Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty is a novel that mixes quality humor, genuine surprise, and relatable experiences through the eyes of numerous characters. Based in different regions of Australia, the story begins on a plane fight that pieces all of the vastly unique, yet interconnected narrators together.
Allegra is a flight attendant that appears content but may have deep-rooted scars that she needs to examine. Sue and Max are an older, sometimes overly friendly, couple who strive to always see the best in others and live each day to its fullest. Though genuinely kind and optimistic, the couple may be running away from darker aspects in life that will soon catch up with them. Ethan is the cool guy on the plane who wears a mask of serenity while stomaching the grief of his best friend’s death. Eve is the newly wed who is eager for the autonomy of adult-life but may be in for a rude awakening after seeing all the hardships that it entails. Leo is the stoic businessman with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Paula is the adoring mother who may have demons she needs to work on before they overpower her life.
Cherry is the crazy lady on the plane that plunges each of these characters’ lives together. During the flight, Cherry randomly stands and starts moving to each isle to tell each passenger’s “fortune.” Instead of the typical, light-hearted fortunes that are usually given, Cherry proceeds to tell each passenger their age of death and how they will die. By the end of the flight, the passengers were either bewildered, angry, relieved, amused, or completely upset and in tears. No matter which reaction she elicited, her predictions stuck with everyone.
As the writer takes us through the lives of the main characters, we get to learn more about who they are behind the people they present themselves to be. We get to see their joys, their struggles, their traumas, and their fears and become attached to them, all while anxiously awaiting to see if their predictions will come true. Entertaining and anxiety-inducing, this book has the capacity to make any personality type laugh and do some introspection. Whichever character you identify with most, all of the characters’ experiences teach us something about ourselves and reminds us to always be mindful.
If you need to have a good laugh or know you’re not alone in whatever you’re experiencing, download the sample of this book in your phone’s bookstore, order it online, or go pick it up at your local Barnes & Noble. I’d rate it four stars!