Member Reviews

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
What an interesting book! Would you do things different if you knew you only had so long to live? On the plane a woman goes down the aisles saying Timmy will drown at 7, etc…. Six people are told an early death. Can she really tell the future? And then one dies, later two more and as this happens people become scared! Can they change the future?

Was this review helpful?

An interesting take by a talented author on the familiar themes of destiny vs. free will, how one small change can have a big ripple effect, and what would we do differently if we knew how and when we would die. The book started to lag for me in the middle, but it was fairly easy to get through the hump as the chapters are short, with alternating viewpoints. I’m going to round up to 4 stars as I found the ending satisfying, and did enjoy the story for overall.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed all the other Liane Moriarty books I have read, but this one was not my favorite. I appreciated the overall theme of living your life to the fullest. I also loved the multiple POVs and learning about Cherrie’s life through the years. I could not get connected to the other characters and their stories. The middle of the book was also slow for me. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I listened to it rather than reading it.

Was this review helpful?

This may be my favorite Liane Moriarty yet, and is sure to be a big hit. Interesting premise and great character development. Will be recommending this as a perfect fall read.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Crown Publishing/Crown for providing me an advance copy of Liane Moriarty’s latest #mystery novel, Here One Moment, in exchange for an honest review.

#HereOneMoment takes a timeworn concept about accepting or rejecting predetermined destiny, and revives it by creating a contemporary story that relies on a strongly character-driven plot and resists the use of fantastical elements other than fate.

The story opens on a short, yet harrowing, Australian domestic flight wherein passengers are subjected to involuntary predictions about their age and cause of death, which are made by a potential psychic, Cherry Lockwood, who rightfully earns the social media moniker ‘The Death Lady’ shortly after the flight lands and her predictions start coming true.

The novel is a slow-burn, which gradually builds in suspense as the passengers disembark and the story focuses on characters’ individual lives. The chapters alternate between Cherry’s retelling of her life up until the psychic incident, and the perspectives of several passengers whose fates were predicted on that flight.

The characters have varied and intriguing backgrounds, ranging from young to old, rich to poor, with different nationalities and ethnicities. At times, the story could drag if the reader was not interested in a certain character or their subplot. Grief, free will, and love are three of the heaviest themes running rampant throughout each individual subplot, preying on human emotions and fears that we encounter on a daily basis.

Overall, the novel was an intriguing and well-woven story that comes full circle in a predictable, but mostly happy fashion in the end. Readers should know this is a story that is more about the human condition, and less about mystery or the supernature. Solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Was this review helpful?

Liane Moriarty never disappoints!! Another great read from her. Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

First off, I would definitely recommend this to fans of Moriarty's other novels. I received an advance copy, so I'm unsure whether it will be marketed as a mystery/thriller like "Big Little Lies," but I would classify it more as contemporary fiction, similar to "The Hypnotist's Love Story" and "Three Wishes". The story has a prominent "hook" mentioned in the synopsis; however, it focuses less on unraveling a mystery and more on exploring the characters' backstories—their grief, compulsions, and upbringings. I wouldn't describe this as a page-turner since each chapter primarily aims for character development. In short, it's a heartfelt story that reminds us to pause, appreciate life and cherish our relationships.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! Not a mystery nor a thriller, more chick lit I guess...... but had me enthralled none the less and had me thinking what I would do. This is the epitome of a book club pick and I bet this will be a Reese Witherspoon pick when it comes out!

Was this review helpful?

I really liked Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty, it was interesting and so touching! During a short domestic flight one woman gets up and starts telling everyone when and how they are going to die. After this predicted most passengers are chocked, amused or scared, but decide this is not real, except, then people start dying just as predicted! This book makes you stop and appreciate your life a little more. The story alternates between the passenger and the “The Death Lady” as she quickly is named.
Loved this book!

Was this review helpful?

I have read a lot of Liane Moriarty’s books and really loved most of them, but this one just wasn’t my favorite. It’s so different from her other books. I just had a hard time keeping up with all the characters and it was kinda depressing. I guess it bothered me that she told each of the people on the plane when they were going to die and how, whether they wanted to know or not. There was a good moral to the story. Live your life to the fullest.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy!

Was this review helpful?

Moriarty’s latest has such an interesting premise and starts off with a bang - a lady claiming to be psychic tells everyone on a plane the age and cause of death, the rest of the book follows several different characters from the plane as they try to determine whether she is to be believed or not, until some people from the flight actually die the way she determined. they then of course try to live their lives in avoidance of the cause.

I loved the initial setup (kinda like The Measure meets Dear Edward), but unfortunately it fell into the same trap as the last few Moriarty books I’ve read. we follow about 6 different characters after the flight in alternating chapters, but they aren’t evenly spread out so some characters get much more storyline than others, and as a result it took a long time before we circled back to certain characters. I’d say the most emphasis is placed on the storyline of Cherry (the psychic lady), who basically tells us her life story, yet I felt her storyline had such little impact on the book and I personally would’ve preferred to follow the ‘dying’ characters more. I enjoyed following Allegra, Eve, and Paula’s stories the most, yet I felt they were the ones who got the least amount of pages, compared to Cherry’s overly drawn out one.

and I don’t wanna spoil anything of course, but the ending left me rolling my eyes and the direction the plot takes was definitely underwhelming.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Liane Moriaty is hit or miss for me. Some of her books I love and others I don’t like at all. This was the later. I thought the premise was ridiculous, (The Measure did it first and better), I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and it was far far too long. I’m not sure why she wrote speculative fiction but I didn’t like this one at all.

Was this review helpful?

Onboard a flight, Cherry astounds passenger’s by predicting their ages and manner of death, earning her the nickname “Death Lady.” As her prophecies materialize, Cherry and those whose fate she foretold share their perspectives. This book is a page turning thought-provoking tale and a compelling reminder to live each day like it’s your last.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Liane Moriarty delivers another gripping novel with Here One Moment. I always enjoy books that include multiple perspectives and I loved the way the different stories layered and intertwined.

Was this review helpful?

Another gripping story from Liane Moriarity. She brings the storytelling and the writing, and this book will be very popular. Thanks for the ARC

Was this review helpful?

Only Moriarty could have me finish a 500+ book in a few short days. I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning, and as always with her books nothing is quite as it seems. I absolutely love her writing style, the way the story all comes cleanly together at the end, and how unique her storylines are every time.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for my eARC!

Was this review helpful?

I could not help it. I had to read this book as soon as I received the complimentary digital ARC from Crown Books and NetGalley. I don't think this author can write anything except for a best seller. The "Death Lady" walks through an airplane, in a daze, and predicts the death of most of the people on the plane. Some people laugh it off, some take it very seriously. The story follows about 5-6 of the passengers who were given an "expectation of death" which included the age and the condition causing the death. The chapters skip between the various characters, giving background, insight and suspense (!) as to whether some of them will be alive for their next chapter. Everyone was interesting and it was easy to remember each of their stories. Interspersed between the chapters of the passengers, the author tells us a little bit more about the "Death Lady." This book is not out until September 10, 2024 and I envy all of you readers who will be reading this book for the first time. This opinion is my own. A definite 5 star book.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve read quite a few of this authors books and she never disappoints.

It’s different than past books and wondered if I’d like it based on the description of the book. It’s told through many povs and descriptions of their lives.

I enjoyed it. New, Different and thought provoking.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

First of all I requested this book with no real expectation that I would be approved to read the ARC. I LOVE LIANE MORIARTY. So this was a real thrill.
I am a writer and the thing I kept thinking through the whole thing was how well planned this manuscript was. The scene in the beginning when Cherry walks through the plane was so well written. I felt like I was on board as well. The characters were easy to love and easy to get to know. Moriarty unravels each characters arc with patience. I felt so much for them. Eve and Paula in particular. There is a big cast in this book but it was not hard to keep everyone straight. I was surprised how attached I became to Cherry herself. We get to know her so well. There are beautiful life lessons in this story, about aging, anxieties, depression, parental relationships, parenting itself, romantic relationship and ultimately getting to know your self through adversity.
I really loved this book. The epilogue was really well executed. If you like Liane's other books you will LOVE this one.

Was this review helpful?

It’s a short domestic flight, Hobart to Sydney, estimated flight time ninety-two minutes. And on the flight each of the passengers and crew members learns how and when they are going to die, courtesy of the Death Lady.

It’s a great conceit and then the book follows Cherry, a.k.a. “The Death Lady” along with some of the other passengers so we can see their fates, and the fates of others as we also explore how Cherry came by her knowledge. Moriarty usually comes through and this is no exception, this should prove very popular once word gets out.

I found the nuggets about statistics and determinism particularly interesting and I loved this reflection about the loss of a parent, “no one would ever love her like that again…Everyone loves a particular version of you and when that person is gone that version goes with them. My dad was so interested in me.” Definitely recommended.

Was this review helpful?