When I finish reading a Liane Moriarty book, my first thought is generally, “what a clever writer she is.” Moriarty is so good at her craft. Nine Perfect Strangers is no exception, and it is quite an ambitious book. It is the story of nine people who go to a health resort for a 10-day retreat. Along with the director and her assistant, this makes a total of 11 people with unique histories, problems, and current issues. Moriarty does a great job of giving each of these characters a distinctive personality and backstory. With the exception of one, I found them all relatable and totally believable. Moriarty introduced the characters and their stories at a good pace so that the reader is not swarmed with new characters and information.
In order to develop all these characters, the book is quite long (500 pages) and does drag just a little about two thirds through. However, the momentum Moriarty has already created kept me turning the pages. Besides which, the book was surprisingly funny. (My only regret was I read this book while I had a cold, and had to stop myself from laughing to avoid initiating a coughing fit.) Moriarty’s books always have satisfying, though not necessarily happily-ever-after endings, where the characters have grown in some way through the story.
While this was not my favourite Moriarty book, it was a little farfetched in places, it was still an enjoyable read.
