Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is best-known for Big Little Lies, which was made into a TV series starring Reese Witherspoon. Her latest thriller is Apples Never Fall. Here, she shares the books that have made her laugh, cry and think…

THE LAST BOOK THAT MADE ME LAUGH

If there isn’t a new Marian Keyes to devour, it can be surprisingly hard to find a book with humour and wit, but I recently laughed out loud while reading Sorrow And Bliss by Meg Mason and also Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers. Two very different books, but I adored them both.

THE LAST BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY

A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson. Each time I finish one of her books I think, ‘Well, that was perfect.’ I cried so much at the end of this one I was virtually hyperventilating. It wasn’t tragically sad. It was exquisitely poignant.

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED THE WAY I THINK

The Power by Naomi Alderman is a gripping, thrilling novel with a fascinating premise: teenage girls start developing the power to hurt or kill. I read it a year ago and still find myself thinking about it, and how the world might change if power was in the hands of women.

THE BOOK THAT GOT ME THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME

Not only did The Accidental Tourist give me comfort and distraction, but it was my introduction to Anne Tyler’s work. She is my favourite author. My most prized possession is a personally signed first edition of this book.

THE BOOK I MOST OFTEN GIVE TO OTHERS

My sister gave me Ten Little Fingers And Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury when my daughter was born. It’s a simple story, more like a poem, that’s short enough to read to a baby. If you have a friend who went through a long, difficult journey to become a mother, give her this book.