NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
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“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.
This is a little on the strange side and you have to keep reading it and you will understand. It’s my least favorite of her books but I did like it. She needs to write more books as I really enjoy reading them.
Had me in tears several times, very emotionally evocative, surprising, and entertaining.
This book is… odd. That’s the only word I’ve been able to come up with for it. It’s odd in a mostly good way though. I don’t think I’d have picked it up if I had totally known what the plot was but I’m glad that I did. It’s quirky and fresh, even if it’s not at all the mystery thriller I thought it was going to be. It takes an in-depth look at the characters and their growth and development and reactions to their circumstances. To be honest, not much really happens in this book, but somehow Moriarty makes it feel as though it does, enough to keep you reading even as you wonder why and where it’s going. It’s a good book. Not my favorite by her but a solid 4 star read.
Excellent plot and characters as usual! Well recommended. I didn’t like all the tying up at the end and thought that went on a bit but the book was done by then anyway.
Her worst book ever
Boring, slow and flat. Uninteresting, stereotyped characters.
I really like the originality of this book.
This was an interesting read but not the page-turner that is typical for Moriarty. I’ve read all of her books but this one did not hold my attention. The characters were not written with the in-depth insights that make the reader root for them. Still, the story looks at the strange world of cultish self-improvement spas and pulls together disparate lost souls working towards redemption, so it provides some insights on how people can move on after loss.
Not my favorite book by this author
An entertaining read from start to finish and a unique circumstance set up by the author to throw a motley crew of characters together into a strange and wonderful adventure.
Not up to Ms. Moriarty’s usual standards. Got stranger as the story went on, not very believable.
Nine people gather together at a resort for ten days for various reasons. They are required to give up all connections to outside life – cell phone, no TV, no newspapers – and fully immerse themselves into the resort’s ways. At one point during the ten days, there is absolutely no talking. They all have specific foods that they are eating but it’s not all the same foods.
Masha is the owner/director of the resort and she works with Yao and Delilah. Masha was formerly an executive who suffered a heart attack and Yao was one of the paramedics who saved her.
It’s not long into the ten-day retreat when everyone is wondering if the retreat is really helping them. The story was good and then kind of went “off the rails” towards the end but everything was pretty neatly wrapped up.
I’ve always enjoyed Liane Moriarty’s book but wasn’t as thrilled with this one as I would have hoped.
I love Moriaty’s writing. I read this book in one day…until 4am! The characters where a little quirky, but I liked them. Lots of “feels” in this story!! The plot was really unique! 4 stars
I love her books. This one was a real page turner.
As with all Liane Moriarty books the plot of this one is different from any of the others that she has published. It has similar elements, such as a large cast of characters responding to a specific event or experience, but the setting of the novel was intriguing. I have never been to a health retreat and before the event went wild I was fascinated by what went on, although I do not know how representative the initial activities the characters experienced are of what happens at one of those facilities. The issues raised though the life experiences of the characters added to the novel – drug use/addiction, teen suicide, plastic sugary / body issues, how grief is dealt with from both adults/parents/children and of course health and lifestyle choices. I will admit that I agree with some of the other reviewers in their opinion that the events at the end were slightly unbelievable, but given the book’s genre I gave it a great deal of scope for its entertainment value. I enjoyed reading it and liked that every chapter ended on a cliff hanger. I recommend this book for anyone who wants a book written in an easy to read style where its not obvious what will be happening next.
Something about this book made me want to keep reading, but then it just sort of fizzled out for me. I found myself thinking, “That’s it?” when I finished. Maybe just me, but a bit disappointing.
Seemed kind of formulaic.
Funny, poignant and a devilish joy to read. Frances had me at her first hot flash!
I couldn’t finish this book. Found it so boring, very disappointed.
this was an odd book