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One Moment
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?
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?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2012
64 people are currently reading
8579 people want to read
About the author
Kristina McBride
4 books315 followersKristina McBride has published four novels for young adults - THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, ONE MOMENT, A MILLION TIMES GOODNIGHT, and THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN. Kristina is a former high school English teacher and yearbook advisor, as well as an adjunct professor at Antioch University Midwest and Wright State University. Kristina has a thing for music, trees, purses, and chocolate. You might be surprised to learn that Kristina was almost kidnapped when she was a child. She also bookstalks people on a regular basis. Kristina lives in Ohio with her husband and two young children. You can learn more at www.kristinamcbride.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 569 reviews
July 11, 2012
I was a little hesitant about picking up One Moment, the synopsis sounded so heartfelt and achy, and I usually have a hard time coping with books dealing with death and heartache, however when I decided to try it, it sort of matched the mood I was in, I remember Reyjne saying once that often the best reading experience comes out of reading a book when you’re in that particular frame of mind or when a book compliments your mood. And for some strange reason this book at that moment in time really worked for me.
One Moment follows the story o f a group of 6 close friends; Maggie, Joey, Adam, Shannon, Tanna and Pete, they’ve been such a close knit of friends for a while now, always hanging out, having a laugh. But one unfortunate night the loyalties and friendship is brought under scrutiny when Joey after attempting a cliff dive he’s done several times before fluffs his jump and ends up dead. The kids are utterly distraught but not more than Joey’s girlfriend Maggie. Her entire memory leading up to Joey’s jump is gone, and the fact that her and Adam left the scene immediately make the police and the others suspect she knows more than she’s letting on. Slowly everything starts falling apart, everything Maggie knew and believed her relationship with Joey was built upon comes tumbling down. Dark secrets are brought up she would never have imagined and loyalties and friendships are pushed to the limit.
It was an extremely difficult time for Maggie, and I honestly felt for her, her boyfriend of nearly two years was ripped away from her so quickly and she couldn’t even remember a single thing? And then she had to deal with everything unravelling around her, she thought she had the best relationship with Joey however it ended up that she didn’t really know him at all.
With a lot of books, if I’m able to this guess what is going to happen this usually puts me off from continuing with the book. But with One Moment despite realising early on what was going on, I still found myself spurred on to read to see how everything would unfold. I think the fact that I also had a massive connection with Maggie compelled me into reading too, she was such a strong character, with everything she kept discovering, she tried her utmost hardest to keep it together.
McBride’s writing also contributed significantly in making me want to read this book. Her writing flowed so well, it was poignant, breathtaking and occasionally left me with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I wish I could share some of my favourite beautiful quotes in this review. I think I may have gone a bit overboard with the highlighting in my kindle!
Overall One Moment was an intense beautiful read which shattered my already fragile heart into tiny smithereens several times. I will definitely be checking out more of McBride’s work in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Egmont USA for the opportunity to read this book.
This review and more can be found on: The Readers Den
One Moment follows the story o f a group of 6 close friends; Maggie, Joey, Adam, Shannon, Tanna and Pete, they’ve been such a close knit of friends for a while now, always hanging out, having a laugh. But one unfortunate night the loyalties and friendship is brought under scrutiny when Joey after attempting a cliff dive he’s done several times before fluffs his jump and ends up dead. The kids are utterly distraught but not more than Joey’s girlfriend Maggie. Her entire memory leading up to Joey’s jump is gone, and the fact that her and Adam left the scene immediately make the police and the others suspect she knows more than she’s letting on. Slowly everything starts falling apart, everything Maggie knew and believed her relationship with Joey was built upon comes tumbling down. Dark secrets are brought up she would never have imagined and loyalties and friendships are pushed to the limit.
It was an extremely difficult time for Maggie, and I honestly felt for her, her boyfriend of nearly two years was ripped away from her so quickly and she couldn’t even remember a single thing? And then she had to deal with everything unravelling around her, she thought she had the best relationship with Joey however it ended up that she didn’t really know him at all.
With a lot of books, if I’m able to this guess what is going to happen this usually puts me off from continuing with the book. But with One Moment despite realising early on what was going on, I still found myself spurred on to read to see how everything would unfold. I think the fact that I also had a massive connection with Maggie compelled me into reading too, she was such a strong character, with everything she kept discovering, she tried her utmost hardest to keep it together.
McBride’s writing also contributed significantly in making me want to read this book. Her writing flowed so well, it was poignant, breathtaking and occasionally left me with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I wish I could share some of my favourite beautiful quotes in this review. I think I may have gone a bit overboard with the highlighting in my kindle!
Overall One Moment was an intense beautiful read which shattered my already fragile heart into tiny smithereens several times. I will definitely be checking out more of McBride’s work in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Egmont USA for the opportunity to read this book.
This review and more can be found on: The Readers Den
dnf
September 12, 2017DNF @ 28%
Maybe it doesn’t make sense to give up with a book so early but I can’t anymore. I wanted to connect with Maggie and understand her but nope, no luck.
In short: Maggie is dating with Joey for a year and half. They both are with their friends by lake or something, Joey persuades Maggie to jump off the cliff. He jumps, she doesn’t. He dies and she doesn’t remember a single thing before his jump and the time when her friend Adam finds her hiding in a bush. Then it’s there a lot of pages with description of feelings and flashbacks to the time when Joey lived. That’s all I know because after ten pages of flashbacks I gave up.
I didn't like the long passages with descriptions, Maggie was'n a likeable character and she irritated me. I didn't find the story mysterious as it probably should be and it dragged.
If anyone finished this story, feel free to write me what actually happend. I have a theory but I don’t care enough to find out what happend by myself.
Only good thing I can say about this book is the beautiful cover.
***
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe it doesn’t make sense to give up with a book so early but I can’t anymore. I wanted to connect with Maggie and understand her but nope, no luck.
In short: Maggie is dating with Joey for a year and half. They both are with their friends by lake or something, Joey persuades Maggie to jump off the cliff. He jumps, she doesn’t. He dies and she doesn’t remember a single thing before his jump and the time when her friend Adam finds her hiding in a bush. Then it’s there a lot of pages with description of feelings and flashbacks to the time when Joey lived. That’s all I know because after ten pages of flashbacks I gave up.
I didn't like the long passages with descriptions, Maggie was'n a likeable character and she irritated me. I didn't find the story mysterious as it probably should be and it dragged.
If anyone finished this story, feel free to write me what actually happend. I have a theory but I don’t care enough to find out what happend by myself.
Only good thing I can say about this book is the beautiful cover.
***
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2014
“Fear about what, exactly?'
'Everything,' I said. 'But mostly just the realization that all it takes is one moment for your entire world to turn upside down. One wrong decision, and it's over.”
How do you keep standing when everything that you believed in was all a big, fat lie? This book is about how people can still be so clueless even if the truth is screaming right in front of their face..
Brief Summary:
Maggie and Joey were together for almost two years now. They were friends with a bunch a people (Shannon, Adam, Tanna and Pete) since childhood. One day, they all decided to go to the Jumping Hole, a cliff that they agreed a cool place to hang out. Maggie never jumped before but she decided to do it now with Joey. Then, suddenly Joey fell off the cliff in a wrong way but Maggie was still at the top of it. She was so shocked that she didn't remember anything, how it all happened. They were all devastated when Joey died, blaming themselves one way or another. The memories of Maggie came back slowly, one by one. Now, she was having difficulty in distinguishing the lies from the truth..
There are plenty of reasons why this book didn't work for me.
First of all, Maggie, the main character, is so slow that it's so frustrating. I guessed the huge secret only at the first chapter. I thought the secret was something bigger because it dragged so long but no. I am freaking right. It was very anticlimactic.
Secondly, Shannon as a friend was quite a bitch. I knew from the start that she was onto something. I knew she must be hurting in her own way after everything that happened but I can't sympathize with her. It was just hard.
Finally, everyone blaming themselves! Or blaming someone else! Yeah dude like that helps. It was like Joey was just so perfect to them that they bow down to him when in fact, he was far from it. Far from perfect, I mean. Yes they are grieving, but how does it help when the friendship these guys have are crumbling down especially now when they are the ones each other need most? They should be helping each other up!.
Anyway, I liked how Maggie let go of Joey in her own way. She dealt with her grief in a way she knew how...It was just sad to know that we'll never find out how Joey felt at those last moments before he died. It was so sudden.
Overall, this was an interesting read but one that didn't appeal to me very much. There were just so many things that irritated me.
June 26, 2012
Dark, atmospheric and utterly compelling, One Moment by Kristina McBride is sure to appeal to readers who like contemporary and the exploration of human nature through literature. While it doesn’t bring anything new or unpredictable to the table, One Moment sets itself apart in the smooth way the prose flows and gradually brings to light what is the heart of the novel. The friendships and the way they are affected by the death of one of the integral members of their group, a person who was more than just a boyfriend but a friend makes for a fascinating read. McBride is very skillful at portraying the varied expressions, emotions and the mixed layers of grief that each member of the group feels. Needless to say there are some secrets that, when they come out, give the story a different (but expected) twist but I liked how McBride managed to keep it realistic and did not fall victim to pathos and melodrama that normally characterize such themes.
I was incensed on Maggie’s behalf and felt that I would like Joey to be alive just so I can kill him again. I don’t know if McBride intended the reader to change their feelings for Joey after all the secrets are unearthed but if she did, I don’t think she succeeded because I hated him in the end. But it is a rare writer who can evoke such strong emotions from their readers and it is a mark of their success when they do so.
I like Maggie. She is believable in her grief and as I said, does not go the Bella way of coping with her loss. Her grief is realistically portrayed and yeah. The ending was sweet but maybe I would have preferred it to be a bit more open ended. We do not need such certain caps on the story and sometimes open ended conclusions with a hint of promise may be better. This may have been one time that an open ended conclusion would have been preferable. But that’s a personal preference. This is pretty readable and I recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a heartbreaker.
I was incensed on Maggie’s behalf and felt that I would like Joey to be alive just so I can kill him again. I don’t know if McBride intended the reader to change their feelings for Joey after all the secrets are unearthed but if she did, I don’t think she succeeded because I hated him in the end. But it is a rare writer who can evoke such strong emotions from their readers and it is a mark of their success when they do so.
I like Maggie. She is believable in her grief and as I said, does not go the Bella way of coping with her loss. Her grief is realistically portrayed and yeah. The ending was sweet but maybe I would have preferred it to be a bit more open ended. We do not need such certain caps on the story and sometimes open ended conclusions with a hint of promise may be better. This may have been one time that an open ended conclusion would have been preferable. But that’s a personal preference. This is pretty readable and I recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a heartbreaker.
May 20, 2017
One moment is enough to change your life....
Maggie lost her boyfriend in a strange way while she was the last person that talked and saw him and she has had her memory lost. Her friends trying to stand by her although they must cope with their lost of friend too.
But something was wrong. Truths coming out and Maggie knows that these kind of truths hurts.
The story was strong. The writing was not exaggerated and it was as emotional as it was should.
3.5 stars....
Maggie lost her boyfriend in a strange way while she was the last person that talked and saw him and she has had her memory lost. Her friends trying to stand by her although they must cope with their lost of friend too.
But something was wrong. Truths coming out and Maggie knows that these kind of truths hurts.
The story was strong. The writing was not exaggerated and it was as emotional as it was should.
3.5 stars....
December 21, 2016
Disclaimer: This was sent to me by the publisher, Skyhorse Publishing/Sky Pony Press, via NetGalley for an honest review.
Opinion:
Well S**t, that was depressing.
After a traumatic accident that leaves her boyfriend Joey dead, Maggie finds herself unable to remember the final moments that lead up to his death. Maggie remembers spending the day at the gorge with her childhood friends and boyfriend Joey, and she even remembers climbing up the trail with him to jump off the cliff together. But for some reason, everything else is a blank. As the people closest to Joey try to pick up the pieces after his death, Maggie starts to unravel deep secrets about Joey and starts to realize that he might not have been as perfect as she thought.
I feel like it has been quite a while since I have read a true YA Fiction story that hasn’t had to do with magic or the underworld. I couldn’t have asked for a better book to bring me back into the “real life” stories that I have always adored. If you are a big reader like me, which I hope that you are, then this book will probably be pretty enjoyable for you, but also fairly predictable. This story is formatted in a way where the reader gets a basic idea for what the book is about, but they are really on the quest to find out HOW Joey died and what he was like. Though I had figured this story out at the beginning, I was still happy to find that there were few unexpected moments in this story. I think the author could have given the “mystery” behind Joey’s death a little more pizazz though (that sounds horrible when I say that out loud, I know). Maggie literally tells the reader that she was running hand in hand with joey towards the cliff and stopped. Now he’s suddenly dead at the bottom. Well gee, I WONDER how THAT could have happened?! You mean he didn’t make the leap off the cliff correctly after you abruptly stopped?!? I just can’t believe it.
*Insert extreme sarcasm here*
Other than THAT, I really liked this book. It was a quick read and the pace just clipped right along, which meant that I finished it in one day. I didn’t get a strong connection to the characters in this book, but I don’t really find it to be that necessary with this story. Usually I am a big advocate for character development, but I find the amount of facts about the characters to be enough. Don’t get me wrong here, it’s not like you feel a complete disconnect from them or anything. They are just the basic normal teenagers going through their adolescent years…not the most complex creatures, if you catch my drift. I did really like the characters of Maggie and Shannon the best though. Maggie is going through a very traumatic experience, and I found that she held herself together fairly well. What I like about Shannon is that she is a COMPLETE b***h most of the time. I love a sassy character that just blurts things out without a care in the world, so you go girl! Of course deep down I actually hate her because other ruthlessness, but still.
All I can really say about this book, without giving too many secrets away, is that it is a really quick YA read. It brings the reader back to the nostalgic moments that came with being in high school around your childhood friends, while also pulling our tender heartstrings. Some things that happen in this story feel brutal, and it makes you sympathize for the characters and hope that everything will turn around for them. I definitely recommend this book for a lazy day read or for those cold winter months ahead…this story about summer is sure to warm you up and get your blood boiling!
Opinion:
Well S**t, that was depressing.
After a traumatic accident that leaves her boyfriend Joey dead, Maggie finds herself unable to remember the final moments that lead up to his death. Maggie remembers spending the day at the gorge with her childhood friends and boyfriend Joey, and she even remembers climbing up the trail with him to jump off the cliff together. But for some reason, everything else is a blank. As the people closest to Joey try to pick up the pieces after his death, Maggie starts to unravel deep secrets about Joey and starts to realize that he might not have been as perfect as she thought.
I feel like it has been quite a while since I have read a true YA Fiction story that hasn’t had to do with magic or the underworld. I couldn’t have asked for a better book to bring me back into the “real life” stories that I have always adored. If you are a big reader like me, which I hope that you are, then this book will probably be pretty enjoyable for you, but also fairly predictable. This story is formatted in a way where the reader gets a basic idea for what the book is about, but they are really on the quest to find out HOW Joey died and what he was like. Though I had figured this story out at the beginning, I was still happy to find that there were few unexpected moments in this story. I think the author could have given the “mystery” behind Joey’s death a little more pizazz though (that sounds horrible when I say that out loud, I know). Maggie literally tells the reader that she was running hand in hand with joey towards the cliff and stopped. Now he’s suddenly dead at the bottom. Well gee, I WONDER how THAT could have happened?! You mean he didn’t make the leap off the cliff correctly after you abruptly stopped?!? I just can’t believe it.
*Insert extreme sarcasm here*
Other than THAT, I really liked this book. It was a quick read and the pace just clipped right along, which meant that I finished it in one day. I didn’t get a strong connection to the characters in this book, but I don’t really find it to be that necessary with this story. Usually I am a big advocate for character development, but I find the amount of facts about the characters to be enough. Don’t get me wrong here, it’s not like you feel a complete disconnect from them or anything. They are just the basic normal teenagers going through their adolescent years…not the most complex creatures, if you catch my drift. I did really like the characters of Maggie and Shannon the best though. Maggie is going through a very traumatic experience, and I found that she held herself together fairly well. What I like about Shannon is that she is a COMPLETE b***h most of the time. I love a sassy character that just blurts things out without a care in the world, so you go girl! Of course deep down I actually hate her because other ruthlessness, but still.
All I can really say about this book, without giving too many secrets away, is that it is a really quick YA read. It brings the reader back to the nostalgic moments that came with being in high school around your childhood friends, while also pulling our tender heartstrings. Some things that happen in this story feel brutal, and it makes you sympathize for the characters and hope that everything will turn around for them. I definitely recommend this book for a lazy day read or for those cold winter months ahead…this story about summer is sure to warm you up and get your blood boiling!
May 8, 2012
More reviews located at Paperback Princess.
I really did like this book because it made me think. I've always been a what-if kinda girl (I can't let well enough alone) so being forced to think about how I would have reacted was a terrifying experience so you can only imagine how Maggie feels. Especially when she can't remember what happened.
At first you're introduced to everyone that matters in the book which was overwhelming, I was a little confused, but once you fall into knowing who is who then it gets easier. Some of the parts were predictable, (and I won't go into which ones because you need to read it to see) but a few of them did catch me by surprise. Even if you do know whats happening, it is still an exciting journey to follow Maggie and her friends on as they move through the summer after losing their friend.
As far as how these kids did deal with the death, I think that they did very well for the circumstances. The only ones that we really get to explore are Maggie, Joey's girlfriend, and Adam, his best friend. Maggie, does go to see a therapist, but that can be expected since she does had no memory of what happened.
I did find it somewhat sad to follower Maggie though this journey because the hardest thing about losing someone is learning that they were so different from who you thought they were. Often, after someone dies, they become this glorified person who never did anything wrong, when in this case, all of Joey's missteps and flaws were brought to light because of Maggie investigating what happened.
This was a super quick read because from page one you need to know why and how this happened. It took me maybe about 2 days to read this only because my real job got in the way. But seriously, super quick read. I almost didn't want to to end either because I wanted to see how what happened with Joey would continue to effect her and her future relationships. Since the book covers from about Memorial Day until August-ish, we only get a small glimpse into the long terms effects this is going to have. So when the time comes around you should get this book because it is totally worth the read.
I really did like this book because it made me think. I've always been a what-if kinda girl (I can't let well enough alone) so being forced to think about how I would have reacted was a terrifying experience so you can only imagine how Maggie feels. Especially when she can't remember what happened.
At first you're introduced to everyone that matters in the book which was overwhelming, I was a little confused, but once you fall into knowing who is who then it gets easier. Some of the parts were predictable, (and I won't go into which ones because you need to read it to see) but a few of them did catch me by surprise. Even if you do know whats happening, it is still an exciting journey to follow Maggie and her friends on as they move through the summer after losing their friend.
As far as how these kids did deal with the death, I think that they did very well for the circumstances. The only ones that we really get to explore are Maggie, Joey's girlfriend, and Adam, his best friend. Maggie, does go to see a therapist, but that can be expected since she does had no memory of what happened.
I did find it somewhat sad to follower Maggie though this journey because the hardest thing about losing someone is learning that they were so different from who you thought they were. Often, after someone dies, they become this glorified person who never did anything wrong, when in this case, all of Joey's missteps and flaws were brought to light because of Maggie investigating what happened.
This was a super quick read because from page one you need to know why and how this happened. It took me maybe about 2 days to read this only because my real job got in the way. But seriously, super quick read. I almost didn't want to to end either because I wanted to see how what happened with Joey would continue to effect her and her future relationships. Since the book covers from about Memorial Day until August-ish, we only get a small glimpse into the long terms effects this is going to have. So when the time comes around you should get this book because it is totally worth the read.
March 27, 2019
Before I begin my review, forewarning that I DNF this book.
This book is about a young girl who is hanging out with her friends when her boyfriend dies in a cliff-jumping accident. It follows the aftermath and also flashes back to when her boyfriend was alive.
I was about 40 pages in when I decided to not finish the book. I thought the book held promise when I first heard about it, which is why I chose to read it.
After 40 pages I thought the overall plot of the book was UBER predictable. After thinking I knew exactly how the book would play out, I read some peer reviews. They shared that it was also predictable and that most of the book is full with flashbacks and that the title character does not undergo any real character development. It was after reading these reviews and reflecting upon my own reading of the book that I decided to not finish.
I will say that I thought the writing was good, it was more of the plot and character that lost my interest.
NOW FOR CURIOSITY SAKE For those who have read/finished this book, please tell me if my predictions of the rest of the plot are right.
These predictions were made after only 40 pages:
- Maggie stopped on the cliff right before the jump which caused Joey's body to be twisted (since they were holding hands) when he jumped which ultimately caused his death
- Maggie stopped on the cliff BECAUSE the bracelet Joey wore made her realize he was cheating on her with Shannon??
- As Maggie regains her memories, she feels guilty but is comforted by Adam
- Adam reveals he has liked Maggie for a long time
- Maggie and Adam eventually get together
That is what I think happened, let me know what I got right and what I got totally wrong!!
Thanks for reading my review!
This book is about a young girl who is hanging out with her friends when her boyfriend dies in a cliff-jumping accident. It follows the aftermath and also flashes back to when her boyfriend was alive.
I was about 40 pages in when I decided to not finish the book. I thought the book held promise when I first heard about it, which is why I chose to read it.
After 40 pages I thought the overall plot of the book was UBER predictable. After thinking I knew exactly how the book would play out, I read some peer reviews. They shared that it was also predictable and that most of the book is full with flashbacks and that the title character does not undergo any real character development. It was after reading these reviews and reflecting upon my own reading of the book that I decided to not finish.
I will say that I thought the writing was good, it was more of the plot and character that lost my interest.
NOW FOR CURIOSITY SAKE For those who have read/finished this book, please tell me if my predictions of the rest of the plot are right.
These predictions were made after only 40 pages:
- Maggie stopped on the cliff right before the jump which caused Joey's body to be twisted (since they were holding hands) when he jumped which ultimately caused his death
- Maggie stopped on the cliff BECAUSE the bracelet Joey wore made her realize he was cheating on her with Shannon??
- As Maggie regains her memories, she feels guilty but is comforted by Adam
- Adam reveals he has liked Maggie for a long time
- Maggie and Adam eventually get together
That is what I think happened, let me know what I got right and what I got totally wrong!!
Thanks for reading my review!
May 23, 2012
This would be my first book by Kristina McBride, but it wont be my last. I really enjoyed the way she writes.
I've always been attracted to amnesia-type books, and while One Moment isn't a huge example of that, I still enjoyed the flavor of mystery Maggie was trying to uncover after such a traumatic event.
What I liked most about this book was that even though there was some drama and angst the actions and reactions that these characters portrayed felt very natural and real compared to the over-scandalous or overwhelming situations I usually find in books. I liked that the story-line wasn't over done. It's simple but it still felt like a punch to the gut at the same time.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, I thought it might have been a little bit to rushed all considering but when I really think about it I'm glad that Maggie found her one moment after all.
Bottom line, I really liked this one, it was interesting to try to figure out what really happened and I was just as curious to see what these characters had to say for themselves next.
A great read!
(Arc provided by Netgalley and Egmont USA)
I've always been attracted to amnesia-type books, and while One Moment isn't a huge example of that, I still enjoyed the flavor of mystery Maggie was trying to uncover after such a traumatic event.
What I liked most about this book was that even though there was some drama and angst the actions and reactions that these characters portrayed felt very natural and real compared to the over-scandalous or overwhelming situations I usually find in books. I liked that the story-line wasn't over done. It's simple but it still felt like a punch to the gut at the same time.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, I thought it might have been a little bit to rushed all considering but when I really think about it I'm glad that Maggie found her one moment after all.
Bottom line, I really liked this one, it was interesting to try to figure out what really happened and I was just as curious to see what these characters had to say for themselves next.
A great read!
(Arc provided by Netgalley and Egmont USA)
March 20, 2015
Oh, just look at that cover, just how beautiful it is!
That was the first thing that grabbed my attention, and then there was the book description - i love stories about memory loss, about characters that need to pick up the remaining pieces of their lives and remember how it was when all pieces fit together perfectly.
On the good site the writing was good, the premise was wonderful and the ingredients for a great read were all there.. so what went wrong then?
It's just that I wasn't invested in the story, I didn't connect with the characters.
Take the main character - how could Maggie miss all those signs? How could she be so blind for so long? I understand that there was supposed to be so much trust between these kids, at least when it comes to her feelings, but some things were too obvious and they lasted for such a long time.
Knowing the outcome didn't help me much in this particular case, because I already knew how it was supposed to end from the very first chapter, and to be honest, romantically I wish it ended in a different way. The resolution was rushed - all happened too fast, the wounds were still there and there was too much for it to be fully believable at that point. I wanted a more bitter-sweet ending, it would have fit better the story.
Also the character development is something I had to struggle with. I didn't feel like I knew any of those guys. Some were just there, and the ones that I found more about didn't make a lasting impression of me - or they did, but not a good one at that. Adam was childish and inconsistent (even the decision in the first chapter didn't feel right), Joey was such a different person than what he appeared to be, Shannon was such a bitch I won't even. I don't know, I wanted to connect better with them to understand them, but their actions were random at times and plot driven.
Anyways, I think that this book might appeal to many of the young readers.. The mystery is there, though you know how it will end you will still want to know why. The writing is engaging and the pacing is pretty great. Hopefully you will have a lot better luck with it ;)
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That was the first thing that grabbed my attention, and then there was the book description - i love stories about memory loss, about characters that need to pick up the remaining pieces of their lives and remember how it was when all pieces fit together perfectly.
On the good site the writing was good, the premise was wonderful and the ingredients for a great read were all there.. so what went wrong then?
It's just that I wasn't invested in the story, I didn't connect with the characters.
Take the main character - how could Maggie miss all those signs? How could she be so blind for so long? I understand that there was supposed to be so much trust between these kids, at least when it comes to her feelings, but some things were too obvious and they lasted for such a long time.
Knowing the outcome didn't help me much in this particular case, because I already knew how it was supposed to end from the very first chapter, and to be honest, romantically I wish it ended in a different way. The resolution was rushed - all happened too fast, the wounds were still there and there was too much for it to be fully believable at that point. I wanted a more bitter-sweet ending, it would have fit better the story.
Also the character development is something I had to struggle with. I didn't feel like I knew any of those guys. Some were just there, and the ones that I found more about didn't make a lasting impression of me - or they did, but not a good one at that. Adam was childish and inconsistent (even the decision in the first chapter didn't feel right), Joey was such a different person than what he appeared to be, Shannon was such a bitch I won't even. I don't know, I wanted to connect better with them to understand them, but their actions were random at times and plot driven.
Anyways, I think that this book might appeal to many of the young readers.. The mystery is there, though you know how it will end you will still want to know why. The writing is engaging and the pacing is pretty great. Hopefully you will have a lot better luck with it ;)
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May 20, 2012
2.5/5
It's an interesting read, yet I’m still struggling to put into words exactly which parts worked and which ones didn’t. With six people who’ve lived in each others’ pockets it’s not shock how, in essence, they’re a unit. Sure, a couple of them were closer to others but it’s also this fact that made for a more complicated group dynamic. Their core seemed to be Joey though. Wild… crazy…beautiful, they all said, but what else was there to him? That it takes tragedy for them to all open up, open their eyes and to say what was what… made it even more taxing emotionally. The reactions were messy. And I liked it.
Add the complication of her not knowing to the slow process of her picking up the clues… then add both those to her inevitably piecing things together. And almost not wanting to have done so. Well, I won’t say I that enjoyed it… but it all had me engrossed. Her knowing one thing then having that same fact at odds with what she knew/felt… it felt right to me. Then compound her feelings on things being disconnected or her feelings that what she knew wasn’t whole to begin with, with her friends reacting in their own way… because like her, they too got left behind.
It’s the aftermath, the reactions of each member of the group that had me glued to ONE MOMENT. That each of them reacted the way they did because there was this big secret, made each of them less “bad,” more real. See, they’re not just caricatures of the cheater or the best friend or he boy who’s always there. Take Shannon. Her role from the get seemed a means to contrast her to Maggie. It became a lot easier to like Maggie, given how up front “bitchy” the other girl could be. “She’s a bitch, but that’s why we love her, right? They all say it; they all think it… but she’s not that at all. Sure, what’s done is a sad thing, but Shannon’s reactions too made sense. It’s Adam’s particular drama that I felt unnecessary. Why I wonder the need to insert a romantic element? But him dealing with losing his friend, then seeing that friend for who he really was… as well as him wanting some things he couldn’t have made him interesting.
2.5/5
Thanks Net Galley!
It's an interesting read, yet I’m still struggling to put into words exactly which parts worked and which ones didn’t. With six people who’ve lived in each others’ pockets it’s not shock how, in essence, they’re a unit. Sure, a couple of them were closer to others but it’s also this fact that made for a more complicated group dynamic. Their core seemed to be Joey though. Wild… crazy…beautiful, they all said, but what else was there to him? That it takes tragedy for them to all open up, open their eyes and to say what was what… made it even more taxing emotionally. The reactions were messy. And I liked it.
Add the complication of her not knowing to the slow process of her picking up the clues… then add both those to her inevitably piecing things together. And almost not wanting to have done so. Well, I won’t say I that enjoyed it… but it all had me engrossed. Her knowing one thing then having that same fact at odds with what she knew/felt… it felt right to me. Then compound her feelings on things being disconnected or her feelings that what she knew wasn’t whole to begin with, with her friends reacting in their own way… because like her, they too got left behind.
It’s the aftermath, the reactions of each member of the group that had me glued to ONE MOMENT. That each of them reacted the way they did because there was this big secret, made each of them less “bad,” more real. See, they’re not just caricatures of the cheater or the best friend or he boy who’s always there. Take Shannon. Her role from the get seemed a means to contrast her to Maggie. It became a lot easier to like Maggie, given how up front “bitchy” the other girl could be. “She’s a bitch, but that’s why we love her, right? They all say it; they all think it… but she’s not that at all. Sure, what’s done is a sad thing, but Shannon’s reactions too made sense. It’s Adam’s particular drama that I felt unnecessary. Why I wonder the need to insert a romantic element? But him dealing with losing his friend, then seeing that friend for who he really was… as well as him wanting some things he couldn’t have made him interesting.
2.5/5
Thanks Net Galley!
April 15, 2015
Initial Impressions 6/11/12: 4.5/5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a sad story of course, since it revolves around the death of Maggie's boyfriend Joey (Maggie being the main character of course) and the best friend of Maggie's group of 6 friends. It was a very touching story as well as adding an extra layer of drama in there when secrets come out after Joey's death. We get a little touch of soap opera (but not enough to be cheesy or annoying!) when drama unfolds within the group and friends are pitted against each other instead of being brought together by the death of their friend. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
Full review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: This is one of the better contemporary YA books I've read recently. There were a few layers to the story which added a lot more to it than just teens greiving after the loss of their friend.
I really liked Maggie's character -- Although she seems like a pretty average girl, typical teenage thoughts and reactions, there was just something about her that I was on her side the whole book. I still got a lot of youthfulness out of her but at the same time, not to the point where I was annoying with immaturity.
The whole ordeal of Joey's death was very sad of course, and like many common reactions attached to an accident, a few of the kids started blaming themselves, Maggie especially. We see how each of them copes with Joey's death as they try to move on with their lives, but you really feel how hard it is for Maggie and she's not quite sure where anything fits anymore when the boy she loves died, and it might be her fault.
Without adding any spoilers, I really liked how the story was taken to another level that added real conflict among friends. Friendships were made stronger and completely torn apart by details that were unearthed after Joey's death. It introduced a lot of drama into the story, but the secrets that were revealed were told begrudgingly, so each character only divulges a piece of the puzzle when they're ready to say so. I was completely pulled into the story and I kept wanting to read more and more until I knew the whole truth.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this! Definitely will look into any other books by Kristina McBride.
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a sad story of course, since it revolves around the death of Maggie's boyfriend Joey (Maggie being the main character of course) and the best friend of Maggie's group of 6 friends. It was a very touching story as well as adding an extra layer of drama in there when secrets come out after Joey's death. We get a little touch of soap opera (but not enough to be cheesy or annoying!) when drama unfolds within the group and friends are pitted against each other instead of being brought together by the death of their friend. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
Full review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: This is one of the better contemporary YA books I've read recently. There were a few layers to the story which added a lot more to it than just teens greiving after the loss of their friend.
I really liked Maggie's character -- Although she seems like a pretty average girl, typical teenage thoughts and reactions, there was just something about her that I was on her side the whole book. I still got a lot of youthfulness out of her but at the same time, not to the point where I was annoying with immaturity.
The whole ordeal of Joey's death was very sad of course, and like many common reactions attached to an accident, a few of the kids started blaming themselves, Maggie especially. We see how each of them copes with Joey's death as they try to move on with their lives, but you really feel how hard it is for Maggie and she's not quite sure where anything fits anymore when the boy she loves died, and it might be her fault.
Without adding any spoilers, I really liked how the story was taken to another level that added real conflict among friends. Friendships were made stronger and completely torn apart by details that were unearthed after Joey's death. It introduced a lot of drama into the story, but the secrets that were revealed were told begrudgingly, so each character only divulges a piece of the puzzle when they're ready to say so. I was completely pulled into the story and I kept wanting to read more and more until I knew the whole truth.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this! Definitely will look into any other books by Kristina McBride.
May 28, 2012
***NOTE! Review posted on Ja čitam, a ti?
What Tanja thought about it....
This is a story about girl Maggie, who is just regular teen. She spends her time with her four friends and her boyfriend Joey. Until one day he is dead. Is she guilty for that? She doesn’t know because of the shock after his death. We slowly meet all of them and we discover some things that will change the whole thing. All of them are struggling with his death. All of them are trying to deal with it and some of them blame themselves. But Maggie is the only one who was with him. Slowly her memory is coming back in flashes and soon enough she remembers. Is there anyone to blame? Or was it just a series of circumstances? You know where you’ll find the answers.
One Momet is story about love, friendship and betrayal. Easily written so that you’ll read this novel in one sitting. Great and realistic story. Maybe it was predictable in some parts, but still it deserves 4 stars from me. Like I said I really enjoyed within reading this story. It was realistic and readable. If you like realistic teen books you should check out this one.
What Glass thought about it...
One of my favorite poets is Milosh Crnjanski, Serbian poet who lived in previous century. Why is this relevant for this novel? Well, he had the same idea as Kristina McBride about that one moment that can change everything - all of the people living on Earth are connected in so many ways that sometimes what one person decides to do, can affect the lives of people on the other part of planet.
One moment isn't so radical - it stays within one small group of friends who shared everything since they were kids, but it's still fascinting thought. Everything starts with accident, but there are so much more. You never really know the people - not even those closest to you. We all have secrets. Are you intrigued enough to read this amazing book? You should be. As Tanja said, you are going to read it in one sitting.
What Tanja thought about it....
This is a story about girl Maggie, who is just regular teen. She spends her time with her four friends and her boyfriend Joey. Until one day he is dead. Is she guilty for that? She doesn’t know because of the shock after his death. We slowly meet all of them and we discover some things that will change the whole thing. All of them are struggling with his death. All of them are trying to deal with it and some of them blame themselves. But Maggie is the only one who was with him. Slowly her memory is coming back in flashes and soon enough she remembers. Is there anyone to blame? Or was it just a series of circumstances? You know where you’ll find the answers.
One Momet is story about love, friendship and betrayal. Easily written so that you’ll read this novel in one sitting. Great and realistic story. Maybe it was predictable in some parts, but still it deserves 4 stars from me. Like I said I really enjoyed within reading this story. It was realistic and readable. If you like realistic teen books you should check out this one.
What Glass thought about it...
One of my favorite poets is Milosh Crnjanski, Serbian poet who lived in previous century. Why is this relevant for this novel? Well, he had the same idea as Kristina McBride about that one moment that can change everything - all of the people living on Earth are connected in so many ways that sometimes what one person decides to do, can affect the lives of people on the other part of planet.
One moment isn't so radical - it stays within one small group of friends who shared everything since they were kids, but it's still fascinting thought. Everything starts with accident, but there are so much more. You never really know the people - not even those closest to you. We all have secrets. Are you intrigued enough to read this amazing book? You should be. As Tanja said, you are going to read it in one sitting.
June 10, 2012
First I would like to Thank Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for sending me an ARC copy of One Moment. When I first saw this book I just knew I had to read it. The cover calls to you. It is so plain but yet so telling.
Maggie is reeling from the death of her boyfriend Joey. They go to the cliffs to jump and when they do Joey hesitates for one moment and when he jumps it's off and he dies. As time goes on Maggie starts to find out things about Joey that don't make sense. As she presses on she has to decide what is truth and what are the lies her friends are telling her.
As her memories come back and she starts to piece it all together the picture she gets is not something she likes. She confronts the two people who know the truth and as she learns what really happened she is crushed. Maggie once thought she had best friends when in fact some of them were hiding things from her for their own gain. When the truth comes out and the dust settles Maggie must choose what she is going to do about her friends. She will get close to one and shut out the others. Forgiveness is there but she will leave them alone because the lies they told are to painful for her.
This book is about love, loss and friendships. What will Maggie do when she finds out the truth? What will happen when she is faced with opening her heart to love someone else? Can she do it? To this group of friends I would say this everything you do in the dark will come to light and karma is a witch!
Kristina you have a way with writing that tugged at my heart and reminded me of a friend I lost in high school. The situation was like this but he died in a car accident and when the dust settled and truth came out it was ugly. There were a lot of hurt feelings and lot's of fights but in the end all of friendships were destroyed. Thank you for writing such a heart felt book and this is a summer must read in my eyes.
Maggie is reeling from the death of her boyfriend Joey. They go to the cliffs to jump and when they do Joey hesitates for one moment and when he jumps it's off and he dies. As time goes on Maggie starts to find out things about Joey that don't make sense. As she presses on she has to decide what is truth and what are the lies her friends are telling her.
As her memories come back and she starts to piece it all together the picture she gets is not something she likes. She confronts the two people who know the truth and as she learns what really happened she is crushed. Maggie once thought she had best friends when in fact some of them were hiding things from her for their own gain. When the truth comes out and the dust settles Maggie must choose what she is going to do about her friends. She will get close to one and shut out the others. Forgiveness is there but she will leave them alone because the lies they told are to painful for her.
This book is about love, loss and friendships. What will Maggie do when she finds out the truth? What will happen when she is faced with opening her heart to love someone else? Can she do it? To this group of friends I would say this everything you do in the dark will come to light and karma is a witch!
Kristina you have a way with writing that tugged at my heart and reminded me of a friend I lost in high school. The situation was like this but he died in a car accident and when the dust settled and truth came out it was ugly. There were a lot of hurt feelings and lot's of fights but in the end all of friendships were destroyed. Thank you for writing such a heart felt book and this is a summer must read in my eyes.
March 8, 2016
*Sniffle* ♥ this book *Sniffle*
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!
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!
October 13, 2011
(Received an ARC of this novel in October 2011, months before the release date)
Lovely writing and a likeable main character make ONE MOMENT a great read. Add to that a fast pace and incredible attention to detail, and you can understand why I gave the book five stars.
After Joey’s sudden death, Maggie finds herself suffering from memory loss. She was with Joey in the seconds before his accident, but she can’t remember any of it. The loss of memory is important throughout the book and is handled in a realistic way. I appreciated the fact that those important last moments are eventually described and not left as some big secret.
The minor characters in the book also hold their own. They grieve as I would expect people to grieve, and the funeral scene is written with an experienced authority.
The heart of the story is about pushing past a moment of tragedy and the struggle to not allow that moment to define you.
If you’re looking for a compelling, stand-alone book with a solid and satisfying resolution, I recommend ONE MOMENT. It will only take you one rainy afternoon to read, and it will be worth your time.
Lovely writing and a likeable main character make ONE MOMENT a great read. Add to that a fast pace and incredible attention to detail, and you can understand why I gave the book five stars.
After Joey’s sudden death, Maggie finds herself suffering from memory loss. She was with Joey in the seconds before his accident, but she can’t remember any of it. The loss of memory is important throughout the book and is handled in a realistic way. I appreciated the fact that those important last moments are eventually described and not left as some big secret.
The minor characters in the book also hold their own. They grieve as I would expect people to grieve, and the funeral scene is written with an experienced authority.
The heart of the story is about pushing past a moment of tragedy and the struggle to not allow that moment to define you.
If you’re looking for a compelling, stand-alone book with a solid and satisfying resolution, I recommend ONE MOMENT. It will only take you one rainy afternoon to read, and it will be worth your time.
December 8, 2016
This is book I really enjoyed. Maggie is up a cliff with Joey, his boyfriend, running up to the border before jumping down to the water, and the world hits pause until it gets on play again, and all that can be hear are screams. Joey has hit his head on the border of a ledge and is dead. And Maggie doesn't remember what has happened from running to the cliff to the screams.
All of their friends try to be together to face up this moment, but they keep on falling apart... specially as nasty and twisted dark secrets began coming to light.
All of their friends try to be together to face up this moment, but they keep on falling apart... specially as nasty and twisted dark secrets began coming to light.
May 23, 2017
One Moment by Kristina McBride was full of twists and turns. Yes, some were obvious but it was very good. It's about friends that must overcome differences when one of them tragically dies. It was painfully good.
Thank you NetGalley for this free ebook in exchange of a honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for this free ebook in exchange of a honest review.
May 23, 2012
"All it takes is One Moment for your entire world to turn upside down. One wrong decision and it's over."
As a reader, I have a tendency to get attached to some books I'm reading. Being attached meaning I can't seem to stop thinking about its story and its characters and this book once again evoke that certain attachment to me. I never really expected this book to get this much of me, I was expecting something light and ordinary YA story. Instead, what I get is a story full of mystery, depression, sadness and the realization that all it takes is just One Moment to change everything around you.
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Memorial Day was supposed to be one of those perfect days for Maggie - there's a party coming up and cliff diving on a secret hideout with her life-long friends - a prelude to the upcoming summer before they head out and become seniors. But then something went wrong. Something is really terribly wrong. She remembers climbing the trail to the cliff with her perfect boyfriend Joey. She remembers their last kiss. But why can't she remember what happened in the moment they were supposed to dive? Why was she crying and hiding and cowering at the top while Joey ended up below floating on the water dead?
So many questions and no answers have come yet. But as her memories starts returning in small snatches, they just lead to more questions and nothing seems to make sense anymore. And with everyone pressuring her to remember and share what happened, her friendship on the verge of collapse, and Adam, one of her closest friend, seems to drift away from their group, Maggie realizes she never felt this alone.
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This is my first novel of Kristina Mcbride and I received a copy of it from net-galley. As I have said, I was expecting something light to read but instead I get a book which really curls and plays up my emotions - not that I'm complaining. Okay?
Maggie Reynolds, I liked her. She's a normal girl who was deeply in love with Joey making him the center of her world. She is pretty scared of heights that's why she never did the Cliff Diving thing her friends was really into. I really felt for her. I felt her as she struggled with her own emotions over Joey's accident. I felt for her as she struggled with grief and with realizing that Joey wasn't the person she thought he is. I really felt her sadness and loneliness and all other synonyms to those words.
Adam, Pete and Tanna. I liked them too. They're one of those characters I really wanted to be friends with. Though they may get some of their own moments at times at the very least they are still there with you especially in times of need and grief.
Now Joey and Shannon.
I really find it hard to react more without spoiling you guys and I just can't help myself now, its really up to you if you would read this or not.
I really love books evokes a lot of reactions to me. I loved how they make me feel all things at the same time. A big hooray! for the set of characters presented on this book. Another thing that is likeable about this one is on how the story was told. It jumps between the past and the present telling the story of Maggie and her friends and the fact that once the twist was resolved and worked out it didn't ruin the story at all and would keep you wishing for more.
I can’t also help but notice some songs mentioned while I’m on the process of reading this. Songs that Maggie listens to since their group of friends seems to have a great love for music. But one song I can’t help but sing with them with is FarAway by Nickelback. Pete sang this with Tanna and Maggie while they we’re on their hiding place. That scene was just so heavy and it really makes me cry. It makes me feel sad about Joey and Maggie and it really suites their story. And now, everytime I listen to that song, it reminds me of this story.
Different emotions curled up inside me as I read this one. There was the sadness and loneliness, but mystery and adrenaline comes next and then hope and then that little happiness as I come to the end of it. It was a tough read but as I end it, all I gave was a little sigh of relief that at least it’s all done and everything is settled though the lost one can never come back again. It was well-written and very much enjoyable and would grip your from the beginning up to the end. The answers to the questions and mystery weren't a surprise; it would still get you hooked up. It also captures how teenagers feel about certain things such as love, friends, family and love.
In all, it makes me realize that the hardest part in losing someone at times is knowing that they weren't the person you thought they were. And each and every moment should be treated with great importance.
A very moving book indeed. Definite must read!
Thanks to Egmont USA and NetGalley for providing and advanced copy for review.
February 10, 2017
I was ready for this to be a tearjerker and to be devastated by the time I was done but this book is a journey through grief and discovery. This is about healing.
Definitely deserves a 3.5.
Maggie has lost her two-year boyfriend in a horrible accident for which she was the only eye witness, and yet she can't remember a thing. They were a tight group of friends since forever but with Joey's passing, they now drift apart, and nothing makes sense anymore. And does she even want to understand what happened during that one moment?
This was quick to read, even if the topic might feel heavy. This story was beautiful. More than talking about tragedy, it focused on friendship and, as aforementioned, on healing. But it was even more exciting than that. A little bit like 13 Reasons Why, the main character and the readers have some mystery to solve. Fortunately, the answer felt more real in this book than it did in 13 Reasons. On the other hand, I won't say it 'hit me with a bang'. Then again, I don't think the author really wanted to 'hit us with a bang'. (I also felt that the style, the storytelling were reminiscent of If I Stay, so for once a comparison on the cover got that right.)
What really surprised me was Maggie's development through the story. She was definitely the sheltered on among the six but by the end she feels so mature and strong, it was a thumbs-up to any teen going through loss.
Also the characters were all not only relatable but also round. You could really feel their voices and personalities through the pages. To a point I wish, for example, there were a second part telling more about Joey's brother, Rylan. He sounds so nice but as he wasn't with the gang, we barely got to see him. Is that possible? Please?
While I think the story could have had more twists, I can say I was already satisfied. And I repeat, this really surprised me. I was ready for something much more melodrama-like, and not this precious book.
I'd also recommend this for group discussions. There are so many parts of the plot, as I mentioned, loss, friendship, guilt, choices, among others.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Definitely deserves a 3.5.
Maggie has lost her two-year boyfriend in a horrible accident for which she was the only eye witness, and yet she can't remember a thing. They were a tight group of friends since forever but with Joey's passing, they now drift apart, and nothing makes sense anymore. And does she even want to understand what happened during that one moment?
This was quick to read, even if the topic might feel heavy. This story was beautiful. More than talking about tragedy, it focused on friendship and, as aforementioned, on healing. But it was even more exciting than that. A little bit like 13 Reasons Why, the main character and the readers have some mystery to solve. Fortunately, the answer felt more real in this book than it did in 13 Reasons. On the other hand, I won't say it 'hit me with a bang'. Then again, I don't think the author really wanted to 'hit us with a bang'. (I also felt that the style, the storytelling were reminiscent of If I Stay, so for once a comparison on the cover got that right.)
What really surprised me was Maggie's development through the story. She was definitely the sheltered on among the six but by the end she feels so mature and strong, it was a thumbs-up to any teen going through loss.
Also the characters were all not only relatable but also round. You could really feel their voices and personalities through the pages. To a point I wish, for example, there were a second part telling more about Joey's brother, Rylan. He sounds so nice but as he wasn't with the gang, we barely got to see him. Is that possible? Please?
While I think the story could have had more twists, I can say I was already satisfied. And I repeat, this really surprised me. I was ready for something much more melodrama-like, and not this precious book.
I'd also recommend this for group discussions. There are so many parts of the plot, as I mentioned, loss, friendship, guilt, choices, among others.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
June 22, 2012
ONE MOMENT is a intense, disturbing story. It is the story of Maggie, but can be of any of us. One single moment, one single stroke, are enough to mark our alive, to change it entirely. In one moment, we realize that we are people. That we can not prevent fate take its course. One single moment is enough to make us wonder what, and who we are.
ONE TIME is written to show that we are people. That we can suffer. That we can complain about life after that, in some moments, it seems unfair.
But it is right to complain for the perfect life that we believed? Is right to face death? Let us want to change the past? We can suffer the loss of the person who gives us reason of the existence, and then leave it behind, and on with our lives? Is fair to let the past be past, and to focus on the present?
It is because we are humans, and have feelings. It is because we can love, we can hate, we can forgive.
ONE TIME gives a life lesson. It shows how fragile we are in front of life, and how, in one moment, we can become a memory.
The book is so deep that, during the reading, actually start to cry, no matter how you resist. You can't repress your feelings, and they come up, making you wonder if you ever told someone "I love you", just when you feel it. It makes you think of loved ones passed away, who have not ever had time to share your feelings, what they meant for you. And if, after they died, you have forgave them if were wrong... If forgive after you find out, after their death, that were wrong...
ONE TIME is in my opinion, the high book of its kind. It marks you. Follows you for days after finish. CHANGE YOU!
Read the book, because you have what to learn, because describes painful moments, tragic moments, that can happen to any of us anytime.
ONE TIME is written to show that we are people. That we can suffer. That we can complain about life after that, in some moments, it seems unfair.
But it is right to complain for the perfect life that we believed? Is right to face death? Let us want to change the past? We can suffer the loss of the person who gives us reason of the existence, and then leave it behind, and on with our lives? Is fair to let the past be past, and to focus on the present?
It is because we are humans, and have feelings. It is because we can love, we can hate, we can forgive.
ONE TIME gives a life lesson. It shows how fragile we are in front of life, and how, in one moment, we can become a memory.
The book is so deep that, during the reading, actually start to cry, no matter how you resist. You can't repress your feelings, and they come up, making you wonder if you ever told someone "I love you", just when you feel it. It makes you think of loved ones passed away, who have not ever had time to share your feelings, what they meant for you. And if, after they died, you have forgave them if were wrong... If forgive after you find out, after their death, that were wrong...
ONE TIME is in my opinion, the high book of its kind. It marks you. Follows you for days after finish. CHANGE YOU!
Read the book, because you have what to learn, because describes painful moments, tragic moments, that can happen to any of us anytime.
April 30, 2012
First thoughts:
First off I like to mention that I really loved the cover to this book, it really captures the emotion this book has throughout its entire story…the color choice and image seemed to fit just perfect with the theme of the book. This was definitely a fast and engrossing read, the intensity of emotion that this book brought out in me literally had me on the edge. Any book that can cause serious emotion has no problem grabbing the reader’s attention and this book was no exception. I was hooked from the very first chapter….the way the author crafted this story was beautiful and heart-wrenching; this story had me reading late into the night until the very last sentence was read.
Plot:
The plot was laid out just right, the way the author chose to merge amnesia and reality really helped make the plot itself more intense and on edge. There weren’t a lot of scenes that were slow, even if there wasn’t action per se the emotion took place of it, It’s been a long time since a books been able to leave me this drained….all of the secrets and lies that had been twisted and hidden were revealed slowly throughout the storyline, I loved that the author chose to ease us into it…allow us to discover right alongside the character. There were a few surprises in this book but the major one that totally created a five color fireworks show at the end was something I had high suspicions from in the beginning. I think the author meant for us to gather the clues throughout the story and allowed us to suspect even before the character herself even thought about it….so overall I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book and I loved the emotion it was able to evoke inside me. This is definitely a great aspect to the book, it holds all the necessary elements that a book needs and it has an even deeper complexity to it.
Romance:
So the romance is a key conflict in the story though I wouldn’t say it’s your typical romance you find in all YA these days. This romance is sharper and realistic…it’s like something that you could experience and it’s definitely not love at first sight (thank goodness!!) I wouldn’t say it’s gooey or swoon worthy but it’s definitely something that I enjoyed reading…though I’m still not sure where I stand on some of the intimate relationships in the book. But overall though the romance is sharp it fits the story like a glove and is a good aspect to the story.
Characters:
So to feel the emotion you have to have a great character to make you feel them and that’s what this book did. I was able to connect with Maggie and go alongside her and experience all the turmoil and emotion she was going through due to the unraveling of her memories. There were a few things though that I felt Maggie reacted to wrong, it was like she hadn’t seen the newest problem like she should of which made her reaction seem more off and unrealistic but there weren’t a lot of those moments. As far as personality and imaging of the characters I thought they were great. I loved being able to pick apart each character and know exactly who that person is. There were definitely a few characters that I hated even by the end…and hate’s such a strong word, but I HATE some of these characters but not because of their structure but because of their actions. So overall I enjoyed the characters and aside from a few awkward/weird reactions I thought this was a good part of the story.
Transformation of the Character:
I wouldn’t say there were any amazing transformations in this book, there wasn’t anything that made me feel a major shift in character. What I mainly felt for this book was that the character finally realized who he/she really was and that was the “transformation” not a change in personality but merely a realization of the person deep within themselves.
Description:
I loved the way the author described the scenery and the characters. She did such an amazing job on creating silent messages within the scenery. Like what they do in movies like waves represent romance and rain represents turmoil or pain this book seemed to have those same messages but in a different way. Just by a description of the scenery or the way of someone’s expression I was able to take more away from each scene; I was able to better connect with the character and the situation at hand. As far as the amount goes I didn’t feel overwhelmed or lacking, it was the perfect balance for this story. And the dialogue was realistic too, I felt that there was a lot of the emotion in the lines of the characters, just by word choice and punctuation the reader was able to take emotion from the line itself and an added bonus of the description of the character too. So overall I did enjoy the author’s description of this world and it was really consistent throughout the entire story so there weren’t any problems in this aspect.
Style:
The author’s style was good, I enjoyed how she merged present with past but I felt that it needed to be separated better, like blend the two tenses together so that it flows smoothly and the readers able to interpret the past memory with the current status…it wasn’t like that every time but I did catch now and again. As far as writing goes I enjoyed it and liked the author’s choice of words and craftsmanship of sentences, it was an overall good aspect to the story. As far as staying in one POV and first person I felt we were able to better connect with the character and keep some of the secrets hidden until just the right moment.
Quote of the book:
“I tried to hold my breath, to keep from shaking, so the ripple of my fear wouldn’t strike the person coming down the trail, so they wouldn’t know where I’d folded up and hidden myself. It didn’t work. He felt me. And he stopped.”
Goodreads Summary:
This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.
Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand 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.
Last Thoughts:
This was such a touching and emotional read, though this might not evoke the same emotions it did for me I do hope it does because that was what half the fun of it was…being able to feel to really FEEL is such a great aspect to a book for me. I would recommend this to readers of YA and realistic type situations. I really enjoyed this authors writing and can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for her readers.
First off I like to mention that I really loved the cover to this book, it really captures the emotion this book has throughout its entire story…the color choice and image seemed to fit just perfect with the theme of the book. This was definitely a fast and engrossing read, the intensity of emotion that this book brought out in me literally had me on the edge. Any book that can cause serious emotion has no problem grabbing the reader’s attention and this book was no exception. I was hooked from the very first chapter….the way the author crafted this story was beautiful and heart-wrenching; this story had me reading late into the night until the very last sentence was read.
Plot:
The plot was laid out just right, the way the author chose to merge amnesia and reality really helped make the plot itself more intense and on edge. There weren’t a lot of scenes that were slow, even if there wasn’t action per se the emotion took place of it, It’s been a long time since a books been able to leave me this drained….all of the secrets and lies that had been twisted and hidden were revealed slowly throughout the storyline, I loved that the author chose to ease us into it…allow us to discover right alongside the character. There were a few surprises in this book but the major one that totally created a five color fireworks show at the end was something I had high suspicions from in the beginning. I think the author meant for us to gather the clues throughout the story and allowed us to suspect even before the character herself even thought about it….so overall I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book and I loved the emotion it was able to evoke inside me. This is definitely a great aspect to the book, it holds all the necessary elements that a book needs and it has an even deeper complexity to it.
Romance:
So the romance is a key conflict in the story though I wouldn’t say it’s your typical romance you find in all YA these days. This romance is sharper and realistic…it’s like something that you could experience and it’s definitely not love at first sight (thank goodness!!) I wouldn’t say it’s gooey or swoon worthy but it’s definitely something that I enjoyed reading…though I’m still not sure where I stand on some of the intimate relationships in the book. But overall though the romance is sharp it fits the story like a glove and is a good aspect to the story.
Characters:
So to feel the emotion you have to have a great character to make you feel them and that’s what this book did. I was able to connect with Maggie and go alongside her and experience all the turmoil and emotion she was going through due to the unraveling of her memories. There were a few things though that I felt Maggie reacted to wrong, it was like she hadn’t seen the newest problem like she should of which made her reaction seem more off and unrealistic but there weren’t a lot of those moments. As far as personality and imaging of the characters I thought they were great. I loved being able to pick apart each character and know exactly who that person is. There were definitely a few characters that I hated even by the end…and hate’s such a strong word, but I HATE some of these characters but not because of their structure but because of their actions. So overall I enjoyed the characters and aside from a few awkward/weird reactions I thought this was a good part of the story.
Transformation of the Character:
I wouldn’t say there were any amazing transformations in this book, there wasn’t anything that made me feel a major shift in character. What I mainly felt for this book was that the character finally realized who he/she really was and that was the “transformation” not a change in personality but merely a realization of the person deep within themselves.
Description:
I loved the way the author described the scenery and the characters. She did such an amazing job on creating silent messages within the scenery. Like what they do in movies like waves represent romance and rain represents turmoil or pain this book seemed to have those same messages but in a different way. Just by a description of the scenery or the way of someone’s expression I was able to take more away from each scene; I was able to better connect with the character and the situation at hand. As far as the amount goes I didn’t feel overwhelmed or lacking, it was the perfect balance for this story. And the dialogue was realistic too, I felt that there was a lot of the emotion in the lines of the characters, just by word choice and punctuation the reader was able to take emotion from the line itself and an added bonus of the description of the character too. So overall I did enjoy the author’s description of this world and it was really consistent throughout the entire story so there weren’t any problems in this aspect.
Style:
The author’s style was good, I enjoyed how she merged present with past but I felt that it needed to be separated better, like blend the two tenses together so that it flows smoothly and the readers able to interpret the past memory with the current status…it wasn’t like that every time but I did catch now and again. As far as writing goes I enjoyed it and liked the author’s choice of words and craftsmanship of sentences, it was an overall good aspect to the story. As far as staying in one POV and first person I felt we were able to better connect with the character and keep some of the secrets hidden until just the right moment.
Quote of the book:
“I tried to hold my breath, to keep from shaking, so the ripple of my fear wouldn’t strike the person coming down the trail, so they wouldn’t know where I’d folded up and hidden myself. It didn’t work. He felt me. And he stopped.”
Goodreads Summary:
This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.
Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand 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.
Last Thoughts:
This was such a touching and emotional read, though this might not evoke the same emotions it did for me I do hope it does because that was what half the fun of it was…being able to feel to really FEEL is such a great aspect to a book for me. I would recommend this to readers of YA and realistic type situations. I really enjoyed this authors writing and can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for her readers.
December 15, 2012
Okay finished this book last night, just so that I could get it out of my way. And I will admit to skipping pages, and looking for flashbacks, or just dialogue.
Summary:
Meghan was the only one on top of that cliff with Joey when he died. She remembers climbing to the top, and sharing that kiss, but after that her memories are blocked, and she can’t remember anything. Everyone feels bad for her and tries to console her, and through that she learns more, especially about one person in particular: Adam. But what happens when she learns that Joey had a secret, a huge one at that? What happens when the one person who’s been there all along can no longer handle the pain and starts to drift away as well?
What I didn’t like:
1.Okay first of all it was totally obvious that Shannon and Joey were having a relationship. I mean I didn’t know it would’ve been so full, and blown out. I thought they were just having sex. But that moment that Meghan mentioned he died a virgin and Shannon tried to say something, I think that’s the moment she should’ve pieced it all together, but no she remains in her denial and still sees Joey as the good guy who would never do anything bad.
2.The fact that her own best friend-Shannon- never told the truth, she just cried like an idiot and didn’t wash her hair where was that going to get her? And the whole thing where they’re all friends and they should cry so much, it just didn’t seem plausible. Also where was he Friday night? Where do you think? He was obviously in Shannon’s bed!
3.The fact that Adam fell in love with her first. I mean get some balls and ask her out. Of course if he had they would’ve been together, and then Joey and Shannon could be together, but NO he was a wimp, and Joey stole his idea and had Meghan falling for him in days.
4.That Joey’s last few breaths he saw Shannon, and not Meghan ): And even though he had broken it off with Shannon a day before, I know he had feelings for her, which made it so much worse.
5.Joey’s lies every time he was with Shannon. I mean having to pretend you’re grandpa had a stroke, that’s a pretty big deal. And then he just abandons her when Shannon needs him, but Meghan needed him more, it’s obvious where his heart laid.
What I liked:
1.Well it think from the beginning that I knew. I mean she- Shannon- used her towel to lay Joey one, and then it said Tanna was holding her up, as if the only support in the world. But despite their little affair, I still loved the romantic flashbacks that Meghan had before she learned the truth.
2.Adam, and that’s all.
Overall:
It’s obvious that I did not like this book. And if those five reasons weren’t enough, trust me I can come up with plenty more. Anyways I still love Adam, so that’s the only way this book is getting two stars. I would read another book from this author, as long as it came from the library.
My favorite quote:
“‘-all it takes is one moment for your entire world to turn upside down. One wrong decision, and it’s over’” (116).
Summary:
Meghan was the only one on top of that cliff with Joey when he died. She remembers climbing to the top, and sharing that kiss, but after that her memories are blocked, and she can’t remember anything. Everyone feels bad for her and tries to console her, and through that she learns more, especially about one person in particular: Adam. But what happens when she learns that Joey had a secret, a huge one at that? What happens when the one person who’s been there all along can no longer handle the pain and starts to drift away as well?
What I didn’t like:
1.Okay first of all it was totally obvious that Shannon and Joey were having a relationship. I mean I didn’t know it would’ve been so full, and blown out. I thought they were just having sex. But that moment that Meghan mentioned he died a virgin and Shannon tried to say something, I think that’s the moment she should’ve pieced it all together, but no she remains in her denial and still sees Joey as the good guy who would never do anything bad.
2.The fact that her own best friend-Shannon- never told the truth, she just cried like an idiot and didn’t wash her hair where was that going to get her? And the whole thing where they’re all friends and they should cry so much, it just didn’t seem plausible. Also where was he Friday night? Where do you think? He was obviously in Shannon’s bed!
3.The fact that Adam fell in love with her first. I mean get some balls and ask her out. Of course if he had they would’ve been together, and then Joey and Shannon could be together, but NO he was a wimp, and Joey stole his idea and had Meghan falling for him in days.
4.That Joey’s last few breaths he saw Shannon, and not Meghan ): And even though he had broken it off with Shannon a day before, I know he had feelings for her, which made it so much worse.
5.Joey’s lies every time he was with Shannon. I mean having to pretend you’re grandpa had a stroke, that’s a pretty big deal. And then he just abandons her when Shannon needs him, but Meghan needed him more, it’s obvious where his heart laid.
What I liked:
1.Well it think from the beginning that I knew. I mean she- Shannon- used her towel to lay Joey one, and then it said Tanna was holding her up, as if the only support in the world. But despite their little affair, I still loved the romantic flashbacks that Meghan had before she learned the truth.
2.Adam, and that’s all.
Overall:
It’s obvious that I did not like this book. And if those five reasons weren’t enough, trust me I can come up with plenty more. Anyways I still love Adam, so that’s the only way this book is getting two stars. I would read another book from this author, as long as it came from the library.
My favorite quote:
“‘-all it takes is one moment for your entire world to turn upside down. One wrong decision, and it’s over’” (116).
July 7, 2012
It's hard to put into words how well versed "One Moment" is for a coming of age/coming to terms summer story. It's a novel of grief over a tragic death, with six friends dealing with the aftermath of a cliff diving venture gone horribly wrong. In the center of it all, in the leading perspective point, is Maggie, Joey's girlfriend. She has to pick up the pieces of her fragmented memory to know what happened on the day her boyfriend died, and eventually come to terms with the healing process and all that entails.
I felt the story had a bit of a slice of life feel with the way it moved between memories, the present day, and the puzzle pieces leading up to the truth surrounding Joey not being the person that they all remembered him to be. The initial point has the six friends reflecting upon him in the wake of his tragic, early demise, but when the emotions go deeper, the sentiments run much different than what their outer perceptions reveal. I liked how McBride focuses on each of the teen voices and emotional ties in this story. You get a sense of who Maggie, Adam, Christina, and the others are in their interactions with each other and how the dynamic runs in each scene, as well as their respective roles in some jarring conflicts. They're real teens with very real issues in the events surrounding them, different ways of handling their grief, as well as witholding information that could be vital to the understanding surrounding Joey's death. Granted, it takes some time getting to the heart of the matter, but the payoff is worth every piece putting together the complete picture of the matter.
I think after a certain point, I knew what it would lead to, and I felt the story flow could've been slightly smoother, but I liked the tone and the overarching story, especially considering Maggie's growth from the events and finding a way to move foward in the aftermath. The growth I think gave a different dimension to the novel than just the reveal allowed. Maggie ends up playing a role where she not only suffers through the blows that the truth hands her, but she ends up reaching out to make amends and walking in a measure to move forward in her life. I think there will be many people - teens, adults - who will find something to like in this story for what it offers, as well as be drawn in with the strength of McBride's writing.
I definitely hope to check into more of her writing in the future to see what McBride has to offer.
Overall: 3/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Egmont USA.
I felt the story had a bit of a slice of life feel with the way it moved between memories, the present day, and the puzzle pieces leading up to the truth surrounding Joey not being the person that they all remembered him to be. The initial point has the six friends reflecting upon him in the wake of his tragic, early demise, but when the emotions go deeper, the sentiments run much different than what their outer perceptions reveal. I liked how McBride focuses on each of the teen voices and emotional ties in this story. You get a sense of who Maggie, Adam, Christina, and the others are in their interactions with each other and how the dynamic runs in each scene, as well as their respective roles in some jarring conflicts. They're real teens with very real issues in the events surrounding them, different ways of handling their grief, as well as witholding information that could be vital to the understanding surrounding Joey's death. Granted, it takes some time getting to the heart of the matter, but the payoff is worth every piece putting together the complete picture of the matter.
I think after a certain point, I knew what it would lead to, and I felt the story flow could've been slightly smoother, but I liked the tone and the overarching story, especially considering Maggie's growth from the events and finding a way to move foward in the aftermath. The growth I think gave a different dimension to the novel than just the reveal allowed. Maggie ends up playing a role where she not only suffers through the blows that the truth hands her, but she ends up reaching out to make amends and walking in a measure to move forward in her life. I think there will be many people - teens, adults - who will find something to like in this story for what it offers, as well as be drawn in with the strength of McBride's writing.
I definitely hope to check into more of her writing in the future to see what McBride has to offer.
Overall: 3/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Egmont USA.
September 30, 2013
One moment. One small detail. One quick movement. One small thought, can change everything.
Maggie, Shannon, Pete, Tannia, Adam and Joey's lives change forever over one small unintended accident. Summer is all about having fun, but what if the one person you trusted was lying to you? Does that change everything? Was your action the one that cost you everything?
Maggie, Shannon, Pete, Tannia, Adam and Joey's lives change forever over one small unintended accident. Summer is all about having fun, but what if the one person you trusted was lying to you? Does that change everything? Was your action the one that cost you everything?
All six of them were just having a normal day at the gorge, daring each other, laughing and reminiscing about the future, when a tragic accident happens to Joe; one that changes everything. Maggie knows the truth about what happen but she can’t remember, the memory is too painful, so she suppresses it.
One moment changed the way I was thinking about things, it made me realise that one small fault can change everything. It makes you think don't it, about everything you've done could have ended differently if you'd just changed one small detail. It’s a powerful message I’d say :) I brought this book on my kindle but I wish I got it on paperback!
Kristina created characters that you can connect with, I felt everything Maggie felt; heartbroken, angry, confused, hurt. It’s very rare that I actually cry over a story but this done it for me. I was really confused when I found my pillow wet, I hadn't even realised I was crying:(. What I also liked about this book was the way joey was portrayed; caring, romantic, original, and brave and even a tad cocky! But as the story went on, as she found out the lies, the secrets, your perfect image of joey starts to fade and you start to think whether the other part of him was true. I went on the journey with her finding out the truth that goes back years and it just confused me more about joey. I wanted him to be perfect like she thought he was, but nobody’s perfect.
This bit broke my heart, so I’ll end the review with it.
May 28, 2012
Note: Review you can find on Ja čitam, a ti?
What Tanja thought about it....
This is a story about girl Maggie, who is just regular teen. She spends her time with her four friends and her boyfriend Joey. Until one day he is dead. Is she guilty for that? She doesn’t know because of the shock after his death. We slowly meet all of them and we discover some things that will change the whole thing. All of them are struggling with his death. All of them are trying to deal with it and some of them blame themselves. But Maggie is the only one who was with him. Slowly her memory is coming back in flashes and soon enough she remembers. Is there anyone to blame? Or was it just a series of circumstances? You know where you’ll find the answers.
One Momet is story about love, friendship and betrayal. Easily written so that you’ll read this novel in one sitting. Great and realistic story. Maybe it was predictable in some parts, but still it deserves 4 stars from me. Like I said I really enjoyed within reading this story. It was realistic and readable. If you like realistic teen books you should check out this one.
What Glass thought about it...
One of my favorite poets is Milosh Crnjanski, Serbian poet who lived in previous century. Why is this relevant for this novel? Well, he had the same idea as Kristina McBride about that one moment that can change everything - all of the people living on Earth are connected in so many ways that sometimes what one person decides to do, can affect the lives of people on the other part of planet.
One moment isn't so radical - it stays within one small group of friends who shared everything since they were kids, but it's still fascinting thought. Everything starts with accident, but there are so much more. You never really know the people - not even those closest to you. We all have secrets. Are you intrigued enough to read this amazing book? You should be. As Tanja said, you are going to read it in one sitting.
What Tanja thought about it....
This is a story about girl Maggie, who is just regular teen. She spends her time with her four friends and her boyfriend Joey. Until one day he is dead. Is she guilty for that? She doesn’t know because of the shock after his death. We slowly meet all of them and we discover some things that will change the whole thing. All of them are struggling with his death. All of them are trying to deal with it and some of them blame themselves. But Maggie is the only one who was with him. Slowly her memory is coming back in flashes and soon enough she remembers. Is there anyone to blame? Or was it just a series of circumstances? You know where you’ll find the answers.
One Momet is story about love, friendship and betrayal. Easily written so that you’ll read this novel in one sitting. Great and realistic story. Maybe it was predictable in some parts, but still it deserves 4 stars from me. Like I said I really enjoyed within reading this story. It was realistic and readable. If you like realistic teen books you should check out this one.
What Glass thought about it...
One of my favorite poets is Milosh Crnjanski, Serbian poet who lived in previous century. Why is this relevant for this novel? Well, he had the same idea as Kristina McBride about that one moment that can change everything - all of the people living on Earth are connected in so many ways that sometimes what one person decides to do, can affect the lives of people on the other part of planet.
One moment isn't so radical - it stays within one small group of friends who shared everything since they were kids, but it's still fascinting thought. Everything starts with accident, but there are so much more. You never really know the people - not even those closest to you. We all have secrets. Are you intrigued enough to read this amazing book? You should be. As Tanja said, you are going to read it in one sitting.
August 19, 2014
This review is originally posted at Smitten over Books. Actual rating: 3.5
I expected One Moment to be heavy. And it was, in a lot of ways. It has every thing a drama would be without: betrayal, deception, lies, and death.
Maggie seems to have it all. A perfect boyfriend and a perfect group of friends. Then one summer, everything changes. Joey's dead and she can't remember anything that happened before the accident. But Joey's death is only the first slip, secrets will spill and it will ultimately change her.
How can so much drama revolve around one group of friends? I do not know. Friends don't hurt friends but here we see that. But eventually, friendship and love restored what has been broken. It's a balancing act and I admire McBride for handling it perfectly.
I admit One Moment did not blow my mind off nor made me scream best book ever but the story has this power to seeped in and get you where it matters. I found myself brimming with tears, angry and frustrated, but most of all McBride made me feel like I was Maggie, like I was experiencing it first hand. I felt her hurt, her devastation, her grief. How hard it is to cope with losing someone you love. To know that that people you loved and trusted was not entirely truthful all along. Upsetting, wouldn't really cover it.
But One Moment isn't just about the drama, it's about letting go and moving on. It's about standing up again and believing that no matter how dark the place you are in, light will always shine through. It could be a memory, a single moment of clarity or a person that will hold your hand to help you get ready to face life again.
**An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley.
I expected One Moment to be heavy. And it was, in a lot of ways. It has every thing a drama would be without: betrayal, deception, lies, and death.
Maggie seems to have it all. A perfect boyfriend and a perfect group of friends. Then one summer, everything changes. Joey's dead and she can't remember anything that happened before the accident. But Joey's death is only the first slip, secrets will spill and it will ultimately change her.
How can so much drama revolve around one group of friends? I do not know. Friends don't hurt friends but here we see that. But eventually, friendship and love restored what has been broken. It's a balancing act and I admire McBride for handling it perfectly.
I admit One Moment did not blow my mind off nor made me scream best book ever but the story has this power to seeped in and get you where it matters. I found myself brimming with tears, angry and frustrated, but most of all McBride made me feel like I was Maggie, like I was experiencing it first hand. I felt her hurt, her devastation, her grief. How hard it is to cope with losing someone you love. To know that that people you loved and trusted was not entirely truthful all along. Upsetting, wouldn't really cover it.
But One Moment isn't just about the drama, it's about letting go and moving on. It's about standing up again and believing that no matter how dark the place you are in, light will always shine through. It could be a memory, a single moment of clarity or a person that will hold your hand to help you get ready to face life again.
**An advance copy was provided by the publisher at no cost via Netgalley.
March 12, 2016
I like this book a lot. This is a heartbreaking story about loss, love, friendship and betrayal.
Maggie is living in a very happy life. With a perfect boyfriend in one hand and a tight knit friendship with five her childhood friends in the other hand, nothing can be wrong. But when one day that perfect boyfriend died in an accident and Maggie lost her memories of what had happened in a couple of minutes between her and Joey before the accident, everything started to fall apart. At the gorge, Maggie and Joey were supposed to jump together, but why only Joey who did it and Maggie stopped at the very least moment, only Maggie knows. But she forgot everything in that moment.
When the truth about Joey came to the surface little by little, Maggie doesn't sure anymore, does she really want to remember or just buried everything and pretend that nothing happened. But when a huge secret revealed, Maggie had to choose. Did she really want to remember Joey as she always thought who he is or facing the truth about who really Joey was. And the friendship among six of them that she thought would last forever turns out to be a bag full of lies.
I was really enjoyed reading this book. In every pages I learned to love and hate every single of them. Trying to understand the reasons behind all the secrets. And even little by little I was kinda hate Joey because what he did, but at the end, like Maggie I couldn't hate him. And Adam, I fell in love with Adam. I just didn't understand how could Maggie so blind. But I think we just see what we wanna see and believe what we want to believe. But I love the ending and honestly I can't get enough. I want more, more about Maggie and Adam.
And the song that Pete played by Nickelback, Far Away, was very right to this story.
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
Maggie is living in a very happy life. With a perfect boyfriend in one hand and a tight knit friendship with five her childhood friends in the other hand, nothing can be wrong. But when one day that perfect boyfriend died in an accident and Maggie lost her memories of what had happened in a couple of minutes between her and Joey before the accident, everything started to fall apart. At the gorge, Maggie and Joey were supposed to jump together, but why only Joey who did it and Maggie stopped at the very least moment, only Maggie knows. But she forgot everything in that moment.
When the truth about Joey came to the surface little by little, Maggie doesn't sure anymore, does she really want to remember or just buried everything and pretend that nothing happened. But when a huge secret revealed, Maggie had to choose. Did she really want to remember Joey as she always thought who he is or facing the truth about who really Joey was. And the friendship among six of them that she thought would last forever turns out to be a bag full of lies.
I was really enjoyed reading this book. In every pages I learned to love and hate every single of them. Trying to understand the reasons behind all the secrets. And even little by little I was kinda hate Joey because what he did, but at the end, like Maggie I couldn't hate him. And Adam, I fell in love with Adam. I just didn't understand how could Maggie so blind. But I think we just see what we wanna see and believe what we want to believe. But I love the ending and honestly I can't get enough. I want more, more about Maggie and Adam.
And the song that Pete played by Nickelback, Far Away, was very right to this story.
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
June 6, 2012
How many of us wish we could go back and recapture one moment in our lives? Maybe have the chance to change things leading up to a particular time, or even just relive a certain unforgettable occasion? I love the title of this book, One Moment, and everything that title encapsulates.
This is a very relatable story with an extremely likable main character, Maggie. One Moment tells the story of six friends who have been inseparable their whole lives. You wouldn’t think you could possibly know anyone better than these friends know one another, but this book will have you pondering... can you ever truly know someone?
“What if it's as simple as one moment? One tiny thing, like that kiss on the rocks?
What if I'd kissed him a little longer? Would he be alive right now?
Or what if I'd stayed with him Friday night, what if I'd been with him…
wherever he was?”
One Moment is a wonderful coming of age story full of friendship, first loves, heartbreak, secrets, and dealing with the aftermath of losing someone you love. Definitely a fast, yet thought-provoking, book you won’t want to put down. Having experienced the loss of a childhood friend to tragedy, I felt this story really struck close to home. There were some parts that were, at first, difficult to read, but, in the end, reading about Maggie, her friends, and their struggle to move on was very therapeutic.
I don’t read a lot of contemporaries, but One Moment has me questioning that decision. I would love to read more from this talented author.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review originally posted on my blog
This is a very relatable story with an extremely likable main character, Maggie. One Moment tells the story of six friends who have been inseparable their whole lives. You wouldn’t think you could possibly know anyone better than these friends know one another, but this book will have you pondering... can you ever truly know someone?
“What if it's as simple as one moment? One tiny thing, like that kiss on the rocks?
What if I'd kissed him a little longer? Would he be alive right now?
Or what if I'd stayed with him Friday night, what if I'd been with him…
wherever he was?”
One Moment is a wonderful coming of age story full of friendship, first loves, heartbreak, secrets, and dealing with the aftermath of losing someone you love. Definitely a fast, yet thought-provoking, book you won’t want to put down. Having experienced the loss of a childhood friend to tragedy, I felt this story really struck close to home. There were some parts that were, at first, difficult to read, but, in the end, reading about Maggie, her friends, and their struggle to move on was very therapeutic.
I don’t read a lot of contemporaries, but One Moment has me questioning that decision. I would love to read more from this talented author.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review originally posted on my blog
January 7, 2013
3.5 stars
“What if it's as simple as one moment? One tiny thing, like that kiss on the rocks? What if I'd kissed him a little longer? Would he be alive right now? Or what if I'd stayed with him Friday night, what if I'd been with him… wherever he was?”
My Thoughts:
ONE MOMENT is a light and beautifully written book that keeps you hooked but also puts into perspective the emotions and feelings of losing someone.
I wasn't sure what to expect as I began reading, ONE MOMENT brings a new twist to many books I've read that similarly go through a loss of a loved one. The author does a great job highlighting the strong feelings of friendship and love and how a single loss can affect all these different parts of a person's life.
ONE MOMENT presents the struggle of losing someone that you think you know so well but than having your world turned upside down and realising you don't know them at all. The book throws in a mystery and slowly unravels the story which grips the reader because of the overwhelming emotions which I could really feel as a reader.
The author creates a tight knit group of friends, you really get a feel and sense each of the characters and you can see individuality emerge in a few of them. I would have loved to have known more about some of the characters but I was glad you got to really explore certain characters and really get a gist of what sort of people they were. At one point everything seems to be falling apart, you feel all these raw emotions which is so well penned down by the author.
There are so many strong feelings throughout but as you get to the end you're left with this light feeling, the ending was beautiful and refreshing, you begin to see the start of new paths and you can't help but be happy too.
“What if it's as simple as one moment? One tiny thing, like that kiss on the rocks? What if I'd kissed him a little longer? Would he be alive right now? Or what if I'd stayed with him Friday night, what if I'd been with him… wherever he was?”
My Thoughts:
ONE MOMENT is a light and beautifully written book that keeps you hooked but also puts into perspective the emotions and feelings of losing someone.
I wasn't sure what to expect as I began reading, ONE MOMENT brings a new twist to many books I've read that similarly go through a loss of a loved one. The author does a great job highlighting the strong feelings of friendship and love and how a single loss can affect all these different parts of a person's life.
ONE MOMENT presents the struggle of losing someone that you think you know so well but than having your world turned upside down and realising you don't know them at all. The book throws in a mystery and slowly unravels the story which grips the reader because of the overwhelming emotions which I could really feel as a reader.
The author creates a tight knit group of friends, you really get a feel and sense each of the characters and you can see individuality emerge in a few of them. I would have loved to have known more about some of the characters but I was glad you got to really explore certain characters and really get a gist of what sort of people they were. At one point everything seems to be falling apart, you feel all these raw emotions which is so well penned down by the author.
There are so many strong feelings throughout but as you get to the end you're left with this light feeling, the ending was beautiful and refreshing, you begin to see the start of new paths and you can't help but be happy too.
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