Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty Summary

Truly Madly Guilty follows three couples—Clementine and Sam, Erika and Oliver, and Tiffany and Vid—whose lives are forever changed by a tragic incident at an ordinary backyard barbecue. The novel explores themes of friendship, marriage, parenthood, and guilt as the characters navigate the aftermath of what happened that day. Liane Moriarty uses her signature suspenseful structure to slowly reveal the shocking event while examining how guilt exposes fault lines in seemingly strong relationships.

Truly Madly Guilty is perfect for readers who enjoy domestic suspense, character-driven narratives, and psychological explorations of relationships. Fans of Liane Moriarty's previous works like Big Little Lies will appreciate the suburban drama and complex character dynamics. The book appeals to anyone interested in how ordinary people handle extraordinary situations, particularly those fascinated by themes of guilt, friendship dynamics, marriage conflicts, and the ripple effects of childhood trauma on adult relationships.

Truly Madly Guilty is widely considered an excellent and gripping read by Liane Moriarty, though some readers find it less explosive than Big Little Lies. Reviewers praise the compelling narrative structure, well-developed characters dealing with grief, and Moriarty's ability to make ordinary suburban life addictive. The slow-burn reveal keeps readers hooked, and the exploration of guilt's impact on relationships is both insightful and poignant. Most readers rate it highly for its emotional depth and satisfying conclusion.

Liane Moriarty is an Australian bestselling author known for books like Big Little Lies, The Husband's Secret, and What Alice Forgot. She has become Australia's "it" author with a string of successful novels and Hollywood adaptations. Moriarty's signature style involves taking ordinary suburban situations and making them extraordinary through razor-sharp observational skills, compelling suspense, and deep character exploration. Her books typically feature middle-class characters dealing with secrets, relationship complexities, and life-changing events.

The specific incident at the barbecue in Truly Madly Guilty involves a near-tragedy that affects all six adults and three children present. Liane Moriarty uses a slow-burn reveal structure, withholding the full details until halfway through the novel. The event occurs during an impromptu gathering at Vid and Tiffany's house, where everyone is distracted by Erika and Oliver's shocking request to Clementine, and drinks too much. The incident is serious enough to strain marriages, test friendships, and leave lasting psychological trauma on all involved.

Truly Madly Guilty explores guilt as its central theme, examining how one event can haunt people and expose weaknesses in relationships. The novel delves into the complexities of friendship, particularly through Erika and Clementine's forced childhood bond that becomes toxic over time. Additional themes include marriage as a priority that requires active maintenance, the pressures of parenthood, class and wealth dynamics, and how obligation differs from genuine connection. Moriarty also examines how ordinary people's lives can dramatically change in a single moment.

The six main adult characters in Truly Madly Guilty are Clementine, a professional cellist preparing for an important audition; her husband Sam, who works in advertising; Erika, Clementine's socially awkward childhood friend who works in accounting; Erika's husband Oliver; and their wealthy neighbors Tiffany, a glamorous younger woman with a mysterious past, and Vid, a gregarious host newly interested in classical music. The novel also features Clementine's daughters Holly and Ruby, and Tiffany's daughter Dakota, all of whom are present at the fateful barbecue.

Erika and Clementine have a toxic friendship rooted in guilt and obligation rather than genuine affection. Clementine's mother Pam, a social worker, forced young Clementine to befriend lonely Erika due to Erika's neglectful and traumatic home situation. Decades later, Clementine remains trapped by this obligation despite not particularly liking Erika or sharing her interests. The novel reveals this forced friendship harmed both women—Clementine feels manipulated and used, while Erika is consumed by her own sense of obligation.

Truly Madly Guilty shares Liane Moriarty's signature suburban suspense and exploration of seemingly perfect families with Big Little Lies, but reviewers generally find it less explosive and exciting. Both books examine how secrets and trauma affect relationships among affluent parents, featuring privileged characters whose lives unravel dramatically. While Big Little Lies has a more sensational reveal and climax, Truly Madly Guilty focuses more deeply on the psychological aftermath of the incident and the nuanced examination of guilt. Both showcase Moriarty's gripping narrative style and sharp social observations.

Truly Madly Guilty uses a dual timeline structure that switches between the day of the barbecue and approximately two months afterward. Liane Moriarty opens with a character giving a talk about the incident, then alternates chapters between past and present. This technique creates suspense by having characters hint at what happened while withholding full details until midway through the novel. Some readers find the structure brilliantly compelling, while others consider it frustrating because characters talk around the event rather than addressing it directly.

The persistent, unrelenting rain following the barbecue in Truly Madly Guilty symbolizes the characters' guilt and emotional burden. For weeks after the incident, rain doesn't stop, mirroring how the characters cannot escape their self-loathing and the weight of what happened. Liane Moriarty uses this extended weather metaphor powerfully—the longer the rain continues, the heavier the guilt becomes. When the rain finally stops and a bright day dawns, each character moves closer toward resolution and healing, suggesting emotional release and the possibility of forgiveness.

The main criticism of Truly Madly Guilty is that its narrative structure can feel manipulative or frustrating. Some readers find Moriarty's technique of having characters constantly talk around the incident—while knowing what happened—creates artificial suspense rather than genuine intrigue. Others note the reveal isn't as salacious or shocking as the buildup suggests. Additionally, some critics observe the book remains "ordinary" throughout rather than becoming extraordinary, lacking the explosive drama of Big Little Lies. However, most readers still find the emotional exploration and character work compelling despite these structural concerns.