In an Instant
Imagine two couples - long-time friends with teen children going on a fun ski trip to the mountains in an RV, only to end up in a catastrophic accident that strands them in a bitter cold blizzard with one dead and others in serious need of help. Compound this dire situation with two choosing unwisely to leave for help during the worst of the storm.
What happens when you go from never really thinking about your life to suddenly realizing every decision you make could be the difference between life and death for you or someone you love? Where would your priorities lie, and who would you show preference to if danger was at your door? What lengths would you go to, to save yourself or your family?
If we go by this book, the answer is likely not as selfless and noble as we’d like to think we’d be. When survival is at stake, some people can be downright ugly and without conscience, and others might act in more subtle ways that still reveal motivations that are less than pure.
This is the scenario that greets our two families - the Millers: Jack, Ann, daughters Chloe and Finn, and disabled son Oz, along with their friends the Golds: Bob, Karen and daughter Natalie. Along for the ill-fated ride is Finn’s best friend, Mo, Chloe’s boyfriend, Vance, the Miller’s dog Bingo, and a young man, Kyle, they gave a ride to when he got stuck in the bad weather. No spoiler here because it’s in the blurb, sixteen-year-old Finn is killed, and now she finds herself looking over the different members of the trip, in the immediate aftermath and as life moves forward, seeing their pain and struggle as secrets unfold, guilt and regret come, and reckonings happen.
I said in one of my updates, “Is it wrong to have murderous thoughts toward a book character?” There is one character’s choices that had me imagining a variety of the most painful and unpleasant ways they could not so dearly depart us. This character brought out straight-up seething contempt. I won’t go into details, but I think unless you’re a member of the undead with no blood coursing through your veins or you are actually missing a beating heart, you will likely feel some measure of rage as well. It may be especially triggering or painful if you have a child with disabilities, as I do.
This is a really solid, emotional, well-told story that explores the messy dynamics of family and friends, and the different ways people cope or don’t cope with personal tragedy. It’s angering, it’s so sad, it’s hopeful, it’s sweet, it’s life-affirming, but it’s also humbling, because as much as I’d love to think I’d be a better person than some of the members of this trip, I just don’t know, and that’s not a comfortable place to be. Finn is an absolutely delightful character and her ability to travel freely between the different characters and see into their psyches and circumstances enables the reader to see things from her POV and feel the emotions through her, which I really liked. Mo is also a wonderful character, and I love her character arc. The only downside is that it’s hard to watch people suffer, and this book is a LOT of suffering in different ways.
Btw, read the Author's Note after reading the book. Thanks to my friend Jayme for that advice!
This is my second book by Suzanne Redfearn and it definitely won’t be my last. I highly recommend this one!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5)
What happens when you go from never really thinking about your life to suddenly realizing every decision you make could be the difference between life and death for you or someone you love? Where would your priorities lie, and who would you show preference to if danger was at your door? What lengths would you go to, to save yourself or your family?
If we go by this book, the answer is likely not as selfless and noble as we’d like to think we’d be. When survival is at stake, some people can be downright ugly and without conscience, and others might act in more subtle ways that still reveal motivations that are less than pure.
This is the scenario that greets our two families - the Millers: Jack, Ann, daughters Chloe and Finn, and disabled son Oz, along with their friends the Golds: Bob, Karen and daughter Natalie. Along for the ill-fated ride is Finn’s best friend, Mo, Chloe’s boyfriend, Vance, the Miller’s dog Bingo, and a young man, Kyle, they gave a ride to when he got stuck in the bad weather. No spoiler here because it’s in the blurb, sixteen-year-old Finn is killed, and now she finds herself looking over the different members of the trip, in the immediate aftermath and as life moves forward, seeing their pain and struggle as secrets unfold, guilt and regret come, and reckonings happen.
I said in one of my updates, “Is it wrong to have murderous thoughts toward a book character?” There is one character’s choices that had me imagining a variety of the most painful and unpleasant ways they could not so dearly depart us. This character brought out straight-up seething contempt. I won’t go into details, but I think unless you’re a member of the undead with no blood coursing through your veins or you are actually missing a beating heart, you will likely feel some measure of rage as well. It may be especially triggering or painful if you have a child with disabilities, as I do.
This is a really solid, emotional, well-told story that explores the messy dynamics of family and friends, and the different ways people cope or don’t cope with personal tragedy. It’s angering, it’s so sad, it’s hopeful, it’s sweet, it’s life-affirming, but it’s also humbling, because as much as I’d love to think I’d be a better person than some of the members of this trip, I just don’t know, and that’s not a comfortable place to be. Finn is an absolutely delightful character and her ability to travel freely between the different characters and see into their psyches and circumstances enables the reader to see things from her POV and feel the emotions through her, which I really liked. Mo is also a wonderful character, and I love her character arc. The only downside is that it’s hard to watch people suffer, and this book is a LOT of suffering in different ways.
Btw, read the Author's Note after reading the book. Thanks to my friend Jayme for that advice!
This is my second book by Suzanne Redfearn and it definitely won’t be my last. I highly recommend this one!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5)
Fab review, Kat! I have been purposely been avoiding this book, though. The thought of being stranded out in a blizzard scares me to death. It's almost triggering, even. But I'm so glad you found it to be a worthwhile read. :)
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