Here One Moment

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK

'Liane Moriarty is a genuine GENIUS. Here One Moment is off the scale brilliant' Marian Keyes

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On a plane bound for Sydney the unassuming woman from seat 4D walks down the aisle making unsettling predictions about the passengers.

And six strangers find their lives unexpectedly crossing.

Each tries to put the experience behind them. But, just weeks later, they can't any longer.

Because not believing a prediction is easy, Until it comes true . . .

Liane Moriarty is the bestselling author of nine novels, including Apples Never Fall, The Husband's Secret, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. Her novels have sold more than twenty million copies worldwide and been translated into over forty languages. Big Little Lies is now an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning HBO series, produced by and starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. Nine Perfect Strangers has been adapted for TV, starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy. Apples Never Fall is now a TV series starring Sam Neil and Annette Bening. Liane lives in Sydney with her husband, son and daughter.

Liane Moriarty is a genuine GENIUS. Here One Moment is off the scale brilliant. The book of her career, I wish I had written it. Warm, witty, wise and wry — Marian Keyes

Whenever Liane Moriarty – the mastermind behind Apples Never Fall, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers – has a new book out, we prepare for a two-day binge read.Here One Moment is no exception — Daily Mail

A compulsive plotline, intriguing characters, great writing, surprises, humour and tragedy. It'll stay with me — John Boyne

Liane Moriarty is a master story teller. I read it in one sitting, desperate to know what happened to these characters I’d so quickly come to care about. Brilliant and satisfying — Bella Mackie, Sunday Times bestselling author of How To Kill Your Family

Simple and effective premise . . . short, sharp chapters ensure you devour this doorstop of a book — The Times, book of the month

Prepare to be gripped by this stunning new novel from one of the best writers in the business. Absolutely brilliant — Best Magazine

Brilliant, charming, and invigorating . . . a fresh, funny, ambitious, and nuanced take on some of our oldest existential questions. — Kirkus, Starred Review

A riveting story so wild you don’t know how she’ll land it, and then she does, on a dime — Anne Lamott, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty is a thoughtful and emotionally rich novel that explores fate, mortality, and the unpredictable nature of life. The story begins with what seems like an ordinary domestic flight. Passengers board expecting nothing more than a routine journey, each carrying their own concerns, ambitions, and personal struggles. Among them are parents, professionals, students, newlyweds, retirees, and strangers whose lives have never crossed before. The flight itself is uneventful until one elderly passenger suddenly stands up and begins walking down the aisle, pointing at individual passengers and calmly predicting the age and cause of each person's death.

The woman, who later becomes known as "The Death Lady," does not shout or behave wildly. Instead, she delivers her predictions in a calm, matter-of-fact manner, as though she is simply sharing information that she believes to be true. Some passengers are told they will live long, peaceful lives, while others are informed that they have only months or even days left to live. She provides startlingly specific causes of death, ranging from illnesses to accidents and natural causes. The cabin is filled with confusion, disbelief, fear, and anger. Flight attendants and fellow passengers assume she is mentally unwell, and once the plane lands, everyone tries to return to their normal lives. Yet none of them can completely forget what they have heard.

As news of the strange incident spreads through social media and television, the passengers unexpectedly become connected by their shared experience. Reporters identify them, strangers speculate about their futures, and public curiosity turns their private lives into a spectacle. While many people dismiss the predictions as nonsense, the passengers find it difficult to do the same. Even those who consider themselves rational begin wondering whether the woman somehow knows something they do not. The possibility, however unlikely, changes the way they think about every decision they make.

The novel follows several of these passengers as they struggle with the emotional consequences of the predictions. A young couple preparing for their future begins questioning their plans after one of them receives a frighteningly short life expectancy. Parents become consumed with protecting their children after hearing predictions involving tragic accidents. Some individuals throw themselves into medical tests, hoping to prevent the illnesses they were warned about, while others become overly cautious, avoiding activities they once enjoyed. A few decide that if death truly is unavoidable, they should stop worrying and finally pursue dreams they have postponed for years.

Liane Moriarty carefully shows that the predictions affect everyone differently. For some, they become a source of crippling anxiety, making it impossible to enjoy everyday life. Others reject the predictions completely and refuse to let them influence their choices. Still others find themselves trapped somewhere in between, constantly questioning whether every coincidence is evidence that the prophecy is coming true. The novel illustrates how powerful belief can be, even when there is no proof that the predictions are accurate.

Alongside the passengers' stories, the novel gradually reveals the life of the mysterious woman herself. Rather than presenting her as a simple villain or fraud, Moriarty explores her personal history with empathy and complexity. Readers learn about her childhood, family, and the unusual experiences that shaped her belief that she possesses an extraordinary ability. Throughout her life, she has occasionally sensed details about people's deaths before they occurred. These experiences have left her isolated and uncertain, as she never sought fame or attention for her strange gift. Instead, she has often struggled with whether sharing these visions helps people or merely causes unnecessary suffering.

As her identity becomes public, the Death Lady faces intense scrutiny. Journalists investigate her past, skeptics accuse her of exploiting vulnerable people, and believers begin treating her like a prophet. She finds herself caught in a media storm she never intended to create. The public becomes obsessed with determining whether her predictions are genuine, especially when a few of the passengers' predicted deaths appear to occur exactly as she described. These events increase both fear and fascination, leaving everyone to wonder whether coincidence alone can explain them.

The novel explores how knowledge—or even the possibility of knowledge—about the future changes human behavior. Many characters unknowingly create the very situations they hope to avoid because fear influences their decisions. Others discover unexpected strength after believing they have limited time left, choosing to repair broken relationships, express long-hidden feelings, or finally pursue meaningful goals. Moriarty suggests that uncertainty is an essential part of life and that complete certainty about the future might be more of a burden than a blessing.

Relationships form an important emotional core of the story. Families are tested as loved ones disagree about how seriously the predictions should be taken. Friends offer comfort while secretly struggling with their own fears. Marriages are strengthened in some cases and strained in others as couples confront difficult questions about trust, responsibility, and the future. Through these interconnected lives, the novel shows that everyone responds differently to the awareness of mortality, yet everyone ultimately longs for the same things: love, security, purpose, and hope.

As time passes, the passengers gradually realize that life continues despite the predictions. Some forecasts seem frighteningly accurate, while others remain uncertain or appear to be disproved. Rather than providing a simple answer about whether fate is fixed, the novel deliberately maintains an element of ambiguity. Readers are encouraged to question whether events unfold because destiny cannot be changed or because people's reactions unknowingly shape the outcomes.

By the conclusion, the characters have each undergone meaningful personal growth. Some learn to release the fear that has controlled them, while others embrace opportunities they once ignored. The Death Lady herself comes to better understand the weight of her unusual ability and the consequences of sharing what she believes she sees. Although many mysteries remain, the novel emphasizes that life gains its meaning not from knowing exactly how or when it will end, but from choosing how to live each day while the future remains unknown.

Here One Moment is ultimately a moving exploration of mortality, choice, and human resilience. Liane Moriarty combines suspense, humor, emotional insight, and philosophical reflection to create a story that encourages readers to consider how they would live if confronted with the possibility of knowing their future. Rather than focusing solely on death, the novel celebrates the value of ordinary moments, meaningful relationships, and the freedom that comes from accepting life's uncertainty. It leaves readers with the comforting reminder that while no one can control the future, everyone has the ability to shape the life they are living in the present.