What do you think?
Rate this book
In the Blink of an Eye
It only took a moment for everything to go wrong. A little girl is hurt, but who is to blame?
I’m so happy as I walk to pick up my seven-year-old son from the birthday party. It’s his first since we moved here, and I know he’s found it hard settling in. Just as I’ve found it hard to make friends among the mothers at the school gates. But as I turn the corner, my heart stops when I see an ambulance.
I start to run. My son, is all I can think. I have to find my son.
As I race into the garden, desperately searching for my blue-eyed little boy, a fellow parent turns to me, her finger pointed. The words out of her mouth make my blood run cold.
“Your son did this. This is your fault.”
Surely that can’t be true? My son can be difficult, but I’d know if he was capable of hurting someone… Wouldn’t I?
As a little girl is lifted onto a stretcher, I feel my world come crashing down. My heart cracks in two for this poor child, her devastated family. Because there’s no coming back from this. An innocent girl has been hurt. My son is being blamed. But I’m his mother, and I’ll do whatever it takes to find out what really happened…
A totally gripping and emotional novel about trust, female friendship and betrayal. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Susan Lewis.
I’m so happy as I walk to pick up my seven-year-old son from the birthday party. It’s his first since we moved here, and I know he’s found it hard settling in. Just as I’ve found it hard to make friends among the mothers at the school gates. But as I turn the corner, my heart stops when I see an ambulance.
I start to run. My son, is all I can think. I have to find my son.
As I race into the garden, desperately searching for my blue-eyed little boy, a fellow parent turns to me, her finger pointed. The words out of her mouth make my blood run cold.
“Your son did this. This is your fault.”
Surely that can’t be true? My son can be difficult, but I’d know if he was capable of hurting someone… Wouldn’t I?
As a little girl is lifted onto a stretcher, I feel my world come crashing down. My heart cracks in two for this poor child, her devastated family. Because there’s no coming back from this. An innocent girl has been hurt. My son is being blamed. But I’m his mother, and I’ll do whatever it takes to find out what really happened…
A totally gripping and emotional novel about trust, female friendship and betrayal. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Susan Lewis.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2024
2707 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hewitt
860 books1,668 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 27, 2024
In The Blink Of An Eye is a compelling novel that follows three mothers who are all going through tough battles in life. Wanting a fresh start for her family, Joanna finds herself moving to Wetherby, Connecticut to create a new life. Unfortunately, things are difficult and her family struggles to fit in in their new community. Joanna's husband is battling depression, her son, Kieran, has behavioral issues, and Joanna is just trying to keep it all together.
One day, Kieran is invited to a classmate's birthday party. Bella seems to be the perfect child, so when things take a turn for the worst at her party, Kieran is automatically the one to blame. Bella's mother, Eleanor, finds herself in the hospital alongside her daughter, patiently waiting for her to wake from a coma. Natalie, another mother who was supervising the party, finds herself filled with guilt and worried for her own daughter. As the truth unfolds, secrets are revealed and relationships are tested. Will it ruin these families?
This book is a good drama, one where our main characters face real-life issues. Unfortunately, I don't feel like I connected with any of the characters and most of the story seemed repetitive. There was little excitement and the climax points weren't as eventful as I thought they'd be. It is an entertaining read however, but it just was not my favorite. 3 stars.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kate Hewitt for this ARC!
One day, Kieran is invited to a classmate's birthday party. Bella seems to be the perfect child, so when things take a turn for the worst at her party, Kieran is automatically the one to blame. Bella's mother, Eleanor, finds herself in the hospital alongside her daughter, patiently waiting for her to wake from a coma. Natalie, another mother who was supervising the party, finds herself filled with guilt and worried for her own daughter. As the truth unfolds, secrets are revealed and relationships are tested. Will it ruin these families?
This book is a good drama, one where our main characters face real-life issues. Unfortunately, I don't feel like I connected with any of the characters and most of the story seemed repetitive. There was little excitement and the climax points weren't as eventful as I thought they'd be. It is an entertaining read however, but it just was not my favorite. 3 stars.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kate Hewitt for this ARC!
July 20, 2024
Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kate Hewitt for the advanced reader copy of the book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.
Every now and then I find a book that’s so relatable that I just can’t put it down. In the Blink of an Eye was just such a book. The story in some ways is nothing surprising, but the observations here were so on target that I was compelled to finish it just to see how it was resolved in the end.
When I began reading, I sort of groaned. The setting was the near-perfect suburban-rural town of Wetherby, Connecticut. The houses here are expensive, and the first people who are introduced seem near perfect. Eleanor is a stay-at-home Mom who seems too good to be true. She’s involved at school including the classroom and PTA. She is beautiful and has a handsome, seemingly perfect husband as well as two daughters. They eat all the best and healthiest food, much of which she makes herself.
Her best friend is Natalie, who is separated from her husband although she’s not really sure why. She loves her husband a great deal, but one day he said he just couldn’t do it anymore and moved out. It’s been hard on her daughter, Freya. To make matters worse, the friendship between Freya and Eleanor’s daughter, Bella, is not a healthy one, although Natalie doesn’t see it.
Kieran is a new kid in school. He has some behavioral issues that have the school on high alert. His mother, Joanna, is trying to balance everything between working and taking care of her son, as well as her husband, Tim, who suffered a breakdown.
The story is told from each of their perspectives, trading off the point of view in each chapter. From this, though, we get some interesting insights on what it’s like being a parent in this day and age. I see my own daughter struggling to be “perfect” under the microscope of social media and all of the pressures that come along with it. In a town such as Wetherby where it seems they are all trying to outdo each other, it’s even worse.
To read my full review, please go to In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt
Every now and then I find a book that’s so relatable that I just can’t put it down. In the Blink of an Eye was just such a book. The story in some ways is nothing surprising, but the observations here were so on target that I was compelled to finish it just to see how it was resolved in the end.
When I began reading, I sort of groaned. The setting was the near-perfect suburban-rural town of Wetherby, Connecticut. The houses here are expensive, and the first people who are introduced seem near perfect. Eleanor is a stay-at-home Mom who seems too good to be true. She’s involved at school including the classroom and PTA. She is beautiful and has a handsome, seemingly perfect husband as well as two daughters. They eat all the best and healthiest food, much of which she makes herself.
Her best friend is Natalie, who is separated from her husband although she’s not really sure why. She loves her husband a great deal, but one day he said he just couldn’t do it anymore and moved out. It’s been hard on her daughter, Freya. To make matters worse, the friendship between Freya and Eleanor’s daughter, Bella, is not a healthy one, although Natalie doesn’t see it.
Kieran is a new kid in school. He has some behavioral issues that have the school on high alert. His mother, Joanna, is trying to balance everything between working and taking care of her son, as well as her husband, Tim, who suffered a breakdown.
The story is told from each of their perspectives, trading off the point of view in each chapter. From this, though, we get some interesting insights on what it’s like being a parent in this day and age. I see my own daughter struggling to be “perfect” under the microscope of social media and all of the pressures that come along with it. In a town such as Wetherby where it seems they are all trying to outdo each other, it’s even worse.
To read my full review, please go to In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt
July 8, 2024
In The Blink of an Eye is dramatic story about a birthday party gone wrong. The story plays on every parent’s worse nightmare….their child being injured, their child being bullied, or being that parent on the outside of the mom’s club. The story follows three women as they tell their sides of the story and what role they play in that days events. Everyone wants to point the finger and hide from the truth but in the end the truth always comes out.
Eleanor is the perfect wife and mother and the envy of all the other women. She’s planning a birthday party for her daughter Bella and her classmates but there’s one student she’s reluctant to include. Kieran. He’s the new kid at school and so far he’s a menace. The school year has just begun and he’s already been to the principals office three times. To make matters worse Bella doesn’t want to invite him but Eleanor convinces her that it’s the right thing to do.
The day of the party Eleanor is distracted by the possibility of her perfect world imploding and asks her dearest friend Natalie to watch the kids. Everything seems to be fine and the kids are having fun until Eleanor goes to find Bella and discovers her unconscious and Kieran standing over her.
Joanna knows Kieran is different from the other kids but she can’t get the courage to confront what might be wrong. The family is new to Wetherby and so far it’s not going well. Her husband Tim is paralysed with depression and anxiety and every time Joanna goes to pick up Kieran at school she’s afraid of what she’ll hear. The moms at the school are very clicky and she can sense when she’s not welcome. When Kieran gets invited to a classmates party Joanne is hopeful that this is the opportunity for her and Kieran to make some friends.
She’s about to find out how wrong she was……
Eleanor is the perfect wife and mother and the envy of all the other women. She’s planning a birthday party for her daughter Bella and her classmates but there’s one student she’s reluctant to include. Kieran. He’s the new kid at school and so far he’s a menace. The school year has just begun and he’s already been to the principals office three times. To make matters worse Bella doesn’t want to invite him but Eleanor convinces her that it’s the right thing to do.
The day of the party Eleanor is distracted by the possibility of her perfect world imploding and asks her dearest friend Natalie to watch the kids. Everything seems to be fine and the kids are having fun until Eleanor goes to find Bella and discovers her unconscious and Kieran standing over her.
Joanna knows Kieran is different from the other kids but she can’t get the courage to confront what might be wrong. The family is new to Wetherby and so far it’s not going well. Her husband Tim is paralysed with depression and anxiety and every time Joanna goes to pick up Kieran at school she’s afraid of what she’ll hear. The moms at the school are very clicky and she can sense when she’s not welcome. When Kieran gets invited to a classmates party Joanne is hopeful that this is the opportunity for her and Kieran to make some friends.
She’s about to find out how wrong she was……
June 13, 2024
3.5 stars
In The Blink of an Eye follows 3 different moms POVs. Jo has a son named Kieran, Natalie a daughter named Freya, and Eleanor a daughter named Bella. The kids are all in the same third grade classroom. Eleanor is known for throwing big parties for her kids. But for Bellas 8th birthday, she kind of wants to do something smaller. She invites the whole third grade class. But a tragic accident happens, and a kid ends up hurt. Was it an accident, or did someone do it on purpose?
As a mom of a speacial needs kid, I found myself relating to Jo the most with her situation with Kieran and trying to fit in with the circle of moms. The story felt to me a bit repetitive, but it will still have you hooked with trying to figure out what happened at that birthday party. I definitely didn't see the twist of what actually happened coming.
A big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book.
In The Blink of an Eye follows 3 different moms POVs. Jo has a son named Kieran, Natalie a daughter named Freya, and Eleanor a daughter named Bella. The kids are all in the same third grade classroom. Eleanor is known for throwing big parties for her kids. But for Bellas 8th birthday, she kind of wants to do something smaller. She invites the whole third grade class. But a tragic accident happens, and a kid ends up hurt. Was it an accident, or did someone do it on purpose?
As a mom of a speacial needs kid, I found myself relating to Jo the most with her situation with Kieran and trying to fit in with the circle of moms. The story felt to me a bit repetitive, but it will still have you hooked with trying to figure out what happened at that birthday party. I definitely didn't see the twist of what actually happened coming.
A big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book.
May 25, 2024
This is a gripping story of adults and kids all in over their heads. An accident at a birthday party pits adults against adults, adults against kids and kids against kids. Joanna, Tim and Kieran are new in town and Kieran is having some behavioral issues. Natalie and Eleanor are best friends, albeit there is a power disparity between them. Eleanor is living the "perfect" life and intent on not letting any cracks show. Natalie is trying hard to hold it together being separated from her husband. Eleanor's daughter is injured at her birthday party and fingers are pointing to Kieran and Joanna. The blame to be had could be spread all over. This story is has multiple point of views and is well done. There's a lot going on with everyone out does show how a little kindness can go a long way for some people. This isn't my usual genre, but I enjoyed this very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2024
First, I want to thank Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
WOW!!! Kate Hewitt is known for her well written stories that pulls on your heartstrings. However, this time around she surprised me and did something a little bit different. She actually went a little darker than she usually does and I Liked that side of her! It made for a very interesting read.
I will admit the book wasn't as fast paced in the beginning as I usually liked. However when it did pick up I sped through the book no problem.
Kate educated her readers with such important medical conditions such as being a sociopath, conduct disorder, bullying, harassment, ADHD, ADD, and PDD.
#TeamKieren. All the way!! He was the one that pulled hard on my heartstrings the most. My heart went out to him for all that he was being accused of, how he was being treated,
I can’t imagine being a parent and the horror of finding your child the way they did! It was truly a shocking and heartbreaking scene!
There were a lot of wicked twists and turns and some shocking moments as well.
Overall it is a great read. If you are a fan of Kate’s book you need to pick this one up.
WOW!!! Kate Hewitt is known for her well written stories that pulls on your heartstrings. However, this time around she surprised me and did something a little bit different. She actually went a little darker than she usually does and I Liked that side of her! It made for a very interesting read.
I will admit the book wasn't as fast paced in the beginning as I usually liked. However when it did pick up I sped through the book no problem.
Kate educated her readers with such important medical conditions such as being a sociopath, conduct disorder, bullying, harassment, ADHD, ADD, and PDD.
#TeamKieren. All the way!! He was the one that pulled hard on my heartstrings the most. My heart went out to him for all that he was being accused of, how he was being treated,
I can’t imagine being a parent and the horror of finding your child the way they did! It was truly a shocking and heartbreaking scene!
There were a lot of wicked twists and turns and some shocking moments as well.
Overall it is a great read. If you are a fan of Kate’s book you need to pick this one up.
July 4, 2024
Hewitt has such a talent for writing such compelling, thought provoking novels. This book touched on many tough subjects such as pediatric mental health, unbalanced adult relationships, marriage difficulties, what happens when you keep secrets, relationships among classmates, and how so easily influenced a pure child can be (pure meaning not tainted by the bad in the world).
In this book, we learn about Eleanor, Bella’s mother, Natalie, Freya’s mother, and Joanna, Kiernan’s mother. While none of these characters are 100% likeable, they are relatable, they are real. There are plenty of mothers who strive to make it look like everything in their family is perfect, mothers who gossip, and, in Natalie’s case, mothers who know that their child may need a diagnosis but isn’t ready to admit it to themselves just yet. Natalie is whom I related to the most. I didn’t want admit that my first son needed a diagnosis, intervention, and medicine. It took me a while to accept it, but I got there. Natalie does too.
The realness of this book is what pulled at my heartstrings. My heart was broken for Bella being hurt, but it was also broken for the other children who had to witness it and the people that it impacted. Unfortunately, sometimes, we need a tragedy to get real with one another, and that is exactly what this book shows.
So if you enjoy a compelling, riveting, heart string pulling type of book, then this book is for you.
In this book, we learn about Eleanor, Bella’s mother, Natalie, Freya’s mother, and Joanna, Kiernan’s mother. While none of these characters are 100% likeable, they are relatable, they are real. There are plenty of mothers who strive to make it look like everything in their family is perfect, mothers who gossip, and, in Natalie’s case, mothers who know that their child may need a diagnosis but isn’t ready to admit it to themselves just yet. Natalie is whom I related to the most. I didn’t want admit that my first son needed a diagnosis, intervention, and medicine. It took me a while to accept it, but I got there. Natalie does too.
The realness of this book is what pulled at my heartstrings. My heart was broken for Bella being hurt, but it was also broken for the other children who had to witness it and the people that it impacted. Unfortunately, sometimes, we need a tragedy to get real with one another, and that is exactly what this book shows.
So if you enjoy a compelling, riveting, heart string pulling type of book, then this book is for you.
June 13, 2024
I REALLY enjoyed this book. I would probably categorize this as a suspense novel. There were some twists but nothing revolutionary. I don't think it was meant to be a jaw dropping ending type of book (which is what I'm typically into) and I didn't really miss that usual shock factor. It was a story that touched on pediatric mental health, unbalanced adult relationships, compassion for others (or lack thereof,) and spousal difficulties which are all really important topics. We always compare ourselves to others and I felt this book was a good example of why we shouldn't. We all go through "things" and that is okay. I liked the ending to this story as well. It felt cathartic. I felt relieved. The pressure from my chest lifted. If you want a well written book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend In the Blink of an Eye. This was my first book by Kate Hewitt and now I feel I have to go read all her others too.
July 17, 2024
I am new to Kate Hewitt, and this book has instantly made me a new fan! WOW!!! What a phenomenal read! The lives of these characters change in an instant when an incident occurs at a child's birthday party. What develops afterwards took me on the best roller coaster ride!
The main characters are three mothers who all have a POV narrating this story. I found myself feeling for each of the main characters at one point or another as the plot developed. Eleanor, Natalie, and Joanna were all so well developed that I felt as though I truly knew them. They took me through a whole gamut of emotions - from empathy to sadness to anger and more.
The plot to this book is so complex. It touched on many topics that range from friendship, marriage, deceit, betrayal, bullying, and motherhood. Hewitt's writing style wove the various topics together in such a beautiful manner. I was captivated by the characters, as well as the storyline. This book was extremely relatable, and I found myself wondering what I would do if presented with the situations described in the book. This is a profound, emotional, and captivating book masterfully crafted by one of my new fave authors!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The main characters are three mothers who all have a POV narrating this story. I found myself feeling for each of the main characters at one point or another as the plot developed. Eleanor, Natalie, and Joanna were all so well developed that I felt as though I truly knew them. They took me through a whole gamut of emotions - from empathy to sadness to anger and more.
The plot to this book is so complex. It touched on many topics that range from friendship, marriage, deceit, betrayal, bullying, and motherhood. Hewitt's writing style wove the various topics together in such a beautiful manner. I was captivated by the characters, as well as the storyline. This book was extremely relatable, and I found myself wondering what I would do if presented with the situations described in the book. This is a profound, emotional, and captivating book masterfully crafted by one of my new fave authors!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 18, 2024
I loved this book. Kate Hewitt is an author who writes domestic drama books that tug at your heart while also describing so well the emotions, angst, feelings that mothers deal with. While their children start school, the parents enter a world that sometimes mirrors junior high behavior. Competition for Queen Bee status, envy, over-participation to try to be seen as the "best mom", and so on. And really, in the blink of an eye, the time you have with your children, that precious time, is over and you're moving on to the terrible teens :-)
In this book, the focus is on three mothers and wives: Eleanor, who is the natural queen of the other mothers of their 7-year-olds class, with her Bella leading the way; Natalie, her best friend and mother of Freya who is Bella's best friend; and Joanna who is the mother of Kieran. Joanna and her husband and son are new to the area and they are somewhat aware, Joanna more so than her husband, that Kieran has behavioral issues beyond normal 7-yr-old boy behaviors. But she doesn't want to face, doesn't want a diagnosis, and meanwhile her husband lazes around the house, recovering from a breakdown he suffered six months earlier. She tries to be supportive but as the main breadwinner and the primary parent for Kieran, she is struggling and tired.
Eleanor works very hard to achieve perfection. Be the perfect wife, perfect mother, perfect best friend and neighbor. She wants to be seen in that way and believes Bella is the perfect girl, the perfect daughter. At times it seems that she and her husband, Brian, forget about Lizzy, their 15-year-old teen daughter. But Eleanor forgives herself for that heavy focus on Bella because she came about only after years of trying to conceive, exploring and implementing all routes for conception, including rounds of IVF. Bella is so special to have come from that, and she's a beautiful girl too.
Eleanor decides she wants to have a birthday party for Bella and invite the entire class of 28 kids. They have a large back yard. And she asks Natalie to help out. Natalie, being a go-along to get-along kind of person agrees, even without other parents there to help. Meanwhile, Natalie has her own work stressors as end of the month draws closer and she needs to meet sales targets. But Eleanor doesn't want to hear about all that.
And finally, there is dissension about inviting Kieran. Eleanor is feeling magnanimous and wants him there, he's just a little boy behaving like a rambunctious little boy. But Bella doesn't want him there and pouts, stamps her feet a bit trying to get her way. Eleanor holds firm.
So, the stage is set for what you know is going to bring some kind of drama and some kind of medical accident that will leave your heart in your stomach.
Kate Hewitt is such a good writer. She is honest about the strengths and flaws of each of the women and their husbands. And you follow her to the depths of the despair they feel and also to the heights of acceptance of life's reality, and how the women and men grow and strengthen after these events. The relationships are tested and it prompts open, honest conversation. Requires that they take off their rose colored glasses and look at life and what they've made of it so far, and question together whether that's really what they want, who they are, and most importantly, what they will be going forward.
I highly recommend this and others this author has written.
In this book, the focus is on three mothers and wives: Eleanor, who is the natural queen of the other mothers of their 7-year-olds class, with her Bella leading the way; Natalie, her best friend and mother of Freya who is Bella's best friend; and Joanna who is the mother of Kieran. Joanna and her husband and son are new to the area and they are somewhat aware, Joanna more so than her husband, that Kieran has behavioral issues beyond normal 7-yr-old boy behaviors. But she doesn't want to face, doesn't want a diagnosis, and meanwhile her husband lazes around the house, recovering from a breakdown he suffered six months earlier. She tries to be supportive but as the main breadwinner and the primary parent for Kieran, she is struggling and tired.
Eleanor works very hard to achieve perfection. Be the perfect wife, perfect mother, perfect best friend and neighbor. She wants to be seen in that way and believes Bella is the perfect girl, the perfect daughter. At times it seems that she and her husband, Brian, forget about Lizzy, their 15-year-old teen daughter. But Eleanor forgives herself for that heavy focus on Bella because she came about only after years of trying to conceive, exploring and implementing all routes for conception, including rounds of IVF. Bella is so special to have come from that, and she's a beautiful girl too.
Eleanor decides she wants to have a birthday party for Bella and invite the entire class of 28 kids. They have a large back yard. And she asks Natalie to help out. Natalie, being a go-along to get-along kind of person agrees, even without other parents there to help. Meanwhile, Natalie has her own work stressors as end of the month draws closer and she needs to meet sales targets. But Eleanor doesn't want to hear about all that.
And finally, there is dissension about inviting Kieran. Eleanor is feeling magnanimous and wants him there, he's just a little boy behaving like a rambunctious little boy. But Bella doesn't want him there and pouts, stamps her feet a bit trying to get her way. Eleanor holds firm.
So, the stage is set for what you know is going to bring some kind of drama and some kind of medical accident that will leave your heart in your stomach.
Kate Hewitt is such a good writer. She is honest about the strengths and flaws of each of the women and their husbands. And you follow her to the depths of the despair they feel and also to the heights of acceptance of life's reality, and how the women and men grow and strengthen after these events. The relationships are tested and it prompts open, honest conversation. Requires that they take off their rose colored glasses and look at life and what they've made of it so far, and question together whether that's really what they want, who they are, and most importantly, what they will be going forward.
I highly recommend this and others this author has written.
June 30, 2024
Whew! Lives change In the Blink of an Eye. It only takes a moment, and nothing will ever be the same again! I found In the Blink of an Eye to be gripping, thought provoking, emotion evoking and well thought out. I found myself feeling for each character involved in this moving and wonderfully written book. Three mothers and their children will find their lives changed after a child's birthday party.
Eleanor presents as not only having it all together but as having it all. During her youngest daughter Bella's birthday party, Bella is injured, and accusations are hurled. Natalie is Eleanor's friend and mother of Freya who is Bella's best friend. Natalie is helping Eleanor at the birthday party when tragedy strikes. Joanna is Kieran's mother. They are new in town and Kieran is struggling to make friends and fit in at school. He attends the birthday party for Bella and as Joanna arrives to pick him up, he is accused of causing harm.
Wowza! This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I wanted to give several characters a hug while chastising others. This book touches on many things such as friendship, marriage, secrets, bullying, mental health, social and emotional issues, communication and motherhood. This book also serves as a reminder about making assumptions and placing blame to name a few. I had a hard time putting this book down. I had to know how things were going to play out.
I found myself trying to put myself in the place of each mother. What happens is gut-wrenching. All the women have their own burdens to carry. Each will be affected (as will their children). Each is presented with an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. I enjoyed how Kate Hewitt provides the POV of each mother. This was a very nice touch and made the book more moving for me. It was nice getting into each mother's thoughts, struggles, doubts, concern, and emotions.
This book is dramatic, riveting, moving, and tense at times. I look forward to reading more books by Kate Hewitt.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Eleanor presents as not only having it all together but as having it all. During her youngest daughter Bella's birthday party, Bella is injured, and accusations are hurled. Natalie is Eleanor's friend and mother of Freya who is Bella's best friend. Natalie is helping Eleanor at the birthday party when tragedy strikes. Joanna is Kieran's mother. They are new in town and Kieran is struggling to make friends and fit in at school. He attends the birthday party for Bella and as Joanna arrives to pick him up, he is accused of causing harm.
Wowza! This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions. I wanted to give several characters a hug while chastising others. This book touches on many things such as friendship, marriage, secrets, bullying, mental health, social and emotional issues, communication and motherhood. This book also serves as a reminder about making assumptions and placing blame to name a few. I had a hard time putting this book down. I had to know how things were going to play out.
I found myself trying to put myself in the place of each mother. What happens is gut-wrenching. All the women have their own burdens to carry. Each will be affected (as will their children). Each is presented with an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. I enjoyed how Kate Hewitt provides the POV of each mother. This was a very nice touch and made the book more moving for me. It was nice getting into each mother's thoughts, struggles, doubts, concern, and emotions.
This book is dramatic, riveting, moving, and tense at times. I look forward to reading more books by Kate Hewitt.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
June 21, 2024
read if you like:
🏡 family dramas
🧒 child dramas
📔 books by Jodi Picoult
summary:
I went on a bender reading Kate Hewitt’s books a couple of years ago, because they pull you in so quickly and cause you to think so deeply. So when I saw this ARC, I knew I wanted to read it.
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is about three children, Bella, Freya and Kieran, told from their POV’s of their mothers, Eleanor, Natalie and Joanna. Eleanor is the seemingly perfect mom and perfect wife, throwing Bella a quintessential 7th birthday party. Natalie, struggling from the recent separation from her husband, is Eleanor’s best friend and second in command, trying to help out at the party as best she can. And Kieran, a boy new to town struggling with his social and emotional issues, is invited to the party, only because he’s a part of the class and despite Eleanor’s wishes. When an accident happens at the party, all three moms are faced with the dilemma of what role their child played in the incident, and what really happened.
This book alternates between the three women’s POV’s, and is raw and emotional as we learn about their vulnerabilities as mothers and friends. All throughout the book I felt so deeply for all three of them struggling with their own realities, and even though I don’t have kids, they felt so relatable. Some parts of the book felt a little unrealistic or rushed, but it artfully made you think about what role parents play in their childrens’ personalities and behaviors. The role their husbands play is also so interesting - I love books with a strong female character and all three women were clearly the “alphas” in their marriage and their husbands struggled with how to adapt to that in their own ways. I was glad the ending came together like it did — with some self realization, some commitment to growth, and some hope for the future.
Kate Hewitt’s books always pull at your heartstrings and this was no exception! Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for the advanced copy. If you love Jodi Picoult and books like hers, check this out when it releases on July 1!
July 4, 2024
In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt is a stand-alone novel about friendship, or what passes for it sometimes. Natalie and Eleanor were friends, but both had back-stories and inner lives that the other knew nothing about. Eleanor was perfect. Everyone said so. Natalie was her shadow. Eleanor’s daughter was perfect, too. Natalie’s was not. She was a little odd. Everyone knew it. It was to be Bella’s eighth birthday and Eleanor was throwing a party. That turned out to be the first hurdle. Bella didn’t want to invite Kieran. Eleanor didn’t really, either, but she was the adult. Kieran knew he was different and he didn’t care. His mother cared. How could life be so complicated? The day of the party arrived and Eleanor passed on parents’ offers to stay and help. She had Natalie. She hid in the kitchen while Natalie herded twenty-eight third graders. The reader’s anxiety is now palpable. Something bad is going to happen. All of a sudden Bella is face down in the pond, her head bleeding. Kieran is just watching. Everyone assumes the worst. The party is over.
Eleanor has a strict rule about screens. She even has a locked drawer in which to store them when she deems fit. Natalie cannot even call Brian to tell him his daughter is on the way to the hospital. Eleanor’s phone is locked up and she doesn’t have his number. Everyone is terrified. Everyone at school starts taking sides. Slowly the story unfolds. Frightening when it is a child. Worse, when it is your child. A well-written story with excellent characters, wonderful personalities and back stories. Very real, all of them. A frightening, slow-moving plot. Built to the climax perfectly. So much more frightening than many of the less realistic thrillers out there. Excellent! Kate Hewitt!
I was invited to read In the Blink of an Eye by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #KateHewitt #InTheBlinkOfAnEye
Eleanor has a strict rule about screens. She even has a locked drawer in which to store them when she deems fit. Natalie cannot even call Brian to tell him his daughter is on the way to the hospital. Eleanor’s phone is locked up and she doesn’t have his number. Everyone is terrified. Everyone at school starts taking sides. Slowly the story unfolds. Frightening when it is a child. Worse, when it is your child. A well-written story with excellent characters, wonderful personalities and back stories. Very real, all of them. A frightening, slow-moving plot. Built to the climax perfectly. So much more frightening than many of the less realistic thrillers out there. Excellent! Kate Hewitt!
I was invited to read In the Blink of an Eye by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #KateHewitt #InTheBlinkOfAnEye
July 21, 2024
This was totally my kind of book. In the Blink of an Eye is said to be similar to books written by one of my favorite authors, Liane Moriarty. This is true to a certain extent, but not quite. There are a few similarities in the story that had me thinking of Big Little Lies, but it definitely lacked the uniqueness Liane brings to her novels.
The story is pretty much about every parent's worst fear. Joanna, her husband, and their troubled seven-year-old son, Kieran, is new in town. Queen-bee Eleanor, the envy of most women in town, is having a birthday party for her angelic daughter, Bella, who will be eight. Joanna is over the moon to hear that Kieran is also invited to Bella's birthday party, since he's been having trouble in school and finds it hard to make friends.
However, things go terribly wrong at the party as someone gets hurt and Kieran is blamed for it.
But is problem child, Kieran, really to blame for it? Or could it have been an accident? Is it possible that someone else, or even the mother could be responsible?
Friendships, families, marriages, and a town taking sides, is what drives this story, albeit at a slow pace. The outcome isn't predictable, but it's not really a mindblowing revelation either.
Although the plot caters to every parent's worst nightmare, much of the story is repetitive, and though I found the characters quite complex, I still felt the plot wasn't properly fleshed out.
That said, I have to add that I was hooked early in the story, and whenever I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I enjoyed the twists, the focus on how some seemingly great friendships can also be toxic to some degree, the intricacies of marriage, and how tragedy can affect family dynamics.
Apart from a rather blah ending, I did enjoy this book, and am excited to read more of this author's books.
The story is pretty much about every parent's worst fear. Joanna, her husband, and their troubled seven-year-old son, Kieran, is new in town. Queen-bee Eleanor, the envy of most women in town, is having a birthday party for her angelic daughter, Bella, who will be eight. Joanna is over the moon to hear that Kieran is also invited to Bella's birthday party, since he's been having trouble in school and finds it hard to make friends.
However, things go terribly wrong at the party as someone gets hurt and Kieran is blamed for it.
But is problem child, Kieran, really to blame for it? Or could it have been an accident? Is it possible that someone else, or even the mother could be responsible?
Friendships, families, marriages, and a town taking sides, is what drives this story, albeit at a slow pace. The outcome isn't predictable, but it's not really a mindblowing revelation either.
Although the plot caters to every parent's worst nightmare, much of the story is repetitive, and though I found the characters quite complex, I still felt the plot wasn't properly fleshed out.
That said, I have to add that I was hooked early in the story, and whenever I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I enjoyed the twists, the focus on how some seemingly great friendships can also be toxic to some degree, the intricacies of marriage, and how tragedy can affect family dynamics.
Apart from a rather blah ending, I did enjoy this book, and am excited to read more of this author's books.
June 25, 2024
My Rating: 4.5
Quote: "Maybe every friendship has its course to run, I reflect, no matter how long or short, how straight or twisted."
In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt is told from three points of view:
Natalie - mother of Freya
Eleanor - mother of Bella & Lizzy
Joanna - mother of Kieran
Natalie and Eleanor are best friends. As are Freya and Bella. We begin with Eleanor wanting to throw a class birthday party for Bella. However, there's one problem, she doesn't want to invite Kieran. Kieran is considered to be the troubled new kid in town. Natalie tells her that she cannot exclude one kid. Eleanor reluctantly agrees to invite Kieran.
Fast forward to the day of the birthday party. So much happens before, during, and after the party. During the party, right before the cake, tragedy strikes. Something terrible happens involving Bella, Freya and Kieran. Who's to blame?
In In the Blink of an Eye, friendships will be stretched to the limit. Marriages will be put to the test. Parents will question how well they know their children.
Will marriages survive?
Will friendships stay intact?
Is Kieran really the monster some think he is?
What really happened at the birthday party?
Quote: "Some secrets are worth keeping."
I definitely recommend In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt. Especially, if you enjoy family drama, friendship drama, parenting struggles, and small-town drama. Also, if you like clean books with no to very little foul language, this is a good book for that. I don't recall any foul language. As a reader, I really appreciate that.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt.
Quote: "Maybe every friendship has its course to run, I reflect, no matter how long or short, how straight or twisted."
In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt is told from three points of view:
Natalie - mother of Freya
Eleanor - mother of Bella & Lizzy
Joanna - mother of Kieran
Natalie and Eleanor are best friends. As are Freya and Bella. We begin with Eleanor wanting to throw a class birthday party for Bella. However, there's one problem, she doesn't want to invite Kieran. Kieran is considered to be the troubled new kid in town. Natalie tells her that she cannot exclude one kid. Eleanor reluctantly agrees to invite Kieran.
Fast forward to the day of the birthday party. So much happens before, during, and after the party. During the party, right before the cake, tragedy strikes. Something terrible happens involving Bella, Freya and Kieran. Who's to blame?
In In the Blink of an Eye, friendships will be stretched to the limit. Marriages will be put to the test. Parents will question how well they know their children.
Will marriages survive?
Will friendships stay intact?
Is Kieran really the monster some think he is?
What really happened at the birthday party?
Quote: "Some secrets are worth keeping."
I definitely recommend In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt. Especially, if you enjoy family drama, friendship drama, parenting struggles, and small-town drama. Also, if you like clean books with no to very little foul language, this is a good book for that. I don't recall any foul language. As a reader, I really appreciate that.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review In the Blink of an Eye by Kate Hewitt.
June 3, 2024
In The Blink Of An Eye by Kate Hewitt is a powerful contemporary suspense that had me glued from the start.
The action alternates from various points of view and is in the first person. The reader becomes intimately acquainted with the characters.
As the novel opens, we know that something terrible has happened – but is it deliberate? Or just a tragic accident? As the story unfolds, we must piece the evidence together before the concluding pages.
The novel is about families. There are many different types of family. No one size fits all. The ‘perfect’ family does not exist. There is a family that feels very ‘Stepford wives’ to the reader. It is like a show house but is a show family – very little is truly ‘real.’ There are single parent families and a family that is falling apart due to stress. It is here that we see what true love is.
Parents put their children at the centre of their world. Sometimes the parents bury their heads in the sand to any potential problems. It is far better to identify, and treat, the areas of concern.
We witness the terrifying ordeal that is the school gates! A clique of parents can make life heaven or hell.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and believable. I think many mums will identify with characters that they have met at the school gates – I know I did! It was easy to fell empathy for those cast as outsiders – both the adult and the child.
In The Blink Of An Eye was another powerful offering from Kate Hewitt that I both enjoyed and greedily devoured in just two sittings.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The action alternates from various points of view and is in the first person. The reader becomes intimately acquainted with the characters.
As the novel opens, we know that something terrible has happened – but is it deliberate? Or just a tragic accident? As the story unfolds, we must piece the evidence together before the concluding pages.
The novel is about families. There are many different types of family. No one size fits all. The ‘perfect’ family does not exist. There is a family that feels very ‘Stepford wives’ to the reader. It is like a show house but is a show family – very little is truly ‘real.’ There are single parent families and a family that is falling apart due to stress. It is here that we see what true love is.
Parents put their children at the centre of their world. Sometimes the parents bury their heads in the sand to any potential problems. It is far better to identify, and treat, the areas of concern.
We witness the terrifying ordeal that is the school gates! A clique of parents can make life heaven or hell.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and believable. I think many mums will identify with characters that they have met at the school gates – I know I did! It was easy to fell empathy for those cast as outsiders – both the adult and the child.
In The Blink Of An Eye was another powerful offering from Kate Hewitt that I both enjoyed and greedily devoured in just two sittings.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 2024
Kate Hewitt’s In the Blink of an Eye is
an adult fiction novel that centers on three women—told from three point of views—that have to deal with the aftermath of a little boy who seriously injures a girl in his class on her birthday. And the big thing of this book is that the boy is the child of Joanna, a new woman in town, and the girl is the daughter of Eleanor, and Natalie is Eleanor’s best friend. The story takes place in a rich-style society where Joanna, her husband, and son are oddballs that just don’t seem to fit in.
I’m going to be honest and say that this book was not at all impressive to me. I felt like all three women narrators all seemed to have the same voice style and I was constantly confused even when each chapter foretold who was speaking in each chapter. I didn’t even feel connected to any of the characters and didn’t care how the book ended—I even had my phone read the book aloud to me as I did chores around the house.
The book was very slow paced, in my opinion. I felt like it was just never ending, and the characters were just always doing the same thing in the same area, always talking and thinking the same things. I’m not sure if I would appreciate the book more if I wasn’t told in the summary of the book that the new boy in town was the one who jump started the whole story, but . . . I just feel like there wasn’t anything that really surprised me.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy of In the Blink of an Eye for an honest review.
an adult fiction novel that centers on three women—told from three point of views—that have to deal with the aftermath of a little boy who seriously injures a girl in his class on her birthday. And the big thing of this book is that the boy is the child of Joanna, a new woman in town, and the girl is the daughter of Eleanor, and Natalie is Eleanor’s best friend. The story takes place in a rich-style society where Joanna, her husband, and son are oddballs that just don’t seem to fit in.
I’m going to be honest and say that this book was not at all impressive to me. I felt like all three women narrators all seemed to have the same voice style and I was constantly confused even when each chapter foretold who was speaking in each chapter. I didn’t even feel connected to any of the characters and didn’t care how the book ended—I even had my phone read the book aloud to me as I did chores around the house.
The book was very slow paced, in my opinion. I felt like it was just never ending, and the characters were just always doing the same thing in the same area, always talking and thinking the same things. I’m not sure if I would appreciate the book more if I wasn’t told in the summary of the book that the new boy in town was the one who jump started the whole story, but . . . I just feel like there wasn’t anything that really surprised me.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy of In the Blink of an Eye for an honest review.
July 1, 2024
Wow, what a ride! Detailed review to follow!
Update: Here is the review I promised:
Wow! This book hit very close to home and left me emotionally drained (in a good way)! It should definitely come with trigger warnings due to the subject matter. It involves mental health issues that are not easy to read for some people struggling with those mental health issues. I think I was in the right place in my life to read this book.
I loved everything about this book! This was not my first book by Kate Hewitt and I have loved all books by her so far. However, I have to say that this one is my all-time favorite by her. I have always loved her writing and her way of character building. This book was no different. I believe what made it so captivating for me is that I could relate to the characters (all of them!).
I believe that the book is so powerful because it is written from the POVs of all characters. We get to see behind the curtain of the lives of all characters and the things they struggle with. I felt with them, I cried with them, I wanted to hug them, I wanted to smack them…all of that.
"In the Blink of an Eye" shows what can happen when extraordinary circumstances expose everyone for who they are and that sometimes the family life is not as perfect as someone makes it seem.
This book is definitely on my list of top books in 2024!
Read the entire review here
Update: Here is the review I promised:
Wow! This book hit very close to home and left me emotionally drained (in a good way)! It should definitely come with trigger warnings due to the subject matter. It involves mental health issues that are not easy to read for some people struggling with those mental health issues. I think I was in the right place in my life to read this book.
I loved everything about this book! This was not my first book by Kate Hewitt and I have loved all books by her so far. However, I have to say that this one is my all-time favorite by her. I have always loved her writing and her way of character building. This book was no different. I believe what made it so captivating for me is that I could relate to the characters (all of them!).
I believe that the book is so powerful because it is written from the POVs of all characters. We get to see behind the curtain of the lives of all characters and the things they struggle with. I felt with them, I cried with them, I wanted to hug them, I wanted to smack them…all of that.
"In the Blink of an Eye" shows what can happen when extraordinary circumstances expose everyone for who they are and that sometimes the family life is not as perfect as someone makes it seem.
This book is definitely on my list of top books in 2024!
Read the entire review here
July 9, 2024
My Review:
Loved!!!!! Warning, keep a box Kleenex next to you at all times. This was such a heartbreaking book from the very first page. It had so many delicate subjects that needed to be brought out to light. Yes, the topics are hard hitting but very necessary to discuss. So I don’t even know where to start my review. How about we talk about this author for a minute. I just love her books so much. Whenever I need a a good cry or a book that I can really get in to this author is my go to. I can’t seem to put her books down once I start one of them. Next, let’s talk about the characters. They were all very well written and fit the story perfectly. Every one of them were flawed in some way and reminded me that no one person is perfect by any means. We are all humans and will make mistakes throughout our entire lives. It doesn’t matter what age you are as long as you learned from it. That brings me to the plot. What an enjoyable story this was. It had everything I look for in a great read. Let’s not forget about that Wow of an ending. It left me speechless. I will definitely be thinking about this book for a while. I can’t wait for this authors next book.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Loved!!!!! Warning, keep a box Kleenex next to you at all times. This was such a heartbreaking book from the very first page. It had so many delicate subjects that needed to be brought out to light. Yes, the topics are hard hitting but very necessary to discuss. So I don’t even know where to start my review. How about we talk about this author for a minute. I just love her books so much. Whenever I need a a good cry or a book that I can really get in to this author is my go to. I can’t seem to put her books down once I start one of them. Next, let’s talk about the characters. They were all very well written and fit the story perfectly. Every one of them were flawed in some way and reminded me that no one person is perfect by any means. We are all humans and will make mistakes throughout our entire lives. It doesn’t matter what age you are as long as you learned from it. That brings me to the plot. What an enjoyable story this was. It had everything I look for in a great read. Let’s not forget about that Wow of an ending. It left me speechless. I will definitely be thinking about this book for a while. I can’t wait for this authors next book.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
June 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This was an interesting rainy day mystery, with three different points of view that slowly merge across the course of the story. The mystery that eventually unfolds is certainly interesting and multi-faceted, and not too anxiety inducing for those of us who rip through pages to work out the ending when it's really high drama.
I feel like this book might have benefited a bit from cutting the POVs down, or at least making them a bit more distinct. I found the first half of the book a little tough to get into, and honestly, the second half was miles better as the threads knitted together. I thought this was a really interesting story, but it could have done with expansion in some places and some editing in other places.
I will say I was a little surprised as well by the amount of the book that was a preview for another book, and also how much of it was promos for other books again. I think it's fabulous that there are so many others to read, but nearly a quarter of my app copy was taken up by the previews and promos, which was a little bit much.
All in all, this was a fun little mystery with some interesting twists and turns, and well worth a quick weekend read!
This was an interesting rainy day mystery, with three different points of view that slowly merge across the course of the story. The mystery that eventually unfolds is certainly interesting and multi-faceted, and not too anxiety inducing for those of us who rip through pages to work out the ending when it's really high drama.
I feel like this book might have benefited a bit from cutting the POVs down, or at least making them a bit more distinct. I found the first half of the book a little tough to get into, and honestly, the second half was miles better as the threads knitted together. I thought this was a really interesting story, but it could have done with expansion in some places and some editing in other places.
I will say I was a little surprised as well by the amount of the book that was a preview for another book, and also how much of it was promos for other books again. I think it's fabulous that there are so many others to read, but nearly a quarter of my app copy was taken up by the previews and promos, which was a little bit much.
All in all, this was a fun little mystery with some interesting twists and turns, and well worth a quick weekend read!
July 3, 2024
In the Blink of an Eye is an emotional roller coaster ride with a heartbreaking plot.
Jo and Kieran recently moved to the small town from New York. Eleanor is organizing a birthday party for her daughter Bella. Natalie meanwhile is dealing with the fact that her husband had left her. But then Eleanor's daughter, Bella gets hurt and then she points the finger at Kieran before she was taken to the hospital. Jo must find out what really happened and saving her son's name.
This book is realistic and deals with real life topic issues. The story is mainly told in three women's POV--Eleanor, Natalie and Joanna and how they are each dealing with their own trauma. The book also touches on the topic of ADHD, bullying as well, the author educating the readers about it. Although the beginning was slightly boring, I found the book interesting later on in the book. There were some twists and turns and the ending was completely unexpected!
If you are fans of Jodi Picoult, then I recommend to try Kate Hewitt's books--worth five stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC, Many thanks to Bookouture for the blog tour. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Jo and Kieran recently moved to the small town from New York. Eleanor is organizing a birthday party for her daughter Bella. Natalie meanwhile is dealing with the fact that her husband had left her. But then Eleanor's daughter, Bella gets hurt and then she points the finger at Kieran before she was taken to the hospital. Jo must find out what really happened and saving her son's name.
This book is realistic and deals with real life topic issues. The story is mainly told in three women's POV--Eleanor, Natalie and Joanna and how they are each dealing with their own trauma. The book also touches on the topic of ADHD, bullying as well, the author educating the readers about it. Although the beginning was slightly boring, I found the book interesting later on in the book. There were some twists and turns and the ending was completely unexpected!
If you are fans of Jodi Picoult, then I recommend to try Kate Hewitt's books--worth five stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC, Many thanks to Bookouture for the blog tour. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
July 4, 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “In the Blink of an Eye”. Kate Hewitt is a MUST read author for me. She has an amazing ability of writing both contemporary realistic fiction and historical fiction wonderfully.
This story is told from three moms' point of view.
Eleanor- is the “Queen Bee” of moms. Her house is “perfect” with her two daughters and devoted husband.
Natalie- is newly separated and raising Freya by herself. Her and Eleanor are besties.
Joanna- is new to the neighborhood. She is struggling with raising her son, who has problems in school, and her husband who is overcoming a mental breakdown.
Emotions run high when Eleanor has a birthday party and a child gets gravely injured.
Kate Hewlitt will rip out your heart and put it back together. I look forward to her next read! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#InTheBlinkOfAnEye #KateHewlitt #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “In the Blink of an Eye”. Kate Hewitt is a MUST read author for me. She has an amazing ability of writing both contemporary realistic fiction and historical fiction wonderfully.
This story is told from three moms' point of view.
Eleanor- is the “Queen Bee” of moms. Her house is “perfect” with her two daughters and devoted husband.
Natalie- is newly separated and raising Freya by herself. Her and Eleanor are besties.
Joanna- is new to the neighborhood. She is struggling with raising her son, who has problems in school, and her husband who is overcoming a mental breakdown.
Emotions run high when Eleanor has a birthday party and a child gets gravely injured.
Kate Hewlitt will rip out your heart and put it back together. I look forward to her next read! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#InTheBlinkOfAnEye #KateHewlitt #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks
June 30, 2025
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE was a really great women’s fiction novel by Kate Hewitt that followed the lives and family challenges and friendships of three women. Eleanor outwardly has a perfect life and many consider her the queen bee of the school. Her life is practically Instagram perfect, which her friend Natalie finds privately annoying at times. Her daughter Bella, who she struggled to have after challenges with infertility, is best friends with Natalie’s daughter Freya. Natalie and her husband are recently separated. Freya has selective mutism and when Eleanor plans a huge birthday party for Bella, Natalie feels frustrated at how much Eleanor is asking her to do.
Kiernan is the new kid at school and every parent is complaining about his behavior. His mother Joanna resents how they are being made to feel like outcasts, and is privately struggling with her husband suffering with depression. At the birthday party, a terrible tragedy occurs. But who is blame and what really happened? I thought this was one of my favorite books by Hewitt, with interesting backstories for all three families, and complex family dynamics. 5/5 stars.
Kiernan is the new kid at school and every parent is complaining about his behavior. His mother Joanna resents how they are being made to feel like outcasts, and is privately struggling with her husband suffering with depression. At the birthday party, a terrible tragedy occurs. But who is blame and what really happened? I thought this was one of my favorite books by Hewitt, with interesting backstories for all three families, and complex family dynamics. 5/5 stars.
July 1, 2024
N THE BLINK OF AN EYE by KATE HEWITT is a beautifully written and emotional story that takes place in the small town of Wetherby Connecticutt where a child’s eighth birthday party ends in disaster.
Eleanor Dalton, who strives for perfection as a wife and mother, decides to give her precious daughter Bella a homegrown birthday party, inviting the twenty-eight children from her class, including Kieran, a difficult young boy who has recently moved to the school. She gets her friend and sidekick Natalie, whose daughter Freya is Bella’s best friend, to help her with the party……..
What happens at the party serves to change people’s lives and behaviour as secrets are uncovered and attitudes and ambitions change. Family dynamics and friendships come into play.
I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil things for you.
I highly recommend this emotional roller coaster in which the author unveils her characters’ feelings in her inimitable way.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Eleanor Dalton, who strives for perfection as a wife and mother, decides to give her precious daughter Bella a homegrown birthday party, inviting the twenty-eight children from her class, including Kieran, a difficult young boy who has recently moved to the school. She gets her friend and sidekick Natalie, whose daughter Freya is Bella’s best friend, to help her with the party……..
What happens at the party serves to change people’s lives and behaviour as secrets are uncovered and attitudes and ambitions change. Family dynamics and friendships come into play.
I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil things for you.
I highly recommend this emotional roller coaster in which the author unveils her characters’ feelings in her inimitable way.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
July 2, 2024
Liked ✅
- Multiple POV’s
- Character introspection
- Epilogue POV
Didn't Like ❌
- Slow paced
Thoughts 💭
Off the start this book gave me Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty vibes. After the initial incident I realized how each character played a far more in depth role in the events leading up to the incident.
The story is told from multiple povs showing us traits and habits from all the characters that led to mistakes that could have been prevented. The character introspection was my favourite aspect of this book. As a reader you witness growth and massive changes in all of them.
I did find the pace of the book on the slow side. The book was not meant to be a mystery like I originally thought, and I loved that quality of it. I also loved the POV of the epilogue, it brought another layer of truth to the incident.
Heads up to Kindle readers the last 15-20% of the book is promotional excerpts and descriptions of other books by Kate Hewitt. It threw off my percentage and how long the book was actually going to take.
- Multiple POV’s
- Character introspection
- Epilogue POV
Didn't Like ❌
- Slow paced
Thoughts 💭
Off the start this book gave me Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty vibes. After the initial incident I realized how each character played a far more in depth role in the events leading up to the incident.
The story is told from multiple povs showing us traits and habits from all the characters that led to mistakes that could have been prevented. The character introspection was my favourite aspect of this book. As a reader you witness growth and massive changes in all of them.
I did find the pace of the book on the slow side. The book was not meant to be a mystery like I originally thought, and I loved that quality of it. I also loved the POV of the epilogue, it brought another layer of truth to the incident.
Heads up to Kindle readers the last 15-20% of the book is promotional excerpts and descriptions of other books by Kate Hewitt. It threw off my percentage and how long the book was actually going to take.
July 4, 2024
When a mom, facing family’s difficulties, moves into a quiet Connecticut suburb with her behaviorally atypical son, acceptance from school staff and local parents proves to be a challenge. When the unthinkable happens to the birthday girl an outdoor birthday party, there is enough guilt and blame to go around in never ending circles.
Very quickly, the new boy is cast as the deliberate perpetrator of the crime, and becomes an instantaneous pariah.
Kate Hewitt has written a cautionary tale with important lessons to be learned. Rush to judgment, parental responsibility, boundaries of friendship, acceptance of others with their flaws and “warts”, alcoholism, marital discord, kindness, and the meaning of love are addressed and deftly woven into an interesting and thought provoking plot. Who among us cannot identify with people doing their best just to fit in?
This book was published on July first so it’s available right now. Four deserving stars for a good read. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Very quickly, the new boy is cast as the deliberate perpetrator of the crime, and becomes an instantaneous pariah.
Kate Hewitt has written a cautionary tale with important lessons to be learned. Rush to judgment, parental responsibility, boundaries of friendship, acceptance of others with their flaws and “warts”, alcoholism, marital discord, kindness, and the meaning of love are addressed and deftly woven into an interesting and thought provoking plot. Who among us cannot identify with people doing their best just to fit in?
This book was published on July first so it’s available right now. Four deserving stars for a good read. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2024
The title is incredibly fitting for this book and will definitely take your emotions on a ride as a parent. Get ready for a wild ride as you read through the situation via multiple POVs about a situation that turns numerous lives upside down and inside out.
Throughout the book, I kept feeling my heartache grow as assumptions abundantly grew focused around the accident. All it takes is one person to say something and it rolls down the hill, snowballing into something too big to contain. The characters were very well-developed and easy to relate to. Some I wanted to be angry with, some I was disappointed, and others made me feel incredibly sad. Their outer appearances hide an incredible amount of darkness, untruth, and fear.
As a mother, I have felt the emotions that swirled around women who are trying to live life, facing marital difficulties, and several other real-life traumatic events in addition to the accident that each of their children had a part in. The book is a quick-paced read that keeps you submerged into the drama to the very end.
Throughout the book, I kept feeling my heartache grow as assumptions abundantly grew focused around the accident. All it takes is one person to say something and it rolls down the hill, snowballing into something too big to contain. The characters were very well-developed and easy to relate to. Some I wanted to be angry with, some I was disappointed, and others made me feel incredibly sad. Their outer appearances hide an incredible amount of darkness, untruth, and fear.
As a mother, I have felt the emotions that swirled around women who are trying to live life, facing marital difficulties, and several other real-life traumatic events in addition to the accident that each of their children had a part in. The book is a quick-paced read that keeps you submerged into the drama to the very end.
March 26, 2025
This is a story about three mothers and their children. Joanna and her young son Kieron have recently moved to a new area and a new school. Eleanor has a daughter Bella in the same class as Kieron. It is Bella’s birthday party and all the class are invited. Natalie, who is best friends with Eleanor, and her daughter Freya are among the people there. Natalie was left in charge of the children but as she takes her eye of them to take a phone call she hears screams and one of the children is found lying face down. At the school gates next morning Joanna finds that everyone believes that Kieron was responsible. Was it him or someone else? Was it an accident? Joanna is determined to find out. The story was told from the perspective of the three mothers and we soon realise there are many hidden secrets to be revealed. Another book by Kate Hewitt that had me totally gripped. A really good read.
Thanks to a Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to a Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 3, 2024
This is a well written book that captures the often-difficult world of female friendships and how it can impact the families. Joanna arrives to pick up her son at a birthday party when another mother points at her and says, "this is all Kieran's fault". A little girl is seriously injured, and people make assumptions without any knowledge of what really happened. Navigating through your child's world can be filled with drama, cruelty, and judgement. Every child is different, and every family is different. It looks at how people can pretend to be someone that they are not just to impress others. This is a well written portrayal of relationships between friends, couples and families. I really enjoyed this heartfelt book and highly recommend it. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion.
May 25, 2024
After moving to a new location, the protagonist's son is having difficulty settling down, so she is relieved when he is invited to a children's event. Until things go horribly wrong, a little girl is badly hurt, and her son is found to be in at the centre of the brouhaha.
But can what is being alleged here possibly be true? Surely he isn't capable of such behaviour? As a parent, some truths can be hard to accept, but what IS the truth here?
This is a compelling story about how a child's behaviour can stretch the limits of parental love. Unless that love is either clear-eyed or unlimited. Or indeed, perhaps both...A good piece of storytelling, this gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
But can what is being alleged here possibly be true? Surely he isn't capable of such behaviour? As a parent, some truths can be hard to accept, but what IS the truth here?
This is a compelling story about how a child's behaviour can stretch the limits of parental love. Unless that love is either clear-eyed or unlimited. Or indeed, perhaps both...A good piece of storytelling, this gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews