You can't fight fate .... or can you?

This book begs the question that if you knew how you would die and when, would you try to change your outcome? And do you even believe the prediction at all? For fans of The Measure, Liane Moriarty takes the premise several steps further, following several characters who receive death predictions, as well as the death predictor herself. In her typical fashion, Ms. Moriarty develops and dissects each character brilliantly and leads you wondering until the last page what the outcome will be for each. For the reader, there is the philosophical question in the background about whether fate can be fought, or even if it was capable of being accurately predicted in the first place. I loved the premise and character development throughout this book, and thought it was a great ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ read.

I appreciate the advanced copy from NetGalley and Ms. Moriarty.

I have been a fan of Liane Moriarty long before BIG LITTLE LIES took off. She is one of my favorite writers. I was super excited for this book to come out and was even more excited when NetGalley approved me for an early ARC. I wasn't sure about the supernatural aspects here about whether a person can buy fate or influence their fate but I was willing to give it a try. The spooky premise of a psychic revealing the fates of fellow passengers seemed right up my alley and I settled in for an exciting ride.

Unfortunately, I was not as captivated by this book as I have been with her other novels. I was expecting something spooky but this quickly turned to an existential crisis for the characters who questioned their choices and lives. The psychics predictions began to crumble over time and I just wasn't invested in the outcome. I was disappointed but I think Moriarty is a terrific writer, this one just didn't quite resonate with me.

I'd still recommend it to her fans because this is subjective.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the chance to review and give my honest feedback.

What would you do if a lady on a plane told you the exact age and way you would die? That’s a question that Leo, Ethan, Paula, Sue, and Eve, among other passengers have to answer. The Death Lady told all of the passengers that they would die, some very young, and now they’re left with the aftermath. Do they live life to the fullest or just give up because it doesn’t matter? This multi-perspective novel is creative, sarcastic, and deeply sincere. It is slow at times, but the back story is necessary for how the ending is revealed. The writing is smart and the mystery of the death predictions keeps the narrative connected, but each character’s story is also intriguing on its own. Recommend for mystery and general fiction readers alike.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read all of Liane Moriarty's books and the last one I felt was okay but didn't love it as much as the others. I really enjoyed this one. I felt like it was back. While this one wasn't fast-paced, it was interesting and kept me wanting to know more.
The book starts slowly, with a psychic predicting the day and time that every passenger on the plane would die. I didn’t really know what to expect after that beginning, I kept going, and I am so glad that I did. The story is told from many POVs of the passengers from the plane. The psychic Cherry has an interesting story that is twisted throughout the book. I really like the last third of the book and the ending was great.
The short chapters and the format of the book were great and it actually was a pretty quick read. I would recommend this to reader's who want something different, it is not a trope and I liked where Moriarty went with the book.


Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC to review.

If you could find out when you were going to die, would you want to know? This book really makes you think about all the choices and paths we go down as humans. Once little wrench in the wheel, changes your whole life course.

3.5 ⭐️

The book opens with an epigraph: “I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predestined and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road” Stephen Hawking

After a short delay, and a quick snack service-a series of call buttons will summon the flight attendants on the short Sydney-Hobart flight.

Apparently, an unremarkable woman who nobody noticed upon boarding, has stood up, and while in an almost trance-like state, has started to make her way through the cabin, predicting the “cause of death” and “age of death” for all of the passengers on board.

“FATE WON’T BE FOUGHT!”

The plane will land safely, but everyone on board will be forever changed-especially the six passengers whose predicted deaths loom in the VERY near future.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as the woman had predicted, and when that death is followed by another, the passengers who were on board that flight, begin to worry.-What if she is right?

The book opens with witty musings about human behavior in airports, and on airplanes, (all spot on!) as we get to know our passengers before boarding and on the flight, written in the third person POV, with alternating chapters from the first person POV of our “death lady”, Cherry.

I was initially engaged but by 25%, it started to seem more like rambling as we learned about how these passengers felt after the flight.

With 400 pages to go-I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue!

Which passengers would brush off the predictions as nonsense, and which ones would try to thwart fate?

Finally, at around the 50%, mark-when the first prediction comes true, and I became more invested again, as I had now grown fond of a few of the characters: particularly Allegra and her mom, Leo and Neve, and Sue and Max.

I continued reading, worried about their fate.

BUT- I found myself wanting to skim through Cherry’s chapters.

I don’t feel like we needed to hear from her AS often as we did, nor did we need to learn AS much of her back story. Cutting some of these chapters would have trimmed enough of the 512 pages to offer us a quicker pace.

We learned of some surprising connections by the end of the book, and there were some satisfying and heartwarming conclusions for a few of the character ARCs, leaving me conflicted on how to rate this book.

While I LOVED how the story ultimately came together by the denouement, I cannot ignore the fact that at one point I questioned continuing on and that I felt compelled to skim read Cherry’s chapters-so 3.5 ⭐️ feels about right.

Expected Publication Date: September 10, 2024

Thank You to Crown for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. These are my candid thoughts!

Can fate be fought? Or is your path predetermined?

I was immediately hooked on this book from the first chapter. A plane is traveling from Hobart to Sydney with a cast of eccentric characters. A lady of indeterminate age wanders down the aisle in a trance-like state telling each passenger her predictions for cause of death and age of death. Some passengers laugh it off while others are noticeably shaken by her predictions.

Fast forward a few weeks and now some of the passengers from the plane are meeting the fate predicted for them. Many of the characters start finding ways to change their fate and try locate the “Death Lady” who started all this panic.

I’ve read quite a few Liane Moriarty books but without a doubt I declare this one to be my favorite. The cast of characters are all lovable. While death was a huge part of this book, it was also sweet, tender and at times laugh out loud funny. And the ending could not have been more perfect.

This book is scheduled to be released in September and I encourage you to add it to your TBR shelf. That you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. I was happy to read this book as I have enjoyed some other books by this author. The structure of the opening chapter was unusual and drew me in: "Nothing about her appearance or demeanor raises a red flag or even an eyebrow. She is not drunk or belligerent or famous. She is not..." Learning who she is not for several pages sets the tone for the wondering of who she is and whether she is what people think she is. As the description of this book tells you, her words will affect lives as during the course of a flight, she predicts the age and cause of death for all her fellow passengers.

What various passengers do with that information, how different people react to their predictions is interesting. The setting gives us a variety of people at different stages of life wrestling with this question, which invites the reader to also explore--what would I do if someone told me the age and cause of my ending? How would my life choices be different, or would they? Would I believe, would I obsess, would I laugh? The characters and the way the story unfolds is interesting, and the ending isn't what I expected (but also didn't blow me away).

Other books have explored this question from other angles (They Both Die at the End, The Measure), so this isn't novel (sorry for the pun). It has differences from the books I mention, but maybe because I've read other journeys of this type, it wasn't as engrossing as I would have hoped. So three stars because I felt it was uneven at times, but had enough of an arc and a lot of interesting characters who kept me reading. If you like this author, you'll probably like her take on this topic. If you don't like this author, there are other books available that are just as good or better.

This is my first time reading a book by this author, and I have to say, I was hooked from the creepy beginning.

The story is about a group of people on a routine flight who find out when they will die. One mysterious woman predicts their deaths, which leads to unexpected consequences. The book explores themes of fate, free will, grief, and love, all while maintaining a sense of mystery and intrigue.

I never read the blurb before diving into a book - I like to be surprised and not know what to expect. After a few chapters, I had a pretty good idea of where the story was heading, even though it's not my usual genre. But I still found myself really enjoying it. The book was a bit long, but the writing was top-notch. I'd recommend this as an easy read for a lazy summer day, especially when it's raining outside. Even though there wasn't a lot of action, there was still so much to take away from this cleverly written book.

Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for my ARC digital copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 Stars. This has a great premise! A group of people are flying from Hobart to Sydney. It seems like a pretty normal everyday occurrence—until someone starts telling people when they will die. It’s not a fun subject, but the writing is so good that you don’t get bogged down or depressed by the subject matter. It is somewhat slow-paced, so I wouldn’t say this is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a compelling and intriguing must-read. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author, for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

✨I’ve been reading and loving @lianemoriarty_official books for years, and I’m always amazed at the new and interesting ways she draws me in. This book was no different.

✨I loved the alternating chapters with various points of view. The Cherry chapters were written so exquisitely and in such a way that I feel I will always cherish her story.

✨All of the characters were impeccably written with a plot that draws on all those anxious questions we ask ourselves about mortality and the nature of living our best lives.

✨I love that there is humor alongside the concept of life and death and the struggles the characters face – both commonplace and extraordinary. Humor with depth is my favorite combination in contemporary fiction. It’s written expertly in these pages.

✨This is one of those books that I didn’t want to devour, but savor. I took my time with it because I didn’t want it to end – and also because I couldn’t imagine HOW it might possibly end. At one point, I was not altogether certain that all the pieces could possibly come together. But that’s why she is Liane Moriarty, and I’m not. SHE NAILS THE ENDING! The ending absolutely astonished me. I’m not going to say more because I want you to have the full experience. Just suffice it to say that my heart was warmed, and I was wiping tears.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Neurodivergent rep
✨Character sketches
✨Australian settings
✨Airline stories
✨Life lessons
✨Book club worthy reads

This is the best book I’ve read in awhile! Liane Moriarty does not disappoint with this new book Here One Moment. I am a fan and enjoy all her books but this one grabbed me right away and I had a hard time putting it down! She kept me guessing until the very end and what a great ending. The book definitely went in a direction I was not expecting and I’m so glad I wasn’t able to figure it out.
The book begins on a plane with a long delayed flight and weary passengers. An unsuspecting passenger stands up and begins pointing at passengers and announcing when they will die. This changes the lives of all involved and we get to experience a glimpse of how this impacts the passengers and the quiet older women that had predicted their futures.

“Here One Moment” begins with a seemingly ordinary flight but takes a dramatic turn when a psychic unexpectedly starts predicting the time and cause of death for the passengers. This shocking revelation propels the narrative into a tense exploration of mortality, fate, and the human condition.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to weave together the individual character backstories, creating a rich tapestry of human experiences and emotions. As Cherry’s predictions unfold, each character grapples with their past choices and future possibilities, prompting readers to ponder the meaning of living life to its fullest.

Moriarty’s skillful character development and insightful commentary on life's impermanence make this book a compelling read. It serves as a poignant reminder to cherish every moment and embrace the uncertainty of the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and Liane Moriarty for the opportunity to read and review “Here One Moment” prior to its publication date.

Cherry, the protagonist, who is nicknamed The Death Lady, boards a plane and announces to everyone when and how they will die. Throughout the book, we not only learn about Cherry's past and what led her to this point, but we also delve into the lives of the passengers on the plane.

There were moments that made me laugh out loud, moments that brought me to tears, and many moments where I deeply related to the characters. I found it impossible to put the book down; with some chapters being very short, it's easy to keep saying, "just one more chapter!"

This book is a wonderful blend of character-driven and plot-driven storytelling. The author does a fantastic job of drawing you into the lives of the passengers and their families.

This is a thoughtful, character driven story with a wide cast of diverse and compelling characters. I was immediately drawn in by the premise: a woman on a plane predicts the age and manner of death for a majority of the passengers onboard. When 3 passengers die exactly as she predicted, the struggle between destiny and free will ensues. It’s challenging to keep track of all of the characters, but eventually I grew to know and root for them. I kept thinking that this would be more interesting /entertaining as an adaptation. The woman who predicts the deaths, soon known as The Death Lady, has a complicated and tragic backstory. When she breaks the fourth wall, she’s sarcastic and endearing. I felt a sense of dread for a large part of the story and kept holding out hope for a happy ending for everyone. Ultimately it’s a reminder to live your life to the fullest.

“It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a 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.”
-Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

3.5⭐️/5 (rounded up)

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Pub date: 9/9/24

Enjoy a novel that makes you think about life? This one is right up your alley. Here One Moment is hands down my favorite Laine Moriarty novel. Loveable cast of characters, a fantastic mystery wrapped in mystical and philosophical elements. This may be my favorite read of the year. I love alternating POV’s, allowing readers to see what happens to characters, giving us a ‘what’s the purpose of life’ lesson wrapped up beautifully.

Thank you to Net Galley and Crown publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

A woman on an airplane makes predictions about age and cause of death for many of the plane passengers, this is the story of what happens next...
Highly highly recommend!
I feel like it would make a great book club pick especially centering conversations of fate and choice and chance and relationships.

Liane Moriarty is hands down one of my all time favorite authors and I was beyond thrilled to receive this ARC and I was not disappointed! Interesting creative story line and interesting characters that made me laugh out loud even considering the somber topic at hand - death!! Please keep the books coming Liane! I recommend your books to anyone and everyone I talk books with!!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I'm a big fan of Liane Moriarty and have read almost every book she's written and this one did not disappoint. Thoroughly appreciated the pace of the book, the character development and it was tricky to put down at times. I recommend, if possible, reading it over a short period of time as there are lots of characters and names and a reader could get a little lost with all the PoVs. That said, Moriarty craft fully connects different plot lines together in away that actually seems believable and it all makes sense in the end. There are a few one line descriptors of the experience of grief that show Moriarty has insight into this experience and uses her book as a platform to help normalize and socialize grief literacy. "You can't project-manage grief". I loved the premise of the book - do you want to know how old you will be and what you will die from? Wonderful portrayal of the beauty and complexity of grief alongside how relationships grow and change following death. This books is a worthwhile summer/holiday/vacation read!!

To describe this book as thought-provoking would certainly not do it justice. Imagine you are on a short plane flight, minding your own business, when a fellow unknown passenger goes up and down the aisle, stopping and illuminating you as to when and how you would die.
The author, as always, brings up interesting conundrums. Would you want to actually know such information, and would you believe what you heard? The lives of the various passengers are all affected, and their personal journeys are all examined. It is fascinating because we all wonder how we would react.
It's a great "what-if. " Perhaps the only negative is attempting to keep the various stories aligned with the various characters.
I will be thinking about this story for a long time!