In An Instant

Author: Suzanne Redfearn
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Type: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
First Published: March 1, 2020
Opening Lines: Mrs. Kaminski knew. Before it happened.

Book Description from GoodReads: 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 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.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: I've been a fan of Suzanne Redfearn's ever since I read her books Hush Little Baby and No Ordinary Life several years ago. She is a gifted author who writes well-rounded characters and sets them within stories that are poignant, engaging and thought-provoking.

In her latest book, In An Instant, Redfearn focuses her story on a horrific accident and how its aftermath affects a family and their close friends. The story is told from the POV of a teenage girl named Finn, with the first third of the book focusing on the car accident and the bulk of the book tackling the aftermath. Redfearn pulls out all the stops in this emotional book that shows the different ways people deal with grief and fear - their choices, their sacrifices and how they find the strength to move on. Some scenes will shock you; others will have you grabbing a Kleenex, but all will give you food for thought.

This is an emotional, powerful and insightful story that should not be missed. I found it to be engaging from the start which helped me to connect to the characters quickly. Emotions are kept high throughout but Redfearn also introduces compelling issues that will keep readers riveted until the final pages. Put this book on your Spring 2020 'must-read' list and look for it March 1st.

Note: Please ensure you read the author's note at the end of the book. In it, she reveals the personal experience that influenced the writing of this book.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.