This was such a well done true coming off age story. As a teacher of seniors, I was really drawn into the importance of friends to get you though life. The power of forgiveness was a prevailing, which was also well done. At times, it seemed a little like this group of boys was a little cultish, but it seems that wasn’t the case in the end. And James VanderBeek, who millennials grew up with as the voice of or youth was the perfect narrator

I finnished this book at 3am and cried.
Thank you Lucas.
"You're on the edge of a rebirth, but you're unwilling to live"

“Everything is just like it used to be, except the field. What was once the promise of more time, has been transformed into a reminder that time eventually runs out for all of us.”

Colt’s senior year gets off to a rough start, broken bones and a pissed principal mean things are going to have to change. When a girl invites him to a mentorship program at the church, he is reluctant to attend. What follows is a year spent with Lucas, a free thinker who encourages the young men in his group to question everything and make up their own minds.

2.5 Stars

This book was blurbed as being a new Dead Poets Society, which are big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, I am not sure that Craig Cunningham has quite met the mark, though I imagine the personal experiences he is basing this book on felt like DPS. It is important to say that Cunningham’s writing was lovely, I really enjoyed it when he got going. This story was at its strongest when it slowed down and took the time to exist in a scene, to show rather than tell. However, I feel like we skipped over a lot of important information and details. The large time jumps did not serve the story Cunningham was trying to tell. Given the short run time, it felt like more attention could have been given to the quieter moments of growth these boys were having off page, and how their bond strengthened over time. I felt like I didn’t really know any of the characters, which meant I wasn’t invested in their stories, with some of the background characters feeling interchangeable. Instead, it felt like we rushed between moments of meaning making, moments of ‘male bonding’ or when important speeches took place. Most of us are the sum of all the parts, and it felt like I was getting the highlight reel rather than the full story. It is a shame, as I feel Cunningham certainly has the talent to write the book he wanted to. I would not be put off reading another offering.

As this was audio, I think it is worth mentioning that James Van Der Beek was doing an excellent job. His voice is calming and engaging, and probably bumped my review up half a star. I would seek out his narration again if given the opportunity.

This was an endearing coming of age story with a Christian undertone. It enjoyed the characters. The story itself was fine but forgettable.

James Van Der Beek is an amazing narrator, he has a voice I could listen to all day. Sadly this story didn’t hit the mark for me so it was lucky it was short. I thought it was going to be more like The Dead Poets Society, but it actually had very little depth whilst still managing to come across as preachy, which is no easy feat. At one point I actually thought it might be a pamphlet for a religious group masquerading as a novel, it just didn’t do it for me. I’d listen to something else narrated by James, but I probably wouldn’t pick up another book by this author.

I greatly enjoyed this audiobook, narrated by James Van Der Beek. It tells the story of Colt’s senior year and the unexpected friends he meets along the way. While it is listed as YA, adults will enjoy it as well, especially fans of Van Der Beek, Friday Night Lights, or Dawson’s Creek. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Not my typical novel, but absolutely beautiful. A moving story with great narration.

There is not a specific plot to this novel as it is about a teenager who goes through a spiritual and emotional change his senior year. That lack of central plot seems to be bothersome to many, but I found it more honest: life doesn't have a center plot, well timed twists, dynamic character foils. Life simply is. This book is about accepting all that life is, and choosing to live it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

Senior year for Colt promises to be the best time of his life, but one wrong decision ends up changing his perspective. When he becomes part of a group led by Lucas Oliver, a young man with unorthodox views about God, life, and death, will Colt open his eyes to the possibilities?

I often choose audiobooks because of the narrator, but this book is actually hindered by the popularity of the actor who reads it. James Van Der Beek is an excellent narrator, but not for this book. James is too polished, too put together for a character such as Colt. Additionally, I never quite heard Colt's words, only those read by James Van Der Beek.

The novel is too much like Dead Poet's Society to be original. The summary of the book states that it is for those who like the movie, but there is not enough that distinguishes One Night in a Thousand Years from that film. Overall, the audio version of the book is well performed, but I hesitate to recommend it to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given the opportunity to listen to One Night in a Thousand Years. The decision to review this book was entirely my own.

What a wonderful, inspiring book! The message is one that will stay with me. James Van Der Beek was fantastic as the narrator. He brought the story and characters to life. I really enjoyed the audiobook version of the book, a definite must listen!

I enjoyed this book but I felt like something was missing. I am not so sure what though. I feel like it was more of following along with the boy's life versus having a plot or more to build off of. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to listen to this audio and give my feedback. Thank you, Craig Cunningham, for writing this book. Thank you, James Van Der Beek, for narrating the book.

A bit too preachy for my personal taste with the religious aspects not well integrated into the plot which made it feel less engrossing. Nevertheless a good quick read that is well narrated

This has been touted as Dead Poets Society meets Friday Night Lights, and I loved both of those stories. I have Carpe Diem tattooed on my body because DPS was super influential on me as a teen.

But I'll be honest. I don't see it here.

James Van Der Beek narrates this and he does a wonderful job but I do think they needed to bump up the volume on this audiobook production. I had to have my phone turned ALL THE WAY up to really hear it. Part of this is because James has a very soft calming voice but the other part of this, I fear, is the production.

The story is...a bit boring. I think it's supposed to be a very simple story about teens, and I guess it's based on a true story but I just...didn't get the point. I expected to at least feel something for the characters or have a sense of nostalgia for my youth and my friends and the general stupidity and optimism for the future but instead I just...didn't.

A lot of other people have enjoyed this, so I guess this just wasn't for me.

Entertaining enough and well-paced, but hardly the new version of Dead Poets Society that it claims to be.

I’m not sure what I was hoping for from this one. Probably something more academic. Or something at all academic. Hardly Dead Poets Society territory, or really even campus fiction.

The “controversial leader” in this case is a rogue youth group instructor, vaguely tied to some non-specific church and revered by the boys who join his following because they feel he’s teaching them to think for themselves. I’m not totally certain that’s even true. And while he seems like a nice enough and well meaning guy, he definitely gives off that feel of being a misfit proselytizer rather than any sort of misunderstood genius. A stoners’ prophet, if you will.

The kids are fine, likable enough if wholly archetypal. And I truly did like the protagonist, even though everything about him is a straight out of central casting for a book like this.

The pacing is fine and the story keeps you curious enough not to abandon ship. I don’t particularly recommend it on audio unless you want to have a good laugh at James Van Der Beek making another hilariously poor attempt at a southern accent (“I don’t want your life” from Varsity Blues will haunt me forever). Fortunately said bad accent belongs to a side character here, and otherwise the narration is fine enough.

A beautiful coming of age story that I’m sure will resonate with a lot of YA.
A very honest story of how young people navigate friendships and love and is such a relatable story that I think anyone reading it will resonate with some part of the book.
I actually really enjoyed the narrator too.
It’s not a long read which is a plus too as it meant the story wasn’t dragged out any longer than was needed.

I absolutely loved the narration by James VanDerBeek. It gave it a depth that I really enjoyed. The message of the book was powerful, however I found myself not being super drawn to it like I had hoped I would. I thought it was a good read, but not an engrossing one.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

James Van Der Beek was the perfect choice to narrate this audiobook. Who better than Dawson Leery to narrate the coming of age story of a high school student?

I enjoyed the overall theme, message, and character development of this book. Some of the details were a bit too cliche, which lessened the enjoyment for me.

Also, unfortunately, I feel like the audience who could have meaningful impact from reading this is unlikely to pick it up. I wish that wasn't the case, but it is. The Colts and Jameses of the world aren't typically big readers. However, as a form of entertainment (meaning I am female and was in high school when Dawson Leery was, so not exactly the reader to become inspired), I did enjoy it.

Story- 3 stars, Narration- 100 stars, lol.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

One Night in a Thousand Years by Craig Cunningham

I listened to this as a audiobook, and I sincerely enjoyed the experience of reading/listening to this. The narrator's voice was soothing, and one of the best audiobook narrators I've listened to in a while. He managed to bring each of the character's to life and really added to the overall story. I would have enjoyed this book nonetheless, but the narration by James Van Der Beek only increased my enjoyment in reading this book.

Craig Cunningham's writing is lyrical and beautifully crafted. This story is one that every teenage boy should read, as it is a "coming of age" story that deals heavily with the struggles young boys face as they move from childhood to adulthood. We follow a group of boys as they navigate the world of highschool, love, friendship and their looming future outside of school. They come together and, with the help of the leader Lukas, challenge the century old toxic masculinity which is instilled in boys from a young age. This book offers suggestions that can help men overcome their fragile/toxic masculinity and the issues men face with their mental health- specifically not feeling able to admit they need help. This is such important subject matter for men to read and understand, and I must credit Craig Cunningham, as a man, for highlighting these issues as they are incredibly important to our society, especially in these recent years.

I very much enjoyed this audiobook and would highly, highly recommend this as it is a very interesting, informative and important book for young men to read. I rated this 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Craig Cunningham for the ARC.

One Night in a Thousand Years by Craig Cunningham is such a good story. It isn't long, but it packs a punch in the time you have with it. Colt is a senior in high school when he attends church with the girl that he has a crush on. He gets put with the other guys his age and a young man named Lucas. Lucas will teach the guys how to become men, how to think for themselves, and how to dream about the future. If you loved Dead Poets Society, then you will also love this.

A very thought-provoking and moving book. I enjoyed listening to this book a lot and I think it did a good job of deconstructing toxic masculinity.

This was a great story and the narration was great. A group of boys trying to figure out the meaning of life and getting connected through a church group of an unlikely group of people. They go through different trials and tribulations and how to make the most of the moment and learn to live.