This book started off quite confusing with so many characters, but once I learned who was who, I loved it. Well worth a read

This book is really captivating. It took me a while to get to grips with exactly who was who, because there are the five main character, their parents and then a fair few other people also included. But, once I'd persevered with that, the story was definitely worth it.

It was both heart breaking and haunting, but with a really good balance of optimism and exploring the need to keep going on, added in.

I felt like I was on the journey alongside some of the parents, trying to find out exactly what happened in the lead up to the accident. And then trying to process all of the events afterwards.

I'd definitely recommend this book, but would advise readers to be prepared to shed a tear or two.

We all know stories of how one second can change your life well this book explores the affects of how so many lives are changed after a car accident involving youngsters with out a care in the world. It covers the whole gamut of emotions that effect a huge range of people. Those involved in the car crash, family and friends. This book explores all the emotions, secrets, and untold stories that lead to the end results of a one off car crash. One split second that's all it takes. I loved the characters in this story, could visualise who they were. This is a good read and I would buy it for a friend or colleague. 10/10.

I found this book absolutely riveting and its title is perfect. One split second was all it took to change so many people's lives forever.

After the initial confusion, inevitable when so many characters are introduced so quickly, I quickly found myself drawn in. The victims, families and witnesses to the car crash all come to life and I found myself warming to all but one, and caring very much about the events they were living through. I found myself feeling a great sense of unease on the day I was reading it, and had to stop to think what was troubling me. It was this powerful book which had got under my skin.

It's simply written, but that is its strength. It would be a good book to read again, knowing the reason behind the crash, just to be able to follow the thread of how skilfully the author takes us on a journey with the different characters and explores how they deal with their own personal trauma.

I will certainly be looking for more books by Caroline Bond.

This is a gripping story which is very sad at times but I found it hard to put down. The writing drew me in and the author has created believable characters, both parents and teenagers. It’s the worst nightmare: teenagers travelling home from a party being involved in a horrific car crash. There’s heartache, blame and despair as the families struggle to come to terms with what happens. Everyone reacts differently. A thought provoking read.

We have all heard the horror stories and shaky mobile phone footage on TV of when a car full of young teenagers crashes. We have all seen the makeshift shrines of lovingly placed flowers at the scene; the candles, the teddies, the balloons. But we can only imagine the searing emotional, and physical consequences not only for the victims, but close family members and friends.
Bond transports us vividly into lives ripped apart, and relationships wrecked when Harry crashes his car carrying girlfriend Jess and their two friends, Jake and Tish after a night out.
Some scars are deeper than others, but no one escapes pain and grief.
Moving, wise and ultimately, an acknowledgement of human frailties, Bond’s novel is also a testament to courage and resilience from which we could all learn.
Thank you #NetGalley and #AtlanticBooks for my pre-release digital download.

A truly heartbreaking read, how life can change in the blink of an eye, a complex story told really well, a gripping read with charecters you just want to get to know, as a parent it hit home a lot for me, can highly recommend, heartbreak, tragedy and forgiveness

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was well written and quite a harrowing subject but it gave me an insight into many things that I may not previously have given much thought to. Given the subject matter it feels wrong to say I enjoyed this book but I finished it in two days as I couldn't put it down.

Found very confusing and difficult to follow, had to keep going back and forth trying to work out who is who... too much hard work for not much pay off. Not for me I'm afraid

I was gripped by this moving book. Five teenage friends are involved in a car crash, one of them will die, another will have to pay for his mistakes. It focuses not just on the teenagers but on almost everyone involved. We find out the devastating effects it has on the victim's parents, on the relationships between parents and children and it even takes into account the effect it has on the man who is first at the scene of the accident.

The characters on the whole are well developed although one or two of them fall a but short . Tish for example doesn't really come across as a fully developed character particularly in relation to her friend's death. But this is a minor niggle and on the whole I really liked this novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This isn’t my usual genre but I thought it sounded good so gave it a try. It was a good storyline that kept me gripped and a story that could and does so easily happen in real life. A parent’s worst nightmare. It was well written, quite emotional in places and was good to see how this sort of tragedy affects different people in different ways. A very good read I would recommend.

One night there is a terrible accident with far reaching consequences. As the story unfolds each character is affected in different ways, not just those involved but also their families, friends and the witnesses. This book is so well written that the characters seem like real people. It was a gripping read and I thoroughly recommend it.

This is a story that is not uncommon but is developed in this book to make it a penetrating novel. Four teenagers are involved in a car accident that should have been avoided. A fifth who should have been in the car didn't join the final part of the trip. All were long time school mates so the accident and death of one breaks up family friendships as well as throwing the young people from teenagers to burdened adults. The driver goes to gaol and his time there gives him a chance to review his actions and relationships. Above all, the book shows it is possible for survivors to move on.Then,unexpectedly,there is a more satisfactory ending than the reader might have expected. This is a heart rending,thoughtful study of teenager and family relationships. It keeps you reading despite the difficult subject matter.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is not my usual genre, I’m more of a crime/thriller reader therefore am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow. I was gripped by this story from start time finish. At times a difficult read but always well told and believable. The emotion, humanity and consequence of the accident were beautifully told from the characters different perspectives and the impact on them in the different ways was well portrayed. Ultimately a story about forgiveness and healing which left me moved and uplifted.

Every parents worse nightmare. 
A truly gripping and believable book.  
A car carrying a group of five teenagers home from a party crashes into a wall.   The impact of this affects more than just the kids and their parents. 
As the news of the accident spreads, the parents of the teens are informed and waiting at the hospital for news of their children.  
The lives of these families will never be the same again.  
The police begin their investigation while friends and family are trying to figure out what exactly happened, who is to blame and when one of the group passes away, the different ways of coping with grief. Through flashbacks, we are told the story through different points of view. We get to know the characters and discover their relationships and secrets in the run up to this life changing event.

Tear-jerking novel which opens with several different sets of parents receiving frantic phone calls and trying to contact their respective children. As readers we experience this as different characters from their shared social network of adults and young people attempt to contact each other - with varying degrees of success. The action then cuts to a hospital waiting room as the parents group together to await news of their children, whom it transpires have been in a car crash. From this point the novel rewinds back in time, and through a series of flashbacks we learn about the web of relationships and events which led up to this fateful evening. As with Caroline Bond's previous novels, this is an absolutely gripping read. She has a real skill for creating riveting scenarios populated by believable characters. As the novel progresses, we follow the various characters as they journey through the different stages of grief towards forgiveness, redemption and ultimately new beginnings. A wonderful moving read which really resonated with me. Thank you for the advance review copy. It was a treat to read.

A group of close friends that have known each other since school go to a party, on their way home their car crashes into a wall. When the news spread of the accident, the teenagers parents are informed and are waiting anxiously at the hospital for news of their loved one’s. Their lives will never be the same again as one teenager does not make it.

As the police investigate the accident, the families are hoping to find out what caused it. which will affect their previous close relationships.

The story goes back to 20 months before the accident, where we see how close their friendships were, as they plan their prom, all dressed up and excited for the future.

This book didn’t just steal my heart, it literally grabbed it and wrenched it out of my body. At times I couldn’t see the words as the tears streamed down my cheeks - it is an emotional rollercoaster of a ride!!

This book felt very lifelike, with believable characters. The next time I see flowers at the roadside it will make me think of the poor families of the deceased.

A must read book, have you’re tissues close by. This will stay in my thoughts for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

This book was thought provoking, well written and unputdownable. The characters felt very three dimensional, and the book didn’t feel rushed despite the long timeline of events. I was thinking about this book long after I finished it, and will be recommending it.

A tear inducing read that keeps you totally involved from beginning to end. Each character is so well written that they come to life as you read.