Immersive and engaging. This is a recommended purchase for collections where women's fiction is popular.

The characters were great, the story flowed but the ending made me so angry. I wanted more accountability. So many years wasted because of what he did selfish. I recommend for you to go read lol

So much can be said about the cliché saying that one moment in time can change everything, and for Elena that statement is so true. On a trip to Mexico with her boyfriend, Elena begins to reflect on making changes in her life and after voicing them out loud to a virtual stranger she makes up her mind. Only moments later, an earthquake happens that alerts everything in Elena’s life. Now, almost 10 yrs later, Elena reflects on her life again and the choices she made and didn’t make and how it effected everything.

Part of me wanted to grab Elena by the shoulders and shake her asking why did she do the things she did but at the same time I get it. She made decisions not for herself but for others and it slowly chipped away at Elena and her own happiness. Hindsight is always 20/20 and looking back there is always things you wish you did differently but I was glad to see Elena finally be honest with herself and others and make a choice for herself and herself alone. There were multiple times throughout the story that I wanted to kick Harry in the shins for his selfishness and the guilt he placed knowingly and unknowingly on others especially Elena. Then there’s Alex; Alex deserves so much more than a hug, he deserves all the happiness in the world for everything he went through before the earthquake, during the earthquake and afterwards.


Rating 3.5 stars rounded up


Thank you @williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

3.5 stars, rounded up
Overall I appreciated this story and liked the journey Elena went on through the tale.

This was a fast read for me. I wanted to find out what would happen in both the present and future.

Elena and her long time boyfriend Harry go on a trip to Mexico. She is reconsidering their relationship and thinks they are headed in different directions in life. While they are there, she meets a fellow traveler and they have a deep conversation. Tragedy strikes, and Elena is forced to make choices she had never considered before. Fast forward ten years, and she is looking back and wondering if she has made the correct choices or if there's a chance for her to reconsider despite all that has happened.

This book is a contemplative book that made me frustrated a bit with Elena at times. I know, I have an outsider's perspective and I am not emotionally invested like she was. That's what made this book intriguing and made me appreciate it more overall.

If you're looking for a thoughtful novel with flawed, interesting characters, then you should check this one out.

I really thought that I was going to enjoy reading this book, but there were too many things that made me question myself. I understand everyone goes through different processes after a horrible tragedy. But the female character was acting a bit messy throughout the book. Way too messy for my taste in reading. I tried my best but I could not get over the character flaws.

Kinda conflicted about how I feel about this.

The beginning half had me hooked. The drama between the couple, the disaster itself, the narration. Elena is a great voice, she's funny and believable. I understood her conflicted feelings as she dealt with the aftermath.

I do think the half-second fell a little short. I wasn't as invested. A lot of the same topics were revisited over and over. The same phrases were repeated. I understood the message, but because it was so overt it became annoying quickly. Some things I wished Johnson spent more time on were brushed away while other topics I didn't find as compelling had a lot of focus. I don't feel like I had enough time with Harry to know his character. Everyone but Elena and Alex felt one dimensional. There was a lot of telling and not showing.

I did like the ending, and like before, I did really like the first half of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy of The Moment I Met You.

I had high expectations for this book because I absolutely loved Maybe One Day. It was my favorite book for 2021. However, The Moment I Met You did not give me the happy warm feeling that I so badly needed. The book was long, dry, overly descriptive at times , with unlikable characters. Alex was the only decent person in this book. Elena infuriated me to no end. And let’s not talk about Harry, oh Harry what a slimy person you are.
I’m just disappointed in this book and mad too, because I wanted more, I needed more from the author, but this just wasn’t it.

I have had Maybe One Day on my TBR since the day I heard about it. I had a few great recommendations that made me instantly want to read The Moment I Met You when it became available.
This bittersweet novel revolves around a tragedy forever impacting the lives of fellow tourists Henry, Elena, and Alex. Henry and Elena are vacationing in Mexico where Elena befriends Alex, a man who saves her life. Ten years go by and the survivors are brought together again to relive the past and things aren't quite what they seemed to be.
I think fans of Lia Louis and Jenny Colgan will appreciate the way that Debbie handles Elena's experiences and reactions. Her character is well-written and relatable. While I wanted so badly for her to have a whirlwind romance with all of the hope and joy that goes along with it, I found her resolve inspiring.
I read and listened to this book over the last couple of days. The narrator, Kirsty Dilon, is positively impactful in her performance for Elena's POV. The audiobook is just under 11 hours long.
Thank you to William Morrow for the advanced copy and Harper Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The book was enjoyable and well written,
There’s a lot to love about this book. It hit all the emotions for me.
This was a refreshing debut novel by Debbie Johnson
Also the flow of the book was excellent.
Wonderful dialogue, fun characters and brilliant writing saying I really liked this book would be an understatement.
It was just an all around wonderful story.

William Morrow Paperbacks,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review closer to pub date.

Elena had plans, but after surviving an earthquake, her plans were blown to shreds. With the ten year anniversary of the natural disaster that altered her life approaching, the dredging up of the past may now change her future.

My only other experience with Johnson’s writing was Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper which leaned more rom-com. I was quite surprised by the weight of this book. The first part was harrowing and heart-pumping. It was laced with these lovely, albeit emotionally wrought moments which balanced out the earlier events. My heart was utterly broken at the end of part one, but the second half of the story did a beautiful job putting it back together.

It was during the second half of the book that I really got to know the characters. They were well-developed, and I found myself very invested in their lives. I loved the way Johnson used the documentary to dig deeper and reveal the way each person was affected by the earth quake. In general, the book had me really pondering how a single event can impact a life. Just considering Elena before and after, and the way that event shaped her life and the lives of the other survivors had me thoughtfully exploring the topic.

This was a deeply emotional story, and the tears – before, after, and during the event, were ever present. There was also a lot for me to unpack as I took this emotional rollercoaster ride, but what ride!

Overall: An extremely emotional and thought-provoking tale.

Oh my goodness I loved this book! This is the story of Elena and Harry who have been dating forever, things are kind of getting stale, so they take a long vacation to Mexico. One perfectly wonderful night, an earthquake destroys the small village they are visiting and changes their lives forever. Elena was chatting with another man from their guided tour, Alex, right before the earthquake, with whom she ends up sharing the trauma of the earthquake, and it immediately bonds the two together. Years later, Elena is going through the motions of her life and marriage to Harry when she is approached by a young filmmaker wanting to interview Elena for a documentary she is making to mark the ten-year anniversary of the earthquake. As she starts remembering and processing the events from the horrible night, Elena slowly starts to wake up and look closely at the life she has made and the life that she wants.

Debbie Johnson is a new-to-me author and her writing is beautiful. This is one of the best uses of descriptive language that I can recall, making me see, hear, and smell everything that was around them in that small Mexican village, in the hospital, and then years later in their lives in England. The only exception is Elena herself. I cannot tell you what she looked like. But everything else was so descriptive it lept off of the page.

I loved Elena's character and only wanted wonderful things for her, but unfortunately, I felt sorry for her for the majority of this book. Her character put everyone but herself first until about the 85% mark in the book. I wanted to shake her at times and tell her to run away and be happy, but that's just not who she was. I loved Alex's calm demeanor and what a huge heart he had in his own quiet way. Harry just rubbed me wrong from the start and I'm not sure why. Most of the novel involves his saying or doing things that supported my less than wonderful feelings about him, but even in the beginning, I wasn't a fan of his pompous and somewhat clueless attitude.

The Moment I Met You is certainly a love story, but it is also a story about what we give up in life and why. It's about dreams that never got chased but were not forgotten. It's about the universe putting two people together that were meant to get to know one another. Lastly, it's about remembering your own happiness is as important as anyone else's. I loved every word of this novel and devoured it an afternoon, but it is probably one I will read again. I highly recommend this one.

An emotional story of love, and the things we give up for it, as well as the power of choice and where those choices lead us. Fans of Colleen Hoover will enjoy this emotional romance.

Elena is living her life in a comfortable state, not quite in love with it or in love with her long-term boyfriend Harry. It’s routine and her normal now except when her trip to Mexico with Harry changes their lives forever. Focusing on the then and ten years later, we follow along to the trauma and aftermath of that catastrophic night in Mexico.

This novel was simply beautiful. With a focus on choices, some of which make you painfully empathetic and almost frustrated at the main character, the reader gets to walk alongside Elena through her personal growth. The hardships and guilt weigh on you just as heavily as they do the main characters. The very last chapter feels slightly “flip of a switch” and abrupt but I understand that the main focus wasn’t purely on this one aspect but rather Elena as a whole with her relationships and dealing with the past.

𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘆𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲? 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵?

There is no 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 way for me to explain what I felt while reading this book. Even though the characters, the plot, the devastation are completely made up, it cannot be simply discribed as a fictious story. It is, however, a 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 that's going to stay with me for 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲. I solemnly promise myself to come back and read this book again in another fifteen years to atleast try and revive half of what I've just felt.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, although, I don't reckon I'll ever be the same as I was before reading this. Now these might be deep words with even deeper meanings but things aligned for me in such a manner that I've read this right after a personal tragedy and this 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲-𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰-𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀-𝘆𝗲𝘁-𝗮-𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 of a experience has profoundly resonated somewhere deep within, someplace I hope to revisit soon, when I've finally comprehended what has happened.

A 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 journey I hope everyone intends to embark upon atleast once in their lifetime, highly highly highly recommended.

infinity /5✩ (because my brain hasn't fully understood what's happened and does not know quite how to respond to this 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 yet)

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 & 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

The Moment I Met You was my first book by author Debbie Johnson

9 years ago, Elena went to Mexico with Harry thinking that maybe their relationship will survive after a relaxed holiday.
There she meets Alex, the handsome but quiet European who makes her feel seen & brings her light back.But after a life shattering event, their lives took an unexpected turn that that neither of them had anticipated.

This one was a rollercoaster of emotions, creating a whirlwind of changes.. A wonderful story that I recommend

***4.5 STARS***

I was not expecting such an emotionally packed story…the cover kind of depicts a whimsy romance but this book is so much more than that.

The story backtracks ten years to a romantic holiday for Elena and Harry. Elena however is struggling with her feelings for Harry and the life she wants to lead. A meeting with a stranger has Elena pouring out her feelings when suddenly disaster strikes. Elena and Alex are forced to help each other survive, and in the process a very special relationship is formed.

The aftermath proves to be difficult for everyone, a journey shrouded with lies, heartbreak, pain and sadness. As the 10 year mark of that horrible night in Mexico approaches, Elena discovers many truths that will change her life. She learns that surviving does not mean living and that doing the wrong thing for the right reasons will never bring happiness. I really enjoyed Elena’s story and the process of discovering how our choices lead to different stops on our journey. And how moments are truly precious and life changing.

My only gripe: I wanted more. Or at least an epilogue. Elena went through so much, years of insecurities, what-ifs, and could have beens. I wanted more of her happily ever after. Which just confirms how much I loved this story and how I didn’t want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the words of Taylor Swift, “I remember it all too well”.

There are people able to navigate all of love's hit and misses and able to move on…forever optimistic.

Then there are those destined to love once for life. Living in the present, yet desperately clutching to the past.❤️‍🩹

Elena and Harry are on the trip of a lifetime, traveling from the UK to Mexico. Their relationship has been on rocky ground for some time, and Elena is having growing pains. They hope this trip is just what the doctor ordered to get their lives and love back on track.

Stepping out of their five-star resort they take a bus tour to a remote village. What starts at a magical evening takes a drastic turn when an earthquake rocks the town. And when the dust settles… it’s utter devastation.

A deeply emotional, beautiful story of life, love, sacrifice and courage.

I adored Elena and how she unselfishly put everyone ahead of herself and her own needs. Her story was inspiring and powerful. Her inner strength in the decisions she made was remarkable. I felt as though I was right along-side, taking this inspiring journey with her.

Of course, by the end I was reduced to a whimpering puddle of tears! Oh come on…you know what a softie I am!💁🏻‍♀️

This is one of those rare reads that touched my heart and will stay with me for a very long time.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House

Oh wow - what an interesting book!

Elena and her boyfriend, Henry, are on a vacation trip when the world falls apart - there is an earthquake and they're seperated. Elena is buried alive with a stranger in the rubble of an old, historic church. Henry fairs even worse in the elements. This story follows their recovery, the recovery of their relationship and the stranger - and how their lives are entangled. The 10 year anniversary is coming on and a reporter contacts them to follow up on how their lives changed that night and leads them back to where it all happened.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I received an ARC of, The Moment I Met You, by Debbie Johnson. I have read others books by Debbie Johnson and really enjoyed them as well. I liked Elena , but did not care for Harry at all.

Twenty-something Elena has a good job and a nice boyfriend, but she wants more from life. She and her boyfriend, Harry, travel to Mexico for a vacation that could renew their relationship or end it - but neither of them is expecting the catastrophic earthquake that injures them both. In the earthquake's aftermath, Elena is changed: traumatized, but also inspired by the man she met just before the quake, who helped her survive it. But Harry is changed, too, and he needs Elena more than ever. None of their lives will ever be the same - and it will take them years to unearth all the secrets that were buried during the quake.

I was not expecting this book to be as serious as it was. The tone of the publisher's summary suggests a bit of a lark, but the novel lingers on the earthquake and its aftermath in a way that is often upsetting and difficult to read. Moreover, the story is told from Elena's point of view, and the narration of a character suffering from anxiety and possibly depression can be, well, anxious and depressing.

This is not to say the book isn't well-written, because it is. The major characters are well-realized, and the depiction of Elena's coping mechanisms and thought processes is particularly masterful. The events of the story are predictable, but they feel powerful nonetheless, a testament to the author's skill at crafting a strong plot and deep characters. Unfortunately, the structure of the book (its first half is at the time of the earthquake, its second half is in the present) requires tight pacing and doesn't allow for much detail about Elena's daily life in the present. I found myself wanting to know more about her - but, although it was frustrating, my desire to know more means the author did something right!

A somewhat sad romance. 4 stars.