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In This Moment
Bestselling author Karma Brown is back with a morally infused and emotionally riveting exploration of one woman's guilt over an unexpected—yet avoidable—tragedy
Meg Pepper has a fulfilling career and a happy family. Most days she's able to keep it all together and glide through life. But then, in one unalterable moment, everything changes.
After school pickup one day, she stops her car to wave a teenage boy across the street...just as another car comes hurtling down the road and slams into him.
Meg can't help but blame herself for her role in this horrific disaster. Full of remorse, she throws herself into helping the boy's family as he rehabs from his injuries. But the more Meg tries to absolve herself, the more she alienates her own family—and the more she finds herself being drawn to the boy's father, Andrew.
Soon Meg's picture-perfect life is unravelling before her eyes. As the painful secrets she's been burying bubble...
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2017
79 people are currently reading
3406 people want to read
About the author
Karma Brown
15 books1,340 followersKARMA BROWN is a Canadian award-winning journalist, speaker, and the #1 bestselling author of six novels, including RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE. She has also written the non-fiction bestseller THE 4% FIX, and has co-authored two holiday rom-coms under the pen name Maggie Knox. In addition to her books, Karma's writing has appeared in publications such as Redbook, SELF, and Chatelaine. Karma lives just outside Toronto with her husband, daughter, and a labradoodle named Fred. She released a holiday rom com in 2026 (THE CHRISTMAS CURE) under the pen name Kristine Winters, and her horror debut, MOTHER IS WATCHING publishes March 17, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
April 3, 2017
In this reader’s humble opinion, In This Moment is Karma Brown’s strongest work to date. With each of her books, my appreciation for her writing has grown incrementally. What keeps me coming back is the fact that she doesn’t shy away from the tough topics, from the very things you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Instead, her stories delve deep and pack one heck of an emotional punch. Meaning, this story will make you feel, so be prepared.
In this instance, the author overwhelms the reader with the feeling that tends to creep in after a mistake or something you wish with all your heart you could change - guilt. She brings to the forefront the power that icky feeling has at overshadowing sense and chipping away at the rational side of your brain. And let's not forget, the dreaded ‘what if’ questioning that naturally ensues and runs through one's mind on a continuous loop.
For me, what stood out the most was Meg and, if you’ve read the book, it’s probably not for the reasons you might think. I’m not walking around harboring some guilt-ridden secret from high school and thankfully, I haven't witnessed something as tragic as her and her daughter did. Sadly, not realizing the possible ramifications, Meg waves her daughter’s boyfriend's twin across the street, right in the path of a driver who’s more focused on sending a text than actually driving. Talk about life changing in the blink of an eye.
Meg forgetfulness and her suckiness at adulting cemented my connection with her, as silly as that sounds. I know this might come off as an excuse, but there's those of us that try to take on too much and naturally, things suffer along the way. Luckily for me, my husband picks up the slack quite a bit (have I mentioned how lucky I am?) . . . for instance, running down the driveway last week at 6am to let me know I left my work computer and my much needed coffee on the kitchen counter, as I’m headed off to work. Crappy day avoided, thanks to him. Or the thousands of times I’ve said to myself, “nah, I don’t need to set a reminder in my phone, I’ll remember.” Yeah, right. Will I ever learn my lesson or always be that person running around at the last minute scrambling to get things done? It was similar little hiccups for Meg, along the way, that spoke to me and lent a more relatable quality to her character.
There's no way around it, you can’t avoid asking yourself if Meg's feelings of guilt are valid. If she's somehow responsible for what happened to her best friend all those years ago or what her daughter's boyfriend's family is going through, right now. In the midst of all that, there’s one other weighted question Meg’s actions might force you to ponder - would you fight back against that awful feeling or sink into the guilt and let yourself head down a path with consequences so harsh, you just might lose everything? Or, better yet, what if . . .
*Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this instance, the author overwhelms the reader with the feeling that tends to creep in after a mistake or something you wish with all your heart you could change - guilt. She brings to the forefront the power that icky feeling has at overshadowing sense and chipping away at the rational side of your brain. And let's not forget, the dreaded ‘what if’ questioning that naturally ensues and runs through one's mind on a continuous loop.
For me, what stood out the most was Meg and, if you’ve read the book, it’s probably not for the reasons you might think. I’m not walking around harboring some guilt-ridden secret from high school and thankfully, I haven't witnessed something as tragic as her and her daughter did. Sadly, not realizing the possible ramifications, Meg waves her daughter’s boyfriend's twin across the street, right in the path of a driver who’s more focused on sending a text than actually driving. Talk about life changing in the blink of an eye.
Meg forgetfulness and her suckiness at adulting cemented my connection with her, as silly as that sounds. I know this might come off as an excuse, but there's those of us that try to take on too much and naturally, things suffer along the way. Luckily for me, my husband picks up the slack quite a bit (have I mentioned how lucky I am?) . . . for instance, running down the driveway last week at 6am to let me know I left my work computer and my much needed coffee on the kitchen counter, as I’m headed off to work. Crappy day avoided, thanks to him. Or the thousands of times I’ve said to myself, “nah, I don’t need to set a reminder in my phone, I’ll remember.” Yeah, right. Will I ever learn my lesson or always be that person running around at the last minute scrambling to get things done? It was similar little hiccups for Meg, along the way, that spoke to me and lent a more relatable quality to her character.
There's no way around it, you can’t avoid asking yourself if Meg's feelings of guilt are valid. If she's somehow responsible for what happened to her best friend all those years ago or what her daughter's boyfriend's family is going through, right now. In the midst of all that, there’s one other weighted question Meg’s actions might force you to ponder - would you fight back against that awful feeling or sink into the guilt and let yourself head down a path with consequences so harsh, you just might lose everything? Or, better yet, what if . . .
*Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2017
This is my first book by KARMA BROWN and it definitely will not be my last.
IN THIS MOMENT by KARMA BROWN is a cautionary tale that explores one woman’s overwhelming guilt, grief, love, balancing responsibilities and the consequences of split-second decisions that can ultimately affect you and your family.
Special mention to The Cookbook Club that was included in this storyline as I am a cookbook collector and really love the idea of a club that gets together and prepares meals from a unique and different cookbook each time they get together. I would love to be in a club like that!
KARMA BROWN delivers a well-written, original, and believable story here that had me wondering and pondering what I would have done if I was put in the same situation as our main character, Meg Pepper. Although, normally I am a person that really thinks of all the consequences that might happen from a certain decision or situation that I have made or come across. I have also been known to make split-second decisions that weren't the best choices and have regretted them and wished that I would have taken the time to think it through. Nothing as profound or tragic as Meg’s though. But, I think that is what made this story so enjoyable for me as it was so realistic and had me sympathizing and caring about the outcome of the decisions Meg made and the quilt she is harboring from those decisions. My stomach was in knots a few times while I was reading this story.
IN THIS MOMENT is a powerful, steady-paced, and an emotional read with a realistic and hopeful ending. Would recommend!!
Publication date: May 30, 2017
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Karma Brown, and Harlequin Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
All of Brenda & my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
IN THIS MOMENT by KARMA BROWN is a cautionary tale that explores one woman’s overwhelming guilt, grief, love, balancing responsibilities and the consequences of split-second decisions that can ultimately affect you and your family.
Special mention to The Cookbook Club that was included in this storyline as I am a cookbook collector and really love the idea of a club that gets together and prepares meals from a unique and different cookbook each time they get together. I would love to be in a club like that!
KARMA BROWN delivers a well-written, original, and believable story here that had me wondering and pondering what I would have done if I was put in the same situation as our main character, Meg Pepper. Although, normally I am a person that really thinks of all the consequences that might happen from a certain decision or situation that I have made or come across. I have also been known to make split-second decisions that weren't the best choices and have regretted them and wished that I would have taken the time to think it through. Nothing as profound or tragic as Meg’s though. But, I think that is what made this story so enjoyable for me as it was so realistic and had me sympathizing and caring about the outcome of the decisions Meg made and the quilt she is harboring from those decisions. My stomach was in knots a few times while I was reading this story.
IN THIS MOMENT is a powerful, steady-paced, and an emotional read with a realistic and hopeful ending. Would recommend!!
Publication date: May 30, 2017
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Karma Brown, and Harlequin Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
All of Brenda & my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
June 21, 2017
4 stars! I just love Karma Brown’s writing – she is one of my favourite authors!
This was another emotional, heart breaking story that sucked me right in. Brown knows how to pull at my heart strings – she does it every single time! The nightmare scenario that the main character, Meg Pepper, endures is something that could easily happen to any one of us who drives through a school zone at any point in during our busy lives. A very relatable topic, especially for parents of children who currently attend elementary or high school.
Guilt is a main theme throughout this novel. Meg makes a split-second decision that will change her life and the life of several others forever.
I made it to the very last chapter of this book without crying (which has never happened with her previous books) and then the floodgates opened for me on the last two pages. Karma Brown did it again – made me a sobbing mess! It might seem strange to say that is one of the reasons why I love her writing, but it is true. Brown seems to be able to write stories that simply dig their way deep into my core and stay with me forever. With that being said, I feel slightly guilty giving this book anything less than 5 stars as I did with her previous two novels. However, this one didn’t affect me quite as deeply as the previous ones. Also, upon finishing this novel, I was left feeling like I wanted a bit more detail on a couple of the situations.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it! If you have never read a Karma Brown book, my suggestion is to start with “Come Away With Me” as it is one of my very favourite books!
This was another emotional, heart breaking story that sucked me right in. Brown knows how to pull at my heart strings – she does it every single time! The nightmare scenario that the main character, Meg Pepper, endures is something that could easily happen to any one of us who drives through a school zone at any point in during our busy lives. A very relatable topic, especially for parents of children who currently attend elementary or high school.
Guilt is a main theme throughout this novel. Meg makes a split-second decision that will change her life and the life of several others forever.
I made it to the very last chapter of this book without crying (which has never happened with her previous books) and then the floodgates opened for me on the last two pages. Karma Brown did it again – made me a sobbing mess! It might seem strange to say that is one of the reasons why I love her writing, but it is true. Brown seems to be able to write stories that simply dig their way deep into my core and stay with me forever. With that being said, I feel slightly guilty giving this book anything less than 5 stars as I did with her previous two novels. However, this one didn’t affect me quite as deeply as the previous ones. Also, upon finishing this novel, I was left feeling like I wanted a bit more detail on a couple of the situations.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it! If you have never read a Karma Brown book, my suggestion is to start with “Come Away With Me” as it is one of my very favourite books!
August 22, 2017
With one wave of a hand, everything changes.
Meg is picking up her daughter Audrey from school, just like any other weekday afternoon. She sees her daughter’s friend Jack waiting to cross the road, so she stops and signals to him that it's okay to cross. As the teen makes his way to the next curb, he is struck by an inattentive driver in the next lane. Meg knows that the teen would be okay if she hadn’t allowed him to cross in front of her. Consumed by guilt, she dedicates herself to helping Jack's family at the expense of her own family.
Meg's life begins to fall apart. She can barely keep it together and makes huge mistakes in both her personal and professional life. After years of putting up a perfect front, she begins questioning her parenting skills and her marriage. She and her husband can’t seem to get on the same page and her well-behaved teenage daughter becomes moody and secretive. To make matters worse, Jack's accident brings up unresolved guilt about an accident she was involved in when she was sixteen-years-old.
I didn't feel Meg's guilt as strongly as I felt her personal struggles. My favorite parts were the minor interactions between family members. I even liked the teenager in this book! Meg sees Audrey repeating her past mistakes and there's a point when Meg realizes that her parents encountered many of the same problems that she's going through. There's so much she doesn't know, but she doesn't have to be alone in her struggles. I loved this sweet moment when she reaches out to her father:
This was the first book I read after a long reading drought in the spring and it was exactly the type of book I needed: linear narrative, single character POV, and relatable drama/family dynamics. The thing that made me a little less enthusiastic about it is that Meg is very clear about what she's feeling and she psychoanalyzes herself. There wasn't much that I had to figure out for myself. To be fair, that was also what made it a good book for breaking a reading rut! I also felt like the story was happening before my eyes, so it was jarring when Meg referenced her future feelings. But overall, it was a solid story and the characters felt like real people. I liked how the author gave me just enough of an ending to satisfy me, but not so much of one that it felt too tidy. There was something comforting about this author's style, so I'd be eager to read another one of her books.
Despite our best intentions, sometimes we make mistakes. Those mistakes can result in terrible consequences. Sometimes we can never fix what we broke. Being thrown into unfamiliar territory builds new understandings between the characters. Meg learns that we're all fighting the same battle. She sees firsthand how grief and guilt can cloud judgment and prevent a person from seeing past the present moment. In order to heal, she has to realize that it's okay to forgive herself and others. She may have to learn to live with the "low hum of guilt," but it doesn't have to consume her.
________
A relevant quote from the movie version of Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls: "Most of us just get messily ever after... and that's all right.”
I received this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway and Park Row Books. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It's available now!
Meg is picking up her daughter Audrey from school, just like any other weekday afternoon. She sees her daughter’s friend Jack waiting to cross the road, so she stops and signals to him that it's okay to cross. As the teen makes his way to the next curb, he is struck by an inattentive driver in the next lane. Meg knows that the teen would be okay if she hadn’t allowed him to cross in front of her. Consumed by guilt, she dedicates herself to helping Jack's family at the expense of her own family.
Maybe we're not the different after all, the two of us—I understand the need to keep a handle on things, to exude the image you desperately want people to see because the real one is scary and unpredictable and might take over if you give it a chance.
Meg's life begins to fall apart. She can barely keep it together and makes huge mistakes in both her personal and professional life. After years of putting up a perfect front, she begins questioning her parenting skills and her marriage. She and her husband can’t seem to get on the same page and her well-behaved teenage daughter becomes moody and secretive. To make matters worse, Jack's accident brings up unresolved guilt about an accident she was involved in when she was sixteen-years-old.
“If you can’t trust the ones you love, life will always feel harder than it needs to be.”
I didn't feel Meg's guilt as strongly as I felt her personal struggles. My favorite parts were the minor interactions between family members. I even liked the teenager in this book! Meg sees Audrey repeating her past mistakes and there's a point when Meg realizes that her parents encountered many of the same problems that she's going through. There's so much she doesn't know, but she doesn't have to be alone in her struggles. I loved this sweet moment when she reaches out to her father:
“When does it get easier?”
“Being a parent, you mean?”
I nod and Dad laughs. “It never gets easier. Just gets less hard.”
I scowl. “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No,” he says, giving me a wink. “Talk to me in another, oh, five years. You’ll understand better then.”
“I hope we all make it until then,” I say, giving him a wry smile. He bends down to kiss my cheek, and then we go back to the washing and drying, other of us silent with our own thoughts.
This was the first book I read after a long reading drought in the spring and it was exactly the type of book I needed: linear narrative, single character POV, and relatable drama/family dynamics. The thing that made me a little less enthusiastic about it is that Meg is very clear about what she's feeling and she psychoanalyzes herself. There wasn't much that I had to figure out for myself. To be fair, that was also what made it a good book for breaking a reading rut! I also felt like the story was happening before my eyes, so it was jarring when Meg referenced her future feelings. But overall, it was a solid story and the characters felt like real people. I liked how the author gave me just enough of an ending to satisfy me, but not so much of one that it felt too tidy. There was something comforting about this author's style, so I'd be eager to read another one of her books.
“Fixing this is going to be twice as hard as breaking it, but this is as good a place as any to start.”
Despite our best intentions, sometimes we make mistakes. Those mistakes can result in terrible consequences. Sometimes we can never fix what we broke. Being thrown into unfamiliar territory builds new understandings between the characters. Meg learns that we're all fighting the same battle. She sees firsthand how grief and guilt can cloud judgment and prevent a person from seeing past the present moment. In order to heal, she has to realize that it's okay to forgive herself and others. She may have to learn to live with the "low hum of guilt," but it doesn't have to consume her.
________
A relevant quote from the movie version of Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls: "Most of us just get messily ever after... and that's all right.”
I received this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway and Park Row Books. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It's available now!
June 2, 2017
In This Moment is my second novel by Karma Brown. I enjoyed this one more then The Choices We Make. Nice little break from my thriller novels that I read :).
In this Moment is an emotional read that explores a women's overwhelming sense of guilt due to a split-second decision that has changed her life and her family in multiple ways. I think we all have made a decision at one point or another in our life that makes your world turn upside down in a matter of seconds. Thinking to yourself "what if" constantly and wondering "IF" you went back would things be different and how so?
We meet Meg Pepper, who is a happy woman married to her husband Ryan and their daughter Audrey. One day, Meg picks her daughter up from school and stops to wave a boy across the street.. just as in a flash another car comes out of nowhere and slams into this boy. Meg quickly spirals into a never ending circle of guilt that eats her up over this accident. Meg is trying to hold herself and her family together while reaching out to the boys family to help with this awful disaster. Soon Meg realizes that her perfect life is unraveling faster and faster due to the overwhelming sense of guilt. Can Meg forgive herself and fix her life?
What I truly enjoyed about this novel is the topic of guilt. Sometimes I think feelings of guilt can be very dangerous. We all make mistakes but not all of us can accept that it's OK to make them. Karma Brown delivers an emotional, realistic, and powerful novel.
Overall, 4 stars.
In this Moment is an emotional read that explores a women's overwhelming sense of guilt due to a split-second decision that has changed her life and her family in multiple ways. I think we all have made a decision at one point or another in our life that makes your world turn upside down in a matter of seconds. Thinking to yourself "what if" constantly and wondering "IF" you went back would things be different and how so?
We meet Meg Pepper, who is a happy woman married to her husband Ryan and their daughter Audrey. One day, Meg picks her daughter up from school and stops to wave a boy across the street.. just as in a flash another car comes out of nowhere and slams into this boy. Meg quickly spirals into a never ending circle of guilt that eats her up over this accident. Meg is trying to hold herself and her family together while reaching out to the boys family to help with this awful disaster. Soon Meg realizes that her perfect life is unraveling faster and faster due to the overwhelming sense of guilt. Can Meg forgive herself and fix her life?
What I truly enjoyed about this novel is the topic of guilt. Sometimes I think feelings of guilt can be very dangerous. We all make mistakes but not all of us can accept that it's OK to make them. Karma Brown delivers an emotional, realistic, and powerful novel.
Overall, 4 stars.
June 29, 2017
This is my first by Karma Brown and it most definitely will not be my last. It is a tale of guilt and grief. The question of "what if?" being a common theme.
You know that feeling of guilt after you make a decision that clearly turns out wrong? You know the resistance to let that guilt overcome you and begin to affect your choices? Meg has trouble resisting after a tragedy deeply affects her. She waves a teen boy across the street only for him to get hit by an SUV. It's not entirely her fault, but Meg feels responsible with an overwhelming feeling of guilt. It also brings up unresolved feelings of guilt from another tragic event from her past.
What struck me most was my connection to Meg. She is incredibly relatable with all the pressures of being a wife, mom, working, and balancing all of life's responsibilities. There's an expectation of perfection that most people cannot keep up with. It makes one human and certainly made Meg feel that way.
Split second decisions can completely change your life in an instant. I was fascinated by a story exploring this concept. Brown created an emotionally powerful, thought-provoking book. It made me tear up, so I guess it's safe to say the book did it's job.
I won this through goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
You know that feeling of guilt after you make a decision that clearly turns out wrong? You know the resistance to let that guilt overcome you and begin to affect your choices? Meg has trouble resisting after a tragedy deeply affects her. She waves a teen boy across the street only for him to get hit by an SUV. It's not entirely her fault, but Meg feels responsible with an overwhelming feeling of guilt. It also brings up unresolved feelings of guilt from another tragic event from her past.
What struck me most was my connection to Meg. She is incredibly relatable with all the pressures of being a wife, mom, working, and balancing all of life's responsibilities. There's an expectation of perfection that most people cannot keep up with. It makes one human and certainly made Meg feel that way.
Split second decisions can completely change your life in an instant. I was fascinated by a story exploring this concept. Brown created an emotionally powerful, thought-provoking book. It made me tear up, so I guess it's safe to say the book did it's job.
I won this through goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2017
I enjoyed Karma Brown's, "In this moment." It was a good story. Meg and her teenaged daughter, Audrey witness a horrible tragedy. They both feel guilt over it especially Meg. This tragedy brings out unresolved feelings about another terrible event in Meg's life when she was a teenager. The story focuses on Meg's guilt and her trying to cope with the awful event. As the story unravels Meg's quiet, safe life begins to spiral. The writing is good and easy to follow. I just didn't like the way the focus of the book changed and the ending seemed to wrap up quickly albeit not quite so nicely for me. Some things were left dangling. I thought it would be more touching and emotional but one part of the ending was very poignant. Overall a 3 1/2 *
December 26, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 This book is about a woman named Meg, who, after picking her daughter up from school, stops to wave a teenage boy, Jack, across the street. As he crosses the street, he is hit by a car coming from the opposite direction driven by a woman who is texting while driving.
This story is about the aftermath and fallout of this horrible accident. Meg is filled with guilt about putting Jack in the path of the car that hits him. While she deals with her guilt, she is also trying to balance her career, her marriage and her struggles with her own teenage daughter, as well as the guilt of a horrible event from many years earlier.
I felt this book was a very plausible story and really could happen to anyone. I could relate completely with Meg being around the same age, married for approximately around the same amount of time and living with teenagers myself and the ups and downs that come with all of these things. I liked ALL of the characters in this book and really just wanted to wrap them all in a big hug.
I picked this book up at the library, having never heard of it before and I am so glad that I did. It was an excellent and relatable story!
This story is about the aftermath and fallout of this horrible accident. Meg is filled with guilt about putting Jack in the path of the car that hits him. While she deals with her guilt, she is also trying to balance her career, her marriage and her struggles with her own teenage daughter, as well as the guilt of a horrible event from many years earlier.
I felt this book was a very plausible story and really could happen to anyone. I could relate completely with Meg being around the same age, married for approximately around the same amount of time and living with teenagers myself and the ups and downs that come with all of these things. I liked ALL of the characters in this book and really just wanted to wrap them all in a big hug.
I picked this book up at the library, having never heard of it before and I am so glad that I did. It was an excellent and relatable story!
May 30, 2017
Bestselling author Karma Brown returns following The Choices We Make (2016) with an with an equally moving, emotional and riveting follow-up.
—IN THIS MOMENT a woman struggles with complexities of tragedy, guilt, and secrets as her life unravel along with those around her.
Meg Pepper is a wife and mom with a real estate career. Married to Ryan, a physician. Daughter Aubrey age fifteen (boyfriend Sam Beckett).
Meg and Aubrey are running late for a dentist appointment and Meg is picking up her daughter at school. She is struggling to balance family and career and has not been completely honest about an event in her past.
They notice Jack (Sam’s twin brother) on the side of the road attempting to get across. His mom is a financial whiz and works at one of Boston’s private equity firms. The boy’s dad Andrew is a stay at home dad, having left a journalism career when the twin boys were born.
Jack has his skateboard on the curb’s edge in one hand waiting for the car coming toward their car to pass so he can cross. His friends are on the other side waiting. Aubrey tells her mom they should let him cross. She waves him across. A life-changing split-second choice.
However, just as she does so, the unthinkable happens. Jack’s body smashes into the windshield of the other car which came out of nowhere, too fast. Aubrey and Meg are mortified. How did this happen?
Sarah Dunn, Audrey and Jack’s history teacher was texting and had to stop too quickly.
However, it is Meg’s guilt, which haunts her.
She was the one who deemed it a safe crossing for this innocent and clearly vulnerable teenager now lying in the road with an injury that will forever change his life. How could she have let the boy cross the street?
The accident turns into a nightmare for all concerned.
Meg is suddenly slammed with a memory from when she was sixteen; from a terrible night where another teen lay bleeding and broken on a road in front of her. She has worked hard not to think about that night because she cannot breathe around her guilt when she does so. But just like that, it was back and she was left sucking in air around the heaviness of the memory—
And like the part she played on that night so long ago, she was the reason Jack Beckett cross the road when he did. It is her fault. With a simple careless wave of her hand, she did this.
Soon they are at the hospital and she faces the family. With her daughter dating the brother, and even though the family may not be close friends they know one another through their children.
Meg becomes overwhelmed with guilt. Her family and Jack and Sam’s family torn apart. Meg becomes close to Andrew as her terrifying dreams continue. The past and present collide. She is thinking about Paige. Her friend from the past. Her face haunts her.
It has been twenty-eight years since that horrible night. Now the dreams surface again. Two days after Ryan slid the engagement ring on her finger. Only a week after her twenty-fifth birthday, when she learned her mom had cancer. Ryan in pre-med. A woman who had to grow up too fast. A sister who had to take care of her little brother and her dad.
Meg throws herself into helping the family and drawing closer to Andrew. Shutting out her own family in the process, especially her own husband. He knows the truth about the accident long ago, but he has never understood why she holds herself responsible. She carries it inside. She is spiraling out of control.
Andrew turns to Meg for support, and the two bond over the tragedy, putting at risk her marriage, family and her own moral compass.
Will these two families ever be the same?
As the past secrets and guilt collide with the present, Meg is at her breaking point. Emotional and heartbreaking, a picture-perfect life comes shattering apart in the blink of an eye. A wife and mother striving for perfection and balance with personal, career, and family.
She is searching for answers yet she cannot trust herself, to be honest through her grief with the weight from the accident of long ago and the one in the present.
Once again, Brown delves deep, exploring the intense emotions and pressure of guilt, grief, parenting, marriage, accountability, and responsibility. However, in the end, family comes first and that has to take top priority. If we let that slide, all will begin to unravel.
Brown has proven herself a strong voice representing the trials of the modern-day contemporary woman. I enjoyed reading about the inspiration behind the novel. Publishers Weekly interview. Spotlight on Karma Brown.
A cautionary tale. This scenario could happen to anyone. My heart went out to Meg and the author does an exceptional job with the character development.
If you have read Karma’s previous books, she has a way with domestic suspense, tragedy, emotion, grief and aftermath – which hits on every cylinder. She holds nothing back and you get inside her character’s heads. You feel the emotions. Their desperation. Their vulnerabilities. The character’s emotions are real, heartbreaking, raw, and painful.
The past tragedy and present storyline enhanced the overall tension and suspense, keeping you glued to the pages while demonstrating how guilt can hold you down and shape your life years later.
For today’s contemporary woman who sometimes strives too hard to be perfect. Thought-provoking in our fast and furious world today. Learning to forgive yourself in order to move on with your life.
For fans of Amy Hatvany, Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, Liane Moriarty, Karen White, Heather Gudenkauf, Sarah Pekkanen, and T. Greenwood.
Highly recommend!
A special thank you to Park Row Books and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
On a side note: This road crossing fiasco is a real problem here. I walk everywhere in the downtown urban West Palm Beach and there are two major crossings which are quite busy from my apartment. A crossing with four busy lanes to the market and shops and no way around it. The only route. Many times a car in one lane will stop to allow you to pass, at the crossing (no light here).
However, you cannot trust this, just as the book outlines— because the person in the other lane may not stop and the speed here is very fast. This is quite dangerous since a large number of elderly seniors live downtown, and walk to the store along this route. They are already quite unsteady in their walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters. I cringe each time I see this happen, holding my breath.
These elderly folks are like in their late 70s-90s and still trying to live independently in this crazy screwed up health care system of ours, which offer little or no support for long-term skilled nursing. (many of them living in my building).
When this happens to me, I motion for the car to pass along. Nice for them to make the gesture; however, a risk as the author outlines. Too much room for error when you cannot judge if the car in the other lanes will stop. In addition, we soon will have a train going 80mph at this same intersection with the station located here, with 40 stops a day coming mid-summer, so let’s hope they build an overpass or some alternative for all the S. Florida seniors. (myself included since I fall into this newfound category).
You would think since the city spends so much money with our urban planning, they would correct this major problem between two of our largest entertainment districts: CityPlace and Clematis.
—IN THIS MOMENT a woman struggles with complexities of tragedy, guilt, and secrets as her life unravel along with those around her.
Meg Pepper is a wife and mom with a real estate career. Married to Ryan, a physician. Daughter Aubrey age fifteen (boyfriend Sam Beckett).
Meg and Aubrey are running late for a dentist appointment and Meg is picking up her daughter at school. She is struggling to balance family and career and has not been completely honest about an event in her past.
They notice Jack (Sam’s twin brother) on the side of the road attempting to get across. His mom is a financial whiz and works at one of Boston’s private equity firms. The boy’s dad Andrew is a stay at home dad, having left a journalism career when the twin boys were born.
Jack has his skateboard on the curb’s edge in one hand waiting for the car coming toward their car to pass so he can cross. His friends are on the other side waiting. Aubrey tells her mom they should let him cross. She waves him across. A life-changing split-second choice.
However, just as she does so, the unthinkable happens. Jack’s body smashes into the windshield of the other car which came out of nowhere, too fast. Aubrey and Meg are mortified. How did this happen?
Sarah Dunn, Audrey and Jack’s history teacher was texting and had to stop too quickly.
However, it is Meg’s guilt, which haunts her.
She was the one who deemed it a safe crossing for this innocent and clearly vulnerable teenager now lying in the road with an injury that will forever change his life. How could she have let the boy cross the street?
The accident turns into a nightmare for all concerned.
Meg is suddenly slammed with a memory from when she was sixteen; from a terrible night where another teen lay bleeding and broken on a road in front of her. She has worked hard not to think about that night because she cannot breathe around her guilt when she does so. But just like that, it was back and she was left sucking in air around the heaviness of the memory—
And like the part she played on that night so long ago, she was the reason Jack Beckett cross the road when he did. It is her fault. With a simple careless wave of her hand, she did this.
Soon they are at the hospital and she faces the family. With her daughter dating the brother, and even though the family may not be close friends they know one another through their children.
Meg becomes overwhelmed with guilt. Her family and Jack and Sam’s family torn apart. Meg becomes close to Andrew as her terrifying dreams continue. The past and present collide. She is thinking about Paige. Her friend from the past. Her face haunts her.
It has been twenty-eight years since that horrible night. Now the dreams surface again. Two days after Ryan slid the engagement ring on her finger. Only a week after her twenty-fifth birthday, when she learned her mom had cancer. Ryan in pre-med. A woman who had to grow up too fast. A sister who had to take care of her little brother and her dad.
Meg throws herself into helping the family and drawing closer to Andrew. Shutting out her own family in the process, especially her own husband. He knows the truth about the accident long ago, but he has never understood why she holds herself responsible. She carries it inside. She is spiraling out of control.
Andrew turns to Meg for support, and the two bond over the tragedy, putting at risk her marriage, family and her own moral compass.
Will these two families ever be the same?
As the past secrets and guilt collide with the present, Meg is at her breaking point. Emotional and heartbreaking, a picture-perfect life comes shattering apart in the blink of an eye. A wife and mother striving for perfection and balance with personal, career, and family.
She is searching for answers yet she cannot trust herself, to be honest through her grief with the weight from the accident of long ago and the one in the present.
Once again, Brown delves deep, exploring the intense emotions and pressure of guilt, grief, parenting, marriage, accountability, and responsibility. However, in the end, family comes first and that has to take top priority. If we let that slide, all will begin to unravel.
Brown has proven herself a strong voice representing the trials of the modern-day contemporary woman. I enjoyed reading about the inspiration behind the novel. Publishers Weekly interview. Spotlight on Karma Brown.
A cautionary tale. This scenario could happen to anyone. My heart went out to Meg and the author does an exceptional job with the character development.
If you have read Karma’s previous books, she has a way with domestic suspense, tragedy, emotion, grief and aftermath – which hits on every cylinder. She holds nothing back and you get inside her character’s heads. You feel the emotions. Their desperation. Their vulnerabilities. The character’s emotions are real, heartbreaking, raw, and painful.
The past tragedy and present storyline enhanced the overall tension and suspense, keeping you glued to the pages while demonstrating how guilt can hold you down and shape your life years later.
For today’s contemporary woman who sometimes strives too hard to be perfect. Thought-provoking in our fast and furious world today. Learning to forgive yourself in order to move on with your life.
For fans of Amy Hatvany, Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, Liane Moriarty, Karen White, Heather Gudenkauf, Sarah Pekkanen, and T. Greenwood.
Highly recommend!
A special thank you to Park Row Books and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
On a side note: This road crossing fiasco is a real problem here. I walk everywhere in the downtown urban West Palm Beach and there are two major crossings which are quite busy from my apartment. A crossing with four busy lanes to the market and shops and no way around it. The only route. Many times a car in one lane will stop to allow you to pass, at the crossing (no light here).
However, you cannot trust this, just as the book outlines— because the person in the other lane may not stop and the speed here is very fast. This is quite dangerous since a large number of elderly seniors live downtown, and walk to the store along this route. They are already quite unsteady in their walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters. I cringe each time I see this happen, holding my breath.
These elderly folks are like in their late 70s-90s and still trying to live independently in this crazy screwed up health care system of ours, which offer little or no support for long-term skilled nursing. (many of them living in my building).
When this happens to me, I motion for the car to pass along. Nice for them to make the gesture; however, a risk as the author outlines. Too much room for error when you cannot judge if the car in the other lanes will stop. In addition, we soon will have a train going 80mph at this same intersection with the station located here, with 40 stops a day coming mid-summer, so let’s hope they build an overpass or some alternative for all the S. Florida seniors. (myself included since I fall into this newfound category).
You would think since the city spends so much money with our urban planning, they would correct this major problem between two of our largest entertainment districts: CityPlace and Clematis.
March 9, 2017
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED! Karma Brown is a beautiful writer with a true talent for creating characters her reader will care about. This story is intense, emotional and, at times, even twists your stomach into knots. It reminds you that one event can change everything. That one moment can tip your world on its axis. That one decision can cause you to second guess yourself for decades. The words, 'what if' can haunt you and follow you around until your guilt either overtakes you or you overtake it. I finished this book in just two days because I did not want to put it down. I was immediately sucked in and had to know: what was going to happen to these characters I have only just met but already care about. Add this book to your shelf! Pre-order it! You will LOVE this novel.
July 1, 2017
Another beautiful, heartfelt read from the very talented Karma Brown.
July 7, 2017
I needed a break from the last few thrillers I’ve read and this did the trick. I loved this book and I love EVERYTHING I have ever read by Karma Brown. I love her writing style and she is so easy to read. I can’t wait till her next book comes out!
July 5, 2017
Karma Brown has a way of taking a deep heartfelt subject such as guilt and the ramifications it has on someone and turns it into an entertaining, gripping story.
August 6, 2017
A novel about guilt, shame and redemption. How two moments in your life can change the course of your life.
June 5, 2017
I love and adore Karma Brown's books and this one didn't disappoint! Meg is a full time realtor, wife, and mother of a 15 year old daughter. One day while picking her daughter up from school, there is a terrible accident because Meg waved Jack across the street but the driver on the other side was texting and didn't see him. Meg is consumed with guilt and what ifs. It is a story of how your life can change in one instant. In This Moment is a wonderful story of guilt, loss, and love.
June 24, 2017
Every day is filled with moments where we make a choice; most of the time those choices are innocuous, but sometimes those choices are life-changing, with consequences and outcomes that change our lives forever. On one such day, Meg Pepper makes a split-second decision that not only impacts her life, but ultimately affects her whole family, and devastates another family as well. Meg is filled with guilt and remorse, and is brought back to another moment in her life that left her reeling. In This Moment is a compelling book that explores the nuances of families and relationships that can get messy and complicated. I was completely invested in the characters and their stories, particularly Meg. Meg is complicated and at times frustrating, but I truly felt like I was in her skin as she examines her past and tries to reconcile her present. My emotions were stirred every which way. Karma Brown has a way of writing characters that are relatable, characters for whom we feel compassion, characters that we can get angry with, and mostly characters that we care about. In This Moment is touching, heartfelt, and compelling....in short, I loved it and highly recommend it.
March 20, 2017
Karma has a gift for exploring the drama in horrible "what if" situations, IN THIS MOMENT is no exception! I couldn't put it down! It's a fantastic story with complicated characters, beautiful writing, an original story, and a satisfying ending. Many readers will be able to relate to Meg and how overwhelmed and guilty she feels about everything. I love that the ending is realistic and hopeful.
March 2, 2017
IN THIS MOMENT is a gripping examination of how one seemingly innocuous split-second decision can change your entire life. In her latest, Karma Brown proves once again that she is a masterful observer of the emotional nuance of relationships— both familial and romantic. A must-read.
August 4, 2017
Review
This is my second Karma Brown book and this brought the emotions just like her last and just like I expected.
After Meg driving home with her daughter from school pickup waves a teenage boy across the street and then witnesses him get hit by an oncoming car. Meg starts to feel guilt about her part in the accident as well as having some old memories of a past accident she has guilt over. This starts a kind of chain reaction of unraveling of Meg's life. Can she get over the guilt and get her life and family together?
This book had me feeling so much - especially for Meg and her daughter. I totally understood Meg's guilt even if it wasn't necessary. I would go over that moment in my mind a million times I'm sure. Plus her daughter is dealing with a classmate and her boyfriend's brother being in the accident. She clearly is having issues with it and Meg has to deal with that. Meg and her husband don't appear to always be on the same page, especially with their daughter. I hated to see all the tension in their family but it was so authentic feeling.
The whole book gave me an uneasy feeling the whole time but in a good way if that makes sense. This is not a happy story by any means but that didn't make it any less enjoyable for me. I loved all the feelings this gave me and really liked how it wrapped up. Karma Brown is definitely an author I am excited to read more from.
Review
I was really in the mood for a good thriller since I haven't read one in a while. I was really hoping Final Girls would deliver and it just slightly missed the mark for me.
My biggest issue with Final Girls was I thought it took a long time to get at what was driving the book. What I mean by that was I wasn't sure what the end game was. Was someone hunting the final girls? Quincy didn't remember what exactly happened to her so was that the mystery? I just felt like there was a lot of build up and while it was interesting I would have liked it all to kick in quicker.
I will say the ending - the last 25% or so - was very good and had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't really see any of it coming so that was definitely a plus. I just wish there was that same tension earlier in the book. Still worth the read if the blurb calls to you.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
This is my second Karma Brown book and this brought the emotions just like her last and just like I expected.
After Meg driving home with her daughter from school pickup waves a teenage boy across the street and then witnesses him get hit by an oncoming car. Meg starts to feel guilt about her part in the accident as well as having some old memories of a past accident she has guilt over. This starts a kind of chain reaction of unraveling of Meg's life. Can she get over the guilt and get her life and family together?
This book had me feeling so much - especially for Meg and her daughter. I totally understood Meg's guilt even if it wasn't necessary. I would go over that moment in my mind a million times I'm sure. Plus her daughter is dealing with a classmate and her boyfriend's brother being in the accident. She clearly is having issues with it and Meg has to deal with that. Meg and her husband don't appear to always be on the same page, especially with their daughter. I hated to see all the tension in their family but it was so authentic feeling.
The whole book gave me an uneasy feeling the whole time but in a good way if that makes sense. This is not a happy story by any means but that didn't make it any less enjoyable for me. I loved all the feelings this gave me and really liked how it wrapped up. Karma Brown is definitely an author I am excited to read more from.
Review
I was really in the mood for a good thriller since I haven't read one in a while. I was really hoping Final Girls would deliver and it just slightly missed the mark for me.
My biggest issue with Final Girls was I thought it took a long time to get at what was driving the book. What I mean by that was I wasn't sure what the end game was. Was someone hunting the final girls? Quincy didn't remember what exactly happened to her so was that the mystery? I just felt like there was a lot of build up and while it was interesting I would have liked it all to kick in quicker.
I will say the ending - the last 25% or so - was very good and had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't really see any of it coming so that was definitely a plus. I just wish there was that same tension earlier in the book. Still worth the read if the blurb calls to you.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
April 21, 2017
I would like to thank Karma Brown for providing me a copy of this book for an honest review. I have read her two previous books and really enjoyed them. I loved this book too. All of her books are very different from each other and they all have have well developed characters. The writing style is wonderful. The main character in this book is Meg. Meg suffers from guilt from a tragedy that occurred when she was a teenager. It is all brought to the surface when she feels guilty for waving a teenage boy to cross the street in front of her car only to have him hit by a car coming the other way. He is very seriously injured. The story follows Meg's family and the family of the injured boy. The families are already interconnected because Meg's daughter is dating their other son. Meg's life continues to spin out of control as the story progresses and her guilt continues. Meg tries to manage her very busy life and it becomes more and more difficult. This book dealt with many issues - parenting, marriage, anxiety, and a working mom and wife trying to do it all. I think people will relate to this book on many levels. This a great book! Can't wait for Karma Brown's next book!
November 21, 2017
How often have all of us made a split second decision that has had a regretful outcome? If only we hadn’t gone there. If only I stayed home for an extra few minutes. If only I hadn’t said that or done that. For Meg, that split second decision to wave Jack across the road will be her if only for the rest of her life as for Jack, that crossing of the road had a devastating outcome.
Human emotions are so complex. We hold onto guilt and regret and in many cases we never forgive ourselves for what we see as our part in catastrophic circumstances.
Although Meg was not the driver that hit Jack, the twin brother of her daughter Audrey’s boyfriend, she feels such guilt that she waved him across for if not for that, the second car that she didn’t see, that sped up quickly would not have hit him. Is she to blame? She thinks so and she can’t forgive herself; same as she cannot forgive herself for another long ago accident that has haunted her since she was 16.
Out of guilt springs all kinds of emotions. Meg can’t think of much else other than making it better and dives into helping Jack’s family with meals and hospital visits and becoming so involved and preoccupied, her own life begins to unravel.
After reading one of Karma Brown’s books recently, I couldn’t wait to read another. There is such an emotional impact her books leave on the reader. Like the other one I read (The Choices we make) this novel had me scrambling to turn the pages and consume this book that I was totally involved in. You cannot read her books without becoming emotional invested in them. Watching Meg fall apart is gut wrenching and watching some of the events is like a train wreck you can’t prevent. Reading into that pivotal moment at the high school, I was saying “no no no”, helplessly knowing where it was going and not being able to stop it. Another “if only”.
Now I am torn between reading Karma Brown’s other book or waiting since then I won’t have another until she writes a new one. Either way, she has quickly become a new favourite author of mine. I give this one a 4 1/2 and highly recommend it.
Human emotions are so complex. We hold onto guilt and regret and in many cases we never forgive ourselves for what we see as our part in catastrophic circumstances.
Although Meg was not the driver that hit Jack, the twin brother of her daughter Audrey’s boyfriend, she feels such guilt that she waved him across for if not for that, the second car that she didn’t see, that sped up quickly would not have hit him. Is she to blame? She thinks so and she can’t forgive herself; same as she cannot forgive herself for another long ago accident that has haunted her since she was 16.
Out of guilt springs all kinds of emotions. Meg can’t think of much else other than making it better and dives into helping Jack’s family with meals and hospital visits and becoming so involved and preoccupied, her own life begins to unravel.
After reading one of Karma Brown’s books recently, I couldn’t wait to read another. There is such an emotional impact her books leave on the reader. Like the other one I read (The Choices we make) this novel had me scrambling to turn the pages and consume this book that I was totally involved in. You cannot read her books without becoming emotional invested in them. Watching Meg fall apart is gut wrenching and watching some of the events is like a train wreck you can’t prevent. Reading into that pivotal moment at the high school, I was saying “no no no”, helplessly knowing where it was going and not being able to stop it. Another “if only”.
Now I am torn between reading Karma Brown’s other book or waiting since then I won’t have another until she writes a new one. Either way, she has quickly become a new favourite author of mine. I give this one a 4 1/2 and highly recommend it.
March 18, 2017
The stuff of nightmares . . . a harried mom, driving her teenaged daughter home from school. She sees another teen waiting to cross the street; she stops and waves him across - into the path of an SUV she didn't notice, whose driver is texting and doesn't see him.
Overwhelming guilt consumes Meg, threatening to destroy her family. She does all she can to help the family of Jack, the boy who is severly injured, but does she go too far?
Truly a cautionary tale and good for a book club discussion.
My thanks to MIRA Books, Harper Collins, and Park Row Books for the ARC of this thought-provoking novel. The book goes on sale May 30, 2017.
Overwhelming guilt consumes Meg, threatening to destroy her family. She does all she can to help the family of Jack, the boy who is severly injured, but does she go too far?
Truly a cautionary tale and good for a book club discussion.
My thanks to MIRA Books, Harper Collins, and Park Row Books for the ARC of this thought-provoking novel. The book goes on sale May 30, 2017.
May 30, 2017
BookSparks’ Summer Reading Challenge continues with Karma Brown’s, freshly published, IN THIS MOMENT (ParkRowBooks/HarperCollins/Harlequin). Once again, it’s time to get out your Kleenex and don’t expect to leave your chair or couch once you start reading. It’d suggest making up a nice little table with drinks, perhaps some cheese and crackers, treats and you’ll be ready to settle in.
Meg Pepper has a busy career, married to radiologist, Ryan, 15 year-old daughter, Audrey, she’s stressed, but keeping it together. Then one day, everything changes. All is takes is one unexpected moment and your world turns. Tragedy Leading to guilt and grief.
Meg sees Audrey’s best friend rundown after she calls him over, triggering a memory from her own past. She proceeds to help the boy’s family at the expense of her own and what readers watch is the unraveling of two families.
IN THIS MOMENT is based on one of those horrible “what ifs” that anyone of us could find ourselves facing. Her characters are complex and struggle to do what is right, but what is right? Morality at times, can be up for debate. One’s value’s are certainly their own, subject to discussion. Life can seem so black and white, but we live in a world of grey.
Meg Pepper has a busy career, married to radiologist, Ryan, 15 year-old daughter, Audrey, she’s stressed, but keeping it together. Then one day, everything changes. All is takes is one unexpected moment and your world turns. Tragedy Leading to guilt and grief.
Meg sees Audrey’s best friend rundown after she calls him over, triggering a memory from her own past. She proceeds to help the boy’s family at the expense of her own and what readers watch is the unraveling of two families.
IN THIS MOMENT is based on one of those horrible “what ifs” that anyone of us could find ourselves facing. Her characters are complex and struggle to do what is right, but what is right? Morality at times, can be up for debate. One’s value’s are certainly their own, subject to discussion. Life can seem so black and white, but we live in a world of grey.
May 16, 2017
Karma Brown captured my reader's heart with her debut, Come Away with Me. Her sophomore novel, The Choices We Make, was also a compelling story. So naturally, I couldn't wait to read her latest. The subject matter was so interesting and something that I don't always read about.
Like with Come Away, there was an accident early on in the story. Unlike Come Away, the victim was not the main character. However, she is impacted by this tragic situation in other ways.
Meg reminds me of myself in many ways. I constantly need reminders about appointments, things that need to get done, etc. I sometimes push myself to work, even when I'm sick. I also tend to feel guilty about stuff beyond my control. There are also ways we are different, which makes the story less predictable.
Meg and all the supporting characters feel so real and the dialogue between them is genuine. The story's setting and all the descriptions of people and places worked well to set a stage for me without feeling overwhelming.
Overall, the story is thought provoking and has a lot of layers to discuss. I wish it hadn't ended where it did. That it went on a few more chapters. However, the ending made a lot of sense to the mood of the story.
I applaud Karma for another well-written and complex novel. She's on the path to becoming the next Jodi Picoult.
Dream movie cast:
Meg: Kathryn Hahn
Ryan: Jeremy Sisto
Julie: Melissa McCarthy
Emma: Sasha Alexander
Andrew: David Denman
Alysse: Leslie Mann
Audrey: Taylor Geare
Like with Come Away, there was an accident early on in the story. Unlike Come Away, the victim was not the main character. However, she is impacted by this tragic situation in other ways.
Meg reminds me of myself in many ways. I constantly need reminders about appointments, things that need to get done, etc. I sometimes push myself to work, even when I'm sick. I also tend to feel guilty about stuff beyond my control. There are also ways we are different, which makes the story less predictable.
Meg and all the supporting characters feel so real and the dialogue between them is genuine. The story's setting and all the descriptions of people and places worked well to set a stage for me without feeling overwhelming.
Overall, the story is thought provoking and has a lot of layers to discuss. I wish it hadn't ended where it did. That it went on a few more chapters. However, the ending made a lot of sense to the mood of the story.
I applaud Karma for another well-written and complex novel. She's on the path to becoming the next Jodi Picoult.
Dream movie cast:
Meg: Kathryn Hahn
Ryan: Jeremy Sisto
Julie: Melissa McCarthy
Emma: Sasha Alexander
Andrew: David Denman
Alysse: Leslie Mann
Audrey: Taylor Geare
June 23, 2020
3.5 stars
Brown's latest is a fascinating look at what guilt can do to a person and how it can shape their entire life. Meg is a character easy to identify with, and it's understandable that, as a mother, she takes responsibility for something that really isn't her fault. It's also tragic, yet totally believable, that some other women also hold her responsible. Brown's writing style is emotional and thought-provoking, and the way she unfolds a story is dramatic, yet tender. She pushes readers to explore tough issues within the comfort of a fictional tale.
Meg Pepper and her husband Ryan are successful, busy people who balance their lives around each other and their teenage daughter Audrey. As Meg is driving Audrey home from school, she sees Jack, the twin brother of Audrey's boyfriend, waiting to cross the street. Meg stops and waves him across, and seemingly out of nowhere an SUV hits Jack, injuring him severely. The aftermath of this one decision reminds Meg of guilt she still feels regarding an incident from her own teen years. As she works to help the family in order to make herself feel better, Meg finds herself spiraling out of control, trying to assuage her feelings and make everyone happy around her.
Brown's latest is a fascinating look at what guilt can do to a person and how it can shape their entire life. Meg is a character easy to identify with, and it's understandable that, as a mother, she takes responsibility for something that really isn't her fault. It's also tragic, yet totally believable, that some other women also hold her responsible. Brown's writing style is emotional and thought-provoking, and the way she unfolds a story is dramatic, yet tender. She pushes readers to explore tough issues within the comfort of a fictional tale.
Meg Pepper and her husband Ryan are successful, busy people who balance their lives around each other and their teenage daughter Audrey. As Meg is driving Audrey home from school, she sees Jack, the twin brother of Audrey's boyfriend, waiting to cross the street. Meg stops and waves him across, and seemingly out of nowhere an SUV hits Jack, injuring him severely. The aftermath of this one decision reminds Meg of guilt she still feels regarding an incident from her own teen years. As she works to help the family in order to make herself feel better, Meg finds herself spiraling out of control, trying to assuage her feelings and make everyone happy around her.
June 30, 2017
Thank you to Goodreads and Park Row Books for providing me with a proof of In This Moment by Karma Brown in exchange for an honest review. The book was an easy read even though the story is quite complex. Meg Pepper has her busy life under control: her real estate job, her physician husband, her teenage daughter, her best friend all make her life happy and productive. While driving her daughter from school one day, Meg stops the car to wave a teenager named Jack across the street, not knowing that a car is oncoming in the next lane. A teacher is driving and texting and slams into the young man. The novel, from that moment, deals with the ripple effects of that split-second decision that will affect the lives of many people. Jack's and his family's lives will be forever changed as well as Meg's and her family's lives. There is plenty of food for thought here. It is a cautionary tale that stays with you long after you have finished reading.
April 6, 2017
Review to come closer to pub time.
Quick Thoughts:
Karma's previous 2 books- Come Away With Me and The Choices We Make had me reaching for Kleenex. In This Moment, though, my eyes stayed dry.
In her earlier books, the story was building up to a shocking and emotional event, but ITM, the event happens early. It's how the characters deal with the event that is the bulk of the book.
Distracted driving, underage drinking, and facing the cracks in a marriage are themes of this book and Karma balances multiple balls as her characters deal with these themes and more.
Book clubs will find lots to discuss as distracted driving is an issue in much of the population.
Quick Thoughts:
Karma's previous 2 books- Come Away With Me and The Choices We Make had me reaching for Kleenex. In This Moment, though, my eyes stayed dry.
In her earlier books, the story was building up to a shocking and emotional event, but ITM, the event happens early. It's how the characters deal with the event that is the bulk of the book.
Distracted driving, underage drinking, and facing the cracks in a marriage are themes of this book and Karma balances multiple balls as her characters deal with these themes and more.
Book clubs will find lots to discuss as distracted driving is an issue in much of the population.
June 1, 2017
I received this corrected proof as a Goodreads Giveaway. It is a very emotional and compelling story. Like watching a bad event unfold, I couldn't stop reading to discover how the choices being made by Meg Pepper and others were going to crash and burn into unintended consequences. Old feelings of guilt from a tragic event in her past return as she again feels responsible for her involvement in a recent accident involving a young boy. Meg's grief and guilt from decisions during this prior event guides her actions to help people affected by the young boy's injuries. It consumes her and has unintended results which drives her into situations she really didn't see coming. I highly recommend this book.
May 23, 2017
Read this in one sitting on a flight - that's how much I loved it! This book fully met my expectations based on the author's previous work. Tension and emotion fill every page, and I'm left with a strange sensation that I can relate just a little too closely with Meg's feelings of being constantly inundated with reminders and tasks and not able to keep up.....her feelings of guilt and responsibility and the haunting of her past make readers want to just give her a big hug and help her figure out her life. I love that it's not a perfectly tied up story - real and messy and imperfect is REAL.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a finished copy for review!
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a finished copy for review!
June 13, 2017
Two life-changing events in one woman's life shapes her view of the world and relationships. An emotional look at guilt, self preservation and trying to keep it all together - although a tad self-indulgent sometimes. This is an uncorrected proof copy won on Goodreads so a few spelling/grammatical errors to overlook. http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...
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