4 Réponses2026-07-17 21:28:55
Don’t stress too much about a strict order, honestly. They’re all standalone, so you can jump in anywhere. But if you’re a completionist, the publication sequence is: 'Three Wishes', 'The Last Anniversary', 'What Alice Forgot', 'The Hypnotist’s Love Story', 'Big Little Lies', 'Truly Madly Guilty', 'Nine Perfect Strangers', 'Apples Never Fall', and 'The Last Resort'. I’d argue starting with 'Big Little Lies' isn’t a bad idea—it’s the gateway drug for most of us. You can always circle back to the earlier ones later.
5 Réponses2026-07-30 08:11:23
I borrowed 'Nine Perfect Strangers' from a friend who said it was 'weird but good.' Had zero idea about Moriarty's other work. Loved it. Then I saw 'Big Little Lies' on HBO and read that book. Only later did I look up her bibliography and realize I'd read them completely out of sequence.
It made no difference. Each was a distinct, memorable experience. 'Nine Perfect Strangers' with its surreal, almost sci-fi vibe, and 'Big Little Lies' with its grounded, brutal realism. If anything, reading them out of order highlighted her range. I never assumed she only wrote one type of story. It was a pleasant surprise to see how flexible her core themes could be.
3 Réponses2026-07-30 00:18:52
My friend made a spreadsheet ranking them by 'spiciness' of the secret, which is hilarious but kinda useful. 'The Husband's Secret' is obviously a 10/10 on the secret scale. 'What Alice Forgot' is more like a 6—the secret is from the protagonist herself. Choose your desired level of scandal.
5 Réponses2026-07-17 12:55:29
Has anyone else found that the ‘less popular’ ones randomly become their favorite? Everyone raves about 'Big Little Lies', but 'Three Wishes', her first, is so raw and funny about sister dynamics. It doesn’t have the tightest plot, but the heart is huge.
Sometimes reading an author’s debut last lets you appreciate their growth. Sometimes reading it first lets you fall for their potential. There’s no wrong path, only different kinds of appreciation. I’d almost recommend leaving one of the mega-hits for the middle, as a palate cleanser between the deeper cuts.
8 Réponses2026-07-30 03:18:29
Wait, did I miss an easter egg? Does a character from 'The Last Anniversary' show up as a background nurse in 'Big Little Lies'? No? Then we're done here. Release order. Next question.
7 Réponses2026-07-17 10:37:57
If you're someone who likes to see an author's craft improve, go chronological. 'Three Wishes' (2003) is good, but you can tell she's finding her feet. By the time you get to 'Big Little Lies' (2014), the plotting is incredibly tight, and the social observations are razor-sharp. The journey is part of the fun. You watch her move from more straightforward chick-lit adjacent stories to these intricate, multi-POV societal dissections. It’s a masterclass in career development. Just be prepared that the first couple are lighter—not worse, just different in scope and ambition.
4 Réponses2026-07-30 07:17:49
Can we talk about the adaptations for a sec? My path was watching the 'Big Little Lies' series first, being blown away, and then reading the book. It was fascinating to see what was added and changed. Then I read 'Nine Perfect Strangers' before the Hulu show, which was a different experience. So your starting point could be media-adjacent. If you love book-to-screen analysis, start with the book of whatever adaptation you're most curious about. It gives you a fun, meta layer to your reading as you compare notes. The 'Big Little Lies' book is quite different in tone and detail from the show, which makes for rich discussion.
4 Réponses2026-07-30 01:50:15
Why not mix it up? I read 'Big Little Lies' first because of the show, then jumped to her debut 'Three Wishes'. The contrast was startling but cool. It made me appreciate how far she'd come. After that, I just read whatever was available at my local used bookstore. I ended up with 'The Hypnotist's Love Story' before 'The Husband's Secret'.
It was a non-linear journey, but it worked because each book is its own complete world. I enjoyed spotting her recurring themes—motherhood, friendship, betrayal—appearing in different configurations. There's no test at the end, so just enjoy the ride.
3 Réponses2026-07-30 11:02:11
My hot take: 'The Last Anniversary' is better than 'Truly Madly Guilty.' There, I said it. Publication order doesn't equate to quality order. Sometimes an author's fifth book is weaker than their second. It happens.
3 Réponses2026-07-30 02:55:14
Wait, I'm just here for the comments. I've only read 'Big Little Lies' because of the show. Are the other books just as good? Someone tell me if I should bother with the publication order or just jump to 'The Husband's Secret.'