Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Flatiron Books (2019), Edition: Reprint, 464 pages
Description
Fiction. Thriller. HTML: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Now a Hulu original series "If three characters were good in Big Little Lies, nine are even better in Nine Perfect Strangers." �??Lisa Scottoline, The New York Times Book Review From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies 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. Combining all of the hallmarks that have made her writing a go-to for anyone looking for wickedly smart, page-turning fiction that will make you laugh and gasp, Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers once again shows why she is a master of her craft… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member ecataldi
This Liane Moriarity book is so over the top and outrageous but you can't put it down. Even though the plot got more and more ridiculous as the story progressed, I LOVED the characters. Nine people decide that they are stressed and need a lifestyle change, so they sign up for a ten day cleanse at
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Tranquility House. It's a gorgeous estate in the middle of nowhere and participants will be treated to divine meals, massages, nature hikes, star-gazing, and meditation. The nine participants (all strangers) soon discover that there was a lot on the agenda that they most certainly had not signed up for. Silence, daily blood tests, fasting, and more unorthodox methods keep popping up. Soon the strangers kind of bond together as they try to get through their weird cleanse in one piece. There is a romance author who will soon be out of work, an ex football player, a family trying to cope with loss, a mom trying to rediscover herself after her husband took off with a new trophy wife, a young couple in dire need of counseling, and a devilishly handsome gay lawyer. Full of fun, a nice beach read. Show Less
LibraryThing member adam.currey
I entered into reading this book completely blind, on purpose. I had no idea what to expect - is it a romance? Thriller? Murder mystery? Turns out, I'm not entirely sure how to categorise it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed not knowing where the story was going as it continued, and I enjoyed
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the author's easy, witty style. Show Less
LibraryThing member she_climber
Well that escalated quickly.... I was enjoying getting to know the characters and the offerings of Tranquillum House health retreat. And then without warning the story headed down Alice's rabbit hole. It was a trip. It wasn't necessary a good trip but it wouldn't have been a Moriarty story without
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it. Not her best, but it was still enjoyable. Show Less
LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
Nine perfect strangers, Liane Moriarty, author; Caroline Lee, narrator
A Russian immigrant, Masha, has a near death experience which changes her life. The man she believes saved her life, Yao, becomes her partner and they establish a health retreat called Tranquillum House. She transforms from an
When nine people head off to a health retreat, to be transformed in some way, they wind up getting a lot more than they bargained for when they made their reservation. There is one couple, one family and four single people of various backgrounds. At first they size each other up and are not too happy with what they find. Soon, however, they find that first impressions are often incorrect. They all question some of the demands of the resort, but soon all willingly participate in the odd requests of the staff and management. As each goes through their individually designed healthcare program, they complain but also have revelations which, surprisingly, enlighten them and give them insights they had not thought of before. Will each of them be transformed which is Masha’s hope?
Each of the guests has brought their own personal baggage with them and it is a diverse list from marriage problems to menopause, from drug issues to suicide issues, from ego issues to money issues. Some suffer from feelings of guilt, some from shame, some from grief, and some from a lack of confidence and/or self esteem. Some are simply searching for alternative ways to solve their problems. As each reveals their innermost secrets, as each reveals they are suffering in some way, it becomes apparent that Moriarty has a talent for understanding what motivates and frightens her characters.
The drug theme is front and center. Is illegal and/or legal drug use beneficial? In some cases, the legal use of drugs seems far more dangerous than its counterpart. Because a doctor prescribes a drug, often its dangerous side effects are ignored and the consequences are as lethal as it is for those who overuse illegal drugs. Drug induced states produce odd interchanges and reactions. Some see more clearly, some become more anxious, some are euphoric, some have a bad trip. Are these results good or bad, when carefully monitored, even when illegal? Can a drug be harmful even when it is being monitored by a doctor and or parents? Do we, when following a doctor’s advice, make ourselves fully aware of the dangers of the side-effects of the drugs given to us or simply trust the “higher” authority?
The theme of twinship and its bonds was particularly emotional for me since I lost a twin brother and so did one of the characters. I, personally, am aware of the effect of losing a sibling with whom you shared everything from the very beginning of time. The interpretation of the relationship and the loss was insightful. The feelings of the surviving twin were genuine.
The theme of madness is dissected and the reader witnesses the different levels it ascends and descends to through the interactions of the characters. What drives people to thrive and achieve success as well as what drives people to fail is also examined very well by the author as she presents her characters and their responses to life’s dangers and moments of joy. Some bear the strain and some crack under it.
The theme of relationships is very diverse. The relationship between a man and his dog, a man and wife, same sex couples, and parents and children are very minutely explored and the reader is witness to the complexities in each situation that is revealed. They share grief, loss, blame, guilt, along with the praise and pride that interplay in each of the character’s lives. The theme of loss seems to be in everyone’s life, to some degree or another, and the type of loss and how each character deals with it is really illuminative. Everyone, in the beginning, sees something else in each other’s personality, and often the first impressions made are incorrect and are based on faulty assumptions. Getting to know more about each other, changes the perceptions.
The theme of stress and its effect on the lives of each of the characters veered off into many different directions, some common and some unusual, as they are in real life. The consequences were mental and physical, emotional, and painful. They were authentic in interpretation and explanation. The mounting stress made the guests begin to wonder if they were being manipulated and why. Their feelings were soon on high alert.
My favorite character is Frances who is a naive woman who writes romance novels. She interprets most everything at face value, rarely looking too deeply into the problem. Her solutions are often simple. She may jump to conclusions, but she readily alters them. She tries to look at the bright side, in the face of darkness. She gave several of the characters humorous nicknames to define their qualities. Some of the dialogue was indeed chuckle inducing and I often even laughed out loud. But then, the novel also briefly took a dark turn which unsettled me. The author played both emotions well.
Arrogance and fame are explored along with the effects of great wealth and success.
My least favorite character was Masha, the obsessed woman who ran the wellness facility. Although her methods were extraordinarily unconventional, in most ways, the results she achieved were often positive, encouraging the characters to get more in touch with their feelings and to understand each other more completely. So, although there was a strange, mad dichotomy between the means and the ends, they did work.
The characters, for the better part of the book, are authentic, and although the life of each character is followed until all the loose ends are tied up neatly, the conclusion seemed to fall a bit short. It teetered on the theme of believability. As each character is forced to experience their sorrow, their joy, their fear and their relief in different ways, intuitively, imaginatively and in reality, each comes out changed in some way that was beneficial. Each learns to control their emotions and reactions in ways that are helpful to them. They learn to accept themselves more positively and to be more open and honest in relationships.
The reader is fabulous, using alternate accents and expressions which clearly define each character and scene. The book was made more enjoyable by her presentation. It made me laugh, and it made me cry, but it also made me think.
A Russian immigrant, Masha, has a near death experience which changes her life. The man she believes saved her life, Yao, becomes her partner and they establish a health retreat called Tranquillum House. She transforms from an
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overweight, corporate executive to a stunning worshiper of yoga and health food. She trains her partner to become more mindful and he now practices yoga and concentrates on wellness. His background, as an EMT is medical. Hers is business. Together they lead health seminars and other programs at the resort.When nine people head off to a health retreat, to be transformed in some way, they wind up getting a lot more than they bargained for when they made their reservation. There is one couple, one family and four single people of various backgrounds. At first they size each other up and are not too happy with what they find. Soon, however, they find that first impressions are often incorrect. They all question some of the demands of the resort, but soon all willingly participate in the odd requests of the staff and management. As each goes through their individually designed healthcare program, they complain but also have revelations which, surprisingly, enlighten them and give them insights they had not thought of before. Will each of them be transformed which is Masha’s hope?
Each of the guests has brought their own personal baggage with them and it is a diverse list from marriage problems to menopause, from drug issues to suicide issues, from ego issues to money issues. Some suffer from feelings of guilt, some from shame, some from grief, and some from a lack of confidence and/or self esteem. Some are simply searching for alternative ways to solve their problems. As each reveals their innermost secrets, as each reveals they are suffering in some way, it becomes apparent that Moriarty has a talent for understanding what motivates and frightens her characters.
The drug theme is front and center. Is illegal and/or legal drug use beneficial? In some cases, the legal use of drugs seems far more dangerous than its counterpart. Because a doctor prescribes a drug, often its dangerous side effects are ignored and the consequences are as lethal as it is for those who overuse illegal drugs. Drug induced states produce odd interchanges and reactions. Some see more clearly, some become more anxious, some are euphoric, some have a bad trip. Are these results good or bad, when carefully monitored, even when illegal? Can a drug be harmful even when it is being monitored by a doctor and or parents? Do we, when following a doctor’s advice, make ourselves fully aware of the dangers of the side-effects of the drugs given to us or simply trust the “higher” authority?
The theme of twinship and its bonds was particularly emotional for me since I lost a twin brother and so did one of the characters. I, personally, am aware of the effect of losing a sibling with whom you shared everything from the very beginning of time. The interpretation of the relationship and the loss was insightful. The feelings of the surviving twin were genuine.
The theme of madness is dissected and the reader witnesses the different levels it ascends and descends to through the interactions of the characters. What drives people to thrive and achieve success as well as what drives people to fail is also examined very well by the author as she presents her characters and their responses to life’s dangers and moments of joy. Some bear the strain and some crack under it.
The theme of relationships is very diverse. The relationship between a man and his dog, a man and wife, same sex couples, and parents and children are very minutely explored and the reader is witness to the complexities in each situation that is revealed. They share grief, loss, blame, guilt, along with the praise and pride that interplay in each of the character’s lives. The theme of loss seems to be in everyone’s life, to some degree or another, and the type of loss and how each character deals with it is really illuminative. Everyone, in the beginning, sees something else in each other’s personality, and often the first impressions made are incorrect and are based on faulty assumptions. Getting to know more about each other, changes the perceptions.
The theme of stress and its effect on the lives of each of the characters veered off into many different directions, some common and some unusual, as they are in real life. The consequences were mental and physical, emotional, and painful. They were authentic in interpretation and explanation. The mounting stress made the guests begin to wonder if they were being manipulated and why. Their feelings were soon on high alert.
My favorite character is Frances who is a naive woman who writes romance novels. She interprets most everything at face value, rarely looking too deeply into the problem. Her solutions are often simple. She may jump to conclusions, but she readily alters them. She tries to look at the bright side, in the face of darkness. She gave several of the characters humorous nicknames to define their qualities. Some of the dialogue was indeed chuckle inducing and I often even laughed out loud. But then, the novel also briefly took a dark turn which unsettled me. The author played both emotions well.
Arrogance and fame are explored along with the effects of great wealth and success.
My least favorite character was Masha, the obsessed woman who ran the wellness facility. Although her methods were extraordinarily unconventional, in most ways, the results she achieved were often positive, encouraging the characters to get more in touch with their feelings and to understand each other more completely. So, although there was a strange, mad dichotomy between the means and the ends, they did work.
The characters, for the better part of the book, are authentic, and although the life of each character is followed until all the loose ends are tied up neatly, the conclusion seemed to fall a bit short. It teetered on the theme of believability. As each character is forced to experience their sorrow, their joy, their fear and their relief in different ways, intuitively, imaginatively and in reality, each comes out changed in some way that was beneficial. Each learns to control their emotions and reactions in ways that are helpful to them. They learn to accept themselves more positively and to be more open and honest in relationships.
The reader is fabulous, using alternate accents and expressions which clearly define each character and scene. The book was made more enjoyable by her presentation. It made me laugh, and it made me cry, but it also made me think.
Show Less
LibraryThing member trayceetee
Just when I think I can't love Liane Moriarty anymore, she comes along and writes something like this! OMG!!! This ranks up there with my favorite books of all time! She's such a great writer.... I mean, really. Moriarty tells a story like few others can.
I love the character development in this
I hang on her every word, I can't stand to put it down, and then when it's over, I wind up with the best book hangover ever!
I love the character development in this
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story--this is classic Moriarty, devoting each chapter to a different character's viewpoint. I found myself looking into health retreats in my area, as, in the beginning, the idea of getting away from it all and doing a whole-person cleanse by way of 10-day retreat was made to sound so appealing! (I still think I'd like to try!) The book has the usual twists and turns that Moriarty so expertly delivers--she gets you sucked into the story properly, so you forget there may be twists coming, and then BAM! she hits you with one.... you're still sort of reeling from it, and BAM! another! And while the twists and turns make the story what it is, it could almost stand on its own without them... The whole thing is a solid, beautiful work of art!I hang on her every word, I can't stand to put it down, and then when it's over, I wind up with the best book hangover ever!
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LibraryThing member gpangel
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty is a 2018 Flatiron publication.
Frances- former bestselling romance author- ironically the victim of a romance con/scam
Lars- divorce attorney representing women only
Tony- former professional sports star
Napoleon, Heather, and Zoe- family coming apart at the
Caramel- Husband dumped her for a younger woman- wants to lose weight – gain positive self -image
Ben and Jessica – marriage on the rocks after winning the lottery
Masha- Head guru- health spa owner
Nine people, all from very different walks of life, arrive at Tranquillum House, a highly recommended health resort. Each of them is coping with various life issues, from simple domestic uncertainties, or huge family problems, to marital woes, and weight loss goals.
But, once they arrive the regiment is nothing like what they had anticipated. But, despite a strict demand from their guru leader to adhere to a vow of silence, the group members begin to forge opinions of one another and bonds begin to develop. However, they never could have guessed just how close they would become before their ten days are up…
After the prologue, the first character the reader is introduced to is Frances. This was a great opener for the avid reader who will ‘get’ the subtle and not so subtle digs at the publishing industry and the trends they run right into the ground until they become a parody of themselves, forcing authors to either hop on board the train or wait for their chosen genre to become popular again. So, right away, I knew I was going have to see how Frances fared, and was all in. I couldn’t wait to see what other sardonic observations the author had up her sleeve.
But, I must warn you. This book is not anything like Moriarty’s previous novels, which usually centered around the family unit, providing a taut element of suspense, blended with humor and sarcasm. This novel has the humor, sarcasm and the suspense, but this is not exactly a domestic setting.
I usually dislike novels with a large cast of characters. I get confused easily trying to keep up with so many backstories and the plot is usually way too busy. However, this book is an exception. I had no trouble keeping up the characters and the plot is straight forward, so despite the number of characters, the story has a nice, even flow. The only drawback might be that it loses some of the intimacy of Moriarty’s previous works.
The nine guests have arrived for a life changing experience. Well, let’s just say they got one- just not in the way they anticipated. Let’s say Masha’s techniques border on the bizarre, and before all is said and done these nine perfect strangers will get to know one another quite well. The bonds they forge will have a lasting effect on them for a long time to come.
And that’s really all I can say about the plot without giving too much away.
But, I can talk about the characters-
I loved all of them. They are a zany group of people, flawed of course, some dealing with deeper issues than others, but all of them are so human and real. I rooted for and cared for them all, but Frances remained a favorite character for me from start to finish. Heather, Zoe, and Napoleon have the meatiest story in the book and evoke some serious emotions. At the end of the day these characters did indeed experience transformation and Moriarty did a great job of giving them all a realistic, but also a highly satisfactory future.
Overall, this one is a bit of a departure for Liane Moriarty, but her signature style is etched all through the novel. While the plot is just this side of deranged, the story is a compulsive read, perhaps a little overlong, but otherwise compelling and highly engrossing!!
Frances- former bestselling romance author- ironically the victim of a romance con/scam
Lars- divorce attorney representing women only
Tony- former professional sports star
Napoleon, Heather, and Zoe- family coming apart at the
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seamsCaramel- Husband dumped her for a younger woman- wants to lose weight – gain positive self -image
Ben and Jessica – marriage on the rocks after winning the lottery
Masha- Head guru- health spa owner
Nine people, all from very different walks of life, arrive at Tranquillum House, a highly recommended health resort. Each of them is coping with various life issues, from simple domestic uncertainties, or huge family problems, to marital woes, and weight loss goals.
But, once they arrive the regiment is nothing like what they had anticipated. But, despite a strict demand from their guru leader to adhere to a vow of silence, the group members begin to forge opinions of one another and bonds begin to develop. However, they never could have guessed just how close they would become before their ten days are up…
After the prologue, the first character the reader is introduced to is Frances. This was a great opener for the avid reader who will ‘get’ the subtle and not so subtle digs at the publishing industry and the trends they run right into the ground until they become a parody of themselves, forcing authors to either hop on board the train or wait for their chosen genre to become popular again. So, right away, I knew I was going have to see how Frances fared, and was all in. I couldn’t wait to see what other sardonic observations the author had up her sleeve.
But, I must warn you. This book is not anything like Moriarty’s previous novels, which usually centered around the family unit, providing a taut element of suspense, blended with humor and sarcasm. This novel has the humor, sarcasm and the suspense, but this is not exactly a domestic setting.
I usually dislike novels with a large cast of characters. I get confused easily trying to keep up with so many backstories and the plot is usually way too busy. However, this book is an exception. I had no trouble keeping up the characters and the plot is straight forward, so despite the number of characters, the story has a nice, even flow. The only drawback might be that it loses some of the intimacy of Moriarty’s previous works.
The nine guests have arrived for a life changing experience. Well, let’s just say they got one- just not in the way they anticipated. Let’s say Masha’s techniques border on the bizarre, and before all is said and done these nine perfect strangers will get to know one another quite well. The bonds they forge will have a lasting effect on them for a long time to come.
And that’s really all I can say about the plot without giving too much away.
But, I can talk about the characters-
I loved all of them. They are a zany group of people, flawed of course, some dealing with deeper issues than others, but all of them are so human and real. I rooted for and cared for them all, but Frances remained a favorite character for me from start to finish. Heather, Zoe, and Napoleon have the meatiest story in the book and evoke some serious emotions. At the end of the day these characters did indeed experience transformation and Moriarty did a great job of giving them all a realistic, but also a highly satisfactory future.
Overall, this one is a bit of a departure for Liane Moriarty, but her signature style is etched all through the novel. While the plot is just this side of deranged, the story is a compulsive read, perhaps a little overlong, but otherwise compelling and highly engrossing!!
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Nine strangers attend a 10 day retreat at a wellness spa. The first half of the book worked well for me. The story is told from multiple points of view and I liked learning the backstory of each character. Then it all goes off the rails and became a bit far-fetched. Still an entertaining read, but
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not one I would revisit. She wrapped it up nicely though and I’m still a fan of her work. Show Less
LibraryThing member diana.hauser
NINE PERFECT STRANGERS is Liane Moriarty’s newest title. Like many other readers, I was attracted to Ms. Moriarty’s books because of her work on BIG LITTLE LIES - the book and the HBO adaptation. (Both excellent)
Maybe I am spoiled by BLL and some of her other titles, but NINE PERFECT STRANGERS
A no-go for me on every level.
Maybe I am spoiled by BLL and some of her other titles, but NINE PERFECT STRANGERS
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did not work for me at all. I did not identify with or was interested in any of the characters. I also thought the premise of the luxury spa/retreat, Tranquillum House, run by Masha, the crazy person, was not believable. There was no real plot, storyline, suspense or tension.A no-go for me on every level.
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LibraryThing member SBoren
I purchased this book from @bookofthemonth to read with @saltwaterreads. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Nine people decide for very different reasons to go to a health resort that offers to change their lives forever in just ten days. After
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dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's on their consent forms they begin to arrive at the retreat where they are greeted in very unusual ways......just when they think they have fallen into a routine they discover something is amiss and just when they discover what's amiss something even more tragic happens and it all becomes a very messy situation. That messy situation changes everyone of them in a way but doesn't necessarily transform them into someone else. 10 days they will never forget for nine perfect strangers......Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Go Read, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Amazon, Twitter @jason_stacie and my blog at readsbystacie.com Show Less
LibraryThing member LMJenkins
This was a fun read and I’m tempted to give it four stars because it was exactly what I wanted and needed to read this week: clever, humorous, entertaining and light.
LibraryThing member arielfl
Nine strangers gather for a weekend wellness retreat. Obviously Moriarty took her inspiration from my favorite Agatha Christie novel And Then There Were None. What could go wrong in a place with a staircase that looks like the one from the Titanic? It turns out plenty as the strangers fall under
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the spell of the strange and increasingly unraveling Masha. All of the characters have backstory, some of it serious and some of it silly. It takes awhile to get into the meat of the story and at times I wasn't sure if I even cared. I pressed on and finally reached the nutty conclusion. I don't think it is Moriarty's strongest work but it did elicit a chuckle or two. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookczuk
I normally don't like group novels, but Laine Moriarty does it so well, giving unique, strong personalities to characters, and having just the right touch of social issue, and tongue in cheek humor, poking fun at foibles, be they personal or societal. A fun read, though I might think twice about
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going to a health spa! Show Less
LibraryThing member flourgirl49
I've loved all of Liane Moriarty's previous books, but this one was disappointing. The dialogue has always been witty, authentic and slyly funny - not so much this time. Character development was not as fulsome as usual, and the story line at times was somewhat boring. However, the author did wrap
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up all of the characters' stories nicely, rather than abruptly ending the story once a resolution to the crisis occurred. Many authors don't do that, and I appreciated the effort. Show Less
LibraryThing member delphimo
Nine Perfect Strangers begins slowly, then the pace accelerates, until halfway into the book when the tempo stales. Moriarty creates interesting characters with real problems. The reader learns about drugs, wealth, sports, divorce, suicide, death, life, and many more topics, probably too many
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topics for one book. Moriarty hits the nail on the head with her character studies of the nine strangers and the supporting cast. Yes, the epilogue of what happens to each character gives closure but overextends a lengthy book. My feeling for the book jumped from enjoyment to dread. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
This novel is somewhat of a departure from Moriarty’s other novels. Instead of exploring close relationships and secrets that are slowly disclosed, this tale is about nine strangers who meet at a health retreat. They come for different reasons, with preconceived notions of what to expect. But
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this is not a resort that caters to its guests, as they soon fine out. In fact, it is not at all what they expected. Masha, the owner and leader of the resort, runs the place like it is her own dynasty, expecting complete obedience from her staff and her guests. And, much to their dismay, her guests soon find out that the only way to please Masha is to obey her rules to the letter, and they must please Masha to succeed. Moriarty does an excellent job of building suspense and developing her characters. The plot moves rapidly along, and even though there are several characters, all of whom have backstories, it is never confusing. This well-written novel will keep you turning pages until the very end. Show Less
LibraryThing member devilish2
A fun romp of a book, great characters, great observations about people, a bit tedious about two thirds of the way through but overall, a good holiday escapism book.
LibraryThing member chasidar
I'd give this 2 1/2 stars. Not one of her better books. It was hard to keep track of all the characters and the plot went to totally unbelievable.
LibraryThing member joannemonck
I am an avid fan of the author but this book feel a little short for me. The premise that this rather insane woman could experiment on 9 people without their realizing it was a little far fetched. It was an okay read but a little disappointing
LibraryThing member mcelhra
As you know, Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite authors. I waited very impatiently for Nine Perfect Strangers. I even tried to order it from Amazon Australia because it came out in October there. No dice.
I am happy to report that it was worth the wait! Nine Perfect Strangers is about nine very
Every person at the spa has a secret that is the reason behind why they came to the spa. Moriarty uses her standard method of beginning in the middle of the story. The book starts as the guests are arriving on the first day and she goes back and forth, slowly revealing what the guests’ backgrounds are and what they are hiding.
I don’t mind that most of Moriarty’s books follow the same basic structure because she does it so well. She is excellent at building suspense and adding twists. My only quibble with this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed. Everything is wrapped up nicely though, with no loose ends, which I appreciated.
I’m so glad that Liane Moriarty consistently releases books every year or two so I won’t have to wait eons for her next one. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the second season of Big Little Lies, which is supposed to premiere sometime this summer.
I am happy to report that it was worth the wait! Nine Perfect Strangers is about nine very
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different people who are thrown together for a week long retreat at Tranquillum House, a health spa run by the somewhat out there Masha. The longer the week goes on, the weirder Masha and what she wants the spa guests to do get.Every person at the spa has a secret that is the reason behind why they came to the spa. Moriarty uses her standard method of beginning in the middle of the story. The book starts as the guests are arriving on the first day and she goes back and forth, slowly revealing what the guests’ backgrounds are and what they are hiding.
I don’t mind that most of Moriarty’s books follow the same basic structure because she does it so well. She is excellent at building suspense and adding twists. My only quibble with this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed. Everything is wrapped up nicely though, with no loose ends, which I appreciated.
I’m so glad that Liane Moriarty consistently releases books every year or two so I won’t have to wait eons for her next one. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the second season of Big Little Lies, which is supposed to premiere sometime this summer.
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LibraryThing member Gingermama
Nine people head to a remote Australian spa to participate in a 10-day program that promises to transform and rejuvenate their lives. Things get off to a good start, but soon the guests find the spa and its founder are not exactly as advertised.
I wish I'd saved this book for a long weekend, because
I wish I'd saved this book for a long weekend, because
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once I started reading, it was hard to stop. Short chapters and constantly-shifting point of view kept things interesting, and the characters were unique enough that it wasn't difficult to keep track of everyone's backstory. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member MM_Jones
I read an interview with the author on this new book and it sounded quite interesting. But I was disappointed. The first portion was paced too slow, felt like it was set up for the inevitable TV movie. I imagine once you have Nicole Kidman as a star, the rest is just dressing.
LibraryThing member Bonnie.Franks
The book's title could not be more accurate. The nine people, strangers to each other, are perfect. These characters are so well-developed that I still expect to see them out and about, like in the grocery store or somewhere. I know and related to some more than others, of course, as I am sure
There are some difficult and trying circumstances in these pages, some before arriving at the spa and some after. Through it all is a sense of humor that had me smiling and sometimes laughing out loud. Did I feel horrible sometimes? Upset? Sure. I wouldn't have it any other way. What a read.
Loved it, loved it, loved it.
I actually finished this book on December 31, 2018. It has taken me this long to write the review because I still feel like I'm in this book with these people. I recommend this book to everyone!
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everyone else did as well. Probably different ones for different people. But how amazing is it that one can read this book and do that?There are some difficult and trying circumstances in these pages, some before arriving at the spa and some after. Through it all is a sense of humor that had me smiling and sometimes laughing out loud. Did I feel horrible sometimes? Upset? Sure. I wouldn't have it any other way. What a read.
Loved it, loved it, loved it.
I actually finished this book on December 31, 2018. It has taken me this long to write the review because I still feel like I'm in this book with these people. I recommend this book to everyone!
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LibraryThing member gail616
Held my interest. Not my favorite of hers.
LibraryThing member mchwest
Oh well, awesome book, but I really think I got lost at the end and I reread the last couple pages and still felt like something went right over my head. But the book was great and never lost pace, and I'm going to read other reviews and see if they spread any light... or wait for the movie and
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then I'll be surprised! Show Less
LibraryThing member DrApple
This book is about a disparate group of people whio meet at a health spa. Each character is finely drawn with his or her own history, problems, and dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Awards
The Indie Book Award (Longlist — Fiction — 2019)
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Mystery/Thriller — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2018
Physical description
464 p.; 8.14 inches
ISBN
1250069831 / 9781250069832