In an Instant

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

A deeply moving story of carrying on even when it seems impossible.

Life is over in an instant for sixteen-year-old Finn Miller when a devastating car accident tumbles her and ten others over the side of a mountain. Suspended between worlds, she watches helplessly as those she loves struggle to survive.

Impossible choices are made, decisions that leave the survivors tormented with grief and regret. Unable to let go, Finn keeps vigil as they struggle to reclaim their shattered lives. Jack, her father, who seeks vengeance against the one person he can blame other than himself; her best friend, Mo, who bravely searches for the truth as the story of their survival is rewritten; her sister Chloe, who knows Finn lingers and yearns to join her; and her mother, Ann, who saved them all but is haunted by her decisions. Finn needs to move on, but how can she with her family still in pieces?

Heartrending yet ultimately redemptive, In an Instant is a story about the power of love, the meaning of family, and carrying on...even when it seems impossible.

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Published Mar 1, 2020

331 pages

Average rating: 8.15

211 RATINGS

Community Reviews

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GraceBayGirl

Aug 07, 2025

9/10 stars

Loved this

I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t read the “about” just saw it was highly rated and recommended based on my last reads. I really enjoyed the story and writing style. I didn’t see the accident coming, and loved how the story was told from a spirit point of view. The questions it raises about the difference between who we think we are and who we ARE when rubber meets the road is one I’ll ponder for a while. I cried at parts, having suffered trauma and disappointments young myself. Certain parts drive home that you shouldn’t wait or pause in life but you should take risks and pay attention to details. It can all be gone in a moment and I hope with all my heart not to feel the way Finn does missing things and being angry about her circumstances.

annalee.ray

Apr 02, 2026

9/10 stars

So sad!! But so well written

Sri’s BookShelf

Apr 01, 2026

8/10 stars

“In an Instant” is a poignant read with a unique perspective… the narrator here is a spirit who is watching the events unfold after a tragic accident. Honestly, I failed to read the synopsis carefully and the narrator’s death just caught me off guard making the story even more engaging! This book is thought-provoking where all the characters are in a moral dilemma and realize nobody truly knows anybody in times of crisis. The subject matter highly focuses on love, loss and the impossible choices people make when they’re pushed to their limits. I found myself going through waves of emotion… I was smiling, fuming and tearing up. The characters feel real and the tragedy itself is palpable hitting us right in the hearts!! Overall, reading this novel has been an immersive ride. It made me reflect and feel deeply. Even the prose was good (I’ll not say great, but yeah, good!) with a well-balanced pacing that kept the story flowing smoothly. ⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

The Pooh

Mar 19, 2026

10/10 stars

Great read!!

Mary Pat Holt

Feb 05, 2026

10/10 stars

Oh my goodness, this book has all the feels. It is raw, powerful and so full of emotion. In an instant, eleven lives are changed forever. Sixteen year old Finn is dead after a tragic car accident; she keeps vigil, watching those she loves struggle to survive and make difficult choices. I will not give you the background on each character. Rather, just know that this is a moving, intimate look at what happens when a tragedy happens to a family and the choices that they make to move on. It is so well written, a great character study and a very real look at the sacrifices people make to survive. What kind of choices will ordinary people make when put in extraordinary situations?

* The day after I started reading this book, I attended the funeral of a friend's son who also died in a tragic car accident. He was only eighteen. So, I naturally kept thinking of her and her family; and what we do as mothers to protect our children and the strength we each carry when faced with unimaginable loss.