Review: One Moment

One Moment
by Kristina McBride
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Release Date: June 26, 2012
by EgmontUSA

Goodreads / Amazon

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.
Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?

As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

The latest novel from the author of The Tension of Opposites, One Moment is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.

*A copy was provided by EgmontUSA for review purposes*

I feel like I probably would have liked this book a little bit more if it wasn’t such a simple story line.  From about page one I could see right through the story and really the only question for me wasn’t what Joey did, but who he did it with.  It had good writing and a good idea, but I think that if it had been a bit more complex it would have worked out a bit better.  The ending was really long and went on and on, and the book was really dramatic and kind of annoying.  I know this might sound a little weird, but I’m sure you guys have read books where the characters talk way to perfectly, saying things like:

“I’ve tried to shove it all down, but the parts with you, they bubble their way to the surface in the strangest ways.  How, at the craziest moments, I just want to feel your hand on mine, or hear your voice whispering in my ear, or feel the tickle of you laughter against my cheek.”

Yes, that is an actually quote from the book (taken from an ARC edition).  It drives me nuts whenever characters talk like that because it’s not realistic or believable.

I do have to give Kristina McBride credit for there being a kind of mystery in the book, and not having a sudden “Oh, that’s who it is” because they saw a sock or something moment.

I do kind of want there to be a sequel for this book because there is too much left unexplained at the end.

There are really only three characters of note in this book, and I like two out of three.

Maggie was a pretty strong character to me, and, aside from her outrageous talking, she was a relatable, easy to connect with character.

I also really like Adam.  I do have to say that I was rooting for him the entire book.  He just seems like a really nice guy, very sweet.

And now for the character I don’t like: Joey.  Yes, in the beginning I did like him, but since I pretty much already knew what was going to happen, I quickly grew to dislike him.

This book could have been so much better if not for a see-through plot and too little going on, but I do hope McBride writes a sequel because I would love to see what happens to Maggie and her new boyfriend (not telling who!!)  :P

3 pink flowers