In An Instant, by Suzanne Redfearn
Published by Lake Union Publishing, 1st March 2020
Genres: Contemporary fiction, drama, romance, family
Format: Kindle eBook
Source: Purchased
Trigger warnings: car crash, grief, suicidal thoughts
Synopsis
During a family trip to Big Bear, sixteen-year-old Finn Miller and her family are involved in a terrible accident, their vehicle plunging over the steep side of the road on a snowy night. Finn is killed immediately, but remains, suspended between two worlds, to watch how the others fare. There are some serious injuries between them, but the most immediate threat is the cold. In the hours following the accident, the various members must do whatever they can to survive.
Finn flits from one person to another, desperate to help or influence their decisions, but utterly powerless. She witnesses the fear, despair, bravery and grief of those she has left behind. In the aftermath of the crash, the survivors struggle to get their lives back together, each battling with their own personal demons.
My thoughts
This was a great book! Obviously, this was not an easy story to read as it involves some pretty terrible events. But it was beautifully written and I was utterly drawn into the aftermath of the accident and the lives of those involved.
I loved the perspective of Finn’s narration, from outside the story, but also very much involved and emotionally invested. You can really feel her desperation to help the others, and her frustration and despair at not being able to do anything. It is also very interesting to see a sixteen-year-old girl witness her world go on without her and see the people in her life from a different perspective.
There were certain moments in the story when I just could not believe what was happening. I don’t want to give any spoilers away, so I won’t tell you, but if you read this book, I am sure you will agree. My boyfriend kept giving me funny looks because I was making such strange faces and noises whilst reading!
This was another book that I bought a while ago on sale from the Kindle Store and then forgot about. I am so glad I picked this one as my next read because I loved it. I can definitely recommend it.
My rating: 5/5