Liane is one of my favorite authors and I was anticipating her new release for months. The beginning of the novel resembled her classic writing style. I love how she takes the perspective of the OutKast or sometimes villain, and makes them relatable. She did the same thing in the hypnotists love story. Overall it was a good read, but not in my top favorites of hers.

This week, right before I started reading this book, some acquaintances of mine died in a plane crash. I hadn't seen them in decades and didn't know them well even back when we ran in the same circles, but they've been on my mind a lot -- all the things they didn't get to do, the goodbyes they never got to say, the things they left undone thinking they'd be home soon. I've thought a lot about the 20-something daughter they left behind who happens to be pregnant with her first child. I have so many questions. How did they navigate their final moments? How will their daughter navigate life without them, especially as she becomes a mom? Is there any meaning in deaths this sudden and senseless?

And then Liane Moriarty hits me with "Here One Moment."

This book is about grief, love, loss, expectations, and the funny twists and turns of life that you never could have predicted in a million years. It's about how inextricably intertwined grief and love are, and the truth of the quote "What is grief if not love persevering?" (Thank you, Marvel Cinematic Universe -- sometimes you're brilliant.) It's about family, both of origin and of choice, and how we make choices based on what's best for them, and ourselves. It's a little bit supernatural, a little bit thriller, a little bit literary fiction, and it was just what I needed this week as I contemplated the loss of that family I used to know -- how they lived, how they died, and how their story included some huge life choices they made years ago based on what was right for them and the knowledge that life is short, even though they knew some people wouldn't approve. May we all make decisions with that kind of courage.

The book is about all those cliches: Live like you were dying. The butterfly effect. Ripples in a pond. I can't say much about the plot without giving too much away -- it's best read with no advance knowledge other than the publisher's synopsis. But there are a couple of things you might want to know going in.

There are a lot of coincidences in this book, and you may or may not enjoy that. I sort of loved it, and because the story is based in Hobart, Tasmania, it actually wasn't too unbelievable. It's a small town in a small Australian state, and if you've ever lived in a small town, you know there really are weird connections among a lot of the inhabitants. I loved that some of those weird coincidences led to found family for some of the characters, and proved to be examples of how you really can't predict what's coming next (even if you're an actuary, as one of the main characters is). Fate isn't set in stone, and life can sometimes turn on a dime.

There are also lot of characters in this book, and it can be hard to keep them all straight. That gets easier as you get to know them throughout the story, and as you come to care about whether the psychic's predictions for them are true. This isn't sci-fi, and it's not a thriller. But it WILL keep you on the edge of your seat a little bit as the characters face death, illness, and close calls.

There are also a lot of people in this book who are dead -- we meet them only through flashbacks and the memories of the living characters. They're long gone by the time the events of the book happen, and yet they're integral to the story and find ways of making themselves seen and heard in the characters' present-day lives. I've spent a lot of time this week thinking about a young woman who is missing her mom, dad and sister, and the thought that they will always make themselves felt in her life was comforting in some way.

Part of me wants to send this book to that grieving woman. I know she's not ready for that yet, and may never be. But I hope, when the time is right for her, this book finds her. I have a feeling she might someday see the beauty in it.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book!

Great read. I was a bit nervous for this book prior to reading it because it sounded like it might be a knockoff of Manifest. I was very surprised at how emotionally touching this book was. It made me reflect on my own mortality and what I would do if I knew how much longer I had to live. It was a great read!

This is, by far, my favorite Liane Moriarty book that I’ve read. I loved the suspense of not knowing what was going to happen and if the predictions would come true. It also brings up the interesting question, can you - or should you- change your fate? The magic of this book, for me, was how I absolutely hated Cherry in the beginning, but as the book went on, I had sympathy for her and even started rooting for her by the end of the book. I loved this book so much and can’t wait for everyone else to be able to read it.

Here One Moment follows passengers, who end up on a flight in Australia, where a seemingly fortuneteller walks down the aisle, telling each one of them, their fate of how and when they will die. As the book continues, we find out more and more about several of the passengers, and if they believe this fate will happen. Cherry, the “fortuneteller” tells us about her life and how it unravels to that day on the plane when she walked down the aisle and told each person “fate will not be fought”.
This book was engaging and overall enjoyable. There were a couple of moments where it lagged a bit where we learned about Cherry’s long ago life. Overall, the characters that were focused on were interesting and brought us into the story. Each person story was wrapped up well, but could’ve used a couple more details on some.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book as I do most of this author’s books.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

3.5 Stars⭐️
This is my least favorite of the Liane Moriarty books I have read. Which isn't the worst statement given I really enjoy her writing. This book has a very intriguing topic... what would you do if someone told you how and when they expected you to die?

The story was crazy and compelling in the beginning but I became bored with Cherry's backstory. And the book was quite confusing, chapter titles with the names of characters would have been extremely helpful. Too many times it took paragraphs to realize who was actually the subject of a chapter.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was quite good. It was a different one for Liane Moriarty but a very interesting story. Very unique.

Staggering in its emotional demands, this novel had me on the edge of my chair a few times. Cherry gets on a plane and changes lives by her predications.

What if someone told you when and how you would die? Would you live more? Or prepare for the inevitable? There are many possibilities, none of them predictable.

I didn't know who Moriarty would wrap up her 126 chapters, especially with multiple intersections of families and friendships. At the end, I was wrung out and blinking. The story has to be one of the more interesting things I've read recently.

I enjoyed Here One Moment. I have loved all of Liane Moriarty books I have read so far. The premise for this book was great. . I can't imagine going on a trip only to have a stranger tell you when you were going to die. Do you believe her and try to do everything to avoid prediction or do you ignore it. I enjoyed how the story follows different people on the plane and how they handle the prediction.

I received an advanced review copy for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing.

A big thank you to NetGalley for granting me an ARC of this amazing Liane Moriarty book. What a book this has been! An elderly woman boards a flight. During the flight, she gets up and approaches each passenger and tells them their age of death and cause of death. She repeatedly says “Fate won’t be fought.” How would this impact your life and actions? This book will impact your deep thoughts. It will make you think about your own fate and the fate of those know and love. I enjoyed the way the author wrote this with alternating chapters (one chapter focused on the “Death Lady,” the next on one of the other characters, then back to the “Death Lady, and so on). I became so invested on the characters and their stories and fates. I found this book to be so thought provoking. I’d highly recommend it.

I don’t even look at the book blurbs anymore when it comes to Liane Moriarty’s novels. They almost always are a hit for me. Here One Moment has a beautiful cover and in interesting premise. The first 20-25% of the story goes down easy and draws the reader in. The challenge is staying involved with the many characters throughout the novel.

The story begins on a domestic flight to Sydney. Mid-flight an older woman stands up and starts pointing to passengers, predicting their age and cause of death. While some are predicted to live long lives, others learn that they are predicted to die within the next year. The rest of the novel focuses in large part on those passengers that fear an imminent or untimely death. We also learn about the entire life of the “fortune teller” handing out the predictions named Cherry. Her story was interesting. while I thought this book was going to be mostly plot driven, after the initial handful of chapters, it slowed down and was more character focused, especially concerning Cherry’s story.

I did enjoy this book, although it read slower than many of Moriarty’s other books. The question of what would you do if you knew your age and cause of death is a haunting one. This book was pretty long and the middle did slow down quite a bit, so I don’t think it will be for every reader who has enjoyed her previous books. It will make an excellent book club pick because it’s intriguing and even the reader who can’t power through the whole book can contribute to the discussion.

Thanks NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this ARC.

WOW! I could not put this book down... and even when I was not reading, I was thinking and talking about it. I wondered how Liane Moriarty was going to fix it (end it). When I finally finished it, I felt lighter, relief...it has a good message. And I loved the epilogue...

I really enjoyed it, definitely recommending this one!

Thank you so very much for this ARC to NetGalley, Liane Moriarty, and the Publishing house.

This was different for Liane Moriarty and I AM A FAN. Really opens your eyes to LIVING YOUR LIFE. What would you do If someone predicted the future? I'd be terrified, yet live it up. Loved this one.

ARC Review of Here One Moment
By Liane Moriarty
Pub Date: September 10, 2024

What if you knew the timing and cause of your own death? How would you live your remaining life? What would you change, would you try to fight against your fate, or would you just stop living all together? These are the questions tackled by each character in the new Liane Moriarty book- Here One Moment.

The ‘Lady of Death’ encounters a group of average people on a delayed flight, she shares her strong opinion about the timing and cause of each person’s death. Some will live long lives to 103, but others will die in the near term. Some will die in their beds and others will die violent deaths. Her quiet, fast predictions cause at first laugher and coddling, and then turmoil. Each person leaves the flight not able to describe the lady. Many leave the flight fearful of their last days ahead. The short flight changes the course of many lives, including the life of ‘Lady of Death.’

I love how Liane introduces and builds upon each character. Her ability to layer in the details keeps the pages turning. The veiled twists lead your mind down a story path that you are sure will happen, only to be surprised when it is different than you were led to believe. You wonder as you read, who will die next? How can she kill so many by the end of the book? You keep reading because you must know!

I love how each character evolves throughout the 500 plus pages. The prediction/opinion leads each person to examine their own lives. Taking careful measure of how they have lived and wonder how they could do better. There are many characters, and some are connected after their fateful flight. I kept a little list of the character connections to help me keep it all straight.

The book ends as it began-average people going about their lives. But each forever changed and each understanding: “It is only when we truly know and understand that we have limited time on Earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one, we had.” (Elizabeth Kubler-Ross)

Four Stars—get your copy on September 10, 2024.

Net Galley and Crown Publishing have provided me with an advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫/5. Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. The author of Big Little Lies, Apples Never Fall, What Alice Forgot plus many others has a new book coming out in September! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. This novel was terrific. It’s an ordinary day for a plane load of Australians. There’s an aggravating flight delay and tensions are high. Suddenly, a nondescript older lady makes her way down the aisle, telling everyone how old they will be when they die and what the cause of death will be. Many people indulge her, thinking it’s dementia. However, when she tells a baby and a bride about their impending early demises, people want her to stop spreading nonsense. Weeks later, some of her predictions start coming true. If you could know, would you want to know? What would you do differently? We follow several of these passengers as they try to fight fate. Ultimately, we learn that this is a book about grief - grief for loved ones, grief for the road not taken or grief over what could have been. I think we can all identify with those feelings. I loved this book! Make sure you check it out in September! #bookstagram #netgalley #whatiread #whatsinyourbeachbag #bookgram #reading #bookworm #lianemoriarty #goodreads #libbyapp #thumbsup

Thank you, NetGalley and Crown Publishing | Crown books for this advanced reader's copy. It took me a minute to get into this book and then I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! I have not loved a Liane Moriarty book this much since the first one I read, The Husband's Secret, years ago. What would you do if someone told you exactly when and how you would die?? Would you take them seriously and make changes in your life or would you just keep going as you always had? This book really makes you think about things. One woman went around a plane and calmly was telling passengers on her flight when and how. Some were very far off their lives, so they didn't think anything of it, but a couple were next year or very outlandish like a newlywed couple or a small child. So, should those people really take her more seriously? All the lives were very interesting, and you get to read about the woman's life who made the predictions as well and how to she ended up there.

As a huge fan of Liane Moriarty, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an ARC of her newest book and this was worth the excitement!

A woman stands unprompted on a plane and announces cause and age of death for the other passengers. The bulk of the story takes place after the flight and alternates between the perspective of the psychic and a few of the passengers. The story lags a little at times (specifically during Cherry’s chapters for me) but I had a hard time putting it down after the first death. I anticipated (and loved) the suspense of this story! I didn’t anticipate the emotional depth and reflection of the characters and I loved that even more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC provided in exchange for my honest review.

Liane Moriarty is an incredibly gifted author, as evidenced by the popularity and critical acclaim of each of her novels. The beauty of her body of work is that no two pieces are alike. Her literary choices seem to develop organically, rising to the occasion each plot presents, allowing Moriarty to create profoundly moving characters brought to life through the carefully crafted development of each unique voice. Here One Moment is this author’s most recent offering.

The premise of the story is that a flight from Hobart to Sydney is suddenly disrupted when an elderly woman who, just before the flight lands, moves down the aisle, points to each passenger in turn and shares at what age that person will die as well as their eventual cause of death. Reactions run the gamut from shocked to dismayed, from entertained to horrified. As they deplane, they each take with them a new burden—the burden of facing their own mortality and the forced exploration of their foundational beliefs. The remaining chapters alternate between those told by Cherry, the elderly woman passing sentence, and those that explore the lives of the passengers themselves as they face their new reality. Even many of those aboard who were initially skeptical begin to feel more than a little uneasy as the pages turn and predictions are realized, in exactly the way they were shared.

Cherry’s chapters move through time like mercury, slipping smoothly from decade to decade as she steeps her story in pop culture references that anchor her in time. From Taylor Swift to Ed Sheeran, line dancing to the Lion King, the reader is able to follow Cherry’s footprints as she traverses the timeline of her life. The passenger chapters aren’t, by design, as dependent upon the past and are instead firmly planted in the present with a wary eye to the future. One constant is repeated in each passenger’s story—in some way, Cherry has brought to them chaos and discomfort.

Whilst the writing itself is truly memorable and moving, as are many of the stories shared by both passengers and Cherry, the book was, for me, a very slow burn that never transformed from smoldering to actual flame. The payoff of the build fell flat and was more anticlimactic than the plot of a Lifetime movie. I wanted fireworks and instead received a fizzling sparkler. The disappointment was real.

I encourage readers to find joy in the clever wit Moriarty brings to the page. Revel in the details as they unfold and enjoy feeling like they are insiders when they can identify with current events. Read for the beauty of Moriarty’s art and allow the denouement to occur without judgement. In the case of Here One Moment, it’s all about the journey, not the destination. 3.5 stars rounded up, because…Liane Moriarty!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to receive an ARC. Publication is slated for late September of 2024.

#NetGalley #HereOneMoment

The overall story plot was very interesting. I did have trouble keeping track of characters at times, as there were so many characters with their own interwoven stories. It was a fun, enjoyable read!

This was an interesting read that caused me some serious stress while reading it. I wasn't sure where the story was going. On a short flight, a women stands up and walks the aisle, giving and age and cause of death to passengers. This starts a chain of events for all of the characters once the death predictions start coming true. There were two storyline in this books and I did find myself skimming thru Cherry's story at moments just to keep going with the stories of the passengers. Overall, a good book and one that definitely make you think about how you would treat your life if you thought you would know when it would end. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.