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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Sometimes books feel personal and this was one of them. I liked everything about this book. I loved Meg, and truly dislike her husband. First, this is a story about an accident, a woman who feels responsible, and the aftermath of the accident. Guilt can make you do crazy things, and that’s essentially what happened with Meg. In trying to process the responsibility she feels for an accident that wasn’t her fault, she also has a daughter dealing with it (horribly) in her own way. This book covers grief, motherhood, and a woman trying to do it all which…. Newsflash…. We cannot. Her husband, a doctor, had God complex. Meg had a job, but he saw very little value in what she did and viewed it as only fluff. I wasn’t happy that the author didn’t address his disgusting attitude. Only what Meg did. He also didn’t take some things with their daughter serious enough. Clearly he hadn’t seen enough carnage at his job or was just oblivious and contributing to the obvious entitled attitude of their daughter. This book brought out many emotions. It didn’t make me laugh…. Ever… it wasn’t that kind of book. It didn’t make me cry because I’m not much of a crier with books, but it did make me feel. I felt for Meg, I felt for the daughter after what she witnessed, and I also felt for the father of the boy who would never be the same again. This is four stars only because I really needed it to be addressed how flippant her husbands attitude was at times, and how yes even though grieving, how horrid Alysse was. Anyhoo, another winner from Karma. She never lets me down and is superb at writing an emotionally charged novel. I’m anxiously awaiting her next one!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars.
In This Moment by Karma Brown is an affecting exploration of unresolved guilt and grief.
Meg Pepper is a busy working mother who has never quite made peace with a tragedy that occurred when she was a teenager. Her long buried feelings of guilt come to the surface in the aftermath of a car accident involving the twin brother of her fifteen year old daughter Audrey's boyfriend Sam Beckett. After Meg waves Jack across the road, he is struck by an inattentive driver traveling in the opposite direction. She immediately blames herself and in the aftermath, her guilt takes a huge toll on her marriage to Ryan, her career and her relationship with Audrey as Meg begins making questionable decisions.
Even before the Jack's accident, Meg is already struggling to keep up with the details of her personal and professional lives. She is also a little resentful that Ryan does not seem to take her career seriously. Like many working mothers, she is expected to juggle the demands of her job with motherhood and the duties around the house. After Jack's accident, Meg becomes so guilt-ridden that she cannot sleep and when she does, she is plagued with nightmares about tragic events that occurred when she was a teenager. Sleep-deprived and incredibly stressed, Meg begins making mistakes at work and at home, she and Ryan begin bickering.
Up to this point, Meg is a very involved and protective mom who tries to ensure Audrey does not make the same mistakes she made as teenager. Before Jack's accident, Audrey never gives her or Ryan any reason to worry about the choices she makes and they trust her implicitly. Almost immediately after the accident, Audrey's behavior begins to change but she and Ryan are slow to realize exactly what is going on with the daughter.
With trouble brewing both at home and the office, Meg becomes her own worst enemy as she refuses to talk about her profound guilt over her self perceived role in Jack's accident. Although Ryan knows about what happened to her as a teenager, she cannot bring herself to admit that Jack's accident has brought all of her unresolved feelings to the forefront. Meg's downward spiral leads to discontent in her marriage and she makes a fateful choice that threatens her relationships with everyone she holds dear.
In This Moment by Karma Brown is a poignant and thought-provoking read but some elements of the storyline become repetitive. Meg's guilt over her role in what happened in both the past and present seems a little extreme and it is very difficult to understand why she won't talk to Ryan about the things that are bothering her. Although not everything is completely resolved, the novel's optimistic conclusion is quite satisfying.
In This Moment by Karma Brown is an affecting exploration of unresolved guilt and grief.
Meg Pepper is a busy working mother who has never quite made peace with a tragedy that occurred when she was a teenager. Her long buried feelings of guilt come to the surface in the aftermath of a car accident involving the twin brother of her fifteen year old daughter Audrey's boyfriend Sam Beckett. After Meg waves Jack across the road, he is struck by an inattentive driver traveling in the opposite direction. She immediately blames herself and in the aftermath, her guilt takes a huge toll on her marriage to Ryan, her career and her relationship with Audrey as Meg begins making questionable decisions.
Even before the Jack's accident, Meg is already struggling to keep up with the details of her personal and professional lives. She is also a little resentful that Ryan does not seem to take her career seriously. Like many working mothers, she is expected to juggle the demands of her job with motherhood and the duties around the house. After Jack's accident, Meg becomes so guilt-ridden that she cannot sleep and when she does, she is plagued with nightmares about tragic events that occurred when she was a teenager. Sleep-deprived and incredibly stressed, Meg begins making mistakes at work and at home, she and Ryan begin bickering.
Up to this point, Meg is a very involved and protective mom who tries to ensure Audrey does not make the same mistakes she made as teenager. Before Jack's accident, Audrey never gives her or Ryan any reason to worry about the choices she makes and they trust her implicitly. Almost immediately after the accident, Audrey's behavior begins to change but she and Ryan are slow to realize exactly what is going on with the daughter.
With trouble brewing both at home and the office, Meg becomes her own worst enemy as she refuses to talk about her profound guilt over her self perceived role in Jack's accident. Although Ryan knows about what happened to her as a teenager, she cannot bring herself to admit that Jack's accident has brought all of her unresolved feelings to the forefront. Meg's downward spiral leads to discontent in her marriage and she makes a fateful choice that threatens her relationships with everyone she holds dear.
In This Moment by Karma Brown is a poignant and thought-provoking read but some elements of the storyline become repetitive. Meg's guilt over her role in what happened in both the past and present seems a little extreme and it is very difficult to understand why she won't talk to Ryan about the things that are bothering her. Although not everything is completely resolved, the novel's optimistic conclusion is quite satisfying.
All 3 of Brown's novels have been page turners for me. I can't wait to see where the ride ends. They start out strong and finish strong. This story shows how not dealing with past traumatic experiences can carry over into our daily lives many many years later. Kudos for a non-sappy ending.
Meg is a middle-aged married mother of a teen daughter. She's a realtor, her husband is a doctor. They seemingly have a good life in a nice town, albeit a bit hectic. Then a tragic accident happens right in front of Meg and her daughter, Audrey. The twin brother of Audrey's boyfriend, Jake, is crossing the street near the school when another car comes out of nowhere and hits him. The other driver was texting and speeding.
As you can imagine, both Meg and Audrey are traumatized. The description of the accident was fast but real and I found myself almost hyperventilating as I read it. It was very real, very scary and fast (like an accident would be)...it just came out of nowhere.
The book is about the guilt Meg feels about waving Jake across the street, thinking it was safe. It's also about Meg basically failing as an adult. She's having a hard time with the guilt she feels, it brings up a traumatic event from her childhood, she's drifting away from both her husband and her daughter, and she's making mistakes at work. The story is about making mistakes, dealing with big consequences and healing.
As you can imagine, both Meg and Audrey are traumatized. The description of the accident was fast but real and I found myself almost hyperventilating as I read it. It was very real, very scary and fast (like an accident would be)...it just came out of nowhere.
The book is about the guilt Meg feels about waving Jake across the street, thinking it was safe. It's also about Meg basically failing as an adult. She's having a hard time with the guilt she feels, it brings up a traumatic event from her childhood, she's drifting away from both her husband and her daughter, and she's making mistakes at work. The story is about making mistakes, dealing with big consequences and healing.
4 - 4.5 stars.
I am an Indigo Employee, and I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music, in exchange for my honest feedback.
Karma Brown is quickly growing into one of my go-to writers. I've read two of her books so far, and already can't wait to pick up more. She writes a Jodi Picoult kind of book, for a slightly younger audience.
Her books are dramatic and heavy, and they will make you cry, but they are also well written and honest, and unafraid to ask those difficult questions. Brown is really good at showing us that we are often our own worst enemies, and does so by featuring strong, complex, realistic, multi-layered, female leads. Although I did prefer 'The Choices We Make', Brown has definitely created a devoted fan in me.
In This Moment feels like a realistic portrayal of guilt and grief, and I was thoroughly impressed by Brown's writing. It's the kind of book where even when you disagree with what the protagonist, Meg, is doing, or feel like she's making the wrong choices, you also completely understand why she does what she does, and acts the way she acts because Brown did such a great job of getting you in her head.
This book is also great because it catches up with you during unexpected moments in real life - Lately, as I drive, I've become much more vigilant - as the consequences of one little action by Meg - waving at someone to cross the road - had unexpected and lifelong tragic consequences. On another note, every time I use my phone to put in a reminder, I think of this book, and really consider whether I should re-evaluate my organizational strategies.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this book. It was raw and complicated, and well-written, and emotional. This book felt so real, that you couldn't help but ask yourself about Meg's role in the accident - is she truly guilty? should she bear the weight of her past decisions for the rest of her life?
In This Moment is a gorgeously woven, emotionally draining book that sticks with you, long after you finish reading it.
I am an Indigo Employee, and I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music, in exchange for my honest feedback.
Karma Brown is quickly growing into one of my go-to writers. I've read two of her books so far, and already can't wait to pick up more. She writes a Jodi Picoult kind of book, for a slightly younger audience.
Her books are dramatic and heavy, and they will make you cry, but they are also well written and honest, and unafraid to ask those difficult questions. Brown is really good at showing us that we are often our own worst enemies, and does so by featuring strong, complex, realistic, multi-layered, female leads. Although I did prefer 'The Choices We Make', Brown has definitely created a devoted fan in me.
In This Moment feels like a realistic portrayal of guilt and grief, and I was thoroughly impressed by Brown's writing. It's the kind of book where even when you disagree with what the protagonist, Meg, is doing, or feel like she's making the wrong choices, you also completely understand why she does what she does, and acts the way she acts because Brown did such a great job of getting you in her head.
This book is also great because it catches up with you during unexpected moments in real life - Lately, as I drive, I've become much more vigilant - as the consequences of one little action by Meg - waving at someone to cross the road - had unexpected and lifelong tragic consequences. On another note, every time I use my phone to put in a reminder, I think of this book, and really consider whether I should re-evaluate my organizational strategies.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this book. It was raw and complicated, and well-written, and emotional. This book felt so real, that you couldn't help but ask yourself about Meg's role in the accident - is she truly guilty? should she bear the weight of her past decisions for the rest of her life?
In This Moment is a gorgeously woven, emotionally draining book that sticks with you, long after you finish reading it.
3.5
I was lucky to receive a copy of this book from a FB group giveaway. I normally gravitate to historical fiction, but enjoyed In This Moment. The decisions we make in the spur of the moment can have life altering consequences. The guilt of the role we played in the moment and the aftermath will linger with us. This book made me ponder those moments in my life as well as the near misses.
I was lucky to receive a copy of this book from a FB group giveaway. I normally gravitate to historical fiction, but enjoyed In This Moment. The decisions we make in the spur of the moment can have life altering consequences. The guilt of the role we played in the moment and the aftermath will linger with us. This book made me ponder those moments in my life as well as the near misses.
I always love Karma Brown's books and this was no exception. I enjoy the way she writes and her books are generally page-turners. This was another fantastic book- I'll admit, it didn't end the way I wanted it to, but I am not holding that against her. It was a very "real" ending- but I will only say that, no spoilers. If you haven't read one of her books, be sure to check them out (I highly recommend Come Away With Me- personal favorite! But if you want a new book, this one is fantastic as well).
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
Not quite the guy wrenching story like her other books, but worth reading.
Not quite the guy wrenching story like her other books, but worth reading.