Here one Moment by Liane Moriarty

We’re all so busy, caught up in life's moments, big and small . . .

The flight attendant working a shift on her birthday.

The mother struggling alone with two young children.

The newlyweds setting off on their tropical honeymoon .

The overworked father missing his kid’s big show.

The young man returning from his best friend’s funeral.

The ER nurse wondering what retirement will bring.

All strangers. All unsuspecting. Each with a life heading in a particular direction – or so they imagine.

Because an elderly woman is about to step into each of their paths. In just a few words, she will make a prediction, tying herself to all of them. And, in being bound to her, these disparate strangers will all face similar existential dilemmas. . .

Who is this woman? Is she a genuine clairvoyant? A charlatan? The answer to prayers, or a harbinger of nightmares?

What she will prove to be is an agent of chaos, fraying relationships, putting entire futures into doubt and causing the most ordered of lives to unravel in the most unexpected of ways . .

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Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty masterfully interweaves the lives of several seemingly unrelated characters, each facing their own personal struggles. The narrative begins with a diverse cast: a flight attendant working her birthday shift, a mother managing two young children alone, newlyweds on a honeymoon, an overworked father missing a significant event, a young man mourning his friend, and an ER nurse contemplating retirement.

Their lives intersect when an elderly woman, who appears to be a clairvoyant, makes a prediction that ties them all together. This seemingly benign act of fortune-telling becomes a catalyst for chaos, as her words disrupt their carefully ordered lives, casting doubt on their futures and straining their relationships.

Moriarty's skillful storytelling keeps readers engaged as the characters' paths converge and unravel in unexpected ways. The exploration of how a single moment can alter one's trajectory is both thought-provoking and deeply human. The characters' journeys highlight the unpredictability of life and the impact that even small, seemingly inconsequential events can have on our existence.

I found that at times we were given almost too much backstory on some characters; we followed the clairvoyant for most of her life, and got lots of backstory on the others, and while some of those details later turned out to be important, a lot of it didn't. For me personally that was a lot to keep track of, but I know there are readers out there who will love these deep dives into the characters and enjoy teasing out the connections and important plot points before they reappear.

With its intricate plot and richly developed characters, Here One Moment is a compelling read that will resonate with anyone who has pondered the twists and turns of fate and how they shape our lives.

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For fans of this style, I recommend:

• Book: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – For its exploration of existential questions and the impact of different life choices.
• Movie: Sliding Doors – For its portrayal of how small moments can lead to significantly different outcomes.

Here One Moment publishes on the 26th of September, 2024. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.