Title: Nine Perfect Strangers
Expected publication: out now
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2
"She had always wondered how she would feel if her life was in mortal danger. What would she do if her plane began to plummet towards earth? If a crazed gunman put the barrel to her head? If she was ever truly tested? Now she knew: she wouldn’t believe it. She would keep thinking right until the last word that her story would never stop, because there could be no story without her."
Book Description:
Could ten days at a health resort really
change you forever? In Liane Moriarty’s latest page-turner, nine perfect
strangers are about to find out...
Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be.
Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking? Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer – or should she run while she still can?
It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question.
Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be.
Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking? Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer – or should she run while she still can?
It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question.
My musings:
I have had this book on my wishlist ever
since I found out that Moriarty was releasing a new novel this year, so I was
overjoyed that the publishing date coincided with my holidays! The thing I have always loved
best about Moriarty's writing is her ability to mix poignant tales of human
nature with a sprinkling of tongue- in-cheek Australian humour, a combination
that will see you crying one minute and laughing out loud the next. It didn't
take long for me to get sucked into the emotional rollercoaster of Nine Perfect
Strangers and I was soon wiping away tears – mostly of laughter, as Moriarty
has an uncanny ability to reveal her characters' most innermost thoughts in such
a relatable and funny manner that it was impossible not to root for each and
every one of her characters.
So here we follow the lives of nine
strangers who have signed up for a ten-day health retreat run by an
ex-corporate power woman who promises total transformation and healing. From
the time the guests first arrive, we get to know some of the reasons that
brought them here. As with her previous books, Moriarty is not afraid to tackle
serious issues such as depression & suicide, marital discord, body image
issues, aging, cultural differences etc., but she does so in such a sensitive manner that this story
remains uplifting and hopeful despite the challenges and adversity our
characters face. Halfway into the book, the story forays into the realm of
psychological suspense as the nine strangers must face an unexpected turn of
events. I love stories of random strangers thrown together and having to come
to terms not only with a scary and threatening event or situations, but also
the tension caused by different personalities. Moriarty, with her uncanny
ability to bring out her characters’ deepest darkest secrets and her keen
observation skills, tackles this aspect of the story particularly well.
Whilst I mentioned before that each
character was relatable in their own unique way (which is a skill not often
achieved), I most identified with Frances, who provided one of the main POVs in
the story. Her refreshing and funny insights into life’s challenges made me
laugh out loud many times, punching the air and hollering: Yes! Exactly! Whilst
most of Frances' issues related to her age when she is reflecting on her life and
career choices, a lot of topics referred to modern womanhood and its challenges.
I loved the honest warts-and-all approach of being privy to all of Frances'
thoughts, one of the things the author does so well.
I have heard that the movie rights to this
book have already been sold, and -unpopular opinion alert – may be the only one
not overly excited by this, as I have found in the past that a lot of Moriary’s
unique Aussie humour gets lost in translation. So do yourself a favour and read
the book before the movie, because it is just so damn funny!
I devoured this hefty book in a couple of
sessions – and loved every minute of it.
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