Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 453
Published: 2018
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever?
These 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 Liane Moriarty’s writing a go-to for anyone looking for wickedly smart, page-turning fiction that will make you laugh and gasp, Nine Perfect Strangers once again shows why she is a master of her craft.”
My Review:
Nine people travel to a remote health resort for a ten-day retreat, hoping to transform their lives, but nothing is at it seems at Tranquillum House.
On Character
Moriarty has a special way of weaving characters’ stories and perspectives together and, with a total of twelve point-of-views, that was no easy feat. She sprinkled backstory details throughout, like putting pieces of a puzzle together, and slowly built the bond between reader and character. This is an intricate skill that made getting to know the characters fascinating, peering into each of their minds in turn.
I fell in love with Frances – the literary-obsessed, day-dreaming, hopeless romantic who takes the forefront of the character lineup – if anything because I related to the way she sees the world through a writer’s lens.
Many of the other characters I both loved and hated simultaneously, which could very well be Moriarty’s intention – what’s more realistic than conflicting emotions in a relationship? Though my fondness for them did grow as more of their relatable flaws were revealed through circumstance.
Unfortunately, I did have difficulty keeping track of characters, particularly with being able to connect their name to their personality. I believe this occurred for two reasons: 1. some characters don’t get their own chapter (POV) until later in the book; and 2. these characters lacked a lasting memorable quality at the beginning of the story.
Also, I did find some of the character arcs to be a bit flat, even considering that the majority of the book was spent on character-building. Understandably, with that many POVs it is difficult to create well-rounded journeys for all of them. Although they were relatable in their flaws, they still felt superficially created in a singular dimension. For example, Carmel – who is at the retreat for body-image concerns – never had any dialogue or actions within the story that was not completely focused on this topic. I would have also liked more depth to the villain, Masha. I felt as though I never truly understood what drove her actions in the story.
On Prose
I love Moriarty’s style of writing. She has a talent for captivating you in the details. Her descriptions are unique, never what you’d expect and yet make perfect sense. Nine Perfect Strangers was an easy and enjoyable read that never felt bogged down by clunky wording. And of course, I have to include one of my favorite lines from the book that stuck with me:
“She wore a tailored navy business suit like a punishment.” (p.2)
It’s so simple in construction and yet it shows so much more about this person than a writer could by telling readers about her.
On Plot
I applaud Moriarty’s ability to leave no detail overlooked. Everything had a purpose, although not always apparent at first.
However, I felt that it took way to long to get to any real action in the story. But even though the first half of the book seemingly drug on, I was still invested in turning the pages. Moriarty is a master at hooks, ending each chapter with a devastating line that kept me turning the pages. She is adept at creating chapter arcs in this way, each one having its own rise and fall that inevitably add to the story arc as a whole.
Ok, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the ending (ugh). It was way too abrupt, with as long as it took to get to the action and then it was over in a fraction of the pages. It felt rushed, the entire plot happening in just a few chapters. As a reader, it was too much all at once to really soak in and enjoy.
I also didn’t fully understand breaking the fourth wall at the end, which pulled me out of the magic of it all. Rather than showing us how the characters were affected by their experiences – and thus closing the arc of the story – there were, instead, a few short epilogues of details. I would have preferred a more definite ending, as I was invested in the conclusion of the characters’ journeys.
Top Takeaways for Writers
Do: subtly introduce background details, rather than long exposition that takes readers out of the story
Do: Use prose to show readers about your characters, rather than tell
Don’t: rush the ending! pacing, pacing, pacing
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