This one was a little slow-moving for me. I could not get attached to the characters which makes it difficult to keep reading.

I was excited to get an ACR of this book, but my excitement slowly simmered out after struggling to finish it in a timely manner. It just couldn't keep my attention, although I don't think it was terrible - the author's writing is smooth and the emotions you feel from the characters come to life when you read them; I don't know what it was, I just didn't fly through this like other books. I guess I had this idea in my head of what the plot would be about, and when it finally came to an end, I was left wanting more.

How well do you know your children? How well do they know you? The Night Olivia Fell is the heartbreaking, deeply moving story of a mother trying to unravel the truth about how her seventeen-year-old daughter fell from a bridge and was rendered brain dead. And why she did not know at the time that her daughter was pregnant.

When, in the wee hours of the morning, Abi Knight is awakened by the phone call every parent dreads, she doesn't even know that Olivia, her daughter, is not in her room, safe and soundly asleep. Abi finds herself in a nightmare: Olivia is brain dead but, as a matter of law, must remain on life support to bring her unborn child to term.

At the hospital, Abi notes that there are bruises on Olivia’s wrists and the bracelet she always wears is missing. Nonetheless, the police don't seem particularly interested in investigating the circumstances surrounding Olivia's fall and, in fact, rule it an accident. Abi will have none of it and sets out to determine what happened on that fateful night.

Abi has kept a secret from Olivia. She has never revealed the identity of Oliva's father, nor has she ever explained to Olivia what he was capable of. However. unbeknownst to Abi, a chance meeting on a school trip with a girl who bore an uncanny resemblance to Olivia, led her to her father. Determined to understand why Abi hid the truth from her, Olivia confronted him and learned for herself what kind of person he is. When Abi discovers that, prior to her fall, Olivia knew more than Abi realized, she is devastated . . . and suspicious.

Author Christina McDonald effectively employs the alternating voices of Abi in present day and Olivia commencing six months before her fall to construct an absorbing, gut-wrenching tale of a mother living out her absolutely worst nightmare. Added to Olivia's tragic demise is the issue of her unborn child -- the hellish months of seeing her daughter kept alive artificially in order to give the baby a chance at life, the unanswered questions about how Olivia ended up on the bridge in the first place, and the unknown identity of the unborn child's father. McDonald's portrayal of Abi's anguish is believable and absorbing, as is her fierce determination to learn -- despite the police department's disinterest -- precisely what happened to her child. Equally engaging is the first-person narrative of Olivia as she explains how she encountered Kendall Montgomery, the girl who looked so much like her, her growing frustration with what she perceived as Abi's over-protectiveness, and her secret relationship with her best friend's brother. Through the two threads, McDonald portrays a mother-daughter relationship with no shortage of love and care, but punctuated by secrets and resentments, as well. A relationship that, tragically, cannot be repaired because Olivia will never regain consciousness.

At the heart of the story is the mystery: What happened to Olivia on that night? What was she doing on the bridge? Who put those bruises on her wrists? And who is responsible for her death? Will that individual be held responsible?

The Night Olivia Fell is an emotionally exhausting, but satisfying story. McDonald draws readers hearts and minds into the tale from the first page and never releases her grip until the very last page of this fast-paced mystery. The Night Olivia Fell is a poignant reminder to hold our loved ones close and work daily on maintaining honesty and transparency in our relationships. Because you never know when tragedy might strike and there will not be an opportunity to set things right. It is a powerful portrait of a mother's undying love, devotion, and strength -- a strength she didn't know she possessed until she needed it to sustain her and her unborn grandchild.

This is my first time reading a book by this author and I am officially wowed!! This is a book about love in all its incarnations. What love means in a mother/daughter relationship, young lovers and the full impact of their acts, sisters and the complications of life upon their love, and midlife friendship that has the possibility to turn into love.

Abi is Olivia's mom. She is a single mom and super protective of her daughter. When that terrible phone call comes letting her know Olivia has had an accident, you can only imagine the absolutely horrible feelings. Not knowing if her daughter will survive or not, is the worse dilemma a mother can face.

As Abi continues to be at Olivia's side, a new realization hits her. If she is to find out how and why this accident happened, she is going to have to be the driving force. The detectives are not spending time finding out the details, there are strong and influential forces deterring the investigation. Abi must piece together what really happened if she is to continue living.

There are no words I can come up with that will relay my emotions as I read this book. If you are a mother and have spent your life keeping your children safe and sound, you will understand. Single moms that have made their child the center of their lives will understand why Abi is so desperate to solve this crime. She is no one without her daughter. Somewhere along the way, she forgot about her own needs and wants and dedicated her life to Olivia. She lived her life through Olivia. Right or wrong, this is where she is at.

I finished this book 2 days ago and had to take a break. Keep your tissues handy, really! You will not be able to put this book down until you follow Abi's journey to resolve why Olivia was injured.

I am voluntarily reviewing and recommending this book. I thank the publisher for sharing a copy with me.

As a mother, if anything at all happens to your child, you will stop at nothing to find out the truth. And that's exactly how Abi Knight reacts when she receives the most feared phone call as a parent, that her daughter has fallen off a bridge and she's brain dead. But not only that, but she's also pregnant and must remain on life support until the baby is born. 

When her daughter's fall and death are ruled an accident, Abi takes it upon herself to unravel the recent events of her daughters life so she can be positive the police haven't missed a clue. 

This book is suspenseful, twisty and so so good! It will remind you of Big Little Lies or Reconstructing Amelia. It's one you won't be able to put down, and you'll find yourself trying to figure out the clues before Abi!

An emotional mystery surrounding the story of Olivia's life shortly before she is found at the bottom of a bridge with no brain activity and placed on a ventilator. Switching between her mother Abi, desperately trying to understand what happened to her only daughter, and Olivia's own retelling of her life, this book was full of heart breaking revelations with an easy to follow investigation.

Christina McDonald wrote an emotionally charged suspense novel introducing many characters that each grew on me; by the end of the novel I was invested in each of them and the outcome that I cried when it was uncovered.
It begins when Abi Knight is awoken in the middle of the night when her phone rings to discover that her daughter has been in an accident. She has fallen off a bridge and the accident has left her brain dead, but to everyone’s surprise she is pregnant!! So, they are to keep her on life support long enough for the baby to be born.
The story is about that fight for the baby’s life and the fight for the justice that Abi is fighting for. It is believed the fall was that of an accident, but Abi knows her daughter was involved in something much more sinister. She is not going to give up until she finds out the truth. What is the truth? Was it an accident or was she involved in a crime? I was truly gripped in the outcome.
We are told the story from both Abi and Olivia’s side which was a stunning way to tell the story and the writing was magnificent! A truly splendid story if you want to be drawn in and read a book that will not let you go!

I will be back for more by Christina McDonald!

PS. I LOVED THE COVER!!

Decent read, although it is most definitely more of a YA book than the psychological suspense/mystery I was expecting. I didn't really connect with any of the characters for quite a while. By the end, I did care about them and really wanted the best outcome for all involved. The ending is emotional and very satisfying.
The way the overall mystery was laid out flowed well, and things were revealed at deliberate times. I didn't find many of the events to be very realistic, but it still made for an interesting read nonetheless.

The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald is the perfect blend of a murder mystery whodunit and a tearjerker. I didn't want it to end because I knew from the very beginning that the ending would be sad. I kept hoping the whole book was a case of mistaken identity as I really grew to feel for both Olivia and her mother, Abi. They definitely had a close relationship that was maybe just a tad confining for Olivia. However, Olivia was beginning to understand just why her mother was always so overprotective of her. This is a tough one to read without tissues. Read and enjoy!

I looked forward to reviewing this book. The description sounded like something I would enjoy - a mother/daughter story with a mystery added. However, I could barely get through it. The plot was very predictable, did not keep me guessing at all. The characters were not developed well. Very cliched. It felt like reading a young adult novel and it just did not work for me. Big disappointment.

The Night Olivia Fell is an impressive and emotional debut suspense novel. From the first chapter, we know Olivia's fate. What is left to discover is how Olivia ended up in the hospital bed. McDonald alternates between Olivia's retelling of the past and her mother, Abi's race to find out what happened to her daughter, while wrestling with her own grief and anguish.

As a mother myself, I was crushed by the end of this story. Abi's frustration, grief and anguish were incredibly well written. Likewise, Olivia had my sympathy as she wrestled with loyalty toward her mother, just as she strived to belong, find love and assert her independence. Bother characters were relatable and well developed.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future! Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity read a free advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Abi Knight is awakened with a frightening phone call. Her teenage daughter Olivia has fallen off a bridge. She has been taken to the hospital where it is determined that she has irreversible brain damage. Not only that, Olivia is pregnant. State law will not allow them to turn off life support under these circumstances. While everyone thinks the fall was an accident, Abi's gut feelings tells her this was something else. And so we go down this path with Abi as she tries to determine what really happened on the night Olivia fell.

What a roller coaster ride this turned out to be. Told in alternating chapters, we follow Abi as she tries to reconstruct her daughter's past and then Olivia as we learn what led to her tragic fall. The author did an outstanding job of providing several credible suspects and I was repeatedly telling myself - ok, I think so and so did it. And then a few chapters later, ok, now I think this other person did it. The story moved along quickly, with never a dull moment. And then the ending. Oh my!

My thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley.

The writing, the setting, the characters, the suspense...this book has it all! We have embraced this book, and this author, with open arms and can't wait to read what she writes next!

In the vein of Reconstructing Amelia, a mother tries to unravel the mystery of her daughter's final moments before the injury that leaves her brain-dead... and pregnant. A fast and satisfying read, where dark secrets are finally brought to light.

An emotional mystery that pulls you in from page one! Abi's teenage daughter, Olivia, is found dead...and unbeknownst to her mother, she is also pregnant. Doctors keep her alive to save the baby, and Abi is intent on discovering what has gone wrong in the life of her near perfect daughter that has led to this end. There is a cast of potential perpetrators, and although the "surprise" ending doesn't feel much like a surprise, in some ways it is because you feel like it could have easily have been one of the other suspects. But what sets this apart really is the relationship between this mother and daughter which feels real, and honest, and in the end, devastating. I enjoyed this fast paced read. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing an electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A stirring story of love, betrayal and loss.

17-year old Olivia falls from a bridge, leaving her brain-dead but kept alive by doctors until her unborn baby can be delivered. Her grieving mother Abi is blindsided to learn of Olivia’s pregnancy and sets out to prove that her daughter’s death was no accident. Those in Olivia’s orbit of friends become suspect.

The weaving together of Olivia’s and Abi’s stories was well done. Although I felt unrelenting sadness for Abi, I was angry with her for some of her decisions made when it came to her daughter. Olivia’s POV especially drew me in, her teenage struggles, rebellion from an over-protective mother and emotional quest to find an absent father who her mother has lied about and refuses to discuss. Nothing was overplayed and the twists kept me guessing. Completely satisfied with the bittersweet ending.

*will post in additional online venues shortly.

This book did not live up to its potential. The ending was pretty good and emotional but the lead up was overwrought, predictable and frankly a little boring. For such an outlandish soap opera-esque premise it really dragged in bits.

Christina McDonald's The Night Olivia Fell tells the intertwining stories of Abi and Olivia Knight, mother and daughter, after Olivia is injured in an accident, leaving her brain dead. Abi must piece together just what happened to her daughter that fateful night. In the meantime, flashbacks take us from earlier in Olivia's life to just what got her to that point. From the beginning it's clear that the police aren't going to be of any help and Abi finds that if she wants to know what happened to her daughter, she has to find the answers herself, along with the help of a - cute! - victim's advocate from the Seattle Police Department.

A quick, vaguely funny aside before we dive into the review. When I'm reading a book for review, I make a point of holding off reading any and all promotional materials until after I've completed reading the book. My goal is to keep my thoughts my own and focus on the story itself rather than how others want me to think. About 10% into the book I was scratching my head trying to figure out what book this reminded me of so much. To the point where I ended up scrolling through my past books on GoodReads - which, lets be real, is a lot of books to scroll through - and there it was Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. This being the very same book that the promotional material invokes.

The structure of this story truly is very evocative of Reconstructing Amelia, in which a seemingly perfect daughter dies and a mother, who believed they were very close, must find out what happened. Both stories are interspersed with the events of the daughter's life before and the mother's life afterwards.

The Night Olivia Fell is heartbreaking from the start, with Olivia's accident leaving her brain dead. This is compounded by her mother finding out Olivia was pregnant, and due to Washington State Law, the hospital must due everything it can to save the life of the baby, including keeping Olivia on life support for 3+ months. McDonald is able to take us through Abi's stages of grief in a realistic way that the confusion and anger and doubts Abi feels make a logical sort of sense, especially as she starts to figure out what's going on.

Now, for my continued use of italics on accident, because lets be real, from the very first moment (literally, prologue here), it's very clear this is no accident. Just as clear as it is to Abi that it couldn't be. How would someone get a band of bruises around their wrist from an accident? The fun in McDonald's writing comes from this continual whodunit feeling, as well as the numerous possible perpetrators she tucks throughout. Is it the self-centered cruel best friend, is it the baby's unknown father, is it the newly found sister? So many options! Still, though, there's always this feeling of something more to come.

The thing I find difficult about the whole book, is that the entire story relies on the premise of Abi lying completely to her daughter regarding her father, an old summer fling, and Olivia not once directly asking her mother the obvious question once she's started figuring things out. Olivia goes to every person but the one person who could tell her the truth. I know in real life people make strange decisions, but it left things feeling just a bit flimsy.

Overall, the writing is good, I looked forward to each new step taken and clue found by Abi. However, I was a bit turned off by the Olivia segments, partly for the above, but also, they didn't quite have the heart of the Abi moments. It felt like we were pushing through Olivia's last months to get clues that Abi wouldn't know, without quite the pay off of this style story structure. I think I would've been more interested to hear everything from Abi's point of view after Olivia fell than Olivia's before. And yes, they do say "the night Olivia fell" throughout the book, as if "fell" is the best description for what happened - which I guess it is.

I loved this book! It was a really well-written, fast-paced read. I loved the alternating perspectives between mother (Abi) and daughter (Olivia), and I was dying to figure out who was responsible for Olivia’s fall because there were SO many people with possible motives throughout the book as each layer of the story was slowly unpeeled. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

The Night Olivia Fell is the debut work from author Christina McDonald and I have to say, this being a debut makes me excited to see what’s in store for us in the future from Ms. McDonald because this story was fantastic.

I have to start out by saying this genre is quickly becoming one of my go-to’s when I’m looking for something outside of romance. This story had me glued to every page, dying to solve the mystery of what happened to Olivia. The author did a fabulous job leading us down the path to unraveling the mystery behind Olivia’s accident.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the dual POV’s and the story being told from both Abi and Olivia’s eyes. The other layer of this book was the emotion weaved through it. At the end of the day, it’s a single mother’s quest to find out what happened to her only child and how they got to be where they were. That added so much to this story and made it so much more than a “whodunnit” book.

Thank you, Ms. McDonald, for a thrilling read I won’t soon forget!