Author: Kristina McBride
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release date: June 26th 2012
Pages: 272
Genre: Contemporary YA; mystery
Source: NetGalley
Add to Goodreads | Purchase from 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?My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I had high hopes for this book. The cover is gorgeous, and the idea sounds right up my alley. But sadly, I couldn't connect to the story, making this an only okay read for me.
I did like the plot. I always like grief-storylines, especially if there's a little mystery along with them. I enjoyed reading about Maggie and her friends, seeing how each of them dealt with losing Joey. The mystery-aspect is well-done, and I enjoyed putting together the pieces along with Maggie, trying to figure out what really happened.
The writing is good, too. Flows nicely and reads quickly - just the right balance between dialogue and description. It's the kind of writing that can absorb a reader, moving fast when it should but taking its time and giving us details when we need them.
But even though, objectively, I could see that those aspects of One Moment were well-done, I felt somewhat removed from the story. I just can't get myself to be enthusiastic about this book - it didn't make me feel anything. It's very easy to get me to cry, but I didn't get emotional once while reading One Moment. And I think the reason why I couldn't connect with One Moment is because of the characters.
Maggie is a boring MC. I'm sorry, but she is. After reading the book, I still don't feel like I really know her. I don't know a single of her interests, anything she likes to do, anything she's good or bad at. I have no idea who she is - all I know is that she's grieving her boyfriend. Maggie is average in every way; there's no personality that would make me like her or feeel for her.
Another reason I couldn't connect to the story is Joey. I did not like Joey. At all. And not just because of the secrets that come out towards the end, which would make sense with the story. But I disliked him from the start. I didn't like him as a character, and I didn't like Maggie's relationship with Joey, either. I couldn't feel what Maggie felt for Joey. That made it hard for me to relate to Maggie's grief, since I didn't feel any sort of deep connection between Maggie and Joey in the first place.
A lot of aspects of One Moment are well-done, but it wasn't for me. I couldn't connect to the story on any level. I don't discourage you from giving it a try, since connecting to characters is different for every reader, but it was an only okay read, for me.
Posts
I've it on my reader and I think I'll give it a try, even if after your review I'm not so excited as before. Great job;)
ReplyDeleteAmazing review - the first one I saw saying that something was actually wrong in the book. I still want to find out by myself!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean when you can't connect with characters. Totally sucks, especially when the rest of the plot and any character growth is done in a way where you should connect with them.
ReplyDeleteI knew it!! I knew Joey was evil!! He cheated on Maggie, didn't he? Something about her seeing a bracelet on him that didn't belong to him right before they jump? I'm totally off aren't I?;) Lots of people also said that the mystery was obvious, but that the way Maggie figured it out was believable, which is good in a way. Nothing ickier than a stupid character.
You know what character I really connected with, but others didn't at all? Araby from Masque of the Red Death. I totally got her, and how she though, how she felt, what she cared about. Lots of people complained about not getting her, but for me the whole book was completely engaging on an emotional level. Maybe it was Araby's tone in narration that alienated readers (she's really depressed) but that's what got me to understand her more.
Another book you'd probably like is Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. It's a YA contemporary, there's a grief storyline coupled with a mystery and a main character who's very real and who grows so much from beginning until the last page. I loved it, I really really did:)
And Geek Girl by Cindi Bennett is another contemp you'd like, I think. She's in the foster system then gets taken in by a good family but it's so hard for her to connect to anyone. Loved that too:)
How much do you want me to tell you about Joey? I know you always answer that I'm just supposed to tell you, but I'll keep asking because I don't want to spoil anything :p
DeleteI haven't read Masque of the Red Death - it doesn't really sound like my kind of thing, to be honest. But maybe I'll read it someday. I have read Going Too Far, though, and I loved it! I haven't heard of Geek Girl - adding it to my wishlist :)
Tell me about Joey:) All the crappy stuff he's done:)
DeleteMasque of the Red Death is loosely based on Poe's story - and I love my Poe!! Actually, if you like Gothic dystopians, I think it's a very unique book with characters I really loved. They're all flawed but so real and likeable.
Wasn't Going Too Far awesome? Meg and JohnAfter - they're perfect together:)
SPOILER ALERT FOR EVERYONE ELSE!!!
DeleteYou were pretty much right about Joey! He cheated on Maggie with one of her friends, and when she saw him wearing her friend's bracelet at the cliff, she figured it out. He was cheating on her pretty much the whole time they were together, and just... no. And even before we find out about the cheating, I didn't like Joey - it seemed to me like he was interested in the physical stuff, since those are the only scenes we get to read about.
I know about Masque of the Red Death, and I've heard great things, but I don't know if I'd like it... we'll see, maybe I'll read it someday :)
Yes, I loved Going Too Far! JohnAfter is awesome :D
So basically Joey's ickiness incarnate!
DeleteHopefully there's another guy in the story that redeems the whole romance line.
You really should give Masque a try. I think it's so unique, such a different dystopian (about a virus and disease not war) and Araby is such a great character. And the guys in the book are awesome! You won't know which one to root for - there are some real ethical and moral quandaries to think through as you learn more about the guys:)
Yes! That's exactly what he was, to me! (Even though others liked him before finding out about the cheating, I've heard.) There is another guy, and he's better than Joey, but I didn't *love* him either, to be honest.
DeleteMaybe I *will* give Masque a try, then! It does sound good :) I'll probably wait for the paperback release, though - I don't like to buy hardcovers if I'm not positive I'll like the book.
If I can't connect with the characters I just put the book to one side. I think I'll give ONE MOMENT a miss. I have so many other books I want to read.
ReplyDeleteBoring character: instant NO to me.. And I hate it when you have high expectations, but the book doesn't reach them :( What a shame you didn't like it! I'm going to pass, so thanks for sharing your honest thoughts in your lovely review.
ReplyDelete