It’s truly hard to describe The Hypnotist’s Love Story because I don’t feel that it was a love story. It was something entirely different. The premise of the story is that Ellen, a professional hypnotherapist, meets Patrick. Patrick is a widower with a young son. He’s charming and Ellen enjoys his company. The only problem is that he has a stalker- Saskia, his ex-girlfriend. And unbeknownst to Ellen, she’s already met her, several times.

The Hypnotist’s Love Story is told through alternating POVs. Saskia’s POV is told in first person, and Ellen’s is in third. I find this aspect interesting because you get to see both of their character motives.

One character isn’t having to introduce the other, and you aren’t in the dark about the other’s thoughts and actions. You actually get to experience their reasons for their behaviors and because of this you feel some sort understanding.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I found myself not wanting to put the book. I wanted to keep reading. Although it deals with some serious topics, it’s a light hearted read filled with humor and entertainment. It did feel a little unrealistic at times, but the book is crafted too well that let that be the downfall.

Liane Moriarty has a very unique writing style, and it’s hard to describe. It flows smoothly and it doesn’t feel rushed or cluttered. She allows the scenes to play out, and allows the readers to breath. There is a certain lightness about her writing.

Characters

Both Ellen and Saskia were two very different women. Ellen is a woman who isn’t quite sure of what she wants. Saskia is a woman who knows exactly what she wants, and is having a very hard time moving on.

I enjoyed Ellen as a character. I liked how she wasn’t scared that Patrick had a stalker, that instead she was intrigued. She had a good heart. It is worth mentioning, that I’m not entirely sure why she was attractive to Patrick. At times his character felt a little wishy washy, and I wasn’t sure if I could trust him.

Although Saskia clearly needed help, I couldn’t help but sympathize with her. Breakups aren’t easy, and it’s hard when you’re all alone. And it’s also extremely hard to move on. I don’t think Saskia was a monster, and I’m glad that she was not portrayed as one.

It was interesting to see the interactions between Saskia and Ellen. It was a very memorable dynamitic, and I wished that there were more scenes between them two.

Final Analysis

The Hypnotist’s Love Story is a story about a complicated situation that you can’t help but get invested in.