07 Aug Book Review: The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty, internationally acclaimed for her sharp, emotionally intelligent stories like Big Little Lies and The Husband’s Secret, returns with The Last Anniversary, a standalone novel that blends family drama, mystery, and a touch of whimsy. Set against Australia’s sun-drenched coast, it’s bright and breezy on the surface—but with undercurrents of long-buried secrets and secrets that threaten to resurface.

What’s it about?

The story centers on the Dashwood family, who own The Legacy—a charming coastal hotel that’s been in the family for generations. Each year, they throw a big celebration on the anniversary of its grand opening. This year’s gathering is extra special because MILLA DASHWOOD, eldest granddaughter and unofficial event coordinator, has just taken a full-time job at the hotel. She’s hoping to make this anniversary unforgettable.

Enter Beth Sinclair, an old friend of the family who jetted in from London for the party. On the eve of the celebration, Beth vanishes from her room—no one heard her leave. As dusk settles, Milla learns that Beth keeps returning in strange, inexplicable ways: her things move, her voice drifts down the hallway… or maybe it’s just Milla second-guessing herself.

While people prepare for the gala event—caterers bustling, champagne glasses polished, speeches rehearsed—there’s a steadfast accidental undercurrent: Beth, or something that looks like her, is still somewhere in the hotel. Her absence looms heavier than any missing-person poster.

Milla and her sister Connie, who’s visiting from Sydney, spearhead an investigation. They dig into Beth’s history, poking through old letters and discovering an incident from one of the first anniversary celebrations many years ago. It involves a love letter, a missed date, and a promise that was never kept. The past and present intertwine as we learn that the Dashwoods have a history of avoiding conflict—with diplomacy, distraction, or carefully managed silences.

Suspects emerge: Beth’s boyfriend was left at the altar the previous year; an unfamiliar guest makes a quiet exit; a new assistant shows unexpected attachments to the hotel’s traditions. The clues wind around the hotel’s corridors and across the grounds—secret balconies, dusty backstairs, long-abandoned cottages. All the while, Moriarty keeps the tone fresh and playful: “romantic feeling, seaside nostalgia, flitting between comedic and wistful.”

As the group hunts for answers, tensions ripple through family relationships. Old grievances resurface: Milla’s mother is still pained by a decision from her youth; Connie wrestles with a career and motherhood crossroads; the elderly grandparents resist change but also crave connection. The disappearance becomes a catalyst for buried truths—not just about Beth, but about everyone involved.

When the anniversary party finally swings into action—with lanterns, live music, confetti, and local vendors—the detective work collides with the festivities. Revelations come in fits: a letter tucked in a drawer, a footprint on the balcony, a confession whispered to someone unprepared. By the final chapter, Beth is found—physically safe, but emotionally transformed. The hotel’s big anniversary becomes something bigger: a reckoning and a quiet celebration of truth finally shared.

What This Chick Thinks

A Cozy Yet Compelling Mystery

Moriarty excels at pacing here, balancing the light-hearted feel of a family gathering with the slow drip of unsettling details. It never feels too heavy, but the tension never dips either. It’s like sipping a summer cocktail with a faint kick—that’s when you remember what you’re drinking.

Complexity in Family Ties

Watching the Dashwoods recalibrate their relationships feels so real. There are clichés here—like sisters with unspoken rivalries, and parents with unshared regrets—but Moriarty uses them with sensitivity, adding just enough nuance to keep the dynamics crisp and believable.

The Seaside Setting is a Character

I practically want to walk through the hotel’s lobby and out onto the salt-air balconies. Moriarty’s descriptions never become travelogues, but they build atmosphere that’s cozy, sun-warmed, and just slightly nostalgic—perfect ground for a mystery that’s more about emotional discovery than murder.

Beth as a Quietly Intriguing Pivot

Beth doesn’t get the deepest voice, but she’s effectively the ghost at the party—everyone notices her absence, but they talk about everything except. That creates a slow-burn disquiet that’s more uncanny than scary. And it’s clever: Beth becomes the key to unlocking the family’s shared wounds.

A Couple of Minor Bumps

Towards the end, a few revelations happen almost too neatly—even though they’re genuinely surprising. I would have liked an extra scene for closure with some of the minor characters. But then again, life doesn’t wrap up all endings cleanly, so maybe this is a feature, not a bug.

Final Thoughts

The Last Anniversary straddles genres—part light mystery, part family drama, part holiday escapism—but it does so with flair and heart. It won’t keep you up all night, but it will make you lean forward into a family secret. If you enjoy mysteries with emotional heft but sunlit settings, this makes for a breezy, satisfying read.

Rating: 8.5/10

Try it if you like:

• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – A coastal mystery wrapped in family dynamics and buried jealousy
• The House on the Strand by Andrea Mara – A small coastal retreat, old secrets, and a missing person at its centre
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – Dysfunctional families, hidden drama, and a twisty, community-centred mystery