THE BASICS
- Title: Nine Perfect Strangers
- Author: Liane Moriarty
- Genre: Chick Lit
- Structure: Alternating third-person narrative
- First Line: “’I’m fine’, said the woman.”
Synopsis: 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.
THE GOOD
I have been a long time fan of Liane Moriarty. I fell in love with Big, Little Lies before I even knew it was being looked at for an HBO show. I read that book in one sitting. Then, I read The Husband’s Secret (you can read my review on it here) and was enamored again. Thus, I had high, high expectations for this book. So, let’s get into it.
First, I love how we delve into the characters. You feel like you know everyone so intimately by the end. There’s no stone left unturn. You feel like you could be friends with everyone. Frances was definitely my favorite character! I felt like she was relatable on a “wow I thought that only happened to me” level. Moriarty writes these characters with such conviction that often times I forget that they all stem from one mind.
Secondly, Moriarty is classic for bringing to light broader every day issues in her novels, particularly on the topic of judging others. It’s easy to see as you go on how it plays out. The overarching message is that you can’t judge others without context. Limited experiences with them just isn’t enough context. In addition, often what you misjudge about someone is what you’re most ashamed about in yourself. You can get deep into this topic with this book.
Lastly, I love Moriarty’s humor. There were so many times that I found myself laughing out loud and laughing hard while reading. When Moriarty does wit, it’s definitely something else. If you’re looking for a relatable, light read, this is it.
THE UNFAVORABLE BITS
I really wish I could make this section short, but I can’t. I’m too familiar with Moriarty’s other works to know that this just isn’t her best.
To begin, this book is 450 pages. It’s a lengthy book by any means. If it was 450 pages of intensity and moving the story forward, I probably wouldn’t have a problem with it. A great example of a book like that is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (different genre, but you can read that review here). There is so much fluff in this book. At the halfway point, we were still getting background on the characters with hardly any live-time action. It makes for a boring read. It was good for the first 50 pages, but after it dragged on, I had to keep encouraging myself to pick it back up again.
Moriarty is the Queen of Characters, but her downfall is the number. There are a whopping 11 characters in play at all times. You couldn’t identify a singular main character even if you wanted to. This is too much. Too many people make for a crowded and tiresome read.
In addition, the stereotyping was killer. One of the main characters, Masha, is a woman from Russia. She talks in a Russian accent. She avoids emotion. She speaks in cryptic spy-like messages. She feels more like a caricature of Russian culture. Then, there’s Yao who’s Asian and Masha’s lackey. His entire motivation is essentially to be the lapdog of the retreat center director. It’s a shame and concerning that these characters are portrayed this way. Books are a wonderful opportunity to introduce people to new thoughts, ideas, and cultures. It feels like these characters make a mockery of that opportunity.
CONCLUSION
I rate this book 3/5 stars. In all honesty, I probably would’ve rated it closer to 2/5 stars if I didn’t have the context of Liane Moriarty as an author. I think Moriarty is a fantastic writer, but this is not the book you want to start with if you haven’t read her work. Start with Big, Little Lies and The Husband’s Secret to read her best. This is still a good option if you’re looking for a lighthearted read.
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I received Nine Perfect Strangers from the Book of the Month Club. It was so great to receive personalized book recommendations at my doorstep! Honestly, I’m not sure if I would’ve picked up and experienced Nine Perfect Strangers if it wasn’t for BOTM. You can join the club here for under $15 a month!
I love Liane Moriarity’s books, but haven’t read this one yet! Her books are always hard to put down. I’ll have to add this one to my list!
Caitlin
LemonadePressBlog.com
I love her stuff, too! I’m still super dedicated to her work, even though this one wasn’t my favorite.