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Night Blindness
One October night, when Jensen Reilly is sixteen, she and her high school sweetheart are involved in a horrible accident. Ever since then Jensen has been running from her past. But when Jensen's beloved father is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she returns to her childhood home and the memories of her old life came flooding back- as do the people she's tried to escape.
Set against the steamy background of a New England summer, filled with the intensity of first love, and framed by an unforgettable father-daughter relationship, Night Blindness is about risk and redemption, and the ways we are hunted down by what we try to escape.
Set against the steamy background of a New England summer, filled with the intensity of first love, and framed by an unforgettable father-daughter relationship, Night Blindness is about risk and redemption, and the ways we are hunted down by what we try to escape.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
1617 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 6, 2014
This was a decent read of the bittersweet chick lit variety. For the first 50% of the novel I was supremely bored. Not much happened and I found the protagonist to be selfish and dull.
However after getting more into the novel I realized that everyone deals with grief and guilt differently, and for Jensen her sorrow changed her completely. After the 50% mark the story really picked up and I started to enjoy it a lot more.
This book did fall into some chick lit stereotypes, but I still think that this is a worthwhile read. Although my initial boredom does make rating this a little hard, overall I would say this is a middle of the road redemption novel, and a solid 3/5.
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2016
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
NIGHT BLINDNESS by Susan Strecker, an engrossing debut novel of long buried secrets, love, risk, forgiveness, and redemption, set in the beautiful area of New England, where things are not always as they seem.
Jensen Reilly is sixteen years old and she and her high school sweetheart, Ryder are involved in an accident which kills Will, Jensen’s brother and Ryan’s best friend. Will did not want Ryder and Jensen to date, so they had to hide their relationship.
Jensen suffers from dreams and night blindness. It came on suddenly after Ryder’s funeral, a dull blurriness, as though swimming through water; the outlines of trees and houses appeared ethereal, dreamlike. Eventually her parents take her to a pediatric ophthalmologist and was diagnosed with nyctalopia, night blindness.
Jen and Ryder share a secret that changes the course of their lives, with consequences--turning Ryder into a neurologist, as Jen turns away from away from academics and Julliard to work as an artist’s model. She later marries Nico, a famous sculptor, they live a bohemian life in Santa Fe—she has carefully stayed away from her family, for over thirteen years.
For years to come, Jen and Ryder lead separate lives, still guilt ridden, and choosing not to be honest with the family regarding the events leading up to the favorite football star son’s death.
But when Jensen's beloved father, Sterling Reilly, former NFL hero, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, she returns to her childhood home and the memories of her old life come flooding back, along with all the people she has tried to escape.
Torn between the life she has created in Sante Fe with her free-spirited husband, Nic, and the realization that it is time to face her past, Jensen must make a terrifying decision that threatens to change her life forever. She knows she will not be free until she comes clean.
Jensen struggles to deal with her father’s illness, she also has to confront her feelings for Ryder and guilt over Will. While in the process of unburdening her guilt, she later uncovers information which if know earlier, her life as well as Ryder’s may have been different. Is it too late for this couple or is there still time to make their dreams come true without guilt--with no one standing in their way?
As family bonds are tested, they find the answers they need to overcome tragedy, in order to begin their future. A beautifully written and emotionally charged debut novel told from Jensen’s POV, of family dynamics, friendships, first loves, secrets, loss, renewal, and the power of truth and love. An engaging and satisfying read. Look forward to reading more from Susan!
JDCMustReadBooks
So excited to snag an ARC of Susan's NOWHERE GIRL, Coming, 3/1/2016 (5 Stars) Better get this one on your TBR list and Pre-Order.
NIGHT BLINDNESS by Susan Strecker, an engrossing debut novel of long buried secrets, love, risk, forgiveness, and redemption, set in the beautiful area of New England, where things are not always as they seem.
Jensen Reilly is sixteen years old and she and her high school sweetheart, Ryder are involved in an accident which kills Will, Jensen’s brother and Ryan’s best friend. Will did not want Ryder and Jensen to date, so they had to hide their relationship.
Jensen suffers from dreams and night blindness. It came on suddenly after Ryder’s funeral, a dull blurriness, as though swimming through water; the outlines of trees and houses appeared ethereal, dreamlike. Eventually her parents take her to a pediatric ophthalmologist and was diagnosed with nyctalopia, night blindness.
Jen and Ryder share a secret that changes the course of their lives, with consequences--turning Ryder into a neurologist, as Jen turns away from away from academics and Julliard to work as an artist’s model. She later marries Nico, a famous sculptor, they live a bohemian life in Santa Fe—she has carefully stayed away from her family, for over thirteen years.
For years to come, Jen and Ryder lead separate lives, still guilt ridden, and choosing not to be honest with the family regarding the events leading up to the favorite football star son’s death.
But when Jensen's beloved father, Sterling Reilly, former NFL hero, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, she returns to her childhood home and the memories of her old life come flooding back, along with all the people she has tried to escape.
Torn between the life she has created in Sante Fe with her free-spirited husband, Nic, and the realization that it is time to face her past, Jensen must make a terrifying decision that threatens to change her life forever. She knows she will not be free until she comes clean.
Jensen struggles to deal with her father’s illness, she also has to confront her feelings for Ryder and guilt over Will. While in the process of unburdening her guilt, she later uncovers information which if know earlier, her life as well as Ryder’s may have been different. Is it too late for this couple or is there still time to make their dreams come true without guilt--with no one standing in their way?
As family bonds are tested, they find the answers they need to overcome tragedy, in order to begin their future. A beautifully written and emotionally charged debut novel told from Jensen’s POV, of family dynamics, friendships, first loves, secrets, loss, renewal, and the power of truth and love. An engaging and satisfying read. Look forward to reading more from Susan!
JDCMustReadBooks
So excited to snag an ARC of Susan's NOWHERE GIRL, Coming, 3/1/2016 (5 Stars) Better get this one on your TBR list and Pre-Order.
February 8, 2015
I wanted to like this book - I really did. But the characters weren't all that believable. Jensen's parents were so very different - didn't feel like they would have ever been a couple. Even the friends didn't seem to fit in naturally. The language was coarse and vulgar - much more than would have been necessary to set the atmosphere - almost for shock value. None of the characters had a hint of morality or loyalty to their partners. Although the storyline was interesting, I was disappointed.
July 11, 2014
I have won this book on the goodreads giveaways. :)
I really enjoyed it! I definitely think fans of authors like Jodi Picoult would enjoy it as well. I loved how atmospheric the whole thing was and how well written the characters were, I felt how Jensen felt throughout the novel. The whole book felt very intense and it was a page turner for sure. I couldn't wait till the end to find out how everything was going to play out, and the ending did not disappoint. Terrific summer read!!
I really enjoyed it! I definitely think fans of authors like Jodi Picoult would enjoy it as well. I loved how atmospheric the whole thing was and how well written the characters were, I felt how Jensen felt throughout the novel. The whole book felt very intense and it was a page turner for sure. I couldn't wait till the end to find out how everything was going to play out, and the ending did not disappoint. Terrific summer read!!
September 9, 2023
This book reminded me a lot of Every Crooked Pot. I loved the character development, and the Jensen/Nic/Ryder love triangle was the best one I’ve read in a while. The chemistry between Jensen and Ryder in the beginning was so palpable; it was suffocating every scene. By the end, though, I started to warm up to Nic a little bit, so I would’ve been happy either way.
The progression of sterling’s sickness worked well, and I like the fact that he died in the end. Stories that have happy endings for all are boring and predictable.
I docked one star only because some chapters were too wordy with a little too much unnecessary detail, and the lifestyle of Mandy and Nic was boring and slightly unnerving to read at times.
I also though it was ridiculous that Ryder and Jensen kept it a secret for years that they accidentally killed will, and then they find out the doctor actually misdiagnosed him but never told, and they’re like “how DARE he not tell us that?” Look in the mirror buddy, you did the same thing.
The progression of sterling’s sickness worked well, and I like the fact that he died in the end. Stories that have happy endings for all are boring and predictable.
I docked one star only because some chapters were too wordy with a little too much unnecessary detail, and the lifestyle of Mandy and Nic was boring and slightly unnerving to read at times.
I also though it was ridiculous that Ryder and Jensen kept it a secret for years that they accidentally killed will, and then they find out the doctor actually misdiagnosed him but never told, and they’re like “how DARE he not tell us that?” Look in the mirror buddy, you did the same thing.
July 21, 2023
I thrifted this book thinking it would be a great little New England summer read. And I wanted to like it SO BADLY. The plot was a good idea, but it was executed poorly. Some of the storyline seemed out of order, random, and choppy. The characters and the ending were unrealistic. There was little keeping me on the edge of my seat.
March 29, 2019
A fabulous story of a deep family and the finding of one's own identity. Live the characters, especially when 2 people you hope end up together....end up together. Faced paced and kept me wanting to read. Great debut novel!!!!
February 13, 2021
I loved this book. Got hooked from the beginning and stayed up way too late to finish it that night.
November 20, 2024
I wish I could give this a 3.5. It was a good book and a easy read but it didn’t have a wow factor and overall was a bit predictable.
February 27, 2017
I read Susan's first book, Night Blindness. I found this book to be readable and a page turner. In the beginning of the book Jensen is living in Colston with her husband, Nicco and modeling for him and his friends. She has night blindness since the death of her brother, Will. At a birthday celebration for her she receives a phone call from her mother back in Connecticut that her father has a heart tumor. She leaves immediately and finds herself engulfed in childhood memories and family drama. As her father's illness takes up her entire summer she also reconnects with Will's best friend, Ryder, with whom she has a deep connection. In a coincidence, he turns out to be her father's doctor. As she relives all of her childhood experiences she forms a strong bond with her father and realizes she cannot go back to her old life until she solves this mystery of her brother's death and the cause of her night blindness. In doing this she finds that maybe everything she has thought was her life is suddenly changed. I really enjoyed reading this book and wanted to know more about this character as she struggled to make sense of events as they changed daily. The author writes her character with care and the other characters are well drawn too. After reading it, I wanted to read more of her work. This author writes with a compelling voice.
December 28, 2015
One October night, when Jensen Reilly is sixteen, she and her high school sweetheart are involved in a horrible accident. Ever since then Jensen has been running from her past. But when Jensen's beloved father is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she returns to her childhood home and the memories of her old life came flooding back- as do the people she's tried to escape.
Set against the steamy background of a New England summer, filled with the intensity of first love, and framed by an unforgettable father-daughter relationship, Night Blindness is about risk and redemption, and the ways we are hunted down by what we try to escape.
--My thoughts. Everyone deals with grief differently. The night Jensen's boyfriend died, her life had never been the same. I love the title of this book, it is so well named. Perfect! When she has to return home and deal with the death, and her father's cancer, everything comes full circle. Strecker does a fabulous job.
Some might say that it was slow or dragging at times, but it was beautiful in the end. I really think when Luke said, "Change is our nature. We're made of water; water conducts energy, and energy is constantly shifting. What you felt back then isn't necessarily what's right today."
He went on to say that fear is resistance to the unknown. Luke is smart, or so his character was. I enjoyed "his" thoughts! Read this book, I promise you will enjoy it!
Set against the steamy background of a New England summer, filled with the intensity of first love, and framed by an unforgettable father-daughter relationship, Night Blindness is about risk and redemption, and the ways we are hunted down by what we try to escape.
--My thoughts. Everyone deals with grief differently. The night Jensen's boyfriend died, her life had never been the same. I love the title of this book, it is so well named. Perfect! When she has to return home and deal with the death, and her father's cancer, everything comes full circle. Strecker does a fabulous job.
Some might say that it was slow or dragging at times, but it was beautiful in the end. I really think when Luke said, "Change is our nature. We're made of water; water conducts energy, and energy is constantly shifting. What you felt back then isn't necessarily what's right today."
He went on to say that fear is resistance to the unknown. Luke is smart, or so his character was. I enjoyed "his" thoughts! Read this book, I promise you will enjoy it!
April 26, 2016
I love getting lost on Goodreads; looking for new books to read and add to my ever growing to-read list. I have no idea how I found this book because none of my friends had read it and it isn't on any popular reading list. But, I'm so glad I did. I stayed up till midnight finishing this book and I was crying a big mess by the time I finished. I haven't had a book take me on this big of an emotional rollercoaster in a long time. This book had all the *feels* as some bookworms say.
The book is about Jensen and how the death of her brother, Will, has completely changed the direction of her life. The night he passed choices were made that changed everything and set so many things in motion. When Jensen's Dad has a brain tumor she comes home for the first time in 13 years. And now the ghosts of the past have to be confronted. Jensen confronts them, learns to find herself again, deals with her grief over losing her brother, ask for forgiveness and learns to define what is important in life. She learns let go and live her life as it now.
This is just an extraordinary story on how the death of a love one causes permanent change and also how the grief that comes with it can change the very course of our lives. And also how each choice we make when faced with a difficult situation can also alter the course of life. Its amazing to think how one choice can so severely affect everything. I absolutely LOVE this book and will be recommending to everyone. 5+ stars
The book is about Jensen and how the death of her brother, Will, has completely changed the direction of her life. The night he passed choices were made that changed everything and set so many things in motion. When Jensen's Dad has a brain tumor she comes home for the first time in 13 years. And now the ghosts of the past have to be confronted. Jensen confronts them, learns to find herself again, deals with her grief over losing her brother, ask for forgiveness and learns to define what is important in life. She learns let go and live her life as it now.
This is just an extraordinary story on how the death of a love one causes permanent change and also how the grief that comes with it can change the very course of our lives. And also how each choice we make when faced with a difficult situation can also alter the course of life. Its amazing to think how one choice can so severely affect everything. I absolutely LOVE this book and will be recommending to everyone. 5+ stars
October 29, 2014
Have you ever felt the overwhelming need to confess? You’re terrified, because you don’t know how people will react to the truth of what you’ve done. But you have to confess to relieve the pressure of the guilt in your heart.
This story tells that complex bundle of emotions so well. I know of other stories that focus on guilt and confession (like Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment), but this one is set in the modern day and is completely relatable. When you finally find out what happened, your heart breaks for Jenson—for the guilt she’s carried ever since she was 16, and the guilt that has ruled over her ever since.
The other theme in this book that I completely related with was returning home as an adult. Jenson isn’t happy with her life in New Mexico, and her sculptor husband who keeps pressuring her to move to Greece. Being at home again, she is reminded of who she was growing up—before the guilt—a piano prodigy, her father’s beloved daughter, an innocent girl. As her uncle Luke gently reintroduces her to playing piano, Jenson realizes that in running away, she’s completely lost sight of who she was supposed to be. But she’s determined to make things right this time.
This story tells that complex bundle of emotions so well. I know of other stories that focus on guilt and confession (like Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment), but this one is set in the modern day and is completely relatable. When you finally find out what happened, your heart breaks for Jenson—for the guilt she’s carried ever since she was 16, and the guilt that has ruled over her ever since.
The other theme in this book that I completely related with was returning home as an adult. Jenson isn’t happy with her life in New Mexico, and her sculptor husband who keeps pressuring her to move to Greece. Being at home again, she is reminded of who she was growing up—before the guilt—a piano prodigy, her father’s beloved daughter, an innocent girl. As her uncle Luke gently reintroduces her to playing piano, Jenson realizes that in running away, she’s completely lost sight of who she was supposed to be. But she’s determined to make things right this time.
January 31, 2015
Night Blindness is Susan Strecker's first novel and she deftly maneuvers the reader through the life of Jensen Riley from her high school days when she was madly in love with Ryder, her brother's best friend, through her marriage to an artist, and, finally the return to her childhood home after a thirteen year absence when her father is diagnosed with a brain tumor. At the heart of the story is the death of her brother and the guilt Jensen has carried that she and Ryder were to blame.
Jensen had been a child prodigy at the piano, but has not realized her potential. She has buried her anguish so deep that she cannot commit to a meaningful life until she can face the truth that her father is dying and that she had a role in her brother's death. The novel is an unflinching look into a family in crisis and the love needed to heal the past wounds.
Jensen had been a child prodigy at the piano, but has not realized her potential. She has buried her anguish so deep that she cannot commit to a meaningful life until she can face the truth that her father is dying and that she had a role in her brother's death. The novel is an unflinching look into a family in crisis and the love needed to heal the past wounds.
July 18, 2014
Night Blindness: a Novel ..By .. Susan Strecker.. Thank you Goodreads for sending me this FREE Book. When Jensen's father was diagnoised with a brain tumor she came home to be with him. Old memories came back as well as the guilt she felt for not telling the truth. Her old love was the Doctor treating her father. She felt she was losing at everything in her life. She confronted her fears, told her father the truth. Later her father died, she found out that the Doctor attending her brother said her would have died anaway form the trauma on the football field. Nothing was her fault. She was free.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2014
ARC received for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. It's about a woman whose brother is killed in an accident when she's a teenager. 13 years later, she is called home because her father is ill. It's about her struggle with being home and her guilt over her brother's death.
It was well written, but I didn't find any of the characters very likable, so it was tough to get through. When I finally finished it, I was left slightly depressed and rather disappointed.
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. It's about a woman whose brother is killed in an accident when she's a teenager. 13 years later, she is called home because her father is ill. It's about her struggle with being home and her guilt over her brother's death.
It was well written, but I didn't find any of the characters very likable, so it was tough to get through. When I finally finished it, I was left slightly depressed and rather disappointed.
May 31, 2014
The story unwinds slowly, keeping you in suspense the entire time. When we don't speak the truth, assumptions can occur that will change your entire life. In this story, everyone's "truths" are kept hidden for a long time. But once one is released, they all come tumbling down. All the characters are well rounded and likeable. Good for Picoult fans and a great summer read for any time of the year.
September 20, 2015
Although somewhat predictable, I'll go with 5 stars. It had some simple truths that were good reminders in daily life. I like that..
October 19, 2015
Review to come.
January 13, 2022
I wanted to like this book more than I did.
It wasn’t horrible, just not amazing. I didn’t really feel connected to Jensen or any of the characters and so it was hard for me to feel any emotions for them.
I didn’t really understand why Jensen couldn’t call Jamie “mom.” That was never really clarified, and therefore I felt like it was annoying to keep reading the name “Jamie” when it could have easily said “mom.” But that’s minor.
I also felt like characters kept popping up out of nowhere without any real introduction. You got to know them by the end of the book, but it was confusing at first.
It was sad but also bittersweet and included important themes that anyone can learn from such as: the importance of truth, overcoming your fears, staying strong in the midst of difficult situations, the significance of love, friendship, and family.
I thought it wrapped up pretty nicely although it kinda left us on a weird note about Will and Dr. Griffith.
Overall, it was kinda entertaining, although there were some moments when I wanted to DNF this book out of boredom. However, I’m glad I stuck with it.
It wasn’t horrible, just not amazing. I didn’t really feel connected to Jensen or any of the characters and so it was hard for me to feel any emotions for them.
I didn’t really understand why Jensen couldn’t call Jamie “mom.” That was never really clarified, and therefore I felt like it was annoying to keep reading the name “Jamie” when it could have easily said “mom.” But that’s minor.
I also felt like characters kept popping up out of nowhere without any real introduction. You got to know them by the end of the book, but it was confusing at first.
It was sad but also bittersweet and included important themes that anyone can learn from such as: the importance of truth, overcoming your fears, staying strong in the midst of difficult situations, the significance of love, friendship, and family.
I thought it wrapped up pretty nicely although it kinda left us on a weird note about Will and Dr. Griffith.
Overall, it was kinda entertaining, although there were some moments when I wanted to DNF this book out of boredom. However, I’m glad I stuck with it.
July 24, 2021
This book has really great potential. Reading this while working through my own grief allowed me to see it in a different light as opposed to others who have reviewed this book, I think. I engage in avoidance behaviors and it seems like this is what Jensen has been engaging in for many years, running and running from her past. I do think the author tried to mash a lot of different personalities together and while this is a bold idea, it wasn’t executed perfectly. I had a hard time believing that some of these relationships would’ve grown naturally. How can you have a best friend who is very holistic, natural, and healing but then marry someone who is extremely materialistic? It’s contradictory and at times, rubbed me the wrong way. The romantic story in this book is extremely predictable, which can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your taste. Overall, I enjoyed it, but would never reread.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
This book was so bad it was laughable. I get that it wasn’t meant to be a great work of prose, but it was just so, so poorly written. They mention that Jensen has night blindness in the FIRST PARAGRAPH- to be honest, it feels like they added her condition after the fact and sprinkled it in just to justify the name? Also, she is kinda a murderer- I know they clear her of her brothers death in the final act but TBH it’s suss that Riley would even be into her given that he believed that she killed his BEST FRIEND for so many years. Anyways, this book sucked but I had a lot of fun reading the laugh-out-loud bad parts aloud to my sisters on the beach so it gets two stars for that.
August 24, 2017
While I found the plot line to be interesting I could not get into this book at all. The story jumped all over the place making it hard for me to easily read and a little annoying. Some things happened really fast where as others took forever to build up to. Some of the characters you could find yourself start to get attached to but others were either boring or just annoying in general. I was not very fond of it at all, but I gave it two stars instead of one because it was not lacking in suspense and only kept me reading to see exactly what happened. I would not recommend reading this book.
April 1, 2025
I cried.
Even though I almost dropped Night Blindness because the first half of the book gets a little boring, it just seems relatable in a way. Characters in this book do not deal with grief the same way most people do and that's okay. It made me appreciate what I have a little more and reminded me to dedicate time to those that I love.
Give this one a chance.
Even though I almost dropped Night Blindness because the first half of the book gets a little boring, it just seems relatable in a way. Characters in this book do not deal with grief the same way most people do and that's okay. It made me appreciate what I have a little more and reminded me to dedicate time to those that I love.
Give this one a chance.
May 5, 2021
This book was completely predictable, which made it a boring read. It was also overly cheesy, Hallmark movie quality with mediocre writing at best. The only positive is that it’s a quick read and I’m done with it forever.
October 24, 2021
I have a hard time finding books I really dont like lol. I did love this one. Though I'm not a fan of certain characters, they are well described and the events that took place had me wanting to read more to find out what happens.
September 29, 2023
It’s a twisty turny romantic thriller with family drama and rekindled first loves. Pulls at your heartstrings in all the best ways and makes you stare at the ceiling for ten minutes after you finish it. - Dylan Berardo
August 18, 2017
This book was terrible. I won't waste my time on a lengthy review. I think I can sum up my opinion by saying I've seen more creative writing from high school students.
January 24, 2018
What a gripping story. Totally engrossing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews