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A review by abookwanderer
Moment in Time by Suzanne Redfearn
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Possibly confusing and rambling review ahead… While I typically advise readers to go into a novel blindly, I won’t be doing that this time! Moment in Time by Suzanne Redfearn is a fast-paced novel about three friends caught in a tragic turn of events, who must unravel the truth with help from new and old friends in an unfair world.
I’d read and enjoyed Suzanne Redfearn’s previous book Hadley and Grace, so when the author invited me to read her latest novel Moment in Time, I was excited to pick it up. Before I began reading, I skimmed the synopsis but didn’t read any early reviews, which is typical for me when I’m reading a book by an author I know. However, two of the main characters from Moment in Time—Mo and Chloe—also appear in Suzanne Redfearn’s previous novel In an Instant, a book I own but haven’t read yet. And while it wasn’t necessary to read the previous book, the events and outcome of In an Instant are revealed in Moment in Time, leaving me thoroughly and completely spoiled. Oops.
Thankfully my mind is like a sieve, so if I wait long enough, I’ll probably forget. For instance, two side characters from her novel Hadley and Grace, which I DID read, also appear in Moment in Time but I had no memory of them.
The author does mention the connection in her acknowledgements at the end of the book, as well as explaining how she came up with the idea for Moment in Time, a very moving story.
SO being clueless, as I was reading, I could sense there was more to this story, to their pasts, and the author reveals bits and pieces as you read. But I kept expecting the traumatic events from In an Instant (without knowing it was from another book) to lead to some surprise twist in Moment in Time. And while there were twists in the novel, none that connected the two stories.
I want to review Moment in Time on its own merits, but all the above may make it challenging. I’ll give it my best shot.
I was riveted by the story of Mo, Chloe, and Hazel, three roommates in San Fransisco. And we jump right into the action, which is exciting, but also didn’t give me much time to keep Mo and Chloe straight, the characters who provide our two points of view for the book. I kept confusing them in the beginning. (If you’ve read In an Instant, you probably won’t have that problem.)
When Hazel disappears after being sexually assaulted and her attacker ends up beaten almost to death a day later, Mo and Chloe find themselves in the middle of the mayhem, desperate to find Hazel and deliver justice.
I didn’t want to put this book down, frustrated at times by Mo’s and Chloe’s decisions, but eager to see how events played out. Some of those bad decisions included an injured stray dog Chloe has rescued, who often stole the scenes.
There’s also a side romance—which Redfearn is always good at—that I adored, giving the tense story some levity and hope.
I feel like if other readers have read In an Instant or at least go into this one knowing the connection, they won’t have the same difficulties I did. So while this one had me a bit confused at times, I was enthralled, quickly turning pages to reach the satisfying ending.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
I’d read and enjoyed Suzanne Redfearn’s previous book Hadley and Grace, so when the author invited me to read her latest novel Moment in Time, I was excited to pick it up. Before I began reading, I skimmed the synopsis but didn’t read any early reviews, which is typical for me when I’m reading a book by an author I know. However, two of the main characters from Moment in Time—Mo and Chloe—also appear in Suzanne Redfearn’s previous novel In an Instant, a book I own but haven’t read yet. And while it wasn’t necessary to read the previous book, the events and outcome of In an Instant are revealed in Moment in Time, leaving me thoroughly and completely spoiled. Oops.
Thankfully my mind is like a sieve, so if I wait long enough, I’ll probably forget. For instance, two side characters from her novel Hadley and Grace, which I DID read, also appear in Moment in Time but I had no memory of them.
The author does mention the connection in her acknowledgements at the end of the book, as well as explaining how she came up with the idea for Moment in Time, a very moving story.
SO being clueless, as I was reading, I could sense there was more to this story, to their pasts, and the author reveals bits and pieces as you read. But I kept expecting the traumatic events from In an Instant (without knowing it was from another book) to lead to some surprise twist in Moment in Time. And while there were twists in the novel, none that connected the two stories.
I want to review Moment in Time on its own merits, but all the above may make it challenging. I’ll give it my best shot.
I was riveted by the story of Mo, Chloe, and Hazel, three roommates in San Fransisco. And we jump right into the action, which is exciting, but also didn’t give me much time to keep Mo and Chloe straight, the characters who provide our two points of view for the book. I kept confusing them in the beginning. (If you’ve read In an Instant, you probably won’t have that problem.)
When Hazel disappears after being sexually assaulted and her attacker ends up beaten almost to death a day later, Mo and Chloe find themselves in the middle of the mayhem, desperate to find Hazel and deliver justice.
I didn’t want to put this book down, frustrated at times by Mo’s and Chloe’s decisions, but eager to see how events played out. Some of those bad decisions included an injured stray dog Chloe has rescued, who often stole the scenes.
There’s also a side romance—which Redfearn is always good at—that I adored, giving the tense story some levity and hope.
I feel like if other readers have read In an Instant or at least go into this one knowing the connection, they won’t have the same difficulties I did. So while this one had me a bit confused at times, I was enthralled, quickly turning pages to reach the satisfying ending.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Grief