Nine Perfect Strangers
Ratings196
Average rating3.5
3/5 Stars
Nine strangers set out to a remote health and wellness resort searching for a 10-day transformative experience. Some are looking to lose weight, some are seeking relationship help, and others can't quite figure out what they're looking for...
The charismatic and peculiar owner/director of the resort, Masha's approach to healing and wellness is a bit....original to say the least, and leaves guests doubtful. However, Masha has this trance about her that seems to virtually brainwash not only her right and left-hand wingmen, but eventually the guests seem to take to it, too.
I felt as though this story should have left out the “nine” strangers and narrowed it down to the “six” that Moriarty focused on most. We have Frances Welty, romance novelist who arrives at Tranquillum House broken-hearted and a bit skeptical. Ben and Jessica Chandler are seeking marriage counseling after a lottery win sparks a plastic-surgery binge for Jessica, and a love for a new car on Ben's end. Then we have Heather, Napoleon and Zoe Marconi, the seemingly happy family that is still grieving the loss of their son.
As the reader, I had a solid grasp on the above characters' thoughts, backgrounds, and feelings. I felt as though I understood the characters and could successfully do that picturing-in-my-head thing of what the characters are like. The remaining characters, Lars Lee - a divorce attorney, Carmel Schneider - a woman with a major resentment of the new relationship her ex-husband has with a younger woman, and Tony Hogburn - a former professional athlete, seem as though they're supporting characters. I think it irks me that I didn't get to know these three as well simply because the whole basis of the book is surrounding nine strangers embarking on a wellness journey under the watch of Ms. Masha.
Additionally, I felt as though I was waiting for something that just never happened. When I finished the book I thought “that's it?”. I was quite honestly disappointed. I read so many great things about this book and when I saw it was an option for my Book of the Month I hopped at the chance to get this, but I was left wanting more and I hate feeling that way after finishing a book! I will say that one thing I appreciated is that Moriarty gave post-resort updates on all nine characters and I love knowing how life has played out for characters (in any book, TV show, movie, etc.) after-the-fact.
Did I dislike this book? No. Did I love this book? Also no. I would recommend other awesome books before this one.
Slow start, but halfway through the book I was engrossed and couldn't put it down. Fantastic ending as usual, I felt as scared and horrified as each character in the book. Another great novel by Laine Moriarty.
This book was doing nothing for me. I was so bored and just couldn't trudge through anymore. Bummed because I loved Big Little Lies. Also the fatphobia was horrific.
it was a fine book. was listening to it on the last road trip, wouldn't be chancing the sequel or anything.
This was great. I teared up at Heather running into a mother that used to be in her son's football team and she tells them the other boy should have passed more often to her son. Grief can be a beast, especially the loss of a child (or a twin). And I thought it was written.
I'll probably seek out the show at some point.
Took me forever to finish this book.
A supposed-to-be psychological thriller filled with entitled white people.
It starts promising, then meanders, then drives right off a cliff, only to catch itself again just a bit toward the end. I feel like it gestures at interesting things more often than it actively explores them.
3.5*
Honestly this author does not write mysteries or thrillers and it frustrates me that these are tagged as such. All the books ive read by this author are utterly character based contemporary fiction with very small twists. This was one of her better novels.
This is the 2nd book that I've read by Liane Moriarty and I throughly enjoyed this book also. (Previous was Apples Never Fall.) She created interesting characters that felt vivid and real to me. Then put them in a stressful, unpredictable situation over the course of ~a week. I didn't foresee all of the turns this took or the secrets spilled gradually over the course of the book but they were handled masterfully IMO. I especially enjoyed Frances but really, Ms. Moriarty found a way to mix it up with characters of varied ages, economic circumstances and POV. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of her novels.
People are Eff'd up!!! WOW!!
I like the way that most of the book played out, and the characters were introduced. But the end seemed to come in a rush... like someone suddenly remembered they had a deadline and had to wrap it up quick!!
Also, the last chapter was really kind of weird for me. Like an after-thought.
Overall, I liked the book though. The story was good... one that I would never think of! haha
I really loved this book despite it not really having much of a plot. It was more like a bottle episode of prestige TV. (ironically, they got several episodes of TV out of it)
2.5
So glad I finally finished this!
This has been on my currently reading shelf for over a week.
Review to come soon
I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I went into this book but I really want to watch the show, so I made it a priority to read the book first and am so glad I did! I immensely enjoyed almost everything from the flawless writing to the deep look into the strangers' psyches and it just goes to show- Liane Moriarty doesn't disappoint. And I am thrilled for it! I have a few more of her books on my shelf and am almost certain that I will really enjoy them as well.
To begin with, Nine Perfect Strangers is about nine individuals who go on a transformative retreat at Tranquillum House and get a bit more than they bargained for. This is my first retreat thriller but I loved it as the basis for a “locked-in” thriller, that felt more suspense than thriller at times. I didn't mind that though because even though the plot is definitely a lot more character driven then plot driven, which I usually am not the biggest fan of, in this book I couldn't get enough of it. The only thing that I had to bump a star down for is the pacing, which at times felt a little unnecessarily long and stretched out. This book is on the thick side, but could have easily been cut down by 50 pages, in my opinion. That's really the only issue I had with the book though.
Further on, the characterization in this book was absolutely astounding. I grew to like and relate to all of the nine imperfect strangers, even though they had a lot of really bad qualities and were extremely flawed in every way. That's actually what I look for most in my characters, the more real and raw- the better. As I have stated previously in this review, this book is extremely character driven and not a lot happens for a good majority of it, however, because the characters were so genuinely raw and because we got to see very deep into their innermost psyches, I really didn't mind at all- I actually loved to read from all their different perspectives. Bravo!
Finally, the writing style is so masterful, that Liane Moriarty is definitely one of my favorite authors of all time- hands down. The way that she can weave words together so intelligently and beautifully, and yet also make everything so comprehensive that I didn't have to go back and reread any parts more than once, that is truly a gift to behold for a reader. It was a chunkier book and the writing was kind of small and yet, I didn't mind in the least. Really need to get to her backlist soon!
In conclusion, I recommend this novel to fans of suspense and maybe thriller lovers who can stand a little bit of a slow burn and a character-driven plot. It's not a book that's for everyone but the right readers will really enjoy it, I believe. Now, I am beyond excited to watch the show because tv shows are my other favorite things besides books. Give it a shot, I'm so glad I did!
Surprisingly uplifting. This is nothing like the tv show, in all the best ways.
L. Moriarty always seems to have a finger on the pulse of what is happening and new and upcoming in the world and that is again the case in this novel. Another rollicking ride through the most recent & most controversial subjects; from health & wellness fads, dieting, social media, and the #metoo movement to adolescent suicide and holistic mental health treatments- Moriarty takes it all on in this one and it kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what in the world come come next!?? I am always drawn in by the carefully and well developed characters that I grow to either love or really dislike. Moriarty creates characters whose quirks are often reminiscent of someone I actually really like, or someone...I could do without seeing again...it makes the novels so enjoyable to read, I'm always so invested in the outcomes!
I am angry that this book was as messy and poorly executed as it was and that it made me cry and that those tears were entirely unearned by the writing or characterization. Trite and trying. What a disappointing experience.
This wasn't my favorite book so far this year, but I think it's been the most fun. I thought that telling the story from 10+ perspectives would be too ambitious, but it was actually done quite well.
This book made me think more than I was expecting. Each person was at the resort for a different reason, and had different things they wanted out of their experience. It made me think about what I can do more to improve my health in small ways (I don't see myself ever going to a 10 day health retreat after reading this). I bought a jump rope! We'll see how long it takes me to get past 1 minute of jumping before I'm out of breath.
Everyone has things they want to improve, and this book showed that even the people that seem to have everything can be unhappy with who they are. This was one book I will be thinking about and recommending for quite a while.
Me decidí por este libro por muchas maravillosas críticas que había leído.
Comenzaré diciendo que pensé que seria la típica historia de varias personas desconocidas entre sí que van a pasar un fin de semana a un lugar retirado, hay un asesinato y se trata de adivinar quien ha sido. Pues no, no hay ningún asesinato.
Aún así, la historia podía resultar interesante.
Es uno de los libros menos interesantes que he leído. Mantiene mínimamente la expectativa de que pasara... pero nunca llega a pasar nada interesante.
En resumen, nueve desconocidos y a medida que pasa el libro, se va conociendo la historia de cada uno de ellos... y punto. No hay más.
He terminado con la sensación de haber leído un libro que no me ha aportado nada...
En mi opinión es de esos libros que pronto se olvidan...
Solo lo recomendaría si no hubiesen mas libros en el mundo... y aún así, solo a los “menos amigos”...