25 October 2024
Here One Moment By Liane Moriarty Review & Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 10 September 2024
How I Read It: Borrowed from my local library
Where You Can Find Here One Moment By Liane Moriarty: Amazon Australia* | Kobo US* | Kobo Canada*
Content & Trigger Warnings: Death, car accident, cancer, death of a parent, mental illness, grief
Here One Moment Summary
In Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty, a seemingly ordinary domestic flight from Hobart to Sydney becomes unforgettable when a mysterious woman, later dubbed “The Death Lady”, starts making death predictions for every passenger.
Without explanation, she walks down the aisle, predicting how and when each person will die.
For some, the forecast is distant – cause for laughter and relief. But for others, the prediction is disturbingly close, leaving them in shock.
The passengers initially dismiss the incident as strange but harmless, until the first death occurs exactly as predicted.
Then another follows, and soon it becomes impossible to ignore the implications.
The novel follows a cast of characters as they grapple with the unsettling knowledge of their impending deaths, forcing them to question free will, destiny, and how they should live their remaining days.
Throughout the novel, flashbacks reveal more about The Death Lady’s past, gradually uncovering her motivations and whether she truly possesses psychic abilities.
With the passengers growing increasingly anxious, some attempt to track down The Death Lady to discover the truth about her powers and whether their fates can be avoided.
Here One Moment Characters
Here One Moment is packed with characters, and keeping track of them can be a challenge. Here’s a list of the key players:
- Cherry (The Death Lady): The mysterious woman who makes death predictions for the passengers.
- Leo: A husband and father who works in civil engineering.
- Allegra: The cabin manager working on the flight where the predictions take place.
- Sue & Max: A retired husband and wife.
- Paula: A mother of a baby and toddler.
- Ethan: A passenger flying back to Sydney after attending a funeral for his friend.
- Eve & Dom: Young newlyweds.
Here One Moment Review
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty is an intriguing and thought-provoking read that raises big questions about fate and the consequences of knowing too much about the future.
The premise is captivating — what would you do if you knew the date and cause of your death?
Moriarty’s exploration of this concept keeps you hooked, but at 500 pages, the book does feel longer than necessary, especially for the mystery and suspense genre, which I believe should never be longer than 400 pages.
I usually enjoy multiple POVs, but the large number of characters in Here One Moment made it hard to keep track of everyone. It would have been helpful if each chapter clearly indicated whose perspective we were following.
Additionally, the book shifts between first-person and third-person narration, depending on the character, which may be confusing for some readers.
Cherry’s flashbacks are told in first-person, while the other characters’ stories are in third-person, adding another layer of complexity. Flipping between two narration styles is not often done in books.
Despite these challenges, Here One Moment offers a great mystery element that keeps you reading.
The novel is more character-driven than plot-driven, so it’s something to keep in mind if you have a preference for one over the other.
As an Australian living in Sydney and whose partner is from Hobart, I enjoyed seeing familiar landmarks in the story — a rare treat in a genre often dominated by American or British settings.
One of the downsides of the book is its tendency to feel repetitive.
In particular, the scene where The Death Lady makes her predictions is revisited from multiple characters’ perspectives, which slows down the pacing. Similarly, the first death is shown from various viewpoints, which felt redundant.
It’s one of the drawbacks of the multi-POV style.
That said, Moriarty excels at creating tension and exploring the emotional reactions of the characters as they deal with their death predictions.
The characters’ lives become more interconnected as the story progresses, which adds to the sense of suspense and inevitability.
While the Australian setting was a nice touch, some of the character connections felt like a stretch, making the small-world coincidences a bit hard to believe.
Yes, Australia is a small place, but in my experience, you’re probably not going to live around the corner from a random stranger you were on a plane with.
I’ve read two other Liane Moriarty books — Big Little Lies* and Nine Perfect Strangers*. Big Little Lies will always be my number one as it got me back into reading (after a brief slump). Here One Moment ranks number two and Nine Perfect Strangers ranks number three.
Overall, the Here One Moment book was an enjoyable, though slightly drawn-out, read. I’m giving it 4 stars because, despite the length, Moriarty’s ability to weave a compelling mystery kept me turning the pages.
Memorable Quotes
Fate won't be fought.
Manners matter.
A sincere apology has the power to save a friendship, a marriage, even a life. Just say sorry. That’s all you need to do.
Here One Moment Book Club Questions
- What did you think of the writing style? Did the alternating between first-person and third-person perspectives work for you?
- The book is just over 500 pages. Did you think the length was justified, or would a shorter book have been more effective?
- Did you enjoy reading from each character’s point of view, or did you find it confusing?
- Who was your favourite character, and why?
- At the beginning, did you believe the death predictions were real? What did you initially think of Cherry?
- Once the first death occurred as predicted, how did your thoughts about the story change?
- If you were one of the plane passengers who received a death prediction, how do you think you would have reacted?
- Do you think any of the characters would have behaved differently if they hadn’t received a prediction from Cherry?
- Do you think any of the characters benefited from Cherry’s prediction?
- How did you feel about Cherry’s flashbacks? Did they change your perception of her character?
- What did you learn about Cherry once you read her whole backstory?
- How do you think Cherry’s first marriage compared to her second marriage?
- Do you think Cherry and her mother had psychic abilities, or was it something else?
- Leo’s prediction was of a workplace accident. Was it reasonable for him to quit his job because of it?
- Allegra’s prediction was suicide. Would you question your mental health if you received a similar prediction?
- Paula is told her son will die by drowning. Was her decision to enrol him in swimming lessons a reasonable response? How did her OCD impact her decisions?
- If your death prediction was intimate partner homicide, like Eve’s, would you look at your partner differently?
- Ethan’s prediction was assault. Would you always be on the look out for danger if you received that prediction?
- What did you think of the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you?
- What did you think of the Australian setting? Did the descriptions of Sydney and Hobart feel authentic to you?
- Have you visited Sydney or Hobart before? If not, did this book make you want to visit?
- Have you read other Liane Moriarty books? If so, where does Here One Moment rank? If not, are you interested in reading any of her other books?
- Liane Moriarty’s books are often adapted into TV series. Which actors would you cast for each character in Here One Moment?
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