What do you think?
Rate this book
One Punch
A contemporary family drama following two mothers at the centre of a tragedy, One Punch is for fans of Jodi Picoult and Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere.
Yasmin Weston is on holiday when she learns that her son Daniel has been assaulted at home in Australia, leaving him with a debilitating brain injury. She vows to hunt down her son's attacker.
Evie MacIntyre knows the Westons from school. She's never had much time for Yasmin, and she dislikes Daniel because he bullied her son, Brody. When Evie discovers evidence that Brody was involved in the attack, she is torn but decides there is no way she will let her only son go to jail.
Yasmin Weston is on holiday when she learns that her son Daniel has been assaulted at home in Australia, leaving him with a debilitating brain injury. She vows to hunt down her son's attacker.
Evie MacIntyre knows the Westons from school. She's never had much time for Yasmin, and she dislikes Daniel because he bullied her son, Brody. When Evie discovers evidence that Brody was involved in the attack, she is torn but decides there is no way she will let her only son go to jail.
- GenresContemporary
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2022
2 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Julie Fison
8 books37 followersJulie Fison is an Australian author. Her first novel for adults - One Punch - is a contemporary family drama that follows two mothers facing impossible decisions after one life-changing night. Julie has also written eleven books for children and young adults, a play for high school students - As the Crow Flies - short stories and travel features. Her work includes the Hazard River adventure series for young readers (as J.E. Fison) and books in the Choose Your Own Ever After series - How to Get to Rio and Call of the Wild. She lives in Brisbane, and when not at her desk, likes to travel and share tips for midlife adventure.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 11, 2022
One Punch by Aussie author Julie Fison is a story that unfortunately many people can relate to or know of someone that has gone through similar circumstances.
As the title suggests this book revolves around one punch a senseless act of violence that will have major consequences, including lifelong injuries to the victim and traumatizing those closest to the victim. This is a powerful read which alternates between each family, which allows us to see how the families, especially the mothers deal with what has happened. Highly recommended.
As the title suggests this book revolves around one punch a senseless act of violence that will have major consequences, including lifelong injuries to the victim and traumatizing those closest to the victim. This is a powerful read which alternates between each family, which allows us to see how the families, especially the mothers deal with what has happened. Highly recommended.
October 5, 2022
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**3.5 stars**
One Punch by Julie Fison. (2022).
Yasmin is on holiday when she learns that her son Daniel has been assaulted at home in Australia, leaving him with a debilitating brain injury. She vows to hunt down her son's attacker. Evie knows Daniel as her son Brody's school bully. When Evie discovers evidence that Brody was involved in the attack, she is torn but decides there is no way she will let her only son go to jail. As the two mothers wrestle with the consequences of their actions, two families suffer the shockwaves of one catastrophic night and a punch that changes everything.
This is a timely novel which focuses on how a single act of violence has rippling effects for those involved. It also takes a deep dive into family loyalty; how far would you go for those you love - would you cover up a crime for them? The story alternates between two perspectives, both being the mothers of the teenage boys involved in a horrible one punch attack. I really felt for both Yasmin and Evie who each clearly loved their sons; I thought to be either mum in this situation would be horrific. I didn't necessarily agree with either's actions at times but I think that made the story more realistic as I don't think any of us could truly predict how we would act in this awful scenario.
Overall: a timely and intriguing novel that I would recommend for those that enjoy contemporary fiction which deals with real-world issues.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**3.5 stars**
One Punch by Julie Fison. (2022).
Yasmin is on holiday when she learns that her son Daniel has been assaulted at home in Australia, leaving him with a debilitating brain injury. She vows to hunt down her son's attacker. Evie knows Daniel as her son Brody's school bully. When Evie discovers evidence that Brody was involved in the attack, she is torn but decides there is no way she will let her only son go to jail. As the two mothers wrestle with the consequences of their actions, two families suffer the shockwaves of one catastrophic night and a punch that changes everything.
This is a timely novel which focuses on how a single act of violence has rippling effects for those involved. It also takes a deep dive into family loyalty; how far would you go for those you love - would you cover up a crime for them? The story alternates between two perspectives, both being the mothers of the teenage boys involved in a horrible one punch attack. I really felt for both Yasmin and Evie who each clearly loved their sons; I thought to be either mum in this situation would be horrific. I didn't necessarily agree with either's actions at times but I think that made the story more realistic as I don't think any of us could truly predict how we would act in this awful scenario.
Overall: a timely and intriguing novel that I would recommend for those that enjoy contemporary fiction which deals with real-world issues.
May 26, 2022
Absolutely brilliant! It has the moral dilemma of an early Jodi Picoult, sprinkled with the amazing family dynamics of Liane Moriarty. At times I was frustrated by the way the mothers were blind to the failings of their kids and parenting decisions. But of course that is the brilliant part - no mother is perfect and they are all doing the best they can. There were brilliant characters, especially Evie's best mate Winnie. But one of my favourite characters by far was Brisbane, the glorious setting of the book - it was a delight to read about somewhere you have lived and not cringe but instead twinkle with delight to recognise locations.
June 2, 2022
Thankyou to Better Reading for an ARC of this riveting read. Set in Brisbane Australia this unfortunately relevant story pulls on the heartstrings as each family has to deal with the consequences of one night. My favourite character was mum Evie who struggles to accept and deal with the reality of the situation she is dragged into. I found it difficult to put this book down. It is brilliantly written with emotion and drama with believable characters. Congratulations Julie Fison.
Read
June 5, 2022This book has a Jodi Picoult/ Liane Moriarty kind of vibe: one incident (a one-punch attack on a high school senior) has catastrophic consequences on both victim and perpetrator, and their families.
When Daniel Weston suffers a life-threatening brain injury following a drunken night out, mother Yasmin is out for blood. She wants the monster who put her son in ICU to feel the full brunt of the law. Fellow mum Evie McIntyre feels for the family, but deoesn't have much time for them, as Daniel mercilessly bullied her son, Brody. When she finds out that Brody was involved in the attack, she does everything she can to protect him. There is no way her sensitive, intelligent son should go to jail for a terrible mistake.
The author brings discourses of social class, bullying, male aggression, entitlement and motherhood to the fore via this predominantly character-driven novel. Both mums have infuriating but predictable blind spots for their sons. The young men in the novel reflect many of the tropes of entitlement and a lack of impulse control that are seen as ubiquitous in private school boys. The ending did not provide me with as much of a sense of resolution as I would have liked.
Many thanks to Better Reading and Affirm Press for the advance copy of this novel. All views are my own.
When Daniel Weston suffers a life-threatening brain injury following a drunken night out, mother Yasmin is out for blood. She wants the monster who put her son in ICU to feel the full brunt of the law. Fellow mum Evie McIntyre feels for the family, but deoesn't have much time for them, as Daniel mercilessly bullied her son, Brody. When she finds out that Brody was involved in the attack, she does everything she can to protect him. There is no way her sensitive, intelligent son should go to jail for a terrible mistake.
The author brings discourses of social class, bullying, male aggression, entitlement and motherhood to the fore via this predominantly character-driven novel. Both mums have infuriating but predictable blind spots for their sons. The young men in the novel reflect many of the tropes of entitlement and a lack of impulse control that are seen as ubiquitous in private school boys. The ending did not provide me with as much of a sense of resolution as I would have liked.
Many thanks to Better Reading and Affirm Press for the advance copy of this novel. All views are my own.
July 24, 2022
I often struggle with some Australian literature (don’t ask
me why as I’m from Australia) & this was no different.
The premise of the book was good in light of this being in the media in recent years & a huge emphasis on cracking down on this behaviour!
The plot was solid but the two mothers were just plain annoying, especially Evie, with her ‘woe is me’ attitude to everything that has happened in her life. I thought it strange how obvious it was that her son Brody was on the Autism spectrum & her being a health care professional & she chose to ignore it??! It was barely touched on in the story other than his odd idiosyncrasies without any further explanation, other then one whole page dedicated to it. This could’ve been explored more.
Yasmine was less annoying & despite being reasonably wealthy she seemed more grounded & normal although when it came to her sons, especially Daniel & Oshan, she had ‘blinkers’ on which I found frustrating. When a principal raises the issue that your son may be a bully, you take it seriously but she chose to fob it off! No doubt this happens in society but it still angers me. Parents need to take this seriously.
I enjoyed the different perspectives of the boys & their mothers; the victim & the perpetrator & I think we could all relate to how they handled (or lack thereof) the situation.
The ending didn’t leave me satisfied & it seemed unlikely that both mothers would live with the outcome, with seemingly no animosity, without taking it further (without revealing any spoilers).
An ok read but not great. A pass!
me why as I’m from Australia) & this was no different.
The premise of the book was good in light of this being in the media in recent years & a huge emphasis on cracking down on this behaviour!
The plot was solid but the two mothers were just plain annoying, especially Evie, with her ‘woe is me’ attitude to everything that has happened in her life. I thought it strange how obvious it was that her son Brody was on the Autism spectrum & her being a health care professional & she chose to ignore it??! It was barely touched on in the story other than his odd idiosyncrasies without any further explanation, other then one whole page dedicated to it. This could’ve been explored more.
Yasmine was less annoying & despite being reasonably wealthy she seemed more grounded & normal although when it came to her sons, especially Daniel & Oshan, she had ‘blinkers’ on which I found frustrating. When a principal raises the issue that your son may be a bully, you take it seriously but she chose to fob it off! No doubt this happens in society but it still angers me. Parents need to take this seriously.
I enjoyed the different perspectives of the boys & their mothers; the victim & the perpetrator & I think we could all relate to how they handled (or lack thereof) the situation.
The ending didn’t leave me satisfied & it seemed unlikely that both mothers would live with the outcome, with seemingly no animosity, without taking it further (without revealing any spoilers).
An ok read but not great. A pass!
June 22, 2022
One Punch by Julie Fison is so relevant to today's society. It raises several questions, what would you do if your child was the victim of an assault that could have a catastrophic impact on their life? Would you hunt down the culprit and ensure they face the consequences of their actions? On the other hand, if you knew your child was involved in an assault that has drastically changed the life of another, would you make them face up to the consequences of their actions or would you do everything you can to protect them? What happens if the person assaulted was one who has been known to bully your child? These are the questions this novel raises. The reader goes on an emotional journey which is experienced by two mothers on different sides of an assault. One is a mother, Yasmin Weston, heartbroken at the sight she is confronted with of her son, Daniel, on life support in ICU after a night out. She is faced with the prospect that her son will never be the same, the injuries sustained to his brain are debilitating and life changing. Compounding these emotions are her questions of why has this happened and who? She is determined to seek out who carried out this devastating attack and ensure the punishment fits the crime. On the other hand you have a mother, Evie McIntyre, who has discovered that her son, Brody, is connected to the brutal attack of Daniel who she is aware is in ICU fighting for life. Evie dislikes Daniel due to the bullying that he has inflicted on her son. So now she faces a moral dilemma that would be difficult for any parent in her position, does she hand her son in or does she protect him at all costs. She chooses the latter and so begins the journey of two families on different spectrums of the assault, the devastating impact this event causes to them. Julie Fison has created a powerful, thought provoking read which really pulls at the emotions of the reader.
June 21, 2022
This novel hit me in the head, the heart and the stomach with its searing depiction of two families linked by a tragic event. While out on the town, Daniel is punched with enough force to cause a serious brain injury. With little or no memory of the event, his mother Yasmin is left searching for the perpetrator with an intense thirst for revenge and justice.
Meanwhile, Evie, whose son Brody just happened to be out and very drunk that night, begins to suspect that perhaps he had something to do with it. Her instincts are to protect him at all costs.
How these two families cope while dealing with such strong emotion and life changing events is harrowing. Yasmin is led to reevaluate her parenting skills and comes to understand that in certain situations and for certain reasons anyone can break and commit an unthinkable act. Evie must deal with the guilt and shame of her actions and struggles to understand Brody’s growing need to unburden himself.
I loved that these characters were so real….human and flawed. Life is never black and white and we will always have challenges to face and lessons to learn. Thanks to Better Reading for the ARC.
Meanwhile, Evie, whose son Brody just happened to be out and very drunk that night, begins to suspect that perhaps he had something to do with it. Her instincts are to protect him at all costs.
How these two families cope while dealing with such strong emotion and life changing events is harrowing. Yasmin is led to reevaluate her parenting skills and comes to understand that in certain situations and for certain reasons anyone can break and commit an unthinkable act. Evie must deal with the guilt and shame of her actions and struggles to understand Brody’s growing need to unburden himself.
I loved that these characters were so real….human and flawed. Life is never black and white and we will always have challenges to face and lessons to learn. Thanks to Better Reading for the ARC.
June 14, 2022
One Punch by Julie Fison was a fantastic read. This novel portrayed the harsh ramifications families endure following an act of one careless punch. Yasmin is a mother with a teenage son called Daniel. Daniel has been attacked and is suffering a terrible brain injury. Evie is the mother of Brody, who has been the victim of bullying over many years – and is a possible suspect of this vicious attack. The chapters alternate between Yasmin and Evie’s perspectives. Their struggles as a parent going through a terrible disaster are shown – each experiencing their own circumstances. I loved the interchanging chapters and the characters. I found the topic tough to read as I wouldn’t want to be placed in any of the mother’s situation. I would highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys family dramas and themes involving moral dilemmas.
June 11, 2022
I loved this book. Having a son that has a brain injury there were many moments in this book that I felt like I was looking in the mirror. What I especially loved about it was all the other issues of all the boys, individually their issues highlighted what so many kids face today. There is so much to dissect and discuss in this book. It was real, friendships were honest and it was messy. Life and everyone’s life and version of events or why people behave a certain way is really based on so many factors. No one is perfect and sometimes we do things we never expected to protect those we love the most.
As a mum of teenage boys; it’s a must read. Loved it.
As a mum of teenage boys; it’s a must read. Loved it.
June 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and polished it off in a couple of days- which is always a good sign of a page-turner!
The two main characters, Yasmin and Evie, have the most important thing in common; motherhood. Though their sons are on opposite ends of an incident spectrum, they are both dealing with their own issues of protecting their children, expectations of friendships, and their own guilt about what being a good mother means. How far does a mother go to protect her child? These lines are challenged and the reader has empathy for both characters and their unique experiences. Characters are well-drawn h rough out the book. If there is one criticism, it would be that the ending became a touch… contrived? It is difficult to wrap a novel no doubt, because it is a story and not real life, so my forgiveness outweighs my criticism. But all in all, a rally enjoyable read.
The two main characters, Yasmin and Evie, have the most important thing in common; motherhood. Though their sons are on opposite ends of an incident spectrum, they are both dealing with their own issues of protecting their children, expectations of friendships, and their own guilt about what being a good mother means. How far does a mother go to protect her child? These lines are challenged and the reader has empathy for both characters and their unique experiences. Characters are well-drawn h rough out the book. If there is one criticism, it would be that the ending became a touch… contrived? It is difficult to wrap a novel no doubt, because it is a story and not real life, so my forgiveness outweighs my criticism. But all in all, a rally enjoyable read.
June 11, 2022
Acutely observed tale of what it is to parent and manage all those dilemmas that come with a desire to do the right thing by your child. Given the heart wrenching topic, it is surprisingly witty and resonates with all those micro moments of parenting that have you delving into your own memory bank of moments of laughter, incredulity and patience you never knew you had. Unputdownable, I spent so long curled up on the sofa reading it, I had to be levered out!
March 25, 2025
One relentless bully.
One victim at breaking point.
Two families bought together by an unspeakable act, destined to pay the price.
I found the premise of the story an interesting read, although the parents seemed a bit pretentious, more concerned with this interruption on their personal lives than trying to help their children. Apart from that, it's not a bad read.
One victim at breaking point.
Two families bought together by an unspeakable act, destined to pay the price.
I found the premise of the story an interesting read, although the parents seemed a bit pretentious, more concerned with this interruption on their personal lives than trying to help their children. Apart from that, it's not a bad read.
November 23, 2025
Absolutely heartbreaking. So many feelings and emotions stirred up. My poor sons got lectured daily while I was reading this book.
Be kind. Never hate. And try your best to be a good person to everyone around you.
Both sides of this story we expressed so perfectly.
Be kind. Never hate. And try your best to be a good person to everyone around you.
Both sides of this story we expressed so perfectly.
June 11, 2022
Loved this book - the empathy for all key characters, the questions it raised for myself as a mother. Can’t wait to see what is next from this fabulous and insightful author.
August 9, 2022
Good book that had me interested from the get go. Amazing to think that years ago this terminology of one punch wouldn’t have been heard but not it is everywhere. The moral dilemma and the story behind the decision was interesting as well as was the contrast and connection between the two mothers.
December 27, 2022
Complicated, compassionate, relevant and deep - this is a very compelling take on trauma, parenting, teenagers, justice and consequences. Could hardly put it down.
May 29, 2022
I received a copy of One punch by Julie Fison thanks to #BRpreview and #AffirmPress. This is her review It's a very poignant subject matter that is so relevant in today's society. As there's a huge amount of cases of coward punch incidents happening on a regular basis. As a mother it really tugged at the heartstrings as you can really relate to the heartbreak of both mothers as there is always two sides to a story and different perspectives on how and why they occurred. It is a story which should be included in the English high school curriculum as it could make kids aware of the repercussions of their actions on 2 families way into the future. She loved it. It's a must read.
June 16, 2022
The nightmare faced by so many parents and families, this novel weaves between and around the good, bad and delusional decisions made by those intimately involved.
Modern and relevant.
Modern and relevant.
July 12, 2022
One Punch is a fantastic read and a perfect book club choice. I can't recommend it highly enough, especially to fans of Liane Moriarty and Celeste Ng. Cleverly told from the perspective of two mothers, Julie Fison manages to inject some humour and lighter moments into a tale that starts with an act of violence. The audiobook is also excellent.
January 12, 2023
Removed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2022
This story follows two women - Yasmin Weston and Evie MacIntyre.
Yasmin Weston is on holiday when she learns that her son Daniel has been assaulted at home in Australia, leaving him with a debilitating brain injury. She vows to hunt down his attacker.
Evie MacIntyre knows the Westons from school. She’s never had much time for Yasmin and she dislikes Daniel because he bullied her son, Brody. When Evie discovers evidence that Brody was involved in the attack, she is torn but decides there is no way she will let her only son go to jail.
As the story unfolds, two mothers wrestle with the consequences of their actions and while fighting for the best for their sons.
A really really interesting read. I loved the two perspectives and how honest and raw they were. You got to see the results of such an awful attack on a young boy and the hurt, anger and fear that is left in Yasmin. On the flip side, you see Evie trying to do everything she can to protect her son Brody. Both sides are highly emotional and at times make you question what the truth might really be. I do love that at the end you see two mothers come to understand that it wasn’t as straight forward as it all seemed.
Yasmin Weston is on holiday when she learns that her son Daniel has been assaulted at home in Australia, leaving him with a debilitating brain injury. She vows to hunt down his attacker.
Evie MacIntyre knows the Westons from school. She’s never had much time for Yasmin and she dislikes Daniel because he bullied her son, Brody. When Evie discovers evidence that Brody was involved in the attack, she is torn but decides there is no way she will let her only son go to jail.
As the story unfolds, two mothers wrestle with the consequences of their actions and while fighting for the best for their sons.
A really really interesting read. I loved the two perspectives and how honest and raw they were. You got to see the results of such an awful attack on a young boy and the hurt, anger and fear that is left in Yasmin. On the flip side, you see Evie trying to do everything she can to protect her son Brody. Both sides are highly emotional and at times make you question what the truth might really be. I do love that at the end you see two mothers come to understand that it wasn’t as straight forward as it all seemed.
November 6, 2022
Loved it! The plot is topical - a young man is the victim of a coward punch - and the themes involve motherhood and the choices we make to protect our children, plus friendships, judgement, responsibility and forgiveness. The reader is prompted to consider how they might react as the parent of either the perpetrator or the victim (they are known to one another) and how well we really know our children. Would your commitment to tough love and personal responsibility go so far as taking action that would send your child to jail? How would you react if a friend's kid did this? It's not as linear as you might think ... nor is the plot. Great choice for our bookclub - plenty of searching discussion and appreciation for the well-fleshed characters ... we've already cast the mini-series! Make space Liane Moriarty ... there's another talent in town :-)
May 30, 2023
This book is about a parent’s worst nightmare! It starts when Yasmin gets news that her teenage son is in hospital, he’s been king hit!
One night out becomes the centre of this story as two mums deal with the repercussions of a king hit. Yasmin is nursing her son back to health and trying her best to keep her family and self in some kind of normality. And the other mum, has a son who thinks he is to blame and wants to come forward, but coming forward would ruin his chances of going to medical school and her son is a good boy. He would never hit anyone. He didn’t do this, did he?
There is so much to think about when it comes to this story. I loved the alternating mum perspectives, and the finale is one to celebrate!
One night out becomes the centre of this story as two mums deal with the repercussions of a king hit. Yasmin is nursing her son back to health and trying her best to keep her family and self in some kind of normality. And the other mum, has a son who thinks he is to blame and wants to come forward, but coming forward would ruin his chances of going to medical school and her son is a good boy. He would never hit anyone. He didn’t do this, did he?
There is so much to think about when it comes to this story. I loved the alternating mum perspectives, and the finale is one to celebrate!
April 1, 2023
One Punch was recommended by a friend who had read it - so we’ve pitched it to our book club and I’m looking forward to the discussion. The book describes by alternate chapters the journey of two mothers who sons interact at school, and meet again in a nightclub district - both with a skin full of alcohol - with terrible consequences.
The analysis of the characters and the lead up to and aftermath of the events draws you in and leads you to evaluate the multiple shades of grays between black and white.
Add to that the familiarity of the landscapes from my hometown and overall it’s a cracker.
The analysis of the characters and the lead up to and aftermath of the events draws you in and leads you to evaluate the multiple shades of grays between black and white.
Add to that the familiarity of the landscapes from my hometown and overall it’s a cracker.
April 23, 2023
This book is literally about one drunken night involving one punch that left Daniel Weston (a school bully) with a brain injury. Brody admits that he was the one who punched Daniel and his mom did everything possible to hide his secret. I found the two moms annoying and didn’t agree with their actions.
This book was so slow-moving and the story line is all too real. It’s written with a Jodi Picolt flare, but the ending left me feeling very flat.
This book was so slow-moving and the story line is all too real. It’s written with a Jodi Picolt flare, but the ending left me feeling very flat.
June 10, 2022
This novel explores a very complex and emotive situation two mums ..two sons …two very different perspectives. It is a brilliant portrayal of family going through the difficult stages of tragic a circumstance. I enjoyed this novel as it was well researched, witty, emotional and has a very clever plot. Great ending!
September 5, 2022
Is somethjng wrong with Brody? Why is he behaving so weird? If he has some mental problems, surely that would be taken into consideration for his actions
One of Dan’s older brother is in UNI!! Why is he behaving like a 10-year-old, having petty arguments with his 15-year-old brother, who behaves like an 8-year-old
One of Dan’s older brother is in UNI!! Why is he behaving like a 10-year-old, having petty arguments with his 15-year-old brother, who behaves like an 8-year-old
February 2, 2023
Contemporary domestic drama, focusing on the POVs of two mothers and the fall out of their sons drunken encounter in the Valley. Brisbane locals will recognise the much of the scenery and places. Definitely a compelling story, well paced and characters are well fleshed out. I’d probably suggest it to readers of Holly Wainwright and Liane Moriarty.
June 9, 2023
I feel like I spent most of my time rolling my eyes while reading this book. The two-dimensional characters were so stupid that I found the whole book hard to believe. I ended up skimming the last third of the book and am glad I did, because from beginning to end this book was ludicrous. I’m now triggered by the word “bikie”. *eyeroll.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews