A drama AND a psychological thriller?: Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Hello everyone!

I'm back with another book review for you all!

If you've clicked on this post, thank you. I have a lot to talk about in relation to this book, so let's get into it.

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times bestseller.

Now a Hulu original series.

From the number one New York Times best-selling author of Big Little Lies.

"Narrator Caroline Lee's animated performance brings listeners along as the story changes perspective.... Listeners will be hooked as the retreat begins to unravel." (AudioFile Magazine)

Could 10 days at a health resort really change you forever? In Liane Moriarty’s latest audiobook, 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. Amid all the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these 10 days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next 10 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 who 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 her audiobooks a go-to for any listener looking for wickedly smart, propulsive fiction that will make you laugh and gasp, Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers once again shows why she is a master of her craft.

The Beginning

The story starts off from the point of view of Frances Welty, who seems to be struggling with life while also being fed-up with it. She is a romance writer who seems to sometimes be positive and mature, and other times full of a bucket full of emotions that she is metaphorically being drowned in. I found myself both cringing and smiling at Frances' thoughts, because she is not the same age as me, but has the career I am working towards-that of a writer.

I was so sure I had guessed the genre of the book correctly when I started reading the book, but I found myself in doubt when the point of view changed from Frances, to Ben and later to the other Tranquillum house guests. It was enjoyable to switch points of view because I was not attached to any of the characters early on in the book. There was no one that I immediately liked, and so I found myself excited for the next chapter when the pov could change.

The Middle

It became very clear that something was up with both the people who worked at Tranquillum House and the things the guests were made to do there halfway through the book. Masha seemed unhinged from the beginning, as if she was hugging her sanity close to her heart for the longest time, and then towards the middle she was unraveling. At this point the relationships between the guests were becoming clearer. I was able to see why one person judged the other initially, why people kept secrets from the people they'd come with, and so on. It was interesting to discover that none of these people were really in need of the health retreat Tranquillum House offered. What they needed was perhaps family/couples therapy, or a well-deserved vacation in a place that wasn't as hot as Australia.

The End

I cannot write in a lot of detail what happened at the end of the book because as you know, I only do spoiler-free reviews. I can say however, the true, ultimate villian is discovered, and the air of mystery around them turns out to be a smokescreen for the broken person they actually are.

All in all, I liked this book. I found that I got bored of some parts and zoned out, but the end really lifted my spirits and exceeded my expectations for it.

Writing Style

Liane Moriarty is a talented writer. She created realistic characters who have pasts to deal with and futures to look forward to. The writing style was interesting because, as a reader, you got the chance to get into every character's head. It was impossible for me to dislike changing to different points of view and so I embraced it and enjoyed the smooth flow of the novel. I also liked the primary plot line and how it merged with the subplots. I think I will definitely be picking up another one of Liane Moriarty's books-hopefully I'll be able to get through it as quickly as I did this one.

That's all I have for my review of Nine Perfect Strangers. I hope you liked it and found it helpful! I post twice a month, so subscribe to stay updated whenever I post something new.

Catch you later!

-May