From smoothie bars and meditation apps to cryotherapy and aura readings, wellness and self-care have never been buzzier. This pursuit of health and overall well-being is at the center of Nine Perfect Strangers, a new novel from Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty.
The nine aforementioned strangers have convened at Tranquillum House, a secluded Australian resort that bills itself as a ten-day “Mind and Body Total Transformation Retreat.”
Among those present are Francis, a twice-divorced flailing romance novelist; a couple hoping to save their marriage; a former professional athlete; and a 20-year-old and her parents, all reeling from a family tragedy.
Each is there for a different reason—from body-image issues to stalled careers—but they’re all led on their wellness journey by Tranquillum’s owner and director, Masha, a blunt Russian émigré hell-bent on providing her guests with some sort of mind-body awakening.