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The Wonder of One: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26From the #1 Amazon bestselling author of In an Instant comes an inspirational coming-of-age story about one extraordinary girl’s determination to chase a dream.
Vivien Kendall has always been different. Born with a birthmark covering much of her face, she’s been bullied, ridiculed, and mistreated as a child. But at the age of six, Vivien learns that in each of us there burns a spirit flame—a deep belief in oneself that must be nurtured and never allowed to go out.
Living by that wisdom and through the enduring friendships of her nanny, her mentor, and the legend who eventually becomes her coach, she chases her dream to someday become the greatest figure skater in the world.
Along the way, she faces a rapidly evolving world full of modern prejudice and injustice. She falls in love, has her heart broken, learns what it means to win or lose, and discovers the wonder of one, the power within each of us to change things.
Vivien Kendall has always been different. Born with a birthmark covering much of her face, she’s been bullied, ridiculed, and mistreated as a child. But at the age of six, Vivien learns that in each of us there burns a spirit flame—a deep belief in oneself that must be nurtured and never allowed to go out.
Living by that wisdom and through the enduring friendships of her nanny, her mentor, and the legend who eventually becomes her coach, she chases her dream to someday become the greatest figure skater in the world.
Along the way, she faces a rapidly evolving world full of modern prejudice and injustice. She falls in love, has her heart broken, learns what it means to win or lose, and discovers the wonder of one, the power within each of us to change things.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Suzanne Redfearn
11 books2,439 followersSuzanne Redfearn is the award-winning author of Six novels: Hush Little Baby, No Ordinary Life, In an Instant, and Hadley & Grace, Moment in Time, and Where Butterflies Wander. In addition to being an author, she’s also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza and Beer. You can find her at her website, www.SuzanneRedfearn.com, on Facebook at SuzanneRedfearnAuthor, or on Instagram at SuzanneRedfearn.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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May 23, 2026The Wonder of One by outstanding wordsmith Suzanne Redfearn is published by Lake Union.
The story spans years, is a first a bit confusing with lots of characters, but once reingelesen its a feast for the brain.
Loved the storyline, the worldbuilding, the pace and the characters.
I recommend the novel, 5 stars.
The story spans years, is a first a bit confusing with lots of characters, but once reingelesen its a feast for the brain.
Loved the storyline, the worldbuilding, the pace and the characters.
I recommend the novel, 5 stars.
May 28, 2026
Having previously read In an Instant and absolutely loving it, I was really looking forward to reading The Wonder of One. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Every once in a while, I like to step away from my usual thrillers and mysteries and lose myself in something more emotional and heartwarming and this book ticked every single box.
This isn’t a book to rush through. Yes, it’s completely unputdownable, but at the same time I found myself wanting to slow down and savour it because the storytelling was just so beautiful.
Vivian Kendall, aka Patch, was such a wonderfully written character and I completely fell in love with her. She felt so real, layered and full of heart. I became deeply invested in her journey and everything she went through. I also absolutely loved Prof, and honestly every character brought something special to the story and to Vivian’s life in their own unique way.
This book made me smile, made me emotional and definitely brought a tear to my eye more than once. It was beautifully written, full of heart, hope and human connection and absolutely a book I will be recommending to friends.
Another incredible read by Suzanne Redfern. I will definitely be reading more of her books
Every once in a while, I like to step away from my usual thrillers and mysteries and lose myself in something more emotional and heartwarming and this book ticked every single box.
This isn’t a book to rush through. Yes, it’s completely unputdownable, but at the same time I found myself wanting to slow down and savour it because the storytelling was just so beautiful.
Vivian Kendall, aka Patch, was such a wonderfully written character and I completely fell in love with her. She felt so real, layered and full of heart. I became deeply invested in her journey and everything she went through. I also absolutely loved Prof, and honestly every character brought something special to the story and to Vivian’s life in their own unique way.
This book made me smile, made me emotional and definitely brought a tear to my eye more than once. It was beautifully written, full of heart, hope and human connection and absolutely a book I will be recommending to friends.
Another incredible read by Suzanne Redfern. I will definitely be reading more of her books
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Suzanne Redfearn, and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Wonder of One is another beautifully written and emotionally powerful story from Suzanne Redfearn, an author who consistently proves herself to be an outstanding storyteller. While the novel felt a little overwhelming at first with its larger cast of characters and timeline spanning many years, once everything settled into place, the story became completely absorbing and incredibly rewarding.
At the heart of the novel is Vivien Kendall, a girl born with a facial birthmark who grows up facing cruelty, judgment, and prejudice from the world around her. What makes this story so compelling is watching Vivien refuse to let those experiences extinguish her spirit. Her journey from childhood into adulthood is inspiring, emotional, and deeply human. Redfearn captures both the pain of being treated as “different” and the strength it takes to continue chasing your dreams despite it.
The figure skating backdrop adds so much energy and beauty to the story. The training, competition, sacrifices, and determination all feel vivid and authentic, while the emotional core never gets lost beneath the sport itself. I especially loved the themes surrounding resilience, self-worth, friendship, and the importance of believing in yourself even when the world tries to convince you otherwise.
Suzanne Redfearn’s writing is as strong as ever. The pacing works beautifully once the story finds its rhythm, and the worldbuilding and character development make the novel feel immersive and emotionally rich. Every relationship in Vivien’s life — from mentors to friendships to heartbreak — helps shape her growth in meaningful ways.
This is ultimately a hopeful and inspiring coming-of-age story filled with heart, emotion, and perseverance. It is a novel about finding strength within yourself and understanding the impact one person can have on the world around them.
A beautifully crafted and memorable read that I would absolutely recommend. 5 stars.
The Wonder of One is another beautifully written and emotionally powerful story from Suzanne Redfearn, an author who consistently proves herself to be an outstanding storyteller. While the novel felt a little overwhelming at first with its larger cast of characters and timeline spanning many years, once everything settled into place, the story became completely absorbing and incredibly rewarding.
At the heart of the novel is Vivien Kendall, a girl born with a facial birthmark who grows up facing cruelty, judgment, and prejudice from the world around her. What makes this story so compelling is watching Vivien refuse to let those experiences extinguish her spirit. Her journey from childhood into adulthood is inspiring, emotional, and deeply human. Redfearn captures both the pain of being treated as “different” and the strength it takes to continue chasing your dreams despite it.
The figure skating backdrop adds so much energy and beauty to the story. The training, competition, sacrifices, and determination all feel vivid and authentic, while the emotional core never gets lost beneath the sport itself. I especially loved the themes surrounding resilience, self-worth, friendship, and the importance of believing in yourself even when the world tries to convince you otherwise.
Suzanne Redfearn’s writing is as strong as ever. The pacing works beautifully once the story finds its rhythm, and the worldbuilding and character development make the novel feel immersive and emotionally rich. Every relationship in Vivien’s life — from mentors to friendships to heartbreak — helps shape her growth in meaningful ways.
This is ultimately a hopeful and inspiring coming-of-age story filled with heart, emotion, and perseverance. It is a novel about finding strength within yourself and understanding the impact one person can have on the world around them.
A beautifully crafted and memorable read that I would absolutely recommend. 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story is near and dear to my heart. I've always wanted to write a coming-of-age story. Many of my favorite books and movies are about the formative journey from childhood to adulthood: Forest Gump, Where the Crawdads Sing, This Tender Land, The Power of One, All the Colors of the Dark, Fried Green Tomatoes. The literary term for it is bildungsroman—bildung (education, formation, growth) and roman (novel)—stories about protagonists who come from challenging circumstances and how they overcome those beginnings to become extraordinary, unlikely heroes. This is one of those stories. It was a wonderful challenge to write, and I can't wait for you to read it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another winner by Suzanne Redfearn…the book is beautifully written and well paced! This author of In An Instant and Call of the Camino continues to show her breadth as a writer, as this one is a coming of age story and a mystery, set against historical contexts and themes over a couple of decades. It also gives a shout out to Fredrik Backman’s, My Friends, one of my all time favorite books. The Wonder of One is hard to put down, thought-provoking like her other books, and may be my favorite of hers yet! 9.25/10.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An emotional roller coaster- this was my favorite of all of the author’s books. The life of Vivien Kendall is inspiring as we watch her overcome life’s obstacles on her way to becoming world famous. But that’s just part of the story- it’s her deep relationships with those closest to her that creates a backdrop for a beautiful and tragic life.
This is one of those books you don’t want to end - one that will stay with you forever. Kudos to Suzanne!
This is one of those books you don’t want to end - one that will stay with you forever. Kudos to Suzanne!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely phenomenal book that had me thinking long after the final page! The author does a tremendous job developing a complex story over Patch’s entire lifespan, with interesting and endearing characters I was deeply invested in. This story demonstrates how perseverance and belief in oneself can overcome any obstacle, and I think it shows how we should all find a little Patch in our own lives. Definitely a must read!
May 30, 2026
This book is a very emotional read. I couldn't put the book down. It’s about Vivien who was born with a birthmark that covers her face. She was bullied by peers at school. Vivien has a support system from her nanny, her mentor, and her coach. Her dream was to become a figure skater. Vivien doesn’t want her birthmark to stop her from living her life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A powerful, heartwarming story that kept me coming back to the very end. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews