This book explores the themes of grief, forgiveness and learning to live again when your whole life changes in a split second. When a car crashes one night, the devastation that ensues will affect so many lives. Those that were in the crash, their families and the wider community. After a party, a group of teenagers are being driven home by their friend Harry. First on the scene is Pete McKinnon, and for the rest of his life he will be haunted by the images he sees. Harry is physically unharmed, but the three remaining passengers all have life changing injuries, and indeed, one will not make it. As the families try to piece together the events of the night, the fractures in their friendship group seem irreparable. Harry is wracked by guilt, and feels that his life is over. When he accepts a charge of careless driving so as to spare his friends the ordeal of a trial, he feels that his custodial sentence is not punishment enough. The parents of Jess who have to make the horrifying decision to turn off their daughter's life support, cannot allow one another to share in the grieving process. It seems that they have not only lost their child, but also each other. But when Fran visits Harry in prison to confront him with her anger, this is the beginning of a healing process that sees her move from rage to acceptance and finally to forgiveness. This is not an easy read, but it is beautifully written and has an important message. Forgiveness is not an easy thing to offer someone who has changed your life irrevocably. But in order for life to mean anything, it is essential to your own wellbeing that you at least try.

There is a lot of food for thought between the covers of this novel; it certainly made me re-think a few things. On their way home from a party, five young adults are involved in a horrific crash. This is the story of the fallout which follows, and how it affects not only the occupants but also their families in the wider community. A thoughtful and considered story, this one ate me up. Showing both sides of the picture following a car accident, it's hard to decide who to sympathise with the most. Is it the injured or their families? Caroline Bond has covered every eventuality and emotion and, although there is no need to choose 'sides', my empathy swung first one way, then the other - and back again, several times. This is very skilfully crafted; I became engrossed very quickly and the characterisation is terrific. I could easily imagine each and every one and, in several cases, compare them to those I know! A very different kind of tale, but an excellent one, beautifully written and all-encompassing. I had no idea where it was going or even what the ending would be, but I think the author worked it out perfectly. I wouldn't change a single thing. Emotionally packed and strangely uplifting, this is one I would recommend, especially to everyone seeking that something different in a book. I'm delighted to give One Split Second 4.5*.

You are really going to need a box of tissues at hand with this one as it is really sad. This book shows how quickly life can change, one minute laughing with friends as driving along, the next and someone is dead, other injured. This plays out so well what happens afterwards, not just medically but in the way the friends and their parents cope with what happened, anger,guilt, lucky, it runs the whole range of emotions. The characters are all very well written so that you feel you know them, mostly I had sympathy for them but now and again they sounded mean or spiteful, especially Harry’s dad, think it is a sign of a well written book when you do get so involved in who the characters are and what makes them tick. Would recommend this book.

One second is how long it can take to say yes or no to another drink. One second is how long it can take to make a decision that could ruin or brighten your life. One second can change everything. That's what five students find out when they are driving home from a party one night and their car crashes. Horrifically. What follows are the devastating consequences that impact not only them but their families and the local community too. Caroline Bond writes a story about grief, broken bonds, anger and hurt while also touching on some childhood trauma. My heart broke for each and every character because they had all been affected. Some more than others, but there was no single character who was left untouched. I sympathised with some characters when other characters couldn't. I was conflicted at times because I felt some of them should have been there for each other but they couldn't because they were so consumed by their hurt, they were blinded by it. As the story progressed, the questions that ran through my mind, which I think Bond explored really well, were: Who is entitled to the most hurt? The most anger? Are any of them? Who am I anyway, to even answer those questions? Thank you @netgalley for this arc. IG: @minaal.reads

I found this book very captivating and intriguing. I thought the idea of book is such good topic as something that affects maybe people’s lives and gives you insight what would feel like to be in situations similar. I found that the start of book made you never want to stop reading you just Cling onto every word. I thought was great way to open this book. I also like how book was so nicely written as was lot going on, however because was written so perfectly it wasn’t confusing. I found was very easy to follow and didn’t struggle to keep up. This book has just right amount of description that you can imagine it and feel like your there, without getting bored or lost in long description. I just thing this book is so well presented and put to together that definitely well worth a read. This is touching story and real journey to go on with the family and victims of the crash.