Originally Published: November 6, 2018

By: Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty’s eighth novel may not stand-up against her other works, but the climax is a page-turner that will have your mouth dropped open in shock.

The Tranquillum House promises a total transformation at a steep price. Nine people – most of whom are strangers – attend one of the sessions and get more than they bargained for. Masha runs Tranquillum House and has some secrets of her own.

Unfortunately, a good half of this novel is built on character development, which helps since there are so many people to keep track of, but you don’t know where the story is headed or why you should truly be invested in these characters’ transformative journey.

There are high points – Zoe’s story is heartbreaking – but the journey to get there might not be worth it for some readers.

Final say: Not the most mindful. ★★★☆☆