Now and again a certain story comes along that just wows the reader - and this was one of those stories. Funny, tender, heartbreaking, full of warmth and pathos. Finn is the narrator and from the outset we know she's dead. The remainder you will have to read for yourself as to reveal any more would spoil the book....Suffice to say ... I cried and laughed in equal measure. Thought-provoking and ultimately redemptive. I freely admit to having read this book in 2 sessions, so loathe was I to put it down. Beautiful writing, remarkable  story. Unputdownable! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Take my advice - read this book!

The story of a car crash and its aftermath as told by a teenager, Finn, who died in the crash. The survivors of the crash make some impossible choices in order to do their best to survive. A novel that made me really think about the actions of each of the survivors from their perspectives. Using Finn as a kind of witness to all of the decisions and the aftermath was an interesting decision as she gained a different point of view about all of the family members and friends involved in, or most affected by, the crash. Not an easy read due to the subject matter but a thought-provoking and challenging read nevertheless. A good book for mid-late teens as well as adults because it does shock the reader out of their bubble. Definitely recommended.

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.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.   Thank you NetGalley..

Holy cow... this book is amazing.     This author is SO talented.     I can't even put into words how amazing she is.   This book was everything I didn' tknow I needed in my life.    You won't regret reading this.

A tragic story of a family after a deathly car accident - told from a unique perspective. I really loved how the narrator’s point of view allowed us to get inside the minds of all major characters. I found this to be a deep and thought provoking read, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn is a book that I won’t soon forget. It haunted me in a way other books have not. It’s a story in which the characters experience a tragic event, but each has their own version of the reality of what happened and it’s that version that eventually heals or tears them apart.

When the Miller and Gold families leave for a ski weekend they never dreamt a weekend of fun would end in such tragedy. When the RV they’re driving ends over an embankment, Finn Miller’s life is ended, but her spirit hovers over those she loves and leaves behind. Finn watches as Mo, Finn’s best friend, goes into survivor mode and selflessly cares for Finn’s injured father, while trying to maintain some semblance of calm and order. Chloe, Finn’s sister and her boyfriend Vance unsuccessfully set out for help, but when they don’t return their mother Ann follows with a young man named Kyle to seek help. As the hours drag by and desperation sets in, decisions are made by both parties that have consequences that will forever change the course of their lives. As Finn watches helplessly as her family and friend falls apart, she prays for the truth to be revealed and peace to be restored for herself and well as those she loves.

In An Instant was hard to put down. Reading it, I felt like an observer at a train wreck. I didn’t want to watch the tragedy unfolding before me, but kept one eye open anyway because I couldn’t look away. The tension in the storyline and the characters, both flawed and good, kept me turning the pages. Finn was such a wonderful character. Her love for Mo and her family was remarkable making her frustration at being unable to help them all the more evident. Mo was so courageous and her ability to keep her head when she was needed most was amazing. I particularly liked her need to pursue the truth of those days before their rescue. The adult characters that the author created were so complex that I found myself cheering when certain realities are finally revealed and justice and redemption sought. One of my favorite scenes in the book was the confrontation between Mo’s mother and Karen Gold. I read that passage more than once because the tension was palpable. Great writing throughout the book left me turning the pages and I couldn’t wait till the end, and I am happy to say I wasn’t disappointed.

If you like novels that are unpredictable, emotional and intense then In An Instant is the book for you. It’s a great read with complex characters and a storyline that you will appreciate and find hard to put down.

I want to thank the publisher Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of In an instant by Suzanne Redfearn.  I didn’t know what to expect when I requested this book. But I am so glad I did.
Finn Miller goes on a skiing trip with her parents, her brother and sister and her best friend Mo. Also, her Uncle Bob and Aunty Karen and her cousin that Fin despises.  As they drive along the freeway the weather takes a turn for the worse, they come across a deer which trying to avoid it causes them to have an accident. Finn dies instantly. But that’s not the end of the story for Finn. While the rest of her family and friends try and takes terms of what is happening and trying to get help. Finn’s soul stays with them. In the struggles not only during the accident but after, until they come to terms with the accident and her death, she is set free.
In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn is a very emotional, thought provoking story. I thought this was beautifully written, had a great original plot and characters and I liked that it was written in POV which made it different to other books that I have read due to you could see both sides of the story. It’s very clever. 5 stars from me.

On a snowy night everything changes for Finn. Her family and family’s friends get in an accident. Finn is killed and her family and friends must try to get help and survive the night. Finn stays as a spirit and watches everyone deal with the aftermath of the accident.

I loved this story. Almost everyone is hiding something from the accident and Finn’s perspective helped me to see everyone. The mystery was if everyone would find out the full story. I thought the story was beautifully written. My favorite character was Finn because even though she could not change the outcome she tried to help and comfort her family and friends as much as possible. The story also had a large element of who would you save if you were in the same situation? There were two families and they had several times where they had to chose to do something to help one of their family members or the other family. Many people would like to think they would help every equally but is that always the case? And all actions have consequences.

In an Instant....thank goodness I had tissues on hand.

In an Instant, lives are changed forever. Sixteen-year-old Finn is dead after a tragic car accident. Finn keep vigil, watching as those she loves struggle to survive and move on with their lives.

Add me to the list of people who sat down and read this in one day. Whew! I won’t tell you anything else about the book except that it is a moving, thought provoking look at what loss does to an individual and to a family. The choices and sacrifices people make to survive. The tears shed and the grief that comes after tragedy. For me this was a tearjerker. I didn't want to put this book down as I wanted to know what would happen next. How these people and families would cope. This is also a character study on human nature - what will people do to survive. Will they go against their nature or will their true nature be shown? When ordinary people are put in extraordinary situations, what choices will they make?

Grab some tissues and a comfy spot to read as this is absorbing, emotional, engrossing, moving, and thought provoking. It is well written, and nothing felt rushed or drawn out. Don't stop reading when the book ends, the Author's note is informative and tells her own childhood story of survival.


Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Amazing!  This book was everything.  It generated so much raw emotion and was a brilliant example of the many ways that people deal with life's traumatic events.  You hope that in certain situations, you would behave a particular way but I don't believe you can truly know what your reaction would be unless you actually walk in those shoes.

Ms. Redfearn's writing was able to shine a light on the way that scary, and sometimes tragic, events pull different reactions from people.  This story of loss vibrated with grief and pain.  It also shows how poor decisions can be made in stressful situations.  In an Instant gave me a little of The Lovely Bones vibe in that you are seeing the book's events unfold from the viewpoint of someone who is strictly an observer and can't interact directly with anyone else.  Given this situation, you are only able to watch the people make decisions that you know will lead to more emotional trauma and can't prevent any of the devastation.  

I was emotionally exhausted when I finished reading In an Instant - - but it was totally worth it!  

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Ms. Redfearn for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

In an Instant brought to mind one of my greatest fears, that something catastrophic would happen while my children are with anyone other than family.  No one can predict how they will respond when faced with a disaster, like driving off a cliff in the middle of a blizzard. While I was not impressed with the writing or the fact that the whole story seemed rushed, this book definitely made me think, and I will not forget it anytime soon.

The novel is about two families who are caught up in a serious accident and how each one of them is going to survive in the snowy mountains. And I don't want to tell you more about it because this is one of those books that really the less you know about it the better. 
The writing isn't the best or outstanding, but it isn't bad too. The novels beauty is more about it's characters, atmosphere and the feelings. It is getting quite dark and there is so much guilt in it, I wasn't expecting it. It is truly  thought provoking and I am glad, that I had the chance to read it.

Well-written story of a tragic event and its aftermath.  The author does a wonderful job of shifting focus between characters and sharing the trauma from their perspective.

I would like to thank Suzanne Redfearn and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC copy of In an Instant.

An absolute stunning and beautiful book. If you have read The Shack and The Lovely Bones, then you will also love this book.

The Miller family are all carrying their own burdens and nobody within their family can notice what is going on and they just move through day to day and carry on as normal.

Finn has a best friend called Mo whose mum is over protective and eventually starts to let Mo go away with the Millers if they promise to look after Mo and not let any harm come to her.

Then you have the friendly neighbours two houses down who are known as Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob with their daughter Natalie.

The Millers decide that a family break at the lodge in the mountains is what everybody needs and along for the weekend are Mo, Karen, Bob and Natalie.

As the story unfolds they pick up a teenage boy whose car has broken down on the mountain road (I wasn't sure why the recovery wasn't called) and they are then driving along in terrible weather conditions, for their vehicle to then crash into a deer causing their vehicle to fall down the mountain side.

From hereon in and not wanting to spoil the story line you learn that Finn has died in the crash, but is having an outer body experience as she is dying.

She can see all those who love her and can see their flaws and disappointments and each person takes on their own survival mode leaving some disastrous consequences to those involved. 

It makes you think what would you do in those circumstances? Would you choose to save yourself at the cost of others, or would you stay and hope that the outcome is good for you all?

This book had me crying in every chapter and wondering is there a time between life and death? A very spiritual and thought provoking book.

Even reading the authors reason for writing the story had me crying. Certainly one of my favourites to have reviewed this year.

Wow! I devoured this book in one day. It was brilliant, horrifiying and thought provoking. I was questioning all my friendships hoping I never got into an accident with friends who turned out to be like Bob and Karen. This is the perfect book club read, there are so many discussions to have and it really makes you think about yourself and what you hope you would never do in a life/death situation.

Having Finn as the narrator is a clever move, she is able to move freely between the characters to show us the full picture. I didn't think Finn showed enough emotion regarding her own situation, she seemed fine about it and I would have thought a sixteen year old would have been angry, overwhelmed and scared but she never showed any of that. Even though she was the main character she felt like a side person, there for the purpose of other stories. 

The real story was everyone's guilt over their actions on the night they almost died and how they dealt with it in the aftermath of their survival. Their guilt was driving a wedge between them stopping them from healing and moving forward. Their inability to talk to each other honestly and freely was causing isolation and negativity. The only person who appeared unaffected was the one who did the unthinkable act that caused a death. As the reader I was appalled, frustrated, sympathetic and happy in equal measure throughout. 

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an ARC. This is my honest review.

In An Instant is a remarkable book that I read with my whole heart. Life changes in an instant for a group of people—family, friends, and stranger—when they are involved in a tragic accident. 16-year-old Finn dies instantly, and the story is told from her unique perspective, something that adds so many layers to this story. We not only learn how it feels to be Finn, as she grieves for all she’s lost; Finn is also able to provide us with insight as to how the survivors of that horrific crash grieve, forgive, and heal. I felt completely immersed in these characters and the emotions that were overwhelming and haunting. Despite the tears tears that flowed freely down my own cheeks, the book was not maudlin or gloomy. There were also sweet, tender, poignant moments woven through the sadness, leaving me still broken-hearted, but also hopeful. This is a beautifully-written novel, one that I will never forget, one that I will find myself rereading and reliving for a very long time.

This story WILL make you sniffle, if not outright cry.  Those of us who have lost a loved one will recognize the pain and suffering a family experiences after a sudden death, much less an accident that leaves several family members feeling guilty for surviving.  Suzanne Redfearn describes the emotional aftermath while building the family's story and weaving in the view from above of our main character, who dies in the first part of the story.  Yes, it brings to mind THE LOVELY BONES simply because it is such a good book and involves several of the same feelings, but it is definitely not a rewrite of that story.  IN AN INSTANT left me thinking of what my family would do should a tragedy occur.  An absolutely wonderful, emotional read.

Oh my goodness, my heart!

I received an e-copy of In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn from NetGalley for my honest review.

A gripping and emotional story of the after-effects that a family and their friends suffer after a deadly accident.  We get to learn and understand how each character reacts, how they feel and what they go through  during and after the accident.  

A story of loss and how each person reacts to the loss.  A story that will make you think about how short life really is and to take, appreciate and cherish every moment we have and every breath we take.   Get your tissues ready, because you are going to need them.

Moving, poignant, and ultimately redemptive, In an Instant is an unforgettable tale about grief, mortality, and what it means to be human. I really don't want to say too much about this story, because it would be a grave sin to ruin a perfectly wonderful reading experience for those wishing to pick up the book, but I'll say this: I cried, I sobbed, and I couldn't put this book down. Seriously, I read it in a single sitting. This is a book I won't soon forget, and as a daddy's girl myself, I most intensely related to Finn and Jack's arc. sobs some more Please do yourself a favor and get your hands on this book as soon as physically possible! This is my first read by the author but certainly won't be my last.

As you can probably tell from the title , an incident happens with no prior warning that affects the lives of everyone in the book. The family consists of mom & dad, 3 daughters, 1 son, an "aunt & uncle" along with their daughter, in addition to 1 boyfriend, 1 best friend and 1 stranger who had broken down..

The story is told mainly by Finn, the youngest of the 3 daughters. The best friend is Mo, who is closer to Finn than her sisters. There is a whole range of personalities, many of whom do not mesh well in good times, but bad times bring out the worst behaviors of all. Funny what stress does to "nice" people.

Finn's story grabbed me right away and even had me up late to read what came next. A new author for me!

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion .