What if one of your deepest secrets may have been partially responsible for your daughter's untimely death? This is exactly the case in this thriller as Abi awakens one morning to the news that her daughter, Olivia had fallen off the ZigZag bridge the night before and is now brain dead .Told in past and present, with alternating viewpoints of Abi and Olivia, the novel recounts the events leading up to and after Olivia's death. How did Abi's mother's suicide affect Abi's parenting? How did her secret about Olivia's father figure in? And how did Olivia's relationships with friends and boyfriends affect her? Lots of themes here: secrets, lies, betrayal, blackmail, bullying, compassion, and love. It's a lovely novel about how the heart can break but perhaps be put back together with enough people who care and are willing to put the past behind them.

In spite of great reviews from many others, this one was just so-so for me. Decent enough to eventually finish, not compelling enough to rave about, but not necessarily bad. For some reason the characters just didn’t click with me. The mystery aspect was okay but I didn’t feel especially connected to anyone.

I enjoyed this book. The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald tells the story of a single Mom and her daughter who both keeps secrets from each other. The mystery revolves around a night when Olivia the daughter fell off of a bridge, was it an accident or was she pushed? The narrative, told in alternate viewpoints and timelines, held my attention until the end. The characters were written realistically and there was enough tension throughout to make this interesting. Good book!

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster!!! It sucked me and grabbed at my heart!! Abi is a single mother who is raising her daughter Olivia whose sixteen on her own and always puts her first. She has spent her life protecting Olivia. One night she isn’t there to protect her and she gets a phone call Olivia has fallen from a bridge and she’s now on life support pregnant and has bruises. Abi isn’t agreeing with the police that it was an “accident” why aren’t the police investigating and she’s on a mission to know what has happened to her daughter and what are the police hiding. The story blends together beautifully between Olivia’s point of view from the last leading up to the accident and Abi’s point of view of what’s happening now with Olivia in the hospital and her investigation into her daughter life and secrets. I kept thinking I knew who was behind everything but I was wrong! It defiantly pulled at my heart and makes me want to keep my own child close! I want to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read this wonderful book!!

5+ stunning stars to this debut novel from Christina McDonald

I was hooked from the opening of the book where Abi gets the news that no parent wants to hear about their child. There's been an accident and her daughter Olivia has fallen from a bridge. The story then is told expertly from Abi's point of view (mostly present-day) and alternates with Olivia's narrative from a few months earlier. There is a police investigation and Abi doesn't think it was an accident. There is a serious twist as Olivia is pregnant and her mother didn't know. The story builds in tension up to the point where we discover the truth about what happened to Olivia.

Abi hasn't had the easiest childhood and she's been restrictive and protective with Olivia, but it is obvious that Abi loves her daughter very much. As a parent, it was interesting to reflect on this dynamic. Can we protect our children too much? It also made me wonder about how well we know our children. The teenage years are difficult ones for both sides. This is a great book that explores that dynamic and how difficult parenting is for all of us, but especially single parents. This book does a great job of exploring relationships and those seemed very authentic to me in this book. There are some great characters, Abi's sister seemed so well developed. The author did a great job in making these characters come to life for me when I read this book.

I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers and family-relationship stories. It was an absorbing book that I read in a day and a half whenever I could squeeze in some reading time.

This was the best book I’ve read all year. It doesn’t come out until February 2019 but I’ve already pre-ordered it.

The plot of this novel seems pretty straightforward, something you’d normally see in a suspense/thriller novel - daughter “mysteriously” injured in an accident, trying to find out whodunit, etc. However, there were a few things that elevated this novel and made it stand out for me.

In regards to the thriller/suspense plot , the author did a great job of casting doubt & suspicion on several characters, and I truly didn’t figure it out until the end of the novel. I thought I had it figured out right away, but to my pleasant surprise, found myself questioning the killer as the novel went on. I very much enjoyed how to the story played out, as Abi worked tirelessly to figure out what happened to Olivia.

However, most thrillers don’t have an emotional component like this one did. The fact that Olivia is pregnant AND brain-dead, being kept alive on life support, adds so many feelings to this one, and evokes lots of emotion from the reader. Usually, the victim has already passed away, making the reader feel more detached- you feel no real connection to the victim. That was not the case in this story.

Without giving anything away, I was sobbing at the end of the novel - like loud, mascara-down-my cheeks ugly crying, causing my husband to ask (a few times) if I was okay. Especially in the last few chapters, the author did a phenomenal job of creating detailed, heartfelt scenes that made you feel like you were right there.

I think I also felt so strongly and was so emotional due to the way the book was written, with the alternating narratives and flashback chapters. Often, the reader only hears from 1 narrator and it’s not the victim. Hearing Olivia’s POV and knowing what was going on with her, made me connect with her on a much deeper level. The reader is in Olivia’s head right through the heartbreaking scene on the bridge. The writing for these scenes was just incredible.

Whether you’re a fan of thrillers or women’s fiction, this book will appeal to so many people and will resonate with you on a deeper emotional level. Highly, highly, recommend.

When I first started reading this book I was hoping that what was the premise of the story was all just a mistake, a mix up, or a dream if you will. I was hoping this because the reality of the tragic accident of Olivia was just that- tragic! A mother’s worst nightmare. So for this fact and the fact that I am a mother of two girls it was a hard topic to read! Very well written. Left me in tears in the final chapters. The story was well laid out with details that unfolded between the events leading up to the accident and the events after the accident. I thought this was a good story that was fairly unique and riveting to the soul!

I don't know where to begin...this story was amazing. It takes a lot to make me cry and this one did it for me.

Without giving too much away, you must read it to understand it.

I have a teenage daughter in a "serious" relationship and if this was ever the situation I found myself in, I don't know what I would do.

This story will tug at your heartstrings and have you really thinking and understanding teenagers and what goes through their minds.

The story revolves around the night Olivia fell and what events bring her to that very moment. You will be devastated for this mother but you will also see the power of healing and acceptance. It is a dark tale with a true light at the end of the tunnel.

I loved every aspect of this book! Make sure you have some Kleenex handy, the character developments and ending are so great! I couldn't put down this page turner and actually read this book in one day! Christina McDonald is a great writer and I can't wait to read more from her! Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

What a well written book! I loved the characters, even if I related to Abi a bit more than I wanted. 😁 I loved that all the hints and clues were out in the open, if you paid attention. When I finally turned the last page, I had to just sit and let it sink in. I will be re-reading this book...which is something I rarely do on purpose. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this in advance (netgalley), I will be highly suggesting it to everyone I know!

Wow! Was so invested in this book. Absolutely amazing book. Emotions were all over. Definitely need a box of tissues. Follow Abi's journey as she fights to find out what happened to her daughter. Thought I had it figured out, then boom! Thoroughly recommend.
Thanks to netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

5 “Trust Me, you absolutely cannot miss reading this book” stars to The Night Olivia Fell!

I read The Night Olivia Fell with a group of blogger friends, and we unanimously loved it! An emotional read perfect for groups, The Night Olivia Fell is definitely a book you will to discuss with friends!

My Thoughts:

The Night Olivia Fells opens with a scene of which no one wants to relate. Abi Knight receives a phone call that her teen daughter has been in a tragic accident and is in the hospital. Upon arriving, she learns that her daughter is not only brain dead, but also pregnant.

From there, the narrative shifts between Abi’s narrative, mostly in the present day with some flashbacks, and Olivia’s narrative in the months leading up to her fall, until the two narratives merge in a masterful way.

Abi believes from the start that Olivia’s fall is no accident. She sees bruises on her wrists, and she quickly learns no one is taking her seriously, including the police. Once the police finally do begin to investigate, the case never seems to be their priority, and Abi decides to take matters into her own hands.

What happened to Olivia that fateful night, and how will this tragic story end?

There are so many things I loved about The Night Olivia Fell, and the biggest is how grounded it is in reality with authentic emotions, relationship dynamics, and characters. And those characters…wow! Not one is simply good or bad; they are a nice mix of complexity that keeps you guessing, especially when it comes to pointing the finger at who might have harmed Olivia. The author kept a wide net cast when looking for the suspect. I would develop a theory, and then pan to the next potential perp as the story went along and red herrings were dangled.

The Night Olivia Fell is so much more than the typical suspense story. While it has all the paramount trademarks, including secrets, lies, and formidable tension, it is in a league of its own with its intensely relatable characterization and raw emotion. You will love Abi and Olivia, and you will most definitely want to wrap your arms around each of them together, as you read their story and accept their individual fates as mother and daughter.

I read this book as a group with Berit, Holly, Melisa, Mack, and Kendall, and this was the best kind of story to read together. We shared in the tension, the love for these characters, and the guessing game at just who was guilty at the center of it all.

Thank you to the author, Christina McDonald, for the complimentary physical copy. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It kept me guessing all the way to the end. Very suspenseful. Well written. Characters were fantastic. Author has a way of making you feel what the characters are going through.Can't wait to read more from this author.

Heart-wrenching, emotional, beautiful, suspenseful, thought-provoking, and uplifting—this is a book that is filled with love in many forms, and that I won’t soon forget! When I read a book and I start to fall for the characters, I know that it will quickly become a favorite of mine. This book made me think about the impact of a single moment in time, and the ripple effect on the lives of those surrounding a young woman. It made me think about the chain of events that lead up to and away from a tragedy, and how we go about getting answers and finding a way to move forward when the worst happens. It is a story about the love of a mother, and the unrelenting pursuit of justice for her daughter.

About the Book

Early one morning, Abi Knight is awoken with the worst news a mother can hear—there’s been an accident. Her daughter Olivia is in the hospital in critical condition. By the time Abi arrives, she receives the news that Olivia has fallen off of a bridge and won’t ever wake up again. There has been irreversible damage to her brain.

Devastated, Abi wonders how to say goodbye to her only daughter and best friend. But there’s a catch—the doctors can’t pull life support from Olivia by law, because Olivia is pregnant. Shocked, Abi wonders how Olivia’s life got to this point with her being unaware. What happened that night? And how long has Olivia been pregnant? Did she know? Why didn’t she tell Abi, who was herself a teenage mother?

As Abi becomes determined to find the answers she seeks, the carefully constructed life she has created for herself and her daughter begins to unravel. A lie she told comes back to haunt her, and the secrets of Olivia’s life begin to surface. But despite all of the lies, Abi is certain Olivia’s death was not an accident. Her bracelet is missing, and there are bruises around her wrist. A string of text messages and digital clues may hold the answer to Olivia’s final hours.

What really happened the night Olivia fell?

Reflection

What an incredible debut novel by Christina McDonald this is! I want to first speak on her writing—it is incredibly filled with detail that makes the scenes and emotions leap right off the page. For instance, as Abi rushes to the hospital early one rainy morning, reeling from the call from the doctor about Olivia, McDonald describes the sensory details of that trip. The wet leaf caught on the windshield, being moved around by the wiper blades before finally tearing. The squeal of tires and grip of the steering wheel as she tries to balance her panic with arriving safely. The sharp contrast between the bright lights and the dark hours of the morning, glistening on the damp pavement. The shakiness in her legs. Her writing is like this throughout the book, contrasting the inner monologue of the characters with the detail of their surroundings. You can easily picture this book as a film, watching it play out before your eyes.

And the story itself is one that will leave you thinking about these characters long after you finish. It is charged with emotion, taut with tension, softened by the love of a mother and her grief. The horror I felt for Abi, hearing updates on the health of her grandchild while knowing that the birth of the baby would mean the death of her daughter—it almost overwhelmed me imagining what that would feel like. How can she be happy about her grandchild when she knows it will mean she has to let Olivia go? Abi was a character that I completely fell for. She is aware of her own shortcomings, tries to do what is best, and stumbles along the way. Abi felt like someone I could know in real life. Someone I may have passed on the street one time, wondering what demons haunted her eyes.

We also hear some of the story from Olivia’s perspective, in the months leading up to the accident. I loved the way these chapters were written—almost like a young adult novel. They had the voice of a teenage girl. McDonald captured the worry and impulsivity of a seventeen year old perfectly. These chapters were so important, because without them Olivia would only exist for us through the eyes and heart of her mother Abi. But Olivia herself is full of life and hope and teenage heart ache. It would be easy to have Olivia sainted through the eyes of Abi, but instead we see her—as imperfect and full of love as she is. With a life filled with potential, taken from her before her time.

I read this book with the 5 of my book besties!!! We absolutely loved it.

This is a stunning, beautifully written debut by a talented author, Christina McDonald. I read this one with my @6bookbesties and we all had rave reviews.

One night, Olivia is found unconscious after having fallen off a bridge. She is brain dead and pregnant and her mother, Abi, tries to understand what happened that night through her devastation. Told in alternating perspectives, we have flashbacks from Olivia (which are stylistically different and very accurately portrayed) and chapters from Abi who is on a mission to discover the truth.

As a thriller, this one is full of subtle red herrings which will steer you in a hundred different directions. I had my eye on a certain culprit the entire time (I was wrong!) but truly suspected every character at one point or another.

As a mother, I could so relate to the feelings of worry and protectiveness, and my heart broke for the character of Abi. The extreme emotional pain she was experiencing throughout this story was very evident in the writing and even brought a few members of our group to tears. To imagine what Abi was feeling, all the while trying to figure out what happened to her poor daughter - it was an experience in empathy to the max.

This is an intricately woven story, full of love and heartache. Highly recommend.

A huge thank you to Christina McDonald, Gallery Books, and Carly Watters who provided us with an early copy. This book will be available early 2019.

5 BIG Beautiful Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

wOWZA! This book took me on quite the emotional journey! As a mother I couldn’t help but completely empathize with Abi(The mother in this story)... I cried with her... I raged with her... I hoped with her... my mama bear was out throughout this book, I needed answers and I needed them now! Imagining my own daughter in the hospital bed brain-dead and pregnant, quite honestly made me a little sick and stressed... this is a credit to the beautiful and engrossing writing in this book, I was completely immersed and committed.... The fact that this is Christina McDonald’s debut is simply.... impressive!

Abi gets that phone call in the middle of the night that all parents fear... her daughter is in the hospital, she has fallen off a bridge...Abi’s mothers intuition tells her this was not an accident and this is reinforced by the bruises around her daughter’s wrist.... The police don’t appear to be doing much of anything to find out who pushed Olivia off that bridge.... but Abi is determined and will stop at nothing to find out who hurt her little girl...

Told from both Abi and Olivia‘s perspectives... we get the events leading up to this tragedy from Olivia‘s eyes... as well as watching Abi’s heart wrenching journey... not only to accept that she has lost her daughter, but also to figure out how this could have happened.... this was such an impactful way to tell the story because the more I got to know Olivia the more my heart broke right along with Abi’s.... also Christina McDonnell did a fabulous job with getting into the mind of both a 17-year-old and her mother.... I saw a lot of myself in both of these characters...

This was an emotional domestic suspense... as the book progressed I was suspicious of almost everyone at some point... I also found myself questioning both Olivia and Abbi’s actions... I kept thinking if only.... then... but isn’t that what life is all about? every choice we make has an impact on our lives.... had Abby told Olivia who her father was, then maybe? Had Olivia told her mother who she had fallen in love with, then perhaps? So many questions and no good answers and as we all know hindsight is always 20/20...

This is a book that left me with tears in my eyes and hope in my heart! I absolutely recommend for anyone who enjoys A beautiful story about the love between mothers and daughters with a huge dose of suspense thrown in....

*** many thanks to Christina McDonald and Gallery for my copy of this book the book releases in February 2019 ***

*** I was asked by the author to post early for some early buzz as well as posting closer to publication date, will be on my blog today as well as publication day in February!

I can wholeheartedly (even though half my heart is gone after reading this)... say that The Night Olivia Fell deserves 5 shining stars. This has a spot on my shining bookshelf for life! <3 <3.

OH my goodness... where do I even start with this? Firstly, I don't think I have EVER read a debut like this. The amount of talent that Christina McDonald has is mind-blowing. I truly was blown out of the water with how beautiful, poetic, and dark this novel is. This... can sometimes be a very hard thing for authors to do.... keep your readers on edge with a thriller and managing to get some tears out?! THAT is talent my friends no, ands, ifs, or buts about that statement ;).

It's funny because as we all know I am a huge mystery and thriller fan... and I know everyone keeps seeing my 3 star reviews... and I have to tell you it takes A LOT for me to give my entire 5 stars. THIS IS IT. It's everything... just stop right now and get your hands on this. (PSTTT Netgalley... click away)

If you're expecting me to go into the plot with my review... I won't because going into this book blind will make the experience so much more worthwhile. Trust me on this <3.

I had the honor of reading this alongside my book besties and wow what an experience to have these amazing ladies join me :).

I will leave you with this...

"Whenever, whatever. I'm here forever."

I cannot thank Christina McDonald, Netgalley, and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books enough for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Expected publication date: 2/5/19
Published to GR: 8/29/18.

Emotional, suspenseful, and hard to put down!

I am so thrilled to have found this author, Christina McDonald. I found her writing to have such an addictive quality. She has created some memorable characters that brought depth and raw emotion to the story. It was both heart-breaking and tender.

Abi is a single mom who puts her teenage daughter Olivia first, above all other priorities. She has spent her life protecting Olivia, but she wasn’t there the night Olivia fell from a bridge (and she is a helicopter mom). Olivia is now on life-support, she is pregnant, and she has bruises. Abi has a mother’s intuition and isn’t buying the police report that the fall was ” an accident“. Why aren’t the police investigating? She is committed to do whatever it takes to learn the truth.

The story flows nicely with cleverly placed hints to how the mystery ultimately unfolds. I was totally invested and wanted to know how it would end. I changed my mind several times about “what really happened” and ohhhh that ending! I can’t say anything else!

A loving mom searching for answers, a toxic relationship, and a search for truth make this one an emotional page-turner!

The Night Olivia Fell kept me engaged and reading. It was great to get both characters perspectives and learn their stories. I really enjoyed everything about this book - the title, the blurb, and the story. There were moments were I got teary-eyed. There were so many quotes that resonated with me as well. Some good takeaways while being entertained.

Memorable quotes: "You don't have to be right one hundred percent of the time to show you love someone. And she doesn't have to be perfect to be well-loved."
"Family, I realized, was like a box of puzzle pieces. They filled all the holes of your life with little pieces that all together made you whole."
"Trust, I'd learned, was the greatest gift you could give, the greatest gift to receive. The belief that a person wouldn't betray you required a strength and confidence I was only just finding."
"Look to the future and you won't stumble on the present."

For more, you will have to read the book! Thank you Netgalley. Highly Recommend!

I received this book as an ARC from the author and am so grateful to have read it. I found it both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The mother’s unconditional love and overwhelming urge to protect her child is evident in this book. It kept you guessing all along what really happened to Olivia. I would absolutely recommend this book to friends.