Book Review: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty | Summary |

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty is a thought – provoking book having Cherry Lockwood as a character, an unremarkable woman, who stands up on a flight and predicts when and how several passengers will die and the story unfolds subsequently. If you like to read more such book you can checkout The Iron Lake Summary and Review.

About the Author:

Liane Moriarty is the #1 New York Times bestsellers author and has written some big hits like Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty etc.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty Summary

The story starts as, on a routine flight from Hobart to Sydney, a woman named Cherry Lockwood, seated in 4D, does something eye catching. After a brief delay, she stands up and starts predicting the exact age and cause of death for several passengers. Her unsettling announcements change the course of everyone’s lives on that flight. Cherry soon becomes known as the “Death Lady.”

The passengers’ reactions vary. Allegra Patel, a beautiful flight attendant, is told she’ll die from self-harm on her 28th birthday. Paula Binici hears that one of her children will live to 100, while little Timmy will drown at age 7. Leo, a workaholic civil engineer, is told he’ll die in a workplace accident in November. Sue O’Sullivan learns she’ll pass away in a few years from pancreatic cancer, while her husband, Max, will live into his 90s. Ethan Chang, who has just buried a close friend, is told he’ll die in an assault after his birthday. Even honeymooners Dom and Eve aren’t spared; Eve is told she’ll be killed by Dom, despite their current loving relationship.

At first, the passengers dismiss Cherry’s words as nonsense, believing she’s just an odd woman making wild guesses. But when three of them die exactly as she predicted, the mood shifts. Fear takes hold. Panic sets in. Those whose deaths are supposed to be near begin to worry and take action. Leo thinks about quitting his job to avoid the accident. Paula becomes desperate to teach her son to swim. Allegra, though feeling fine, seeks therapy. Ethan grows increasingly paranoid.

Cherry is the heart of this story. Her backstory is full of twists. She’s an actuary with a deep knowledge of death statistics and the daughter of a famous psychic, Madame M. Her odd, sometimes quirky behavior adds layers to her character. Through Cherry, the book explores questions about fate and free will. Is she really a psychic or just a woman driven by her own complex motivations? Does she offer people a chance to change their fate, or is she playing with their minds?

By the end, readers are left pondering our own choices. Shouls we fight fate or accept it? Can we change if we knew the end was near? This novel is an interesting, emotional journey that makes us reflect on what it means to truly live.

Also Read: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T J Klune

Book Review: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

This novel grabs you from the start. When her predictions begin to come true, they’re left wondering if they can change their fate. The novel is told from many points of view. Each chapter brings the perspective of a different passenger, and we also hear from Cherry herself. As the story moves ahead, we see how her predictions affect each person to their core. We feel their fear, hope, love, and desperation. The suspense builds with each page as we wonder who will survive and who will fall.

The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, diving into the lives of a diverse cast of characters — Allegra, a flight attendant with a tragic destiny; Leo, a father torn between work and family; and many others. Cherry’s chapters add a unique twist, as she is not just a mysterious figure but a complex woman with her own story to tell.

This is more than just a story about death. It’s about how people react when faced with their own mortality. It’s about the choices we make, the paths we take, and the unpredictable twists that life throws at us. Cherry’s strange predictions force the characters to confront their deepest fears and desires. They learn to live differently, to value their time, and to face the uncertainty of life with courage.

This book asks big questions about fate, choice, and the human urge to fight the inevitable. It blends mystery, suspense and emotion, and makes you think deeply while still keeping you entertained. There are moments of real tension, but also laughter and hope. The story is both unsettling and heartwarming. It makes you think about life and what truly matters. A memorable and thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

Quotes from Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

“Her eerie accuracy earns her the nickname ‘Death Lady,’ and soon, the passengers are in a panic.”

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