Apples Never Fall, by Liane Moriarty, Liane Moriarty

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It’s complicated
• Loveable characters? It’s complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25 stars This was a good audiobook for listening in the car over a couple of months. I could pick up easily where I left off even if a week had gone by. It reminded me of 9 Perfect Strangers (but so much better!) with a mix of characters who each had a bunch of stuff to work through and complicated relationships. Instead of strangers, Apples Never Fall is about a family with adult children all of whom grew up playing tennis through their parents’ tennis program. They each have quirks and baggage that unfolds throughout the book. And when a young stranger moves in with mom and dad, the family dynamics all come to the surface. 

I liked how the changing timelines offers a peek to how we got to the present time. It’s cleverly written but a bit contrived. The last part of the book resolves the main mysteries and brings us into the pandemic with an interesting twist at the end that I’m not sure how I feel about.