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59 Minutes: A Novel
The internationally bestselling author of the “brilliant, gripping must-read” (Glamour) Try Not to Breathe brings suspenseful thrills in this unputdownable novel following three women as they face an incoming nuclear attack.
Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a test.
Carrie is a young mother desperate to reunite with her daughter. Frankie, newly pregnant, faces a romantic vacation that takes a terrifying turn. Then there’s the enigmatic older woman determined to protect her teenage daughter, Bunny, no matter what.
Across South England, these three women must navigate survival amidst chaos when the country receives a nuclear bomb alert. With only 59 minutes before mass destruction, will they make it to their loved ones in time?
Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a test.
Carrie is a young mother desperate to reunite with her daughter. Frankie, newly pregnant, faces a romantic vacation that takes a terrifying turn. Then there’s the enigmatic older woman determined to protect her teenage daughter, Bunny, no matter what.
Across South England, these three women must navigate survival amidst chaos when the country receives a nuclear bomb alert. With only 59 minutes before mass destruction, will they make it to their loved ones in time?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2025
398 people are currently reading
16908 people want to read
About the author
Holly Seddon
11 books891 followersHolly Seddon is the international bestselling author of TRY NOT TO BREATHE, DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES, LOVE WILL TEAR US APART, THE HIT LIST, THE WOMAN ON THE BRIDGE and THE SHORT STRAW.
After a childhood spent moving around the English countryside and obsessing over books and music, she later became a journalist and editor. She has lived in London and Amsterdam and now lives in Kent with her family. She has an MA in Creative Writing.
Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast. You can find her on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor.
After a childhood spent moving around the English countryside and obsessing over books and music, she later became a journalist and editor. She has lived in London and Amsterdam and now lives in Kent with her family. She has an MA in Creative Writing.
Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast. You can find her on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 818 reviews
January 20, 2025
Just picture the scene - you’re going about your normal everyday life, when your cell phone suddenly starts emitting a loud screeching sound, as does everyone else’s in the vicinity. Picking up the device, you see a message warning that nuclear missiles are due to hit Southern England in 59 minutes, along with the words, seek immediate shelter, THIS IS NOT A TEST !
It’s easy to see the total panic that would ensue, and the mayhem that would follow. The storyline follows 3 main characters, all of them women, each of them determined to make it back to their families before the 59 minutes is up. Their journeys would normally be pretty simple, but with a lost schoolchild seeking help, a teenage daughter suddenly going missing, and dangerous criminals on the prowl, there is danger at every corner.
Each chapter is dedicated to one of the characters - there’s Carrie, desperately trying to get back to her partner and young daughter amidst the increasing pandemonium that is overtaking London. Elsewhere, newly pregnant Frankie and boyfriend Otis are on their way to a relaxing break on Dartmoor. Then there’s Mrs Dabb, who has just discovered that her 13 year old daughter has bunked off school hours before, and no one has any idea where she is! Can any of these women make it back to their loved ones as the clock ticks down to what could be the start of Armageddon?
It would be great if one could dismiss this scenario as belonging to the realms of fantasy, but sadly it appears increasingly likely in the coming years, which lends authenticity to “59 Minutes”.
This is a scary but compelling read, where the action is charged with tension, portraying as it does, the very best and the very worst of the human psyche. It’s a case of you don’t really want to know the consequences, but you can’t look away. Recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
It’s easy to see the total panic that would ensue, and the mayhem that would follow. The storyline follows 3 main characters, all of them women, each of them determined to make it back to their families before the 59 minutes is up. Their journeys would normally be pretty simple, but with a lost schoolchild seeking help, a teenage daughter suddenly going missing, and dangerous criminals on the prowl, there is danger at every corner.
Each chapter is dedicated to one of the characters - there’s Carrie, desperately trying to get back to her partner and young daughter amidst the increasing pandemonium that is overtaking London. Elsewhere, newly pregnant Frankie and boyfriend Otis are on their way to a relaxing break on Dartmoor. Then there’s Mrs Dabb, who has just discovered that her 13 year old daughter has bunked off school hours before, and no one has any idea where she is! Can any of these women make it back to their loved ones as the clock ticks down to what could be the start of Armageddon?
It would be great if one could dismiss this scenario as belonging to the realms of fantasy, but sadly it appears increasingly likely in the coming years, which lends authenticity to “59 Minutes”.
This is a scary but compelling read, where the action is charged with tension, portraying as it does, the very best and the very worst of the human psyche. It’s a case of you don’t really want to know the consequences, but you can’t look away. Recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
November 15, 2025
1/5 ★
🚨 Unpopular Opinion 🚨
In 59 Minutes, three women along with the rest of South England get a chilling alert on their phones that a nuclear attack is coming. They have under an hour to fight through chaos and reach their families before impact. The countdown is on… ⏰
Sounds thrilling, right? I thought it would be so good that I purchased it through Book of the Month as an add-on.
I hate giving books one star knowing how much work an author puts into writing them, but this was very disappointing. My ratings are largely based on my enjoyment while reading, and I just didn’t enjoy this. I’m not sure I can name a single positive aside from the amazing premise.
This would’ve worked so much better as a short story. Instead, as a full novel, it DRAGGED. The story is told through three perspectives, but they all end up feeling very similar. One’s trying to get home from work to her wife and kid before the strike, one’s trying to get to the grocery store and back to her vacation home before the strike, and one’s trying to find her daughter and get back home before the strike.
Since each chapter in the first 200ish pages covers only 3 minutes of the 59 minutes, we’re stuck in endless streams of the characters’ thoughts about what they’re seeing, how others are reacting, and their pasts now that their lives might end. I think this approach could work with a different author, but I didn’t enjoy the writing here. Realistically, if a nuclear bomb were about to go off, no one would be having this level of reflective or caring thoughts.
The prose is focused on trying to be deeply literary rather than creating any real urgency or thrills, which is odd for a book marketed as a thriller. There were attempts at action, but most felt cheap, like a character randomly falling on train tracks or a man grabbing and threatening a side character for no reason.
The chapters are short, but they’re broken up so much that many feel pointless and exist only to follow the rigid three minute structure. A few were literally just a character walking down a street, looking at a building, seeing a family or car, and drifting into a page or two of memory. It just doesn’t feel believable under the circumstances.
This book desperately needed two of these perspectives swapped for people in different roles during the crisis, like someone in government handling the emergency or a police officer managing crowds, with more details about what is going on behind the scenes. This would make the thoughts feel more natural and realistic and add variety to chapters.
Don’t even get me started on the twist in part two. I wanted to throw my book after everything I pushed through just to get there. Full transparency: I skimmed after that point, and the twist in part three made me shake my head even more.
I have other thoughts, but I don’t want this to get any longer than it already is. I don’t recommend this one, but I do see a lot of positive reviews. This could just be a me thing.
I’ve been desperately looking for a new favorite apocalypse/dystopian book. If you have other recommendations, please comment!👇
🚨 Unpopular Opinion 🚨
In 59 Minutes, three women along with the rest of South England get a chilling alert on their phones that a nuclear attack is coming. They have under an hour to fight through chaos and reach their families before impact. The countdown is on… ⏰
Sounds thrilling, right? I thought it would be so good that I purchased it through Book of the Month as an add-on.
I hate giving books one star knowing how much work an author puts into writing them, but this was very disappointing. My ratings are largely based on my enjoyment while reading, and I just didn’t enjoy this. I’m not sure I can name a single positive aside from the amazing premise.
This would’ve worked so much better as a short story. Instead, as a full novel, it DRAGGED. The story is told through three perspectives, but they all end up feeling very similar. One’s trying to get home from work to her wife and kid before the strike, one’s trying to get to the grocery store and back to her vacation home before the strike, and one’s trying to find her daughter and get back home before the strike.
Since each chapter in the first 200ish pages covers only 3 minutes of the 59 minutes, we’re stuck in endless streams of the characters’ thoughts about what they’re seeing, how others are reacting, and their pasts now that their lives might end. I think this approach could work with a different author, but I didn’t enjoy the writing here. Realistically, if a nuclear bomb were about to go off, no one would be having this level of reflective or caring thoughts.
The prose is focused on trying to be deeply literary rather than creating any real urgency or thrills, which is odd for a book marketed as a thriller. There were attempts at action, but most felt cheap, like a character randomly falling on train tracks or a man grabbing and threatening a side character for no reason.
The chapters are short, but they’re broken up so much that many feel pointless and exist only to follow the rigid three minute structure. A few were literally just a character walking down a street, looking at a building, seeing a family or car, and drifting into a page or two of memory. It just doesn’t feel believable under the circumstances.
This book desperately needed two of these perspectives swapped for people in different roles during the crisis, like someone in government handling the emergency or a police officer managing crowds, with more details about what is going on behind the scenes. This would make the thoughts feel more natural and realistic and add variety to chapters.
Don’t even get me started on the twist in part two. I wanted to throw my book after everything I pushed through just to get there. Full transparency: I skimmed after that point, and the twist in part three made me shake my head even more.
I have other thoughts, but I don’t want this to get any longer than it already is. I don’t recommend this one, but I do see a lot of positive reviews. This could just be a me thing.
I’ve been desperately looking for a new favorite apocalypse/dystopian book. If you have other recommendations, please comment!👇
November 20, 2025
kind of at a loss for how to rate this? i loved the premise of it - everyone in south London gets an emergency text message that a nuclear strike is set to happen in 59 minutes and in turn, chaos ensues. we then follow 3 different storylines of people trying to make it home. the last 50-ish pages were so confusing to me, i could not (and i still can't) figure out how each person was connected and it just left me feeling sad? idk, kind of a bummer!
November 18, 2025
Outlier Review!
🚨 Part One-Alert!
A solid, adrenaline fueled start!!
So what went wrong?
If a Nuclear bomb were to strike central London, a fireball would vaporize more than a kilometer of the city killing millions of people in seconds- and they would be the LUCKY ones.
Cell phone alert 🚨 ‼️
“Nuclear Missile Threat to South England. 59 Minutes Until Impact. Seek Immediate Shelter. This is NOT a test.”
“It Can’t be Real! Can it?”
Three Women desperate to reunite with their loved ones before the END:
Carrie who has her partner Emma, and their 3 year old daughter, Clementine waiting at home.
Frankie, newly pregnant, becomes separated from the baby’s father, Otis, while seeking supplies.
Mrs. Dabb, whose daughter, Bunny, doesn’t get off the school bus when she should.
EACH chapter counting down how much time is left for them to reach them at a lightning fast pace! ⚡️
Showing us the GOOD and UGLY parts of humanity facing a crisis. Realistically portraying the FEAR and HOPELESSNESS of the situation-the characters have seen the devastation in Ukraine and are terrified.
At 52% of the book we are 18 MINUTES UNTIL IMPACT
At 62% we are at 6 MINUTES UNTIL IMPACT
I couldn’t put this book down!
And then….PART 2 (The Attack) and Part 3 (The Aftermath)
Each earned 2 Stars ⭐️
Both of these parts were a complete MISS for me for two reasons:
The first was that the book took a turn that wasn’t necessary and took the book in a different direction and that twist just didn’t work for me.
The author chose to use a certain character to tie the three women together, and I felt like the story would have been better without this person.
These could have just been three women each handling this impossible situation in their own way-That is the only connection they needed.
Instead the story became disjointed and confusing as it jumped back and forth in time, trying to explain this character’s connection to each woman.
So disappointing after that exciting start!
Now Available
Thank You to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
🚨 Part One-Alert!
A solid, adrenaline fueled start!!
So what went wrong?
If a Nuclear bomb were to strike central London, a fireball would vaporize more than a kilometer of the city killing millions of people in seconds- and they would be the LUCKY ones.
Cell phone alert 🚨 ‼️
“Nuclear Missile Threat to South England. 59 Minutes Until Impact. Seek Immediate Shelter. This is NOT a test.”
“It Can’t be Real! Can it?”
Three Women desperate to reunite with their loved ones before the END:
Carrie who has her partner Emma, and their 3 year old daughter, Clementine waiting at home.
Frankie, newly pregnant, becomes separated from the baby’s father, Otis, while seeking supplies.
Mrs. Dabb, whose daughter, Bunny, doesn’t get off the school bus when she should.
EACH chapter counting down how much time is left for them to reach them at a lightning fast pace! ⚡️
Showing us the GOOD and UGLY parts of humanity facing a crisis. Realistically portraying the FEAR and HOPELESSNESS of the situation-the characters have seen the devastation in Ukraine and are terrified.
At 52% of the book we are 18 MINUTES UNTIL IMPACT
At 62% we are at 6 MINUTES UNTIL IMPACT
I couldn’t put this book down!
And then….PART 2 (The Attack) and Part 3 (The Aftermath)
Each earned 2 Stars ⭐️
Both of these parts were a complete MISS for me for two reasons:
The first was that the book took a turn that wasn’t necessary and took the book in a different direction and that twist just didn’t work for me.
The author chose to use a certain character to tie the three women together, and I felt like the story would have been better without this person.
These could have just been three women each handling this impossible situation in their own way-That is the only connection they needed.
Instead the story became disjointed and confusing as it jumped back and forth in time, trying to explain this character’s connection to each woman.
So disappointing after that exciting start!
Now Available
Thank You to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
September 20, 2025
I chose this ARC from a review I saw on a Facebook group. I was hesitant, as I'm always skeptical about hyped up books. Well, this person was not wrong!
The story revolves around three main characters, Carrie, Frankie, and Mrs. Dabb. It flows in rotation with Chapter 1 is Carrie, Chapter 2 is Frankie, Chapter 3 is Mrs. Dabb, and so on throughout the book.
A national security message appears on everyone’s phones, warning of an incoming nuclear missile attack in 59 minutes. My heart was racing, and I could not put this book down, and appreciated the short Chapters. You get to see all three of them running around for different reasons, feeling their panic. Each one has their own story, and it all works beautifully.
I have to note that Carrie’s inner monologue about getting to Clementine in time, holding her, etc., felt a little repetitive and slowed down those chapters.
Near the end, I had to reread four chapters because I thought I’d missed something huge. But if I had just kept going, the next chapter cleared it all up with a massive plot twist. The last few chapters do jump around quite a bit, but it’s worth it.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
The story revolves around three main characters, Carrie, Frankie, and Mrs. Dabb. It flows in rotation with Chapter 1 is Carrie, Chapter 2 is Frankie, Chapter 3 is Mrs. Dabb, and so on throughout the book.
A national security message appears on everyone’s phones, warning of an incoming nuclear missile attack in 59 minutes. My heart was racing, and I could not put this book down, and appreciated the short Chapters. You get to see all three of them running around for different reasons, feeling their panic. Each one has their own story, and it all works beautifully.
I have to note that Carrie’s inner monologue about getting to Clementine in time, holding her, etc., felt a little repetitive and slowed down those chapters.
Near the end, I had to reread four chapters because I thought I’d missed something huge. But if I had just kept going, the next chapter cleared it all up with a massive plot twist. The last few chapters do jump around quite a bit, but it’s worth it.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
September 27, 2025
Holly Seddon 👏👏
One of my all time favourite thrillers is Try Not to Breathe by this author, if you haven’t read it then you need to change that. So it was a no brainer that I would read this, I am just sorry that it sat on my NetGalley shelf for so long. This book is incredible and deserves so much love. I will be telling everyone to read it.
What would you do if you had 59 minutes to live? The south coast of England and London has been warned that a nuclear strike is heading their way, it is not a drill, seek shelter now. Cue absolute pandemonium. No time for authorities to plan, suddenly everyone in these areas is trying to get home to those that they love, and will stop at nothing to get there.
You can feel the fear, the intensity of the situation on the pages as you read. The raw emotion of people who are terrified. It is so realistic. What was going to happen? Will anyone survive and if they do how will they live without power, water, all the things you need to live?
This is brilliant, a real thought provoking book that I couldn’t get enough of.
Thank you to Orion Publishing for my copy to read. Will be a favourite this year. Publishes on September 25th, get yourself a copy.
One of my all time favourite thrillers is Try Not to Breathe by this author, if you haven’t read it then you need to change that. So it was a no brainer that I would read this, I am just sorry that it sat on my NetGalley shelf for so long. This book is incredible and deserves so much love. I will be telling everyone to read it.
What would you do if you had 59 minutes to live? The south coast of England and London has been warned that a nuclear strike is heading their way, it is not a drill, seek shelter now. Cue absolute pandemonium. No time for authorities to plan, suddenly everyone in these areas is trying to get home to those that they love, and will stop at nothing to get there.
You can feel the fear, the intensity of the situation on the pages as you read. The raw emotion of people who are terrified. It is so realistic. What was going to happen? Will anyone survive and if they do how will they live without power, water, all the things you need to live?
This is brilliant, a real thought provoking book that I couldn’t get enough of.
Thank you to Orion Publishing for my copy to read. Will be a favourite this year. Publishes on September 25th, get yourself a copy.
January 10, 2026
Begins with a bang 💥ends with a fizzle 👎🏻with a mucky middle to bridge the two. 🌉
The killer premise is what enticed me to pick this up and the beginning delivers hence the extra star. However, this novel then takes a turn venturing into territory that doesn't fit. It gives the sense that this should have been two separate stories instead of one with an identity crisis. I could not appreciate the wonkiness nor could I ignore it. It felt odd and didn't work.
Everyone receives a text message in England stating that the country is about to be under attack on a nuclear scale in 59 minutes. Basically, grab your loved ones, supplies, take cover, hope for the best, but you're probably going to die. If the initial strike doesn't kill you the conditions in the aftermath will. Sounds like a page turner, right?! Well, the beginning is without a doubt. The rest had me sighing like how did this fall apart. 😮💨 The narrative follows three women in their quest to locate family, safety, and survive. If the author had kept to that simple direction instead of attempting to throw a wrench in the narrative this novel would have been stellar. Instead, the attempts at misdirecting the reader cause the plot to crash and burn.
🚁
Please check out other reviews for this one if the cool cover art and premise sound like your jam.
Thank you to Atria | Emily Bestler Books for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The killer premise is what enticed me to pick this up and the beginning delivers hence the extra star. However, this novel then takes a turn venturing into territory that doesn't fit. It gives the sense that this should have been two separate stories instead of one with an identity crisis. I could not appreciate the wonkiness nor could I ignore it. It felt odd and didn't work.
Everyone receives a text message in England stating that the country is about to be under attack on a nuclear scale in 59 minutes. Basically, grab your loved ones, supplies, take cover, hope for the best, but you're probably going to die. If the initial strike doesn't kill you the conditions in the aftermath will. Sounds like a page turner, right?! Well, the beginning is without a doubt. The rest had me sighing like how did this fall apart. 😮💨 The narrative follows three women in their quest to locate family, safety, and survive. If the author had kept to that simple direction instead of attempting to throw a wrench in the narrative this novel would have been stellar. Instead, the attempts at misdirecting the reader cause the plot to crash and burn.
🚁
Please check out other reviews for this one if the cool cover art and premise sound like your jam.
Thank you to Atria | Emily Bestler Books for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 3, 2025
WHOA. Wholly original and yet also terrifyingly real, 59 Minutes brought to life both the good and the bad sides to our society and the fear, egotism, and love that ultimately drives us all. Not only that, but it was done with a raw sense of adrenaline-fueled chaos and true-to-life impending doom that popped off each and every page. From the clockwork-like countdown to the driving edge of palpable emotion, I was quickly pulled into the complex yet seemingly straightforward premise with ease. You see, through the use of multiple plot lines and POVs, Seddon delivered a grand slam of a storyline as it twisted and turned. Taking a handful of individuals’ experiences and crafting it into a gripping story that gave a deeply thought-provoking pause to my evening, I couldn’t put it down once I flipped that very first page. After all, I just had to know what was to become of each of these compelling narrators and their families.
Done and dusted, from the tense atmosphere to the many heartbreaking scenes, I actually had to stop myself from skimming as I raced through the short, cliffhanger chapters at speed. And let me tell you…those twists?! It’s been a while since I read any that were quite as earth-shattering at these. Making me want to re-read parts of the book just to see what I’d missed, saying I was shocked would be the understatement of the year. Speaking of the year, this book easily made the list for my favorite thrillers of 2025. Twisty, heart-stopping, and poignant, it even had me crying by the end. You see, not only were the events chilling, but they felt undeniably real. Now I’m just hoping that this book ends up on a screen someday soon. Fulfilling our love to explore existential dread, it blew me away with dire circumstances that were described in a relatable way. So go on…grab it now. I guarantee that you’ll love it just as much as I did. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a test.
Carrie is a young mother desperate to reunite with her daughter. Frankie, newly pregnant, faces a romantic vacation that takes a terrifying turn. Then there’s the enigmatic older woman determined to protect her teenage daughter, Bunny, no matter what.
Across South England, these three women must navigate survival amidst chaos when the country receives a nuclear bomb alert. With only 59 minutes before mass destruction, will they make it to their loved ones in time?
Thank you to Holly Seddon and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 18, 2025
Content warning: missing child, pregnancy, kidnapping, blood, violence, mention of: suicide, gun violence, rape
Done and dusted, from the tense atmosphere to the many heartbreaking scenes, I actually had to stop myself from skimming as I raced through the short, cliffhanger chapters at speed. And let me tell you…those twists?! It’s been a while since I read any that were quite as earth-shattering at these. Making me want to re-read parts of the book just to see what I’d missed, saying I was shocked would be the understatement of the year. Speaking of the year, this book easily made the list for my favorite thrillers of 2025. Twisty, heart-stopping, and poignant, it even had me crying by the end. You see, not only were the events chilling, but they felt undeniably real. Now I’m just hoping that this book ends up on a screen someday soon. Fulfilling our love to explore existential dread, it blew me away with dire circumstances that were described in a relatable way. So go on…grab it now. I guarantee that you’ll love it just as much as I did. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a test.
Carrie is a young mother desperate to reunite with her daughter. Frankie, newly pregnant, faces a romantic vacation that takes a terrifying turn. Then there’s the enigmatic older woman determined to protect her teenage daughter, Bunny, no matter what.
Across South England, these three women must navigate survival amidst chaos when the country receives a nuclear bomb alert. With only 59 minutes before mass destruction, will they make it to their loved ones in time?
Thank you to Holly Seddon and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 18, 2025
Content warning: missing child, pregnancy, kidnapping, blood, violence, mention of: suicide, gun violence, rape
January 23, 2025
This was a truly brilliant premise and was incredibly well executed.
Many of us in the UK will remember receiving an emergency alert on our phones in April 2023 - a test to ensure that a message could be delivered to everyone in the event of a serious emergency or attack.
Well this what Holly Seddon recreates, however this time it is not a test. Everyone in the country receives a message warning of a nuclear attack due to hit the UK in 59 minutes. Given it is 5pm, many people are on their way home and separated from their loved ones. But with an understanding that this is probably your last hour on earth, what would you do to make sure you could see your loved ones just one last time.
The story follows three different women, Carrie stuck in London trying to fight her way home. Frankie, spending her last hour with her partner, Otis, and Mrs Dabb whose daughter has not come back from school.
The three journey's are told in alternating chapters but there is also a major twist towards the end of the book which really surprises the reader and makes you want to instantly read it again!
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group | Orion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I think this book will be massive when it publishes later this year
Many of us in the UK will remember receiving an emergency alert on our phones in April 2023 - a test to ensure that a message could be delivered to everyone in the event of a serious emergency or attack.
Well this what Holly Seddon recreates, however this time it is not a test. Everyone in the country receives a message warning of a nuclear attack due to hit the UK in 59 minutes. Given it is 5pm, many people are on their way home and separated from their loved ones. But with an understanding that this is probably your last hour on earth, what would you do to make sure you could see your loved ones just one last time.
The story follows three different women, Carrie stuck in London trying to fight her way home. Frankie, spending her last hour with her partner, Otis, and Mrs Dabb whose daughter has not come back from school.
The three journey's are told in alternating chapters but there is also a major twist towards the end of the book which really surprises the reader and makes you want to instantly read it again!
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group | Orion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I think this book will be massive when it publishes later this year
November 10, 2025
Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire! At least that’s what the three narrators expect in 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon after a mobile alert warns the public that a nuclear missile will strike the south of England at 6 p.m. What follows is exactly what you’d imagine: fear, chaos, and a desperate scramble for meaning when time suddenly has an expiration date.
This book grabs you right out of the gate. The brief informational intro is all it takes to set the stage and crank up the tension. The premise is both intriguing and terrifying, the kind that could easily keep someone reading straight through, and maybe even cause a few nightmares after. That’s the mark of a story well told, and Ms. Seddon delivers.
Each of the main characters feels distinct, believable, and relatable. You’ll genuinely want to know what happens to them, whether they live or die, and what life will be like afterward. You’ll keep reading because you care, and by the end of the first chapter, you’ll already be invested. I personally would have liked to see one male narrator, or at least someone whose focus wasn’t solely on reuniting with loved ones. Most people probably would make that their goal, but what about a widow whose children live abroad, or a teenager in the foster system with no real home to run to? It’s a small nitpick, but I’d have loved to see those angles explored. Still, the story unfolds exactly as it needs to for the message it’s telling.
The story takes off at a sprint and keeps that strong momentum until about two-thirds of the way through. It slows down unexpectedly at that point. I think it would have benefited from holding that intensity a little longer and tightening the wrap-up.
Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent with this story, and I think most readers will. The premise alone makes it worth picking up and sparks that inevitable question of what we’d each do with our own 59 minutes. I recommend it to readers of suspense and dystopian fiction, as well as those who enjoy strong female narrators and stories that challenge how we might act under impossible pressure.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of 59 Minutes from Atria (Emily Bestler Books) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
This book grabs you right out of the gate. The brief informational intro is all it takes to set the stage and crank up the tension. The premise is both intriguing and terrifying, the kind that could easily keep someone reading straight through, and maybe even cause a few nightmares after. That’s the mark of a story well told, and Ms. Seddon delivers.
Each of the main characters feels distinct, believable, and relatable. You’ll genuinely want to know what happens to them, whether they live or die, and what life will be like afterward. You’ll keep reading because you care, and by the end of the first chapter, you’ll already be invested. I personally would have liked to see one male narrator, or at least someone whose focus wasn’t solely on reuniting with loved ones. Most people probably would make that their goal, but what about a widow whose children live abroad, or a teenager in the foster system with no real home to run to? It’s a small nitpick, but I’d have loved to see those angles explored. Still, the story unfolds exactly as it needs to for the message it’s telling.
The story takes off at a sprint and keeps that strong momentum until about two-thirds of the way through. It slows down unexpectedly at that point. I think it would have benefited from holding that intensity a little longer and tightening the wrap-up.
Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent with this story, and I think most readers will. The premise alone makes it worth picking up and sparks that inevitable question of what we’d each do with our own 59 minutes. I recommend it to readers of suspense and dystopian fiction, as well as those who enjoy strong female narrators and stories that challenge how we might act under impossible pressure.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of 59 Minutes from Atria (Emily Bestler Books) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
December 17, 2025
When a nuclear missile alert gives London and the surrounding areas just 59 minutes to find safety before impact, chaos erupts. As the novel begins, we follow three women from different families as they attempt to navigate the panic and find shelter—or face the end. The premise of this one immediately grabbed my attention, and despite this not being a type of book I typically gravitate toward (most action novels like this one generally don't have the character depth I enjoy), the opening was strong enough that I happily gave it a chance.
Unfortunately, I really struggled with the final stretch. While the first part was engaging, I felt the novel should have wrapped up shortly after the 59-minute countdown instead of continuing for another 70 or so pages. At that point, my interest started to wane, and the story became increasingly confusing due to the large cast of characters and MULTIPLE time jumps.
I also didn’t fully understand why the three women needed to be connected, as it felt unnecessary and ultimately added to my confusion rather than enhancing the story. That choice, along with the execution of the ending, left me disappointed and contributed to a much lower rating than I initially expected based on such a compelling premise.
I understand that I'm in the minority with this less than stellar opinion, so take this review with a grain of salt and give this one a shot if this synopsis appeals to you!
Unfortunately, I really struggled with the final stretch. While the first part was engaging, I felt the novel should have wrapped up shortly after the 59-minute countdown instead of continuing for another 70 or so pages. At that point, my interest started to wane, and the story became increasingly confusing due to the large cast of characters and MULTIPLE time jumps.
I also didn’t fully understand why the three women needed to be connected, as it felt unnecessary and ultimately added to my confusion rather than enhancing the story. That choice, along with the execution of the ending, left me disappointed and contributed to a much lower rating than I initially expected based on such a compelling premise.
I understand that I'm in the minority with this less than stellar opinion, so take this review with a grain of salt and give this one a shot if this synopsis appeals to you!
November 9, 2025
4-5 stars
December 15, 2025
4⭐️ This is an edge of your seat time bomb that I couldn’t put down! Three women in the south of England rush to return to their loved ones when an emergency alert sounds of a nuclear attack in 59 minutes.
Frankie, newly pregnant, Carrie trying to make it home, and Mrs. Dabb trying to find her missing teen daughter before disaster strikes! The book unfolds in alternating chapters between the three, with some past and present chapters the second half.
Well written, tense, and a very surprising last 1/3. I was a little confused near the end but once I got it all figured out, wow!
Thanks NetGalley and Atria publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Frankie, newly pregnant, Carrie trying to make it home, and Mrs. Dabb trying to find her missing teen daughter before disaster strikes! The book unfolds in alternating chapters between the three, with some past and present chapters the second half.
Well written, tense, and a very surprising last 1/3. I was a little confused near the end but once I got it all figured out, wow!
Thanks NetGalley and Atria publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 10, 2025
59 minutes presents a great thought experiment. What would you do if a missile was coming in your direction and you only had 59 minutes until collision? Would you try to run? Go towards family? Loved ones? Would you accept your fate or hope for the best?
It is told in almost a Fredrik Backman way in the sense it all connects in the end, but we mainly follow three lines. A woman that is stranded with no way to get to her girlfriend and daughter, a woman on vacation with her boyfriend and a mother that doesn’t know where her teenage daughter is. The whole city is warned that nuclear missiles will hit the south of London and we go from there.
This book tackles topics like hope(and the lack of it), justice, politics, love, accountability, but above all, this is about human nature. It is so believable, I could see clearly that many things that happen in this book would be accurate should a situation like this happen in real life. Some parts are infuriating, but again, it is what would probably happen.
I want to talk about two specific things that happen towards the end but I obviously can’t since it’s a spoiler and the book isn’t even out yet, but it’s probably a me problem.
59 minutes is a good, engaging, thought provoking book. It is a good pick for people that like literary fiction and love to read about normal people and humanity in general. It is quite similar to Don’t Look Up(the movie) if it focused on the normal citizens and not so much the media and politics.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
It is told in almost a Fredrik Backman way in the sense it all connects in the end, but we mainly follow three lines. A woman that is stranded with no way to get to her girlfriend and daughter, a woman on vacation with her boyfriend and a mother that doesn’t know where her teenage daughter is. The whole city is warned that nuclear missiles will hit the south of London and we go from there.
This book tackles topics like hope(and the lack of it), justice, politics, love, accountability, but above all, this is about human nature. It is so believable, I could see clearly that many things that happen in this book would be accurate should a situation like this happen in real life. Some parts are infuriating, but again, it is what would probably happen.
I want to talk about two specific things that happen towards the end but I obviously can’t since it’s a spoiler and the book isn’t even out yet, but it’s probably a me problem.
59 minutes is a good, engaging, thought provoking book. It is a good pick for people that like literary fiction and love to read about normal people and humanity in general. It is quite similar to Don’t Look Up(the movie) if it focused on the normal citizens and not so much the media and politics.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
September 30, 2025
Yes this was good….
The first part, from pre alert to the actual alert ( one of the characters was actually walking past our building pre alert and was then impossible not to imagine it was kinda happening out the back window, got to say the author knows these streets well as was perfect in everything mentioned re the area ) was outstanding, it was scary, realistic and done in a way you could feel the tension, as the countdown began we focused on 3 sets of characters, their lives and how they were trying to find and/or get back to their loved ones, it was heady and compulsive and terrifying
Then after the event it went a bit ‘off’ for me and slightly hard to follow as the 3 sets of people we found out were all involved in some way and it lost a bit of the realism that had been so evident, I have to admit to
not quite knowing who was who in the end but that was me am sure others will follow easily, there was also a couple of continuity errors that maybe have been ‘ironed out’ now
But it was still good and a fascinating read and one that you placed yourself in and thought ‘what would I do?’
The authors letter and acknowledgements were also really interesting to read
The first part, from pre alert to the actual alert ( one of the characters was actually walking past our building pre alert and was then impossible not to imagine it was kinda happening out the back window, got to say the author knows these streets well as was perfect in everything mentioned re the area ) was outstanding, it was scary, realistic and done in a way you could feel the tension, as the countdown began we focused on 3 sets of characters, their lives and how they were trying to find and/or get back to their loved ones, it was heady and compulsive and terrifying
Then after the event it went a bit ‘off’ for me and slightly hard to follow as the 3 sets of people we found out were all involved in some way and it lost a bit of the realism that had been so evident, I have to admit to
not quite knowing who was who in the end but that was me am sure others will follow easily, there was also a couple of continuity errors that maybe have been ‘ironed out’ now
But it was still good and a fascinating read and one that you placed yourself in and thought ‘what would I do?’
The authors letter and acknowledgements were also really interesting to read
November 1, 2025
My photoshop skills are almost as nuclear as Holly Seddon's 59 MINUTES 💣 ⏳
Thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers for this gorgeous copy, seriously one of my favorites covers of the year! I usually do not read action thrillers because it tends to have simple dialogue that tends to sidetrack me from feeling engaged, but Holly Seddon’s 59 MINUTES should be the blueprint for this sub-genre moving forward. 👏 👏 👏
A nuclear alert blares across South England and there’s only 59 minutes until impact. In the chaos, three women race to reach the people they love: Carrie fighting through a panicked London to reunite with her partner and daughter, pregnant Frankie trapped in a nightmare getaway, and Mrs. Dabb desperately searching for her missing 13 year old daughter.
Tense, urgent, and frighteningly plausible, 59 MINUTES is a breathless countdown where every second matters. As streets erupt into fear and violence, humanity’s darkest and brightest instincts collide and survival becomes the only goal. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and unique in an oversaturated genre. I venture via audiobook through @librofm so I highly recommend that route! I’m excited to see what’s next for this new-to-me author! STARS: 4, PUB: 11/18
Thank you @atriabooks @atriathrillers for this gorgeous copy, seriously one of my favorites covers of the year! I usually do not read action thrillers because it tends to have simple dialogue that tends to sidetrack me from feeling engaged, but Holly Seddon’s 59 MINUTES should be the blueprint for this sub-genre moving forward. 👏 👏 👏
A nuclear alert blares across South England and there’s only 59 minutes until impact. In the chaos, three women race to reach the people they love: Carrie fighting through a panicked London to reunite with her partner and daughter, pregnant Frankie trapped in a nightmare getaway, and Mrs. Dabb desperately searching for her missing 13 year old daughter.
Tense, urgent, and frighteningly plausible, 59 MINUTES is a breathless countdown where every second matters. As streets erupt into fear and violence, humanity’s darkest and brightest instincts collide and survival becomes the only goal. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and unique in an oversaturated genre. I venture via audiobook through @librofm so I highly recommend that route! I’m excited to see what’s next for this new-to-me author! STARS: 4, PUB: 11/18
January 17, 2026
Overall, I enjoyed this nail-biter of a dystopian thriller, particularly on audio; however, there were a few things that stood out to me as working really well, and a few that did not work for me.
What worked well:
-gripping, high-octane plot line
-multiple perspectives allowed the reader real insight into just how a situation like that would feel
-mixed media format
-really unique story all around
What didn’t work as well:
-pacing; the beginning and ending are very quick-moving and engaging, but the middle drags a bit
-because of the shifting perspective, I could never quite connect fully to any of the characters but did get a sense of their emotional states in comparison to what mine would be in that moment
-it felt a little long for such an action-focused storyline
🎧 The audio, helmed by Olivia Darnley, did help up the anti both in terms of atmosphere and the characters emotional state. I think it’s probably the best format for this one.
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
What worked well:
-gripping, high-octane plot line
-multiple perspectives allowed the reader real insight into just how a situation like that would feel
-mixed media format
-really unique story all around
What didn’t work as well:
-pacing; the beginning and ending are very quick-moving and engaging, but the middle drags a bit
-because of the shifting perspective, I could never quite connect fully to any of the characters but did get a sense of their emotional states in comparison to what mine would be in that moment
-it felt a little long for such an action-focused storyline
🎧 The audio, helmed by Olivia Darnley, did help up the anti both in terms of atmosphere and the characters emotional state. I think it’s probably the best format for this one.
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
October 24, 2025
2.0 / 5.0
This book has all the ingredients to be a banger but failed miserably once you get to Part 2. I had to even ask myself was I even reading the same plot, I had an inkling that the minute time stamps are given this could get messy and I guessed correctly. Sorry but how are you jumping 10 years after this completely threw my understanding out the window. It didn’t help when the other perspective only had 1 year later. It was convoluted, messy and down right poor writing. This book is a complete miss for me. I don’t understand how authors keep falling into the trap of adding time stamps is always a good idea. You then have 3 other perspectives you’re capturing in the book, halfway through part 2 I was completely lost, disjointed and it never made any sense afterwards. Don’t bother with this book, waste of my time reading it.
This book has all the ingredients to be a banger but failed miserably once you get to Part 2. I had to even ask myself was I even reading the same plot, I had an inkling that the minute time stamps are given this could get messy and I guessed correctly. Sorry but how are you jumping 10 years after this completely threw my understanding out the window. It didn’t help when the other perspective only had 1 year later. It was convoluted, messy and down right poor writing. This book is a complete miss for me. I don’t understand how authors keep falling into the trap of adding time stamps is always a good idea. You then have 3 other perspectives you’re capturing in the book, halfway through part 2 I was completely lost, disjointed and it never made any sense afterwards. Don’t bother with this book, waste of my time reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2025
4⭐️0🌶️
I’m not sure how to put words into how I felt after reading this book. Kinda confused but it was kinda genius?
I’m not sure how to put words into how I felt after reading this book. Kinda confused but it was kinda genius?
August 30, 2025
This had a very intriguing plot. I had seen some people on bookstagram saying how intense it was and I had to give it a shot. There is a nuclear missile bomb threat in South England and there is 59 Minutes till impact. Three women are trying to make it to their loved ones before impact. We follow along from their perspectives as they navigate the area amidst the chaos. This was very thrilling and fast paced. I found the whole premise very disconcerting. I could actually feel for these women and their urgency to reach their loved ones. One thing that keeps me from giving this a higher rating than I am is that the characters were hard to differentiate between, so sometimes I would get confused. But overall, I was invested.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
November 5, 2025
When you read a synopsis like this book has, you know you’re in for either a wild ride, or a commercial/thoughtless story made easier by the shock value of a plot like this one. This could have gone either way, but the author did not take the easy route with this worst-case nuclear scenario. This is DEFINITELY a wild ride!
In just under an hour, the South of England is going to be hit by a nuclear missile. Residents have no time to evacuate, so they are immediately told to shelter in place and be prepared for no help to come right away. The book is written in chapters from our main characters, who were all brilliant.
Carrie just got off work and is on her way home to her girlfriend Emma, and their three-year-old daughter Clementine, when the alert comes out. It’s almost a half-hour walk to her home, but the trains have stopped and the streets are pandemonium. Her only focus (rightfully) is getting home to her family.
Frankie and Otis are a couple who have rented a vacation house. Right after getting there, she tells him that she’s pregnant. Before they can even celebrate, the alert comes out. He runs out to get them some food, leaving her fending for herself and their “poppy seed”, while trying to make sure they are together in the end.
Mrs. Dabb had a normal day, until she came home and her 13-year-old daughter, Bunny, wasn’t there. After calling around, she finds out Bunny forged a note and skipped school that day. She’s trying to think of her next move when the alert comes out. Where on earth could her normally well-behaved daughter be, and can they find each other in time?
The suspense ramps up as the book starts counting down the minutes until the blast. These women all have the same goal: to die with the people they love. Fifty-nine minutes isn’t a long time though, especially when you’re dealing with cities in panic mode and criminals out trying to take advantage of the chaos. The ending was, as expected, heartbreaking, and there were a few twists as well. I also loved the author’s acknowledgments, too. Don’t miss this one! 4.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to Atria Books, Holly Seddon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 18, 2025.)
In just under an hour, the South of England is going to be hit by a nuclear missile. Residents have no time to evacuate, so they are immediately told to shelter in place and be prepared for no help to come right away. The book is written in chapters from our main characters, who were all brilliant.
Carrie just got off work and is on her way home to her girlfriend Emma, and their three-year-old daughter Clementine, when the alert comes out. It’s almost a half-hour walk to her home, but the trains have stopped and the streets are pandemonium. Her only focus (rightfully) is getting home to her family.
Frankie and Otis are a couple who have rented a vacation house. Right after getting there, she tells him that she’s pregnant. Before they can even celebrate, the alert comes out. He runs out to get them some food, leaving her fending for herself and their “poppy seed”, while trying to make sure they are together in the end.
Mrs. Dabb had a normal day, until she came home and her 13-year-old daughter, Bunny, wasn’t there. After calling around, she finds out Bunny forged a note and skipped school that day. She’s trying to think of her next move when the alert comes out. Where on earth could her normally well-behaved daughter be, and can they find each other in time?
The suspense ramps up as the book starts counting down the minutes until the blast. These women all have the same goal: to die with the people they love. Fifty-nine minutes isn’t a long time though, especially when you’re dealing with cities in panic mode and criminals out trying to take advantage of the chaos. The ending was, as expected, heartbreaking, and there were a few twists as well. I also loved the author’s acknowledgments, too. Don’t miss this one! 4.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to Atria Books, Holly Seddon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 18, 2025.)
August 25, 2025
What a great author. The three journey's are told in alternating chapters but there is also a major twist towards the end of the book which really surprises the reader and makes you want to instantly read it again. Highly recommend.
September 9, 2025
Het is een gewone avond. Mensen zijn bezig met hun dagelijkse bezigheden: ze zijn onderweg naar huis, koken voor hun gezin, kruipen met hun geliefden op de bank. En dan komt het schokkende nieuwsbericht binnen dat ieders wereld op zijn kop zet:
Raketaanvallen zullen Engeland over 59 minuten vernietigen. Zoek onmiddellijk een schuilplaats.
Drie vrouwen vechten wanhopig om hun families te bereiken en te beschermen te midden van totale chaos. De gebruikelijke terugweg naar huis verandert in een nachtmerrie, met gevaar en onzekerheid op elke hoek. Zoek onmiddellijk veiligheid, want de tijd tikt weg...
'59 minuten' lees je vanuit drie verschillende personages. Allemaal krijgen ze de melding dat er binnen 59 minuten een raketaanval zal plaatsvinden en dit heeft voor de hele wereldbevolking verschrikkelijke gevolgen.
De spanning zit er dan ook vrijwel meteen in en de afwisseling van de drie personages zorgt ervoor dat je snel verder wilt lezen.
Zo maak je onder andere kennis met Carrie, Frankie en Mrs Dabb. In deze volgorde van personages wordt er ook steeds verder afgeteld, beginnende bij 59 minuten. Vanaf hier kom je steeds dichterbij het moment van de inslag.
Ik vond het interessant hoe de verschillende personages hun eigen verhaallijn hadden en wat ze in deze 59 minuten deden. Ik kan er niet teveel over vertellen, maar iedere vrouw heeft zo haar eigen problemen en een manier om met de situatie om te gaan.
Het eerste wat ik dacht was: "Dit zou een hele goede bioscoopfilm kunnen zijn". Ook vond ik het een eng idee, omdat het misschien ook wel realistisch kan zijn, met de huidige spanningen in de wereld. Stel je voor dat zoiets echt zou gebeuren. Ik weet niet wat ik dan zou doen.
De drie personages waren interessant om te volgen en het verhaal verveelde eigenlijk geen moment. De paniek, chaos en onmacht waren goed te voelen tijdens het lezen. Uiteindelijk komt er nog een plottwist en ook dit was allemaal goed uitgewerkt.
Ik vond '59 minuten' dan ook zeker een geslaagd verhaal en ik wil @awbrunathrillers heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
Raketaanvallen zullen Engeland over 59 minuten vernietigen. Zoek onmiddellijk een schuilplaats.
Drie vrouwen vechten wanhopig om hun families te bereiken en te beschermen te midden van totale chaos. De gebruikelijke terugweg naar huis verandert in een nachtmerrie, met gevaar en onzekerheid op elke hoek. Zoek onmiddellijk veiligheid, want de tijd tikt weg...
'59 minuten' lees je vanuit drie verschillende personages. Allemaal krijgen ze de melding dat er binnen 59 minuten een raketaanval zal plaatsvinden en dit heeft voor de hele wereldbevolking verschrikkelijke gevolgen.
De spanning zit er dan ook vrijwel meteen in en de afwisseling van de drie personages zorgt ervoor dat je snel verder wilt lezen.
Zo maak je onder andere kennis met Carrie, Frankie en Mrs Dabb. In deze volgorde van personages wordt er ook steeds verder afgeteld, beginnende bij 59 minuten. Vanaf hier kom je steeds dichterbij het moment van de inslag.
Ik vond het interessant hoe de verschillende personages hun eigen verhaallijn hadden en wat ze in deze 59 minuten deden. Ik kan er niet teveel over vertellen, maar iedere vrouw heeft zo haar eigen problemen en een manier om met de situatie om te gaan.
Het eerste wat ik dacht was: "Dit zou een hele goede bioscoopfilm kunnen zijn". Ook vond ik het een eng idee, omdat het misschien ook wel realistisch kan zijn, met de huidige spanningen in de wereld. Stel je voor dat zoiets echt zou gebeuren. Ik weet niet wat ik dan zou doen.
De drie personages waren interessant om te volgen en het verhaal verveelde eigenlijk geen moment. De paniek, chaos en onmacht waren goed te voelen tijdens het lezen. Uiteindelijk komt er nog een plottwist en ook dit was allemaal goed uitgewerkt.
Ik vond '59 minuten' dan ook zeker een geslaagd verhaal en ik wil @awbrunathrillers heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
November 21, 2025
You’re chilling in South England, wine in hand, when your phone blares—
“Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a test.”
That’s the wild, ticking-clock energy that “59 Minutes” flings in your face!
Carrie is in full-on mama bear mode, all adrenaline and heartache, and you can feel the desperation pulsing off the page. Frankie is out there trying to survive a vacation from hell with a baby on board. And then there’s the mysterious matriarch. She’s basically a survival ninja, pulling every move to keep her teenage daughter safe. These women are fierce and unforgettable.
The plot zips by like your heart after a few espressos, but it’s the emotional gut-punches that really hooked me. What would you do if you had an hour left? I’d totally panic. My brain would probably short-circuit. I’d be lucky to find my shoes, let alone hatch a survival plan.
Some moments are a little much, but I was having way too much fun to care. Seddon keeps you guessing and checking the clock, even if you’re just curled up on your couch.
This book yanked me out of my comfort zone. I hope I never live through anything like this, but OMG, I loved reading about it! 4.5 stars from me.
First Holly Seddon book for me. Now I’m eyeing her backlist.
Thanks to the author and Atria Books for providing this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#59Minutes #HollySeddon #AtriaBooks #NetGalley #CapCut
“Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a test.”
That’s the wild, ticking-clock energy that “59 Minutes” flings in your face!
Carrie is in full-on mama bear mode, all adrenaline and heartache, and you can feel the desperation pulsing off the page. Frankie is out there trying to survive a vacation from hell with a baby on board. And then there’s the mysterious matriarch. She’s basically a survival ninja, pulling every move to keep her teenage daughter safe. These women are fierce and unforgettable.
The plot zips by like your heart after a few espressos, but it’s the emotional gut-punches that really hooked me. What would you do if you had an hour left? I’d totally panic. My brain would probably short-circuit. I’d be lucky to find my shoes, let alone hatch a survival plan.
Some moments are a little much, but I was having way too much fun to care. Seddon keeps you guessing and checking the clock, even if you’re just curled up on your couch.
This book yanked me out of my comfort zone. I hope I never live through anything like this, but OMG, I loved reading about it! 4.5 stars from me.
First Holly Seddon book for me. Now I’m eyeing her backlist.
Thanks to the author and Atria Books for providing this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#59Minutes #HollySeddon #AtriaBooks #NetGalley #CapCut
September 7, 2025
2.5⭐️
I loved the first half - it was so fast paced and thrilling and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. The second half however, I absolutely HATED it. I really didn’t like the direction the story went and I actually found it so confusing. This could have been SO good but unfortunately for me the second half really let it down
I loved the first half - it was so fast paced and thrilling and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. The second half however, I absolutely HATED it. I really didn’t like the direction the story went and I actually found it so confusing. This could have been SO good but unfortunately for me the second half really let it down
November 13, 2025
♡ Thank you @simon.audio + @atriathrillers for the complimentary galley & ALC!
𝙉𝙪𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙. 59 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩. 𝙎𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩.
There’s an hour left before the end of the world. 3 women in England are just trying to survive.
This was heart pounding. I read it almost in a single day and couldn’t stop listening as each chapter ends on a nail biting moment.
I will admit where others may find a clever twist, I felt a bit cheated. The time line skipping at the end was hard to follow. I was confused and had to look back for it to make sense.
I would recommend if you enjoy high octane character studies of how people react under pressure in crisis situations.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 The narration by Olivia Darnley was well done, loved her accents!
𝙉𝙪𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙. 59 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩. 𝙎𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩.
There’s an hour left before the end of the world. 3 women in England are just trying to survive.
This was heart pounding. I read it almost in a single day and couldn’t stop listening as each chapter ends on a nail biting moment.
I will admit where others may find a clever twist, I felt a bit cheated. The time line skipping at the end was hard to follow. I was confused and had to look back for it to make sense.
I would recommend if you enjoy high octane character studies of how people react under pressure in crisis situations.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 The narration by Olivia Darnley was well done, loved her accents!
October 26, 2025
Such a fast paced read that I sped through in one sitting. I found it completely unputdownable and I think many who pick it up would feel the same. We follow a few characters, but not too many that you can’t keep track. Definitely an original storyline and I’d recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
December 3, 2025
A push message to every phone - 59 minutes until impact. What do you do?
This is a rush of a story. It's confusing, at first, to figure out who is who and what is going on, but that's part of it. The short chapters kept the panic and anxiety high as each person must grapple with what they need to do, must do, before that timer counts down to zero.
The storylines were fascinating, the interactions shocking and felt realistic. The story pacing is an absolute race. It's broken into 3 parts and part 2 and 3 definitely slow down but it's needed as it circles back around and explains the whole story. This was an amazing and frightening game of 'what if' - and it was well done and shocking. I loved it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This is a rush of a story. It's confusing, at first, to figure out who is who and what is going on, but that's part of it. The short chapters kept the panic and anxiety high as each person must grapple with what they need to do, must do, before that timer counts down to zero.
The storylines were fascinating, the interactions shocking and felt realistic. The story pacing is an absolute race. It's broken into 3 parts and part 2 and 3 definitely slow down but it's needed as it circles back around and explains the whole story. This was an amazing and frightening game of 'what if' - and it was well done and shocking. I loved it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 3, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows a group of people and their experience during the 59 minutes they are given to prepare for a nuclear missile heading towards London and the aftermath they have to endure after the incident.
This was an ok read. It is supposed to be suspenseful and it is. However, I feel that it was quite short lived and how things unfolded afterwards was just a little lackluster. I thought maybe it would go in a little different direction than what it did, and that was my misconception so it's nothing to say bad about the book, for me it just would have been a little more interesting if there were some twists to the story.
It is a quick read and if you like more drama oriented story this might be one for you.
This book follows a group of people and their experience during the 59 minutes they are given to prepare for a nuclear missile heading towards London and the aftermath they have to endure after the incident.
This was an ok read. It is supposed to be suspenseful and it is. However, I feel that it was quite short lived and how things unfolded afterwards was just a little lackluster. I thought maybe it would go in a little different direction than what it did, and that was my misconception so it's nothing to say bad about the book, for me it just would have been a little more interesting if there were some twists to the story.
It is a quick read and if you like more drama oriented story this might be one for you.
November 16, 2025
What would you do if you only had 59 minutes to live? That’s what everyone in southern England finds out, simultaneously. And it’s not like anywhere else in the UK will be in great shape, either.
Seddon alternates the viewpoints between a few different characters, and the story is very fast-paced until about 2/3 through, when it slows to a crawl. And I do mean a crawl. That’s why I changed my rating from a solid 4 to a 3.75, rounded up. Those first two thirds are great, though, and had me absolutely on the edge of my seat.
Trigger warnings: The author does not shy away from depicting how more than a few men will act toward girls/women when they think they have nothing to lose and won’t get caught. There’s nothing graphic, but those scenes made me apoplectic. *garbled scream of fury*
There were a couple of things that caught me off guard, so kudos to the author. I also very much enjoyed her evocative way of writing—she truly puts you right in the middle of the action, with fantastic, startlingly accurate descriptions.
I enjoyed this, but I don’t think I’ll reread it, and I’m not quite sure why. Hits too close to home right now? Maybe. I would like to read some more of Seddon’s work, though!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Seddon alternates the viewpoints between a few different characters, and the story is very fast-paced until about 2/3 through, when it slows to a crawl. And I do mean a crawl. That’s why I changed my rating from a solid 4 to a 3.75, rounded up. Those first two thirds are great, though, and had me absolutely on the edge of my seat.
Trigger warnings: The author does not shy away from depicting how more than a few men will act toward girls/women when they think they have nothing to lose and won’t get caught. There’s nothing graphic, but those scenes made me apoplectic. *garbled scream of fury*
There were a couple of things that caught me off guard, so kudos to the author. I also very much enjoyed her evocative way of writing—she truly puts you right in the middle of the action, with fantastic, startlingly accurate descriptions.
I enjoyed this, but I don’t think I’ll reread it, and I’m not quite sure why. Hits too close to home right now? Maybe. I would like to read some more of Seddon’s work, though!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
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