Title: One Moment
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Author: Kristina McBride
Available: Now
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Contemporary
Source: ALA
Synopsis via Goodreads:
"This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie's life. Now it's the one she'd do anything to forget."
Maggie remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party. She remembers climbing the trail with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can't she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below-dead?
As Maggie's memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?
The latest novel from the author of "The Tension of Opposites," "One Moment" is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.
My thoughts:
One Moment was not a novel I could devour in one sitting. It took me
the better part of two weeks to plow through this story with tear filled eyes.
This is a book that had me breaking out the "ugly cry" (don't pretend
you don't know what I'm talking about). Having lost a close friend to a
car accident while I was a sophomore in high school, I found I connected with One Moment on a very personal level. This may also be one of the reasons I had to read in
moderate doses. The author does a beautiful job of capturing the voices of
teens struggling with a devastating loss and it all just felt so real.
The plot was paced perfectly with a mystery that makes you want
to keep reading. I enjoyed getting to know Maggie as she discovered the secrets
Joey was hiding, as well as tried to process the grief and guilt she was
struggling to contain. The secondary characters added a nice element. I loved
the idea of childhood friends growing up together and was fascinated by the
author's take on how they would react when a member of their close-knit group
was suddenly taken from them. This was one intense read and can still easily
conjure residual emotions even weeks after I finished reading. It isn't often I
encounter books that have such staying power. One Moment isn't a book I'll
forget anytime soon (if ever).
Oh contemporary genre, how I love you and loathe you almost
equally. You make me want to read even as you break my heart into tiny little
pieces. This is not a genre I venture into often, but I'd do it again with no
hesitation if Kristina McBride's name was on the cover. If you haven't read
this talented author's work you really must!
My Rating:
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