The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty Summary

The Hypnotist's Love Story follows Ellen O'Farrell, a Sydney-based hypnotherapist who falls for Patrick, a widower with a young son. Patrick reveals on their fourth date that he has a stalker—his ex-girlfriend Saskia, who follows him everywhere and won't let go. Ellen becomes fascinated by the stalker's psychology, unaware that Saskia has been posing as one of her clients. The novel explores love, obsession, grief, and the complexities of moving forward after loss.

Liane Moriarty is an internationally bestselling Australian author born in 1966 in Sydney. She's known for contemporary fiction exploring family dynamics, secrets, and suburban life, including Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Apples Never Fall, all adapted for television. Moriarty earned her master's degree in Creative Writing at Macquarie University, where she wrote her first novel Three Wishes. The Hypnotist's Love Story was her fourth novel, published before her breakthrough bestseller The Husband's Secret.

The Hypnotist's Love Story is ideal for readers who enjoy contemporary romance with psychological depth, fans of domestic fiction exploring complex relationships, and anyone interested in Liane Moriarty's earlier work before Big Little Lies. It appeals to readers curious about stalking psychology, grief and moving on, and blended family dynamics. Those who appreciate multiple-perspective narratives and character-driven stories with emotional nuance will find this book engaging, though it's lighter than Moriarty's later suspense-heavy novels.

The Hypnotist's Love Story offers an engaging contemporary romance with psychological insight, though many reviewers consider it lighter than Liane Moriarty's later bestsellers like Big Little Lies or The Husband's Secret. It showcases Moriarty's talent for multiple perspectives and relatable characters while exploring grief, obsession, and second chances. Readers seeking pure suspense may find it more romance-focused, but fans interested in Moriarty's evolution as a writer and her signature exploration of complex female characters will appreciate this earlier work.

The Hypnotist's Love Story explores obsession versus love, examining how grief manifests differently in people through Patrick's lingering attachment to his deceased wife Colleen and Saskia's inability to let go. The novel delves into the power of the subconscious mind through hypnotherapy, second chances at love after loss, and the complexities of blended families. Liane Moriarty also examines past trauma's impact on present relationships, self-awareness and healing, and the fine line between fascination and danger when confronting human behavior.

Ellen O'Farrell is the protagonist, a successful hypnotherapist who uses her professional insights to understand people's motivations. Patrick is a surveyor and widower still grieving his late wife Colleen while trying to build a new relationship. Saskia is Patrick's ex-girlfriend turned stalker who follows him obsessively, leaving texts and watching from afar. Jack is Patrick's eight-year-old son navigating his father's new relationship. The novel alternates primarily between Ellen's and Saskia's perspectives, providing insight into both women's complex emotional worlds.

The Hypnotist's Love Story employs multiple first-person perspectives, alternating primarily between Ellen and Saskia's viewpoints. This narrative choice allows readers to understand both the stalked and the stalker's motivations simultaneously. Liane Moriarty uses introspective narration where characters reflect deeply on their thoughts, feelings, and past experiences. The author incorporates subtle foreshadowing and callbacks throughout, creating suspense while building empathy for all characters involved. This multifaceted approach adds psychological depth and moral complexity to what could have been a straightforward romance.

• "I have a stalker" is Patrick's bombshell revelation to Ellen during their fourth date, setting the central conflict in motion.
• "All hypnosis is self-hypnosis" is Ellen's professional mantra highlighting the mind's power and importance of self-awareness in healing.
• "I love you. I hate you. I love you. I hate you. No, I definitely hate you" are Saskia's text messages to Patrick, revealing the volatile, obsessive nature of her feelings and her inability to process loss in healthy ways.

The Hypnotist's Love Story humanizes stalking by giving Saskia a narrative voice, revealing her obsession stems from grief, abandonment issues, and inability to process loss rather than malice. Liane Moriarty portrays Saskia as non-violent, watching from the background rather than threatening. Ellen's professional perspective as a hypnotherapist adds psychological insight into obsessive behavior patterns. The novel explores how stalking affects victims' stress levels and relationships while suggesting that understanding motivations—not excusing behavior—can lead to healing for everyone involved.

Hypnotherapy is central to Ellen's character and worldview in The Hypnotist's Love Story. Ellen helps clients quit smoking, overcome fertility issues, and manage pain through accessing the subconscious mind. Her profession gives her unique insight into human motivation and behavior, influencing how she responds to Patrick's stalker situation. The novel emphasizes that "all hypnosis is self-hypnosis," highlighting personal agency in change and healing. Ironically, Saskia becomes Ellen's client under false pretenses, creating dramatic tension when their personal and professional worlds collide.

The Hypnotist's Love Story is set in modern-day Sydney, Australia, reflecting Liane Moriarty's hometown and providing authentic Australian cultural details. The contemporary urban setting includes references to technology, internet dating, and modern social issues that ground the story in relatable reality. Sydney's suburbs and Ellen's home-based hypnotherapy practice create intimate spaces where psychological drama unfolds. The setting's ordinariness contrasts with the extraordinary situation of stalking, reinforcing Moriarty's signature theme that secrets and complexities lurk beneath seemingly normal suburban lives.

The Hypnotist's Love Story is more romance-focused than Liane Moriarty's later bestsellers like Big Little Lies or The Husband's Secret, which blend domestic suspense with darker themes. It shares Moriarty's trademark multiple perspectives and exploration of female relationships but lacks the mystery-thriller elements that defined her breakthrough works. The psychological depth and character complexity are present but less developed than in Truly Madly Guilty or Nine Perfect Strangers. Readers who prefer Moriarty's pure contemporary romance over suspense will appreciate this earlier novel's lighter, relationship-driven narrative.