An Amazon Charts bestseller.
A deeply moving story of carrying on even when it seems impossible.
Life is over in an instant for sixteen-year-old Finn Miller when a devastating car accident tumbles her and ten others over the side of a mountain. Suspended between worlds, she watches helplessly as those she loves struggle to survive.
Impossible choices are made, decisions that leave the … made, decisions that leave the survivors tormented with grief and regret. Unable to let go, Finn keeps vigil as they struggle to reclaim their shattered lives. Jack, her father, who seeks vengeance against the one person he can blame other than himself; her best friend, Mo, who bravely searches for the truth as the story of their survival is rewritten; her sister Chloe, who knows Finn lingers and yearns to join her; and her mother, Ann, who saved them all but is haunted by her decisions. Finn needs to move on, but how can she with her family still in pieces?
Heartrending yet ultimately redemptive, In an Instant is a story about the power of love, the meaning of family, and carrying on…even when it seems impossible.
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In an Instant will capture you immediately and not let you go until long after you’ve turned the last page. Kudos to the author, Suzanne Redfearn for sharing this treasure of a read with us!
Unique, mesmerizing, heart-rending, emotionally charged, this book will bring home just how much so many peoples’ lives can be permanently altered in just a blink of an eye. It will also have you question what you would do in a similar situation, and how much right do we have to judge another’s decision when so many of our own are faulty.
I am purposely being vague so as not to ruin a wonderful read. I loved every minute of it, and was sorry to see it end! A 5 star read for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions stated here are my own.
More Tragic if i stay. Probably the singular best way to describe this book is to take a fairly well known book/ movie that has a very similar overall narrative structure – if i stay – and point out that this is a survival tale that is even more tragic than that tale. Going into this blind, I thought from the prologue that something would happen to a particular character (and that this tale would thus become more similar to Catherine McKenzie’s I’ll Never Tell), but the expected tragedy strikes an unexpected character instead. The rest of the book is then a tale about the fight to survive the tragedy, both in the immediate physical fight to live and in the aftermath of dealing with the consequences of that fight. Overall a very powerful, very raw, look at human nature and just what happens in the face of true imminent peril. One made even more powerful by the afterword, where the author reveals a stunningly tragic episode from her real life. Very much recommended.
What a great book! I was so captivated I read almost all of it in one sitting. Riveting and compelling with an inside view of what makes us tick, especially when catastrophe strikes. What would you or I do in a life-or-death situation? Hopefully we’d be as magnanimous as we usually are (which is hopefully what we usually are, LOL). Interesting to ponder. Highly recommend.
IN AN INSTANT by Suzanne Redfearn is a beautifully-written and heart-wrenching story of family, love and grief that held my heart captive from beginning to end. Life changes in an instant for two families, a friend and a stranger when they are involved in a devastating accident. The story is told from the unique point of view of Finn Miller, a sixteen-year-old girl who actually loses her life in the accident, but stays between worlds to witness what happens to those left behind as they struggle to survive this tragic event. They are faced with unfathomable choices and decisions that will undoubtedly haunt them forever. Through Finn’s eyes, the reader sees the depth of emotion of each character and their inner thoughts when they are alone. IN AN INSTANT is an engrossing and thought-provoking book and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come. Don’t miss the Author’s Note at the end that provides some insight into the inspiration for the story. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Be sure to have your tissues at hand.
Redfearn captures the complexity of human relationships in this thought-provoking page-turner. As each character weighs their individual choices, you’ll be thinking long and hard about your own. Read the Author’s Note for insight into Suzanne’s personal history. What a story!
In an Instant begins as an action-packed tale of survival that is positively addictive; then it digs deep into an emotional and thought-provoking exploration of our humanity and what it means to make difficult moral choices in the most harrowing of circumstances. Redfearn tackles it all brilliantly and compassionately in this mesmerizing and wondrous novel. It’s a triumph on every level, and I absolutely loved it.
I cannot stop thinking about this book! It really makes you think about how you would behave in a life or death situation. What choices would you make? What would you do to survive? I really liked that the author told the story from Finn’s perspective – so the reader “sees” everything that happens in the aftermath of the accident as Finn watches over her family and friends. I think the characters were well done and made me, as a reader, feel exactly how the author wanted to me feel about them (I was NOT a fan of Uncle Bob…). Finn was, by far, my favorite character, though. Even in death, she tries to help those who are struggling the most after the accident – sending encouragement and offering words or warning. This would be an excellent book club pick as I think it could inspire a lot of good discussion.
In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn is a full length standalone romance novel that had me in twists and knots.
In an Instant is told in a single pov, Finn, a young girl tells a gripping heart-wrenching story about family, love and loss, that had me in tears more than one time. I literally just finished the book and I’m sitting here and can’t get the book out of my head. The characters and the storyline stubbornly stay with me. I will not spoiler here, only so much, what a ride!
In an Instant is an beautifully thought out, beautifully told and excellent written story. I read the book, cover to cover in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down, I simply couldn’t and who needs sleep anyway.
It’s a tragic story, a tearjerking, nailbiting pageturner. S. Redfearn is a new to me author and I’m more than happy I gave her book a try – I was in for a big surprise. This won’t be my last read by her.
I recommend In an Instant and give 5 Stars.
Finn Miller and her family go on a vacation in the mountains. When an accident happens and the family all suffers injuries, Finn is killed instantly. She lingers and stays with her family. She watches as her mother goes for help, she stays with her sister as she is lost in the woods, and she watches over her 13 year old brother when he goes to find their mom. This is such an emotional story of a daughter and a sister whose life is cut short and she just wants to watch over her family and make sure they are safe. There are so many pieces of this book before the accident, during, and after as the survivors deal with the decisions they made. I recommend tissues as the emotions are powerful. I read this book in one sitting late into the night as I just couldn’t put it down. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
Definitely a great read that focuses on the human emotions when we are faced with decisions in a tragedy. Are we really the person people think we are or do we all basically fall to a human nature position to save ourselves and those we love and call our own. Exciting beginning as an tragedy happens and decisions have to be made. The rest of the story is told from the view of one who doesn’t make it and can see all that’s happening and the reasons for why. All sorts of emotion in this one! Great read. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC
OMG, this is a book I will recommend over and over. A “must-read” in my book, just how I feel about Small Great Things. It’s a glimpse into the question of how do people act when they think nobody is looking. A fantastic book that should be on your TBR list – out in January 2020.
In an Instant so much can change. This book was sad, happy, heart breaking. I could have finished it in one day but didn’t want to rush through it.
I loved it! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy
In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn a five-star read that will transport you. This has been the hardest review I have written in a long time. I finished the novel well over a week ago, its just trying to put into words how powerful this little story is, one 16-year-old girl telling her story will just captivate you and leave you in knots. I have sat down to write this and then deleted what I had wrote so many times, as I don’t want to give any details away, but I wanted to portray how much this story needs to be read. The whole premise was a little off and I nearly didn’t bother to pick it up as it sounded a bit dreary and boring. All I will say is that it was so much more than I imagined, one incident changed so many lives so much, it makes you second guest everything. Allowing Finn to be the storyteller just made this an intense story, watching the aftermath unfold just broke me, but as you get through the story the pieces start getting put back together. Do not miss this powerful story, I suspect it is going to be a big favourite of mine this year.
5 amazing stars~
I am not sure how to review this book. It was tragic, but I loved it. I delayed writing this review because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say about the book, but I kept dwelling on it.
What if I died tomorrow? How ready am I? What about the people – and my pets! – I leave behind? These thoughts kept going through my head as I devoured this book. I stayed up all night to read it and I didn’t waste a minute.
Ms. Redfearn writes a very addictive story about sixteen-year old Finn who in a tragic second, loses her life in an auto accident. The story is told from Finn’s point of view as the ten survivors of the crash each tries in their own way to survive in a snowy landscape, down the side of a mountain. How do we know just how we might react in the same situation? There were those who cared for the injured and those who cared for only themselves. The lengths someone will go to in protecting their own from real or imagined threats surely got me thinking.
Most interesting are Finn’s observations on her own past behavior. Through death, she grows a great deal and discovers that life is not quite as black and white as she previously thought. Her parents’ actions surprise and scandalize her in some ways. Her father who was badly injured makes a slow recovery, but has major anger issues. Her mother, Ann is an ice maiden in some ways, but Finn sees a side of her she didn’t know existed. Ann is a heroine. Her sister Chloe and her boyfriend set out on their own and pay a steep price. Disabled Oz makes a very bad choice that is not his fault at all.
The survivors must make their way in their new world after returning home. Mostly, they don’t know what to do with their feelings, but soldier through.
I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Press for forwarding to me a copy of this astounding book for me to read, ponder, enjoy and review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Unusual point of view. Have recommended it to others.
What a great book! This book is a tragic story and a tearjerker. I listen to this book on audible and the characters were told very well. So many different emotions in this book and different views. I recommend this to all readers.
One of the best books I’ve read in years. So well written, moving, gripping. I couldn’t put it down.
Loved this story, especially the narrator’s perspective. Interesting look at how the characters remember the events and their roles in the events and how the reality of truth versus their personalized memory of the truth impacts everyone.
When I first bought this book, I honestly did not expect much from it. I am glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I definitely shed A LOT of tears reading this. It felt like I could feel how helpless Finn felt when she would try to shout at her loved ones to tell them something, whether it be to not cry over her death, help her sister, or condemn a particular character. Whenever I think about this book, tears start to prick at the corners of my eyes. All I can really say is that it was beautifully written and if you have any heart, you will most definitely cry. Two of my favorite quotes from this book are: (1) “The pretense of valor, her own and others’, has been decimated and the ugly truth of human nature revealed.” (2) “carry me with you, but only as lightness and never as weight…”. Now go buy the book and enjoy!
When I started this book, it was difficult for me to get into it. Knowing how popular the book is, I started to predict that I was going to be disappointed. However, by the time I reached page 35 or 40, I was hooked. It became one of those books that you didn’t want to put down, while at the same time you wanted to be able to savor it. Wonderful characters, beautiful writing! Gratitude to the author for creating and sharing such a powerful story.