Member Reviews

I struggled to get into this story, due to the content rather than the writing style. Hunter did a good job of creating characters with depth and navigating a story from two perspectives: the ghost of Scarlett and a third-person narrator of Evie’s life post-Scarlett. I guess I’m just not in the headspace to be able to handle a story that starts with a tragic death and has a main character who is trying to come to grips with a devastating health diagnosis while still in her 20s as well as the loss of her best friend.

Usually when a ghost features heavily in a book, it’s because they have unfinished business and can somehow influence outcomes. In this case, Scarlett was simply an observer and commentator who couldn’t be seen, couldn’t move objects, and had no way of communicating with the living. So, other than her witnessing how her loved ones are coping with the grief, we don’t know until the end what conclusion she draws for her lingering presence, and it’s rather frustrating that she can’t “show herself.”

I enjoyed the romance between Evie and Nate, especially how thoughtful, supportive, and even-keeled he is (really a perfect book boyfriend). In his non-judgmental, non-pitying way, he helps Evie realize that life doesn’t end with a diagnosis; it just means she has to adapt to her new, unpredictable normal. Likewise, she helps him see that slowing down his itinerant lifestyle as a travel journalist to form a connection won’t have negative consequences.

If I could separate my own feelings from the narrative, I’d give it 4*, but since I struggled to get into it, I’ve dropped it to 3*. However, for readers who don’t mind depressing topics combined a very slow burn, closed door romance, it would be worth checking this out.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

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This was beautiful, raw, fresh and so well written!
I loved that we got both perspectives and I just truly loved the meaning and depth that this book offered its readers.

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Two best friends learn about love and loss when one of them dies and the other must deal with the remains of their friendship. When the living friend meets the person responsible for her friend’s death, she is forced to confront her complicated feelings. Author Becky Hunter takes readers through an emotional journey that is completely relatable from start to finish in her debut, One Moment.

Evie Jenkins has been fighting with her best friend, Scarlett, and hating every minute of it. Evie and Scarlett have been inseparable since they were girls. They went to university together and then decided to be grownups together by moving into an apartment in London. But now, it seems, Scarlett is ready to move on without Evie and all because they’ve started seeing life differently.

Scarlett wishes Evie would understand. She certainly doesn’t want to move on from Evie; not in the least. But ever since Evie’s diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, Scarlett has watched her best friend shrink back from the world. A change—one that includes both of them—will do Evie a world of good, even if Evie doesn’t know it yet.

Except Scarlett never gets to put her plan in motion. On the day when she’s counting on everything to get better, she gets into an accident. The witness to her accident is a stranger named Nate Ritchie, but after Scarlett’s death his name is branded onto Evie’s brain.

Nate is beside himself with grief and guilt. He starts reaching out to Evie to express his hurt and to share hers, but Evie wants nothing to do with him. Nate took away the girl who was her dearest friend; her sister. The person who understood Evie and pushed her and supported her through everything in life. The one who has been there through her best and worst moments. Why on earth would Evie want to have anything to do Nate?

But Nate is persistent, much to Evie’s surprise and frustration. He continues to pursue a friendship of his own with Evie. Evie, to her even greater surprise, starts to soften toward Nate.

In the mix of all this is Scarlett herself. Despite her death, she’s stuck in some in-between place. Now she can see and hear her loved ones; she can even go back to old memories she’s shared with the people closest to her. Yet she can’t reach out to them now. She can only watch as Evie struggles with her grief and Nate continues to call on Evie. Along the way, she learns about how others have seen her in the past and comes to some important realizations about herself, true love, and what friendship means.

Author Becky Hunter hits the deepest notes of grief and the struggles of forgiving one another with pitch perfect precision. Scarlett and Evie’s relationship rings with truth and heartbreak. Readers who have experienced a similar loss will find solace in how each of the young women deals with Scarlett’s death. The title is apt; Hunter offers proof how a single moment in time changes the lives of everyone involved.

Unlike other ghost stories, Hunter doesn’t focus on how Scarlett can exist after her death. Instead, she gives Scarlett a character arc that is almost harder to read than the others because of the fact that Scarlett can no longer be with those she loves most. Even with that obstacle—or possibly because of it—readers may find Scarlett the most endearing character of all.

Evie has her own winning character traits. Her loyalty to Scarlett, even with their disagreement and the things Evie discovers later, remains absolute even through her anger. Evie’s flaws make her that much more relatable. Her MS is in the early stages, giving readers the opportunity to watch the immediate aftermath of the shock of Evie’s diagnosis. Hunter leads readers through Evie’s grief of losing her life as she knows it and losing Scarlett, letting both progress in tandem at a steady but heart-wrenching pace.

While the storyline with Nate may feel inevitable, Hunter keeps several surprises for readers along the way. Just when it feels like the plot has settled into a straightforward rhythm, Hunter drops in another unexpected note that changes the tune of the story. Readers who appreciate a book about found family and love that is truly earned will absolutely want to read this one.

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Becky Hunter's ONE MOMENT is a book that will stay with me for a very long time. The story of a friendship between Scarlet and Evie was relatable in its complexity and ever-changing connection--as I read this incredibly well-written story, I kept thinking about the friendships in my life and how differently I would have lived and thought. Heartfelt and teary, this story is like none other I've ever read. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

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I’ve never read a book quite like One Moment before. I loved the different point of views. It had all the feels. One minute your heart is breaking and the next all you can think is “awe”.One Moment is a book that will stay with me for a very long time. The whole time I was reading I put myself in Evie’s shoes.

If you’re ready for a heartbreaking, loving, beautiful story this one’s for you. ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a book that I’ll continue to think about long after I have finished it.

Scarlett and Evie’s friendship and growth is heartfelt and emotional.

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This is a very emotional, but rewarding read. I think the narrative choice of having Scarlett have a first person voice throughout and after her death was the right choice to make this story go beyond its sad storyline. I would definitely read other books by this author.

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I absolutely loved this book! It gave me such Josie Silver vibes, which is a compliment. The speculative twist with Scarlett being able to watch over her loved ones, specifically her best friend Evie, after her death was so well done and I loved the romance between Evie and Nick. I just truly enjoyed this book. It was a love story to female friendship.

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This was a beautifully written story that really pulls at the heartstrings. It handles some really difficult subjects, like death and grief, in a wonderful way and really shows how growth can continue in life even when we feel like it can't. I loved this one

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Absolutely loved this book! It pulled at my heartstrings right fro the beginning and as someone who has lost a friend in a similar way, this captured the waves of grief well. This was tender, sweet, and filled with hope all while holding onto realistic grief. I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy for my shelf. This book was beautiful!

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Beautiful writing emotionally moving a book that tore at my heart. Make sure to have tissues with you.An author to follow.#netgalley #onemoment

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A truly wonderful story,
About love loss and so many things.
Simply a wonderful read.

This was a first book for me by this author.
I must say i truly enjoyed it.
Stories by this author are amazing.

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4.5⭐️

This story. I was not expecting the amount of feelings I’d experience as I read it. From the depths of grief to hilarious laugh out loud moments and absolutely everything in between, One Moment is a lovely story, and both Scarlett and Evie are such well-drawn and sympathetic characters. It’s also a brilliant illustration of how much in life can hinge on one moment, and how many can be effected by the ripples outward, in ways both good and bad.

Thank you Becky Hunter, Forever -Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

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One Moment is the story of a woman who dies in an accident and how that affects her best friend and the man involved in her accident. Grab your tissues. This book is a sonnet. But it is a delightful story of hope, resilience and love and that sometimes the best things come out of the most horrific moments. The multi-dimensional characters really make this book - they make you fall in love with them and they give you a sense of happiness after so much grief and guilt. It was a true emotional journey.

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It's kind of odd that the two books I've recently read and enjoyed most involved a significant character dying tragically in the first chapter. ONE MOMENT is very different from AFTER ANNIE, other than the aforementioned and the heavy focus on those left behind adapting to the death of their loved one.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Scarlett is optimistic about her career and her love live, but concerned about her longtime best friend and roommate, Evie, whom she argued with last night and who is facing major challenges. A snap impulse changes the trajectories of the lives of all who knew and loved Scarlett. Although she dies, she lingers, watching Evie and her parents, and reliving significant episodes in her life.

Meanwhile, Evie is devastated. Forced to give up the career she loved, stuck in a job she hates, living in an apartment surrounded by memories of her life with Scarlett, she is unmoored. But a new neighbor and fellow violin player, Astrid, strikes up a friendship with her and Nate, who was with Scarlett in her final moments, keeps turning up and making it difficult to hate him, even if she does blame him for Scarlett's death.

There were a few unfinished story lines (it seemed Scarlett's parents had another secret?). This book manages to be uplifting even in its saddest moments. And for Bruce Springsteen fans, you will have an earworm for the entire duration of the novel (One minute you're here...) #OneMoment #NetGalley

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This one gives you all the feels! It made me laugh and it made me cry. Great characters. Really makes you think. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

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One Moment was very thought provoking and heart wrenching. It was slow moving for me and at times I was confused as to who the narrator was. We jumped into the story right in the prologue and I had a hard time catching up to the dynamic of the main characters friendship. Overall, the story was good, it just wasn't really my taste.

Thank you to Forever, NetGalley and Becky Hunter for the arc. This is my honest opinion.

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{3.5 stars}

"Depression hates a moving target."
-------------------------
Evie and Scarlett are longtime best friends and roommates. Evie has been going through a hard time and is uncertain where her life is headed. She and Scarlett have just gotten into a massive fight when Scarlett is in a tragic accident. Now Evie is left to pick up the pieces and figure out how to go on. The strange new constant in her life is the man who was involved in the accident with Scarlett. He is also a bit broken and looking for meaning. 

This one definitely has some seriously depressing moments so please make sure you read the synopsis and are in the right frame of mind to take this one on. It is a real exploration of grief and suffering and finding meaning in life. There is a message of hope within but it takes some dark moments to get there. It was definitely nice to see a main character with a chronic disease as our focus, the challenges of her daily life were well balanced with perseverance. The second half is more of a traditional romance which made for easier reading but it hits some familiar tropes.

Read this one if you liked Me Before You or Sweet November.

Thanks to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

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"This heart-wrenching, page-turning read about friendship, love, and loss will appeal to fans of Rebecca Serle and Josie Silver."
The moment I read this, describing One Moment by Becky Hunter I was all-in but also had quite high expectations. I adore Rebecca Serle and Josie Silver - their novels are some of my favorites. I am thrilled to report that not only did this book meet these expectations, it surpassed them. I just adored it.

One Moment is the story of Evie and Scarlett - two best friends since childhood, who are living together in London. When we meet them, they arer having a bit of a rough patch - a massive fight that neither seems ready to confront. Scarlett is going about her day - running errands, overanalyzing her fight with Evie and trying to figure out next steps with the man in her life when she sees a biker wipe out and takes a detour to help him. In that moment everything changes.

I started this book while waiting for a table on Friday night and finished eary Saturday afternoon. I was instantly captivated by Evie and Scarlett's story and I really enjoyed how it was told. And I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I finished. I don't want to give more details abou the plot becuase for me, the joy were the twists and not knowing exactly what was coming..

Stories of grief and loss, in my opinion, are very difficult to do well. They are big swings, and y'all know how much I love and appreciate when authors take those, but they don't always work. Becky Hunter nailed it here - and in doing so told a beautiful story of love, friendship and chosen family.

Big thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review. One Moment, the brilliant debut by Becky Hunter is out on TUESDAY!! It is not to be missed.

Will post review to retail sites, goodreads and my bookstagram @scottonreads.

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Special thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic books for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. They definitely owe me some tissues! I LOVED THIS BOOK! While I don’t always enjoy comparisons , I would have to say it had a Ghost like feel but not in a romantic sense.
The story centers on a female friendship between Scarlett and Evie.. At the outset Scarlett dies suddenly in a tragic accident while attempting to help a cyclist, Nate. Evie, dealing with a recent MS diagnosis is devastated but eventually accepts help from a stranger.
Scarlett is dead but able to see the events and relationships to follow. The story is told by the dual narrative of Scarlett and Evie.
It is poignant and beautifully told and written. The writing is most engaging and fluid heartwarming from beginning to end.
A must read with a surprising but magnificent ending! I will definitely be looking forward to another by Becky Hunter!

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