Domain Review Book Club: Michael Rowland reviews Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers

In Liane Moriarty’s new novel, nine perfect strangers, with very little in common, find themselves sharing a luxury health retreat for 10 days. What could possibly go wrong?

In Moriarty’s expert hands, a lot goes wrong, and the result is a hugely entertaining, if at times cringeworthy, read.

Most of the guests have booked in for more than the meditation, yoga and fasting. All lead damaged, stressful lives and are using the aptly named Tranquillum House as a form of escape from reality. Included in the motley crew is Frances, a failing romance novelist fleeing her own shaky love life; former football star Tony who has struggled with life off the field; the exceedingly shallow lottery winners, Ben and Jessica; and the Marconi family, who are brooding over a shattering tragedy.

They all collide spectacularly with the retreat’s charismatic and slightly terrifying owner Masha, who offers some rather unconventional forms of rest and relaxation.

Once again, Moriarty has pulled together a series of perfectly drawn characters. They all have their flaws, but all are deeply human in the way they interact with each other and deal with the various challenges thrown their way during their stay.

Just as we all instantly recognised the pushy parents and playground politics in Big Little Lies, most of us will be familiar with the personalities and issues presented in Nine Perfect Strangers.  If she is not making you laugh out loud at the absurd, new-age practices at the health retreat (‘noble silence’ anybody?), Moriarty will have you weeping at heartbreaking personal traumas.  And while the ending of the book was ever so slightly far-fetched, the star novelist’s latest effort will not disappoint.

NINE PERFECT STRANGERS By Liane Moriarty $32.99, out now
● panmacmillan.com.au

MICHAEL’S LAST WORD

“Liane Moriarty has written another character-rich blockbuster. The plight of nine strangers thrown together at a luxury health retreat will have you laughing, crying and vowing never to do yoga again.”

Michael Rowland is the co-host of ABC News Breakfast, weekdays from 6am on ABC TV