Chapter summaries Here One Moment Liane Moriarty

Chapter 39: Ethan and Jasmine Visit a Psychic

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Ethan Chang rides in an Uber with his flatmate Jasmine toward a psychic appointment in Sydney’s Rocks district. He feels euphoric simply being near her, though he reminds himself it is not a date. Ethan still wrestles with grief over his friend Harvey’s death—his mother called it “grief comes in waves,” yet he finds he thinks of Harvey more now than when he was alive. Jasmine learns about the old lady’s prediction on the plane and insists Ethan get a second opinion from her own psychic, Luca. Ethan agrees, partly for the chance to spend time with Jasmine. He tries to be skeptical: he books under a fake name (Jason Bourne) and plans a poker face to avoid feeding a cold reading. They arrive at a dimly lit gift shop full of mystical merchandise. Jasmine’s acquaintance Althea works there. Jasmine steps out to make a call and Ethan goes downstairs to meet Luca. Luca, a bald man in a U2 t-shirt, asks routine questions about relationships and star signs, then mentions there is someone Ethan sees often whom he wants to be more than a friend—Ethan confirms it. Luca predicts love arriving by September or October. The Death card appears; Luca says it means transition, not literal death. Ethan admits the plane psychic said he would die in a fight. Luca says nothing is preordained and that predictions change behaviour. He then asks about a recently deceased loved one. Ethan thinks of Harvey. Luca describes Harvey’s special, unusual laugh. When Luca says Harvey is present and tells him to “have faith” and that “guys like us always wait too long to make the first move,” Ethan is shocked—it sounds exactly like Harvey. Luca grins and adds that maybe he won’t crash and burn, implying a chance with Jasmine.

Key Events

  • Ethan and Jasmine share an Uber ride through the Rocks; Ethan feels euphoric being with her.
  • Jasmine persuades Ethan to see her psychic, Luca, for a second opinion on the plane prediction.
  • Ethan books under the fake name “Jason Bourne” to avoid being researched.
  • They arrive at a mystical gift shop; Ethan meets Althea and then Luca in a basement room.
  • Ethan tells Luca about the old lady’s prediction that he will die in a fight.
  • Luca reveals details about Harvey’s unusual laugh and delivers a message: “Have faith” and “guys like us always wait too long to make the first move.”
  • Luca hints that Ethan’s romantic interest (Jasmine) might not be hopeless.

Character Development

  • Ethan Chang: Shows vulnerability beneath his skepticism. He still grieves Harvey deeply, feels euphoria near Jasmine, and hesitates to confess his feelings. The reading shakes his rational guard.
  • Jasmine (Jasmine): Pragmatic yet superstitious; she regularly sees Luca and immediately proposes the second opinion. She is supportive of Ethan but keeps her own stance ambiguous.
  • Harvey (Will Harvey): Dead but still a psychological presence. His memory (the peculiar laugh, the cynical voice in Ethan’s head) shapes Ethan’s internal conflict.
  • Luca: The psychic comes across as both a showman and genuinely perceptive. He acknowledges the limits of his predictions (“Readings are for entertainment purposes only”) yet delivers a specific remark that rattles Ethan.
  • Althea: Minor role; adds a mundane touch to the mystical setting (discussing meniscus injuries).

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Grief: Ethan’s grief for Harvey surfaces unexpectedly; the chapter shows how loss inflects every part of life, even a hopeful outing.
  • Fate vs. Free Will: The central tension. Ethan wants a definite answer about the plane prediction, but Luca insists the future shifts when revealed. The dialogue underscores the novel’s exploration of whether the old lady’s predictions are fixed or changeable.
  • Psychic Reading as Performance vs. Connection: Luca uses classic cold-reading techniques (star sign, vague relationships) yet also offers a human moment of genuine sympathy about Harvey. The chapter blurs the line between scam and solace.
  • Romantic Possibility: Ethan’s crush on Jasmine drives the chapter’s emotional arc. The psychic reading validates his hopes, but the reader—and Ethan—remains uncertain.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 39 deepens Ethan’s interior life. It moves the subplot beyond simple skepticism: Ethan wants to believe the prediction can be wrong, yet also hopes for a reason to act on his feelings for Jasmine. The visit to Luca gives the reader concrete evidence that psychics can produce plausible but uncanny hits (the Harvey message). It also sets up a possible romantic development while keeping the larger mystery—whether the old lady’s predictions are genuine—alive. Ethically, the chapter questions how much we should trust external voices about our futures.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Ethan agree to see a psychic even though he says he doesn’t believe in the supernatural?
    Answer: Ethan partly goes to humor Jasmine and to spend time alone with her. He also wants a “second opinion” to refute the plane prediction, even though his rational mind dismisses it. Underneath, his lingering grief and uncertainty about his own fate make him willing to entertain the possibility.

  2. What detail about Harvey does Luca mention that deeply affects Ethan, and why is it significant?
    Answer: Luca describes Harvey’s laugh as “special” and “unusual—a laugh that made other people laugh.” Ethan is stunned because it captures a specific, private memory. The moment suggests that even a cynical reading can hit on intimate truths, leaving Ethan—and the reader—uncertain whether Luca is merely skilled or genuinely connected to something beyond.

  3. How does the chapter use the Death card to advance the theme of fate?
    Answer: Ethan sees the Death card and immediately fears it confirms the plane prophecy. Luca reinterprets it as transition or new beginning, reinforcing his earlier point that predictions are not fixed. The card thus becomes a symbol of the novel’s central quandary: do predictions reveal an inevitable endpoint, or do they simply reflect the choices we make after hearing them?

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