Scan barcode
popgoesbitty's review against another edition
5.0
CW: gruesome imagery, substance abuse, suicide, mental illness
A great page-turner about the flaws and fragility of the human spirit when faced with impossible decisions. I couldn't put it down. Great characters, super thrilling plot, and a not-sorry attitude. Loved it.
A great page-turner about the flaws and fragility of the human spirit when faced with impossible decisions. I couldn't put it down. Great characters, super thrilling plot, and a not-sorry attitude. Loved it.
spatterson12's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book in a while that I couldn’t put down. The first 40 or so pages, I was a little unsure of where we were going, but once the instant happened — I NEEDED to know everyone’s fate. I don’t know that I’ve cared about characters like this in a while, and even then, there wasn’t any really background on them. It was mostly the choices they made during the catastrophic event that shaped my opinion and kept me invested. Like read for five hours straight invested.
Make sure to read the author’s note on this one.
Finn has two older sisters and a younger brother. Her parents are married, but she knows they’re on the brink of separation. She has a best friend with an overprotective mother who only trusts Finn’s family when she’s not around. She also has neighbors, so close to her family that she refers to them as her aunt and uncle.
Her family takes a long weekend trip to the mountains, planning to ski and snowboard the entire time. However, on their first night they get caught in a blizzard while driving and come across a few unexpected stops that will forever change their worlds.
Make sure to read the author’s note on this one.
Finn has two older sisters and a younger brother. Her parents are married, but she knows they’re on the brink of separation. She has a best friend with an overprotective mother who only trusts Finn’s family when she’s not around. She also has neighbors, so close to her family that she refers to them as her aunt and uncle.
Her family takes a long weekend trip to the mountains, planning to ski and snowboard the entire time. However, on their first night they get caught in a blizzard while driving and come across a few unexpected stops that will forever change their worlds.
alatinaandherbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Lots of emotion
This book was a free prime member first of the month book. Rarely are those books that great but this book was phenomenal. I'm not one to cry but this book made me tear up several times. The ending didn't have as much bang as I wanted and I was left with a few unanswered questions but all throughout the book was very good
This book was a free prime member first of the month book. Rarely are those books that great but this book was phenomenal. I'm not one to cry but this book made me tear up several times. The ending didn't have as much bang as I wanted and I was left with a few unanswered questions but all throughout the book was very good
vonderbash's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
aprilsbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this book intrigued me as it reminded me of one of my favorite books as a teen - “The Lovely Bones.” But as I read, I felt it lacked a lot of emotional insight and warmth. The main character and her brother die but then no one in her family seems that emotionally distraught about it. They all move along in their own dramas and don’t really acknowledge the deaths to the extent I would’ve liked and I found myself feeling like the main character was gipped. Not once did the Mom cry for her lost children...
Also, there were some other inconsistencies and things that didn’t seem that plausible which added to my “meh” feeling about the book.
Also, there were some other inconsistencies and things that didn’t seem that plausible which added to my “meh” feeling about the book.
readwkatie's review against another edition
5.0
Finn along with her family and best friend, Mo are vacationing in Big Bear. On their way to dinner on the first night, Finn’s dad loses control of the RV and tumbles over a cliff. Finn dies on impact and the book follows Finn as she watches her family and best friend figure out how to survive while some go off in search for help.
This book was one of my absolute favorite reads this year. It is rare that I give out a five star, but this was a MAJOR five star read for me. I listened to the audio version of this book and I highly recommend doing the same; the speaker did an incredible job and I think it made me enjoy the book more. I finished the book in under 24 hours and just couldn’t put it down. Even better, this book is available to read for free if you have Kindle Unlimited. Run, don’t walk and get yourself this book.
This book was one of my absolute favorite reads this year. It is rare that I give out a five star, but this was a MAJOR five star read for me. I listened to the audio version of this book and I highly recommend doing the same; the speaker did an incredible job and I think it made me enjoy the book more. I finished the book in under 24 hours and just couldn’t put it down. Even better, this book is available to read for free if you have Kindle Unlimited. Run, don’t walk and get yourself this book.
abcderin's review against another edition
1.0
I feel like I have a very -unpopular opinion- view on this one, but whew, I didn't like this book in the slightest.
For starters- this book was anything but "In an Instant." It drug on FOREVER, it genuinely felt like it was never going to end. 93 chapters in 325 pages? So unnecessary, and it made it that much harder to read.
Also, I hate the way Finn was written. It seemed like the author kept throwing in random facts about her as the book went on that didn't really make sense. The whole baseball thing? I just didn't get it. Also, why did Finn watch so many of the people she loved have sex as a ghost? So strange and very uncomfortable to read.
Also... in what world is throwing away everything that reminds you of, or previously belonged to, your dead child after not even a year of them being gone a healthy way to cope? It's not. That was shitty.
Painting the autistic child as a monster so consistently, especially after his death when his dad says "I'm relieved he's gone." That's enough to hate this book by itself, honestly. Yikes.
This book seriously read like a fan fiction or a 16 year old's creative writing project. It sucked.
I think the thing that completely cinched the dislike of this book was the author's note: this was based on her own experiences of a much milder accident, she even named Uncle Bob and Aunt Karen after her own Uncle Bob and Aunt Karen! But to have book Uncle Bob get charged with negligent homicide after the author got diagnosed with.... frostnip? Seems a little much. Go to therapy, girl. You've clearly got a lot going on.
For starters- this book was anything but "In an Instant." It drug on FOREVER, it genuinely felt like it was never going to end. 93 chapters in 325 pages? So unnecessary, and it made it that much harder to read.
Also, I hate the way Finn was written. It seemed like the author kept throwing in random facts about her as the book went on that didn't really make sense. The whole baseball thing? I just didn't get it. Also, why did Finn watch so many of the people she loved have sex as a ghost? So strange and very uncomfortable to read.
Also... in what world is throwing away everything that reminds you of, or previously belonged to, your dead child after not even a year of them being gone a healthy way to cope? It's not. That was shitty.
Painting the autistic child as a monster so consistently, especially after his death when his dad says "I'm relieved he's gone." That's enough to hate this book by itself, honestly. Yikes.
This book seriously read like a fan fiction or a 16 year old's creative writing project. It sucked.
I think the thing that completely cinched the dislike of this book was the author's note: this was based on her own experiences of a much milder accident, she even named Uncle Bob and Aunt Karen after her own Uncle Bob and Aunt Karen! But to have book Uncle Bob get charged with negligent homicide after the author got diagnosed with.... frostnip? Seems a little much. Go to therapy, girl. You've clearly got a lot going on.
messydepressy's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a fairly decent read. The last few chapters were relatively boring for me though and honestly could have been left out.
dennyhb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pickettreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5