In The Hypnotist’s Love Story, Liane Moriarty moves out of the chick-lit category and dips her toe into darker waters (which is why I had it).

It’s the story of Ellen, a professional hypnotherapist. Ellen falls in love with Patrick, a widower and father to an eight-year-old boy. Patrick has a stalker – Saskia, an ex-girlfriend who can’t let go.

Obviously the stalker element of the plot could move this story in to sinister territory however instead, Moriarty uses the character of Saskia to explore the grief associated with a broken relationship (at this point I’ll admit that many years ago I delayed ending a relationship because I knew that I was going to really miss the guy’s family… Not him, just his sister. No stalking involved, obvs). Continue reading →