Publisher: Lake Union Publishing / Brilliance Audio
Published: March 8, 2022
Source: Print – ARC Paperback via Author / Audio – ALC via Brilliance Audio
Summary:
From the bestselling author of In an Instant comes a heartrending story about the power of friendship during the most challenging moments in life.
It’s been eight years since a tragic accident changed Mo Kaminski’s and Chloe Miller’s lives forever. Now in their midtwenties, they’re sharing an apartment in San Francisco and navigating the normal challenges of early adulthood. Along with their roommate, Hazel, they are making their marks on the world—Mo revolutionizing the news with her media start-up, Hazel using her big brain to anticipate the future, and Chloe rescuing abandoned strays in the city.
But when Hazel disappears after being sexually assaulted, Mo’s and Chloe’s lives are again suddenly ripped apart. And when the perpetrator turns up drugged and beaten, the mystery of where Hazel is deepens. Intensely worried and desperate to discover the truth, they set out to find Hazel and bring her home.
Mo and Chloe are no strangers to tragedy, but this journey will test them in ways they never imagined. The stakes are high; the future uncertain; the need for justice essential.
Will their commitment to their friend bring them closer together—or ultimately drive them apart?
My thoughts:
Suzanne Redfearn is that author that you can count on for an emotional read and this latest one is no exception. I loved her last book, In An Instant, and so I was thrilled to see that this book follows up on some of those characters, so I highly recommend reading that one first, though this is not a series in any way, shape or form.
This book takes place eight years after we last saw Chloe, Mo and Kyle from the other book and I just loved being able to re-visit these characters. Of course, their past traumas play a part in how they deal with what happens in this book but anyone with previous baggage is going to have that happen, so that’s not to say you absolutely need to read the other book first, but you just might have a richer reading experience if you did.
This book really had me on the edge of my seat for much of the time. It also lends itself quite naturally to that question of “what if.” What if this happened to me or someone close to me. What would I do? Would I be as strong as these friends were in taking on the system? I like to think so but unless put in that same situation, you really never know. But I do love reading books that make me think and this is definitely that kind. Besides the heavy, dark nature of it, I do think it would make a good bookclub pick.
I am so glad Suzanne Redfearn wrote this book and I definitely recommend picking it up, especially if you read In An Instant.
Audio thoughts:
I enjoyed listening to this one and ended up finishing it in one day because I just could not stop listening to it. The story was so engaging and the narration, done by Jesse Vilinsky, was great. She really made this story come to life and I found myself completely caught up in it.
