The Instant When Everything is Perfect

by Jessica Barksdale Inclán

Mia thought she had everything-a thriving career, a wonderful husband, and two beautiful sons. But illness shakes her out of her comfort zone when her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. At her mother's bedside, she meets someone whose presence seems to fill a void in her, a void she wasn't even aware existed.

Robert is happily convinced he's going to spend his life alone until he meets Mia, who makes him question everything. As a surgeon, he's helped many women put their lives back together. And despite his compelling feelings about Mia, he doesn't want to make hers fall apart.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Amazon, Womens Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jessica Barksdale Inclán's sixteenth novel, What the Moon Did, and her first short story collection, Trick of the Porch Light, were published in 2023. Her novels include Her Daughter’s Eyes, The Play's the Thing, and The Burning Hour.

A Pushcart Prize and Best-of-the-Net nominee, her short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in or are forthcoming in the The Sun, Salt Hill Journal, Tahoma Review, and So to Speak. Her work has been recognized and honored by The Sewanee Review, The Wigleaf, The North American Review, and The Ocotillo Review

She taught composition, literature, and creative writing at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California and continues to teach novel writing online for UCLA Extension and in the online MFA program for Southern New Hampshire University.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.

For more information, go to: http://www.jessicabarksdaleinclan.com

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything is NOT perfect with this sixth novel!! I can't help but question "What happened?" I've read all five of Ms. Inclan's previous novels and gave them glowing reviews. This story was so boring, I had to force myself to finish it. The plot was mumble-jumbled, the characters ineffective, the story line was boring and the writing severely lacked Ms. Inclan's usual flair and pizzaz!!
I never thought I'd see the day I'd write a less than stellar review for this author, but disappointly, there is a first time for everything.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book: a slightly different take on infidelity, along with a brilliant perspective of mother/daughter relationships. An easy read, enjoyable characters.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was all right. To say that I liked it is going a smidge far. I liked Mia, I liked Sally and Robert, but it just wasn't enough. These things that happened are what would probably happen in real life except for the overly sweet and abruptly cut off ending. Chick lit is always fun and breezy, but you know it's not that good when, half way through, you're thinking, "Somebody just fuck somebody!"

[Samaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre

For some reason, I was unable to really warm to the characters in this book. None of them were unlikable, I just found the entire book to be boring and "meh". I found myself 'skimming' rather than reading and finished the book but only because I was able to 'skim' past a lot of 'filler' that didn't add much to the story.

[CAROLYN J. PHELPS · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me think

I don't think I ever knew for sure how the book would end. There were times when I thought Mia would stay with Ford and then times I was sure she'd leave him for Robert. I guess all good things work out for those who wait.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was tough. It was interesting to read in the third person present-tense, which is unusual. The characters were interesting and the book pulled me along, but maybe not “in.”

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. I want to thank Jessica for sending it to me. While I was reading this book I also had a Bi-lateral Mastectomy like Sally. Unlike Sally, I am having reconstructive surgery done right away. I will also be going for Chemo soon. Unfortunetly for me, I have to have a third surgery because there are still cancer cells to get out first. This book helped me understand more of what I may go through during Chemo. Unlike Sally, who stopped her Chemo, I plan to go through with it and the Radiation afterwards. I have 3 wonderful children and 7 beautiful grandchildren that I want to be with for as long as God lets me.

Thank you again, Jessica, for such a wonderful book and keep writing the great books, because I will continue buying them to read.

[MaryRhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!!!

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to enjoy this story. Mia just seemed so passive. I actually was surprised that she was the eldest daughter. But as I continued reading the characters intrigued me; I found myself wanting to know them better. The decisions, feelings and heartache that Sally goes through in dealing with her cancer was an eye opener for me. Emotionally the story is draining and you begin to wonder if there will be a happily ever after. The characters are well developed and believable, they are not perfect and make many mistakes but life goes on.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first novel I've read from this author. I did enjoy the book. There were some parts that I skimmed, but overall, the author kept me wanting to read and learn about the characters. I enjoyed Mia a lot. I felt that I could relate to some of her circumstances.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't say it was the deepest book I've read, but I liked the writing style. The plot develops from the perspectives of three different characters and it takes pieces of each to complete the whole. A good beach read.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I really have enjoyed most of Jessica Barksdale Inclan's books.

[Brenda Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is story about a marriage that dissolved from neglect. It was sad. It was also well written and nicely told.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story line based on indiscretions in marriage and reactions towards breast cancer. Really makes you think about how these situations may affect you.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing wrong with the book, some good parts. Not something that really grabbed me.