Title: Moment in Time
Author: Suzanne Redfearn
Genre: Fiction
Published On: March 8, 2022
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Source: digital
Pages: 287
Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of In an Instant comes a heartrending story about the power of friendship during the most challenging moments in life.
CW: Rape, Sexual Assault
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
(Spoiler free)
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.
“You never realize how fragile your friendships are until they are truly tested.”
Suzanne Redfearn, Moment in Time
I’d read and enjoyed Suzanne Redfearn’s previous book Hadley and Grace (My Review), 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.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
My Rating: 3.75 rounded up
Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | Bookshop | Amazon
About the Author
A Song For A Book
The entire time I was reading this book, I had Whitney Houston’s song “One Moment in Time” stuck in my head. BUT it doesn’t really fit the book, so I’ll be highlighting “We Are Broken” by Paramore, which better represents the friendship between Mo, Chloe, and Hazel.
I am outside
And I’ve been waiting for the sun
With my wide eyes
I’ve seen worlds that don’t belong
My mouth is dry
With words I cannot verbalize
Tell me why we live like this
Keep me safe inside
Your arms like towers
Tower over me, yeah
‘Cause we are broken
What must we do to restore
Our innocence
And all the promise we adored?
Give us life again
‘Cause we just wanna be whole
Have you read Moment in Time? Will you be adding it to your TBR? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
Great review, It doesn’t say it’s part of a series, and yet it seems to be. I loved your line in your review “Thankfully my mind is like a sieve, so if I wait long enough, I’ll probably forget.” I’m the same way and have read books more than once forgetting I had read it before!
Yes, I thought it was strange that it’s not included as a series, or that the synopsis doesn’t mention the other book. Haha! Sometimes our bad memory can come in handy, I guess. 😉
What a pretty cover! I love books that keep you eager to find out more. Despite the weighty themes it sounds like a good read, thanks for sharing your review!
Yes, the cover is gorgeous!
This sounds like an interesting read with really heavy themes. Though I’ll admit, I have been staring at that book cover for longer than I should, trying to figure out (1) if that’s a picture or a painting, and (2) where in the SF Bay Area that image is of.
Well, I can at least clear up one of those questions… haha. The book is also partly set in Oregon, so I’m assuming that’s what the cover refers to. I can’t tell if it’s a picture or painting either, but I do love the colors! 🙂
LOL! I could see it being Oregon, but it could also be somewhere along the SF coast.
Very true!