Another heartwrenching Susan Lewis story. I need to remind myself to buy extra tissues when I read one of her books. SO easy to read and become absorbed in, and the characters are bought to life with the vivid personality portrayals. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review

Unfortunately - I cannot get into this book... Just cannot get into the story. Very slow too descriptive!
Perhaps other people might like it more.
sorry!

Vivienne’s story, and the overlapping stories of Shelley, Josh and Gina will literally take your breath away. An emotional rollercoaster, but satisfyingly unpredictable, the characters are richly drawn, and it’s easy to get lost in the pages. Genuinely emotionally thought provoking it’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book (that you won’t be able to put down!).

This story is about Vivienne she is a high flying lawyer with a lovely home and lots of friends. On her 27th birthday she suffers a heart attack and her life changes dramatically. As well as the story about Vivienne there is another story about another family in a different timeline. At first it is not clear what these two stories have to do with one another but they come together in the end.

I quite enjoyed the book but I found it a bit repetitive at times. I just felt that the story needed something else to give the book a bit more substance.

I've almost read all of Susan Lewis books and am pleased to say that this one is once again up there with the rest.

Vivienne Shager has a life to be admired – beauty, popular, high flyer with a powerful job…she is painted as having everything… And then, in a moment, a minute, everything changes. Vivi has to change, adapt and her whole life shifts back to her childhood home, to the people that she grew up around and to a new chapter in her life.

As this book was coming to an end I felt like it may have that happy ending that defies the odds. It doesn’t. And the reality of this is what I praise Lewis for addressing. Not everything has a happy ending, but all the endings that lead to that moment can be happy in their own way and this book explores that.

The book has simple prose, it’s easy to get into and easy to follow, it’s not the best book that I’ve read by Susan Lewis but it’s definitely up there with the others and a firm four stars.

The only aspect of this book that I found frustrating was the Michelle/Shelley thing. Michelle is a lifelong friend, Shelley is a newcomer to Vivi’s life, in many ways. Why did they have to both have a similar name? It was quite confusing.. for a good while I thought that Michelle was her grown up ‘present’ name and Shelley was her ‘in the past childhood name.’ They’re two different people!

This is an early review thanks to the publisher for a very advanced copy – this one isn’t out until the 11th June 2019.

Wow!
This is such a wonderfully written book. It captivated all sorts of emotions.
I couldn't put it down.

My 5* review for One Minute Later by Susan Lewis, that I was fortunate enough to read via an early kindle download through NetGalley.

"It’s takes one minute to change everything. Vivienne Shager has it all. A highflying job. A beautiful apartment. Friends whose lives are as perfect as her own. But on the afternoon of her 27th birthday, Vivi has a heart attack. Now Vivi’s life shrinks back to how it begun, as she moves back to the small seaside town she grew up in.

Thirty years earlier, Shelley’s family home, Deerwood farm, bursts full of love and happiness. But one family member has hidden a secret for all these years. Until Vivi comes home demanding answers, and it takes just a moment to unravel the lie at their heart of their lives."

The switch between timelines in the book was easy to follow and gave you an insight into life at Deerwood farm a generation ago and I loved the character of Shelley and was a little bit in love with her son Josh myself. The parallel story of Shelley and Jack and how they compared their lives to The Darling Buds of May was a perfect image for me to picture them and their lifestyle and love for each other.

This book was a wonderful emotional revealing read, which I found totally engrossing and I read it in only a few days because I was so invested in Vivi's life and the struggles that she was facing, that I did not want to leave her alone. I so wanted her to find someone to love and who loved her just the way she was and for her to live to the full the short life she may have left if a donor does not become available to her. I loved the chapter where Vivi comes to terms with the loss of the Chelsea lawyer Vivienne who did not have a care in the world and was invincible, grieves her and the loss of that life and learns to accept the new life where her survival could actually depend on someone else with her blood type and a healthy heart dying.

The epilogue was beautiful, but I cant say anymore to avoid spoiling it for everyone. Please read this book it will change and enhance your life.

It was wonderful of Susan Lewis to have included the real story of Jim Lynskey in the book and those bits in particular made me check that my own Organ Donation details were still registered online and I have since joined the Save9Lives group to find out more and share the message with everyone.

I'd describe 'One Minute Later' as a 'nice' read; something to pick up when you don't want anything too taxing, but which will take you over the next couple of day with a pleasant story, a cup of something warm and a comfy chair to sit in. It's an entirely romantic novel, from the beginning to the end, first of all through Shelley and Jack, and subsequently, their son Josh and Vivienne. It is Vivienne who sits at the focal point of this tale, and around whom the majority of the action revolves.
Vivienne, or Vivi as she is known in the book; beautiful, energetic, vibrant and clever. Vivi is full of spirit, laughter and the joy of life...until....
On this day, Vivi is meeting her friends for her 27th birthday lunch. As she laughs and jokes with the GaLs as she calls them, she experiences a spell of dizziness, repeatedly touches or clasps her chest, then collapses gasping for breath. In a moment, Vivienne's life has changed permanently; she has suffered catastrophic heart failure and her life will never be the same again.
Following emergency treatment, Vivi is returned to her family's care for recovery and rehabilitation, anxious and frustrated by the sudden and dramatic turn of events. As she struggles to come to terms with her new lifestyle, through the story told through flashbacks and present events, we learn about Vivi's family, her background, and the new life that she gradually begins to build for herself with the gorgeous Josh.
A satisfying, if occasionally slow read, but certainly an enjoyable book worthy of three stars.

One Minute Later is a great story telling the tale of two strong female character’s in different time lines who are brought together to share their own personal heartaches and loves.

Vivienne Shager lives a vibrant life to the full in fast paced London but then on her 27th birthday her life is turned upside down as tragedy strikes leaving her in need of a donor heart to give her any quality of life. We learn all the emotions that this entails while discovering how this affects Vivi.

No longer able to live independently so she retreats back to the family home to her Mum and we then discover what a turbulent relationship they have. Fate however, brings love and friendship which gives her the courage to fight for her life.

Shelly’s story is so different as she lives surrounded by lots of loved family members who all seem to get on with each other while leading good lives. Shelly adores Deerwood Farm where they all live and I really got a good homely feel to this place even though I discovered the tragedy that took place here.

As the lives of Vivi and Shelley merge, secrets and lies are uncovered bringing peace and understanding to these well written characters. I particularly enjoyed reading about organ donation and thought it was well researched and written and hope this inspires people to go on the register as lives are precious with no better gift than extending a life.

My thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for the ARC digital copy

Vivi Shager is living the dream. Fabulous job, friends and lifestyle to be envied. Until ‘that minute’ when a heart attack on her 27th birthday changes her life irrevocably and that of her family and friends.
The story of Shelley and Deerwood farm is also told in a separate time frame and you do question how the two stories connect. But in Susan Lewis’s inimitable style they seamlessly join together. Strong characters, mystery, murder, suspense and intrigue. This book has it all. I’m quite a fan of Susan Lewis and my honest opinion is that this is her best book to date. Great read! Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

A brilliant read! How things can change in a heartbeat....Vivi's life does just that. A really well written read, a tale in two parts that's cleverly woven together. An emotional story about relationships and secrets, with twists and turns that I found really gripping. Loved it and fond I just couldn't put it down. First time I've read anything by Susan Lewis.....will have to read more!

When Vivienne Shager suffers a catastrophic life changing event on her birthday she realises nothing will ever be the same again. She moves back to live with her mother, knowing nothing has changed between them, and there are well kept secrets she needs to have explained to her even  as she tries to come to terms with the possibility of her own mortality.

Shelley Raynor's life at Deerwood Farm began long before Vivienne returned home but is inextricably linked to hers and gradually as the stories converge Vivi finds the courage to face her future with more confidence. She still has difficulty accepting what could happen but realises she can enjoy the new life she has had thrust upon her.

This is a family drama which drew me in instantly and I knew I wouldn't rest until I had finished it which I did in just two days. I was immediately invested in Vivienne, her family, and Shelley's. Their highs and lows were written with great feeling and understanding and, without giving anything away, the acknowledgements at the end brought everything into even sharper focus. I am so pleased I read this book; I have a feeling it will resonate with me for a long while to come.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it highly to lovers of first class storytelling and fictional books which contain a serious message.

One Minute Later Susan Lewis

I had not read any books by Susan Lewis until this one, although later discovered she has written over 40 books, so had a very open mind about what to expect.
The story follows a successful woman living a high powered life in London and appearing to be having the time of her life when she is suddenly struck down by a life threatening heart condition which changes the course of her life and she is unable to look after herself so has to go back to her home town and move back in with her family. Understandably she feels very sorry for herself and this does not help the difficult relationship she has with her mother. All this changes when she meets Josh and his family.
It took quite a while to make the connection between the two stories as they were set in different time frames with different characters but I think this was quite an interesting twist in the book. The characters were all believable and well described and I really enjoyed hearing about Josh who came across as a lovely young man. There were a few twists and turns which kept me intrigued and wanting to know what was going to happen. The story has a number of sub-plots which all link together and this is well done.
The most interesting part of the story was the part about Vivi’s heart condition. Susan Lewis must have spent a long time on the research for this and Vivi’s condition and treatment were explained really well and anyone reading the book would be moved by the plight of the people needing transplants with the lack of donors available. On that level the book did a tremendous job in making readers consider their own views on this.
My only negative is I found it rather slushy in places where it almost felt like a Mills and Boon romance. The author describes many of the characters as having found their soulmates and this felt slightly unrealistic. Overall though, the book is enjoyable and easy to read. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this.

# One Minute later #Netgalley
Wow a really emotional account of how everything can change, one minute your living the dream, suddenly out of the blue something comes along and totally destroys everything. Putting Susan Lewis in a position she has to return back to her place of the past. Also her secrets going back over 30 years. Now she has no choice but to live and take a good hard look at herself and deal with the secrets she kept hidden for so long. A brilliant novel that although a novel things can change in a blink of a eye. Not just in a novel. A really really good read, I certainly recommend this book, as a must read

Overall, an excellent read. I enjoyed the changing narrative between Vivi and Shelley. I loved the romance between Josh and Vivi, but I can't help feeling it was too much too soon, but then, I suppose they had no time to waste. I rolled my eyes when Vivi found out she was pregnant. There were times, especially towards the end, when I felt it became over-sentimental, as though it was all about baby Jack. And I thought Gina was melodramatic. She could have told Vivi something sooner about her father, even if it wasn't the whole truth. But I was gripped throughout and the ending was realistic, albeit very sad. The information on organ donation was dealt with well. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vivi has it all - a high flying career as a lawyer, a group of like-minded friends, great flat in London and a fantastic boyfriend. Yet everything changes on a day out with the GaLs when Vivi is suddenly taken I’ll and from that moment onwards everything changes. Forced to move back home to live with the mum who has always kept secrets from her, Vivi has to try and rebuild a life while learning to live again.

Beautifully written, One Minute Later made me shed a tear while being gripped with the mystery attached to Vivi’s natural father. A lovely book.

Susan Lewis always produces a page-turner and this is no exception. It has suspense, pathos, joy, laughter and emotion in bucketfuls. The first part of the book switches back and forth between past/present and the lives of two women. This can seem irritating at first but is for a good reason in terms of plot development. It is well-written and emotionally hard-hitting. We are made aware that life can change so quickly. I found the focus on the additional incidental character in the organ donation story a little superfluous, but otherwise found it a good read.

It took me sometime to get into this book as I found it rather too full of descriptive writing and ordinary conversation for my liking. I understand the interest in the lives of Viv and Shelley but frankly I didn't warm to them and this meant I couldn't really enjoy the book. I realise this suits some people and can see that the author has a good fan base but it's just not for me.

A simple read, sometimes beautiful and other times cuts a bit near to the bone of cliche. Enjoyable, but not something I would reread.