This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

The Fifth Letter

Summary: A fun vacation game turns destructive, exposing dark secrets, deeply buried grudges, and a shocking betrayal in Nicola Moriarity’s intriguing debut.

Four friends . . .

Joni, Deb, Eden, and Trina have been best friends since high school, sharing a bond that has seen them through their teenage years and into adulthood. But now, time and circumstance is starting to pull them apart as careers, husbands, and babies get in the way. As their yearly vacation becomes less of a priority—at least for three of the women—how can Joni find a way to draw the four of them back together?

Four secrets . . .

During a laughter and wine-filled night, the women dare one another to write anonymous letters, spilling their deepest, darkest secrets. But the fun game turns devastating, exposing cracks in their lives and the friendships they share. Each letter is a dark confession revealing shocking information. A troubled marriage? A substance abuse problem? A secret pregnancy? A heartbreaking diagnosis?

Five letters . . .

Late on one of their last nights together, after the other three have gone to bed, Joni notices something in the fireplace—a burnt, crumpled, nearly destroyed, sheet of paper that holds the most shattering revelation of all. It is a fifth letter—a hate-filled rant that exposes a vicious, deeply hidden grudge that has festered for decades. But who wrote it? Which one of them has seethed with resentment all these years? What should Joni do?

Best friends are supposed to keep your darkest secrets. But the revelations Joni, Deb, Eden and Trina have shared will ripple through their lives with unforeseen consequences . . . and things will never be the same.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book before I realized who Nicola’s sister is (yep- she’s Liane!) So I wasn’t sure what to expect- would Nicola be like Liane or she would forge her own literary path?

She does a bit of both, actually.

Parts of The Fifth Letter have a Liane Moriarty feel to them and some parts were Nicola putting her own mark in the literary world.

*Side note: After reading this book, the next time I get the urge to get some friends together- just remind me of this book.*

What I liked:

Cover!!!!

How each time I thought had the secret letter writer figured out, I could never be quite sure. The hints and red herrings were equally spread through book.

I ADORED who Joni talked to while she was dealing with the fifth letter. It was unexpected and provided a bit of humor at times.

 

Bottom line: I found a bit of the talk of THE LETTER to be getting close to the talk of THE BARBECUE in Liane’s Truly Madly Guilty, but nowhere near as drawn out (Nicola’s book is over a hundred pages shorter + her confidante in THE LETTER matter makes talk of the letter enjoyable!) Recommended. Book clubs need this on their TBR list!

 

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

**The Fifth Letter is a January #FuturisticFriday selection from Traveling With T.**

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T