As always, the author brings us a moral dilemma with many shades of grey. She crafts a wonderful balance of opinions and delicately balances both sides of a thorny issue so you can easily see every angle even if you thought it was not in your ideology. Well written and thought provoking drama.

Set in a women’s clinic, the subject of abortion and the legality behind it made for an interesting read. The stories behind each character told of the circumstances leading upto their attendance at the clinic. Pro life protesters make life difficult for the staff and one day this goes to the extreme. I wanted to really like this book, but found it difficult to keep track of who was who and what their story was. It flips from past to present but I kept confusing people and it made it a long read. I finished the book but felt the end was rather abruptly told and the actual finale somewhat rushed.

Jodi Picoult does it again!

An extremely powerful novel.

A story told in reverse and as we go back hour by hour we gather more information, more detail and slowly piece together to find out what led to the events that have us on the edge of our seats right at the beginning, where chapter one gets you immediately hooked.

*Trigger warning*

This book talks about abortion and actually although quite sensitively done, it is told in quite some detail. But this is what I love about Jodi's books, you can see time has been spent researching the content, it isn't haphazardly put together.

If I've counted correctly, the story is told from ten points of view. Different characters each with their own reasons for being in a place where they now wish they weren't, all with varying backgrounds and back-stories.

And what transpires leads us to think about how our actions can not only affect ourselves, but others around us too and not just the people we know, but those strangers that unexpectedly happen to come into our lives, sometimes for the better but at other times the outcome might not be what we'd choose if given the choice.

I think we always tell ourselves how we'd act if faced with certain situation but what A Spark of Light shows us is that how we think and how we act can actually differ greatly when faced with uncertainty.

Another fantastically realistic novel, I'll be writing a more in-depth review on my blog nearer to the publication date!

I always looked forward to a new book by Jodi Picoult but have to admit to being a bit disappointed by the last three. This one, however, grabbed my attention right away and restored her to her place as one of my favourite authors. Ms Picoult is definitely back to her brilliant best with this hard hitting, no punches pulled view of the abortion issue in America.

The novel is set in a Women's Health Centre which opens for business on what should be an ordinary day but that day is shattered and becomes anything but ordinary as a distraught gunman comes through the doors and starts shooting. The author uses the clever device of telling the story backwards, counting back from the tense stand off between police hostage negotiator, Hugh McElroy and gun man,, George Goddard.

The clinic provides abortions and into the story come pro-choice and pro-life campaigners, women who have chosen to have terminations and a woman and a girl who are there for quite different reasons. Hugh's daughter, Wren, is in the clinic with her aunt and it also becomes clear that the gunman is there because his daughter also visited the clinic. There is also a background story about a young girl who attempted an abortion at home and is now charged with murdering her baby. The author cleverly involves us in the stories of the various characters as she takes us back in time and this novel about family, relationships and, above all, choice, shows us that we should not judge other people - full possession of the facts can give us quite a different view.

The short epilogue perfectly pulls the story together. This was a moving and thought provoking read which I would definitely recommend.. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this wonderful book.

Emotive read, and it dealt with the subject material very carefully. Another winner from Jodi, i love reading her books. Nearly on par with the Storyteller

Jodi Picoult is one of my all time favourite authors, I was so looking forward to reading this book!! 😍
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'The Center for women's reproductive health offers a last chance at hope - but nobody ends up there by choice.
Its very existence is controversial, and to the demonstrators who barricade the building every day, the service it offers is no different from legalised murder.
Now life and death decisions are being made horrifyingly real: a lone protester with a gun has taken the staff, patients and visitors hostage.
Starting at the tensest moment in the negotiations for their release, A Spark of Light unravels backwards, revealing hour by urgent hour what brought each of these people - the gunman, the negotiator, the doctors, nurses and women who have come to them for treatment - to this point.
And certainties unwind as truths and secrets are peeled away, revealing the complexity of balancing the right to life with the right to choose.'
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Wow....I loved this book!! Another fantastic and thought provoking read from @jodipicoult! I wasn't too sure on the backwards timescale at first, I found myself having to keep going back to check what I'd read but once I got into it that was gone. The book is amazing ❤ It brings all sides of abortion to the forefront, it talks about the moral, religious, ethical and all other elements of this divisive topic. Jodi Picoult has clearly researched this so thoroughly and that comes through when you read it, there are no biased opinions and it's factual, as well as being super emotional for each of the characters in the novel, for different reasons. It made me feel for each character and as I learnt the reasons behind what happens, I felt engrossed and emotional and needed more, Jodi Picoult delivered that! I will definitely be re-reading this when my copy come in October, go and pre-order it if you are a fan of hers!!!! 💕💕
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Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy for me to read and review.

I found this book a little disappointing, having read a number of Jodi Picoult novels. It covers the difficult topic of pro choice vs pro life advocates in America. As you would expect the characters on both sides of the argument are well portrayed, but I found the story ultimately a bit static.

Any fan of Jodi Picoult will know that she isn't one to shy away from controversial issues, and her new book, set during a hostage situation at an abortion clinic, is no exception. With her usual sensitivity, Picoult explores all sides of the debate, and delivers her message with gentle clarity. The characters are well-developed and appealing, and although the whole book takes place over the course of just a few hours, you feel connected with them. The timeline of the book is back to front, starting at the end of the day and working backward, which took some getting used to - each chapter represents an hour, and ends where the previous chapter started. But once you get into the flow of it, this format is a clever way of challenging your perceptions and the assumptions made in the first few chapters. Any Picoult fans will be pleased with this latest offering.

I can only say one thing that stood out about this book is Jodi’s trademark way of touching an issue that usually seems black and white and bringing out the intricacies and the complications that can and usually does surround those issues.

I don’t want to spoil this story but it is profound, powerful and a story that deserves to be heard. This showcases the ugly reality of life and whether or not you stick to your beliefs or that they can be challenged by the way you think and feel about issues.

I have to say also that the characters such as Wren are complicated but yet they’re human, they’re flawed. That is what makes this book so relatable for me. I can feel their anguish, their dilemma, the pain and the emotional turmoil they experience.

This is a book worthy of a read but I’d recommend that you sit and have a few hours to yourself because you will not want to put this book down!

Thank you to Net Galley and to the publishes, for giving me the opportunity to read, enjoy and review this novel..

Jodi Picoult explores the issues around female fertility, birth control and the the Pro Choice / Pro Life agenda. She sets the novel around the work of one women's clinic in the Southern States of the USA, where Christian religion has such an influence upon ideas of the community. In effect the staff at the clinic are working under siege conditions on daily basis, making their way into work through a barrage of protest and abuse.

In her usual fashion she introduces a set of disparate characters, places them in the setting for a range of reasons and slowly reveals the backstories which have brought them to one catastrophic day. We see the life of the clinic through the eyes of service users and providers, all now drawn together by the actions of one individual, a lone shooter, for whom protest has become personal and who is responding in the only way he seems to understand.

The action is driven forward by the work of the negotiator, trying desperately to engage and work with the shooter to protect the people within the clinic.

These leads to a tense and well driven narrative, which, nonetheless, provides the reader with many opportunities to pause and reflect upon the issues. Both Pro Life and Pro Choice arguments are well developed and the reader is left to make up their own mind about this and about the cliff hanger final chapter.

A really relevant read for the Trump era.

There was a lot I liked about this book. The characters were well thought out, with plenty of background and easy to understand. I thought that the connections running between characters was very clever. The writing style was fluid and engaging, making it very easy reading. I liked the way that the book began at the end, working back throughout the day from the main event. My only criticism is that I felt slightly cheated at the end of the book, I would have liked the epilogue to contain some conclusion for all of the characters but was left unsatisfied. Overall a good book, but I was disappointed by the ending.

This was exactly what I've come to expect from a Jodi Picoult book: beautiful storytelling, complex characters, heartbreaking decisions and a topic that sparks debate and discussion from its readers. Jodi expertly handles the question of choice by centring her story on a hostage standoff at a women's health clinic, where abortions are one of many services offered to the women patients. I loved every page of this incredible book and would recommend to all.

Jodi Picoult is not afraid to pick a controversial subject and they don't come more "hot potato" than abortion. Never have I felt so privileged to live in the UK and benefit from the NHS and the services they provide. The thought of driving for hours, appealing to a judge and forking out money I didn't have in order to gain an abortion is awful. There are several different situations happening in this book and unusually the action happens backwards. I was a little dubious about this as I like to be surprised and how can you be if you already know the outcome but fear not Ms Picoult has not stinted on the surprise element. I'm still not completely sold on the backwards storytelling but I still enjoyed this novel very much.

As with any Jodi Picoult book, you are guaranteed an in-depth, well researched and thought provoking read and as usual I wasn't disappointed. Part of jodi's magic, is that there is rarely a right or wrong answer, but well reasoned points of view that even when you are sure of your beliefs, leave you wondering, what would I do. Highly recommended.

I was unsure whether this was meant to be a novel about a group of people finding themselves in a terrifying situation or a vehicle for the author to present her views on the main subject matter (abortion and choice for women). I found myself engaged with the former, where both staff and clients at a women's medical centre find themselves held hostage to a gunman who has already killed a number of them. Although I found the reverse timeline presentation somewhat irritating, each person's story - including those at the centre, the gunman and the lead policeman/hostage negotiator was dealt with sensitively and with imagination. We learn what brought them to this point and this time and although from the beginning it's clear that abortion is a main theme, it's not the only function of the clinic. The stories are credible, fascinating, and engender empathy even for the gunman or the less-than-heroic characters we find there.

It was people's personal stories that kept me going to the end, though, because I didn't appreciate the way the theme of abortion - or rather, the particular view of the author - was portrayed. I felt a 'balanced view' was given only token recognition as it was pretty clear from the outset what the author's opinion was on the matter; indeed, so strong was the sense of outrage that I felt I was almost being forced 'at gunpoint' as a reader.

It was disappointing, particularly from an author of this stature, that the examples used were at the extremes of what we know to be people's viewpoints on this controversial matter: people were depicted as either rational, brave and compassionate pro-choicers or irrational, unkind, fundamentalist (and usually religious) 'antis'. Nowhere did I find those people (who may even form the maority) who might not fit into this black/white division - who might feel that abortion is to be avoided if it all possible as there is human life at stake, but who also feel compassion for the mother and who wish to help and support practically and emotionally whatever she decides to do.

The result seemed to be merely a vehicle, I'm sorry to say, for railing against one extreme and upholding the other. The epitome of this thinking comes through clear and strong in the words of the doctor, referring to women who choose abortion as, "Warriors, every one of them ... he was reminded of their grit, their courage in the face of obstacles, the quiet grace with which they shouldered their troubles. They were stronger than any men he'd ever known". This reasoning seems a little facile, like calling someone a hero just because they choose to become a soldier. My point is not whether I agree or disagree with the author's viewpoint regarding abortion, but with the assumption that women who do choose do go through with this act are somehow more brave and heroic than those who do not, or indeed that either decision implicitly endows 'character', which could end up being demeaning to a woman making either choice.

So yes, an engaging and interesting depiction of ordinary individuals caught up in an extra-ordinary situation, but for me at least, a black and white presentation of a sensitive matter that I did not feel gave me deeper insight into the topic but rather came over as a forum for evangelising regarding the author's strong opinions on the subject and most definitely paying lip service only to 'a balanced view'. I am not familiar with this author and it may well be that this is the kind of thing her readers normally look for and in fact enjoy - and it's fair to say that this is a good a purpose for a book as any other, so long as the reader is aware that that is what to expect. It's not for me, though, and I doubt I'll read others by the same author.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picolt a five-star read that will make you think. I have been a huge fan of this author for a long time, and usually buy the paperback and then once I’ve read it, it goes to my mum who will pass it to my aunt and will pass it to my nanna, but this time I couldn’t wait I had to get the ebook as soon as I could, that being said I will buy the paperback once I see it so we can keep the tradition alive. That being said I don’t know if this one will be as popular with them all as the others we have read, as this author has a great talent for writing subjects that divide opinion, she isn’t one to shy away from difficult and complex subjects and this is a great example, balancing the pro-life and pro-choice debate and the story is fast paced and from many different points of view which can get a little confusing at first but keep with it as it such a great way telling the story, you will see people who shouldn’t get along thrown together and have to face the future together and then people who love each other thrown apart. Wren may be the main character in this story as she has a powerful story to tell, but there are so many other voices no matter which side of the fence you stand on this will challenge your views in the best was possible. The only negative I could find was that it ended to soon, I was so into reading it that it ended before I even realised I was near the end. What a powerful and compelling read this is, I can’t wait to hold the paperback in my hands for a re-read as I am sure I will be reading it several times and finding new details in ever read.

Wow!!
Was gutted to come to the end. Cannot wait to read the rest of this book and find out what happens and why it happened
My only complaint was I didn’t realise this was only the 1st chapter and I am not sure how I am going to manage the wait until release date to finish reading

I enjoyed this book but found it a little hard to follow at times as it started at the end and worked backwards by the hour to the beginning. Also found that things didn't really get tied up at the end and things were left open. However was a very difficult situation handled well.

Where to start. My emotions are all over the place. The story follows numerous characters during a hostage situation at a women’s reproductive health services clinic (The Center) in Mississippi. The story starts at the end and works backwards by the hour, frustrating and a little confusing at times, but it worked so well. Amongst the hostages are a pro-life protestor, a pregnant nurse, a lady who has just had an abortion, a young girl, Wren, who is there for contraceptive advice and the doctor who performs the procedures, and a few others caught in the crossfire, oh and let’s not forget the shooter. Throughout the story we learn their history and what has brought them to The Center this particular day, interwoven into the story are a few twists and turns that are totally unexpected, leaving me in awe of the author and her writing. The epilogue goes back to the beginning and we learn the outcome of this tragic story. I would however like to say I would have loved to know more of the after effects, I had so many questions about the ‘what next?’ How do you recover from a situation like this? The author’s note at the end left me quite tearful, and whether you are pro choice or pro life I’m sure the pages in this book will leave you reeling, they certainly did me. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

The subject of the book is very important and I liked that the reader is never pushed to be pro-life or pro-choice or asked to pick a side. We are also given different perspectives and Picoult's storytelling is very good, as usually. I was not a big fan of the story to be told in reverse. though.