Reviews

In a Single Moment by Imogen Clark

Only show reviews with written explanations

bookworm_rn's review

2.0

Are the babies switched at birth or aren't they?

Eh, I didn't really care if they were or not. Of the two side-by-side stories, I liked Michelle's better. But this was draaaaaaaawn out way too much.

sharonrhh's review

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

jlewis's review

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hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Light-weight easy read. Mixing up babies at birth is a subject of endless anxiety to new mothers in hospital, hopefully less likely to happen today. Overall the range of characters was well-handled, including dealing with Sylvie’s lack of maternal feelings. As a previous review has said, we did not see much of Leonora, other than through her parents’ eyes until right at the end. Some of the working class scenes grated a little. I cannot believe that intelligent, even if not academic, working-class parents of an able child in the early 90s had so little knowledge of the exam system (did they not go to parents’ evenings?) and were surprised that a high-achieving child might want to stay on to 6th form - perhaps all a bit patronising? And, with the other family, the pretentious middle-class attitudes of Sylvie’s mother-in-law were equally stereotyped and reminiscent of Hyacinth Bucket.

torimignardi's review

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

charylreadsbooks's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

An interesting, unusual dilemma

jmelauren's review

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emotional mysterious reflective

2.0

This is a story about two women who give birth on the same day, but then there are suspicions that the babies were switched.

The book would have been more interesting (I think) if that were the only story told. Basically there's Michelle and her mothering and then Sylvie and her whole backstory. I felt that her story was too much and unnecessary.