes it’s hard to break free from that mould. The characters all have their own secrets which may or may not be relevant to Joy’s disappearance, and I really found myself wavering between what I thought had actually happened. If you’re wanting something full of twists and turns (though this does have plenty too) and fast-paced, then this probably isn’t the novel for you. But if you’re after something beautifully written, reflective and with great character development, then give Apples Never Fall a go! Another great release from one of my favourite authors.

I really really loved this book, it had so many layers and sub plots, an it kept me fascinated throughout. It is a real page turner as we have come to expect from Liane Moriarty, and once more she doesn't disappoint. This is definitely my favourite of her books to date. I love the characters. They are so real, and the family dynamic was really interesting. I don't know a great deal about tennnis, but it really didn't matter, the focus was on the success and dreams of the parents and it's effect on the famly and their marriage. Throw into the mix a stranger turning up unannounced and moving in, and then the wife/mother's disappearence, and a whole new mystery is thrown into the mix, and I really didn't know which way it was going to go until the end, which was very nicely and neatly tied up. I loved it and would really recommend it.

Sometimes with a book which has a mystery to solve, you just want to read it quickly to find out what happened. With Liane Moriarty's books you can settle down, relax and enjoy the journey. She gives you a great characters with humorous quirks and background stories and brilliant plotting which keeps you guessing and wanting to hear more. The mother reminds me of an Anne Tyler character. There are twists and surprises along the way and a very satisfying ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy.