Here One Moment By Author’s Name

Wow, talk about a book that hooks you from the get-go! Just imagining myself on that packed flight, stuck on the tarmac, gives me chills. But Liane Moriarty makes it all so real—almost like you’re in the cramped airplane seat right next to these unforgettable characters.

The story unfolds with Allegra, the birthday girl flight attendant, who’s watching a mix of passengers—each one a little universe of their own dramas and dreams. There’s a man nervously clutching his watch, a frazzled mom juggling two restless kids, a fresh-from-the-altar bride still glowing in her wedding dress. Everyone has their story, and just as you’re settling into their lives, here comes the twist: a mysterious woman stands up and predicts how and when everyone on board will die. (Yeah, you read that right!)

From there, it’s a rollercoaster. You’re taken deep into each person’s mind as they grapple with how to handle this wild revelation. Some are in full denial, others try to change fate, and a few start rethinking the big choices in their lives. Would you? It really makes you think: if you knew when you’d go, what would you do differently?

Moriarty’s signature wit and warmth shine in Here One Moment. It’s not just about fate and mortality; it’s about the messy, beautiful relationships that make life worth living. This is one of those rare books that makes you laugh, cry, and question everything in between. Whether you’re a Moriarty fan or new to her work, this one’s a wild ride with all the feels.

Hard debate between 3 and four stars.

This book begins by posing questions in the way that “The Anomaly” does, and like that book, it unfolds, at first, on a plane, and then follows the passengers’ stories. (I do think Moriarty was VERY influenced by “The Anomaly” given all the similarities, and decided to write the “beach read”, or (no joke) “airplane read” version, although her core plot premise is original.)

A woman, seemingly unremarkable, stands up on a plane flight, and informs each passenger when and how they will die. She seems, of course, insane, or under the influence of something. But…could she actually have the power to see how a life will end? As things unfold, this seems….increasingly possible.

The questions here are great and provoking: would YOU want to know when you will die? And/or how? What would you do, if you had this information? Is fate real? Can we change the future? And so on.

The novel follows certain passengers, whom of course you start to care about and wonder if their fate will unfold as predicted, and Moriarty writes this very well. (The book also hops a LOT from person to person and from time to time, which can be a bit tough to follow (especially on Kindle). If you don’t like this kind of story construction, be aware.)

I had two favorite parts of “Here One Moment”: the thought-provoking, life-questioning twister/thriller piece (again, like The Anomaly) and the beautifully written portrayal of one particular story of love and loss, which is lyrical and heartbreaking, if a little long-winded. The big issue, though, is that this book tries to be these two things at once. Because of this, when the storylines eventually tied together, for me, it didn’t work. I feel the ending could have been more satisfying – it’s a just-miss.

This book was hard to put down. The various characters and subplot lines were intriguing. Enjoyed the character development of them all, but especially the protagonist. The author always does a great job with backstory, twists and turns and some surprises.

I’ve read most of her books. This one is way different. Complicated and special. After our book group discussion, I realized more and more how well written and clever it is. I was grateful to read it on my Kindle app so I could reference each character. Her selection of characters and their lives path was excellent. I did not mind her jumping back and forth between characters and time frames. Only disappointment was the explanation at the end of how Cherry’s “episode” happened. Too abrupt. I would recommend this as a thought provoking read.

This book had a very unique plot which at times seemed implausible but the character development and the self awareness of the author and her bizarre insights into human nature made the book a pleasure to read.