The Night Olivia Fell

I’m not sure what to rate this book yet, and I wasn’t shocked by the reveal... but this book had my emotional pregnant self nearly in tears by that ending.

I would like to add that I liked this book more than Reconstructing Amelia.

Suggested book for an online bookclub book. Thrillers are what I enjoy and I got what I wanted. The book started with the death of Olivia. The rest of the book goes back and forth in time from the POV of Olivia and Abi, her mother. There were enough interesting plot points to keep me reading. However, was disappointed by the juvenile writing style throughout the book.

How well do you know your children? How well do they know you? The Night Olivia Fell is the heartbreaking, deeply moving story of a mother trying to unravel the truth about how her seventeen-year-old daughter fell from a bridge and was rendered brain dead. And why she did not know at the time that her daughter was pregnant.

When, in the wee hours of the morning, Abi Knight is awakened by the phone call every parent dreads, she doesn't even know that Olivia, her daughter, is not in her room, safe and soundly asleep. Abi finds herself in a nightmare: Olivia is brain dead but, as a matter of law, must remain on life support to bring her unborn child to term.

At the hospital, Abi notes that there are bruises on Olivia’s wrists and the bracelet she always wears is missing. Nonetheless, the police don't seem particularly interested in investigating the circumstances surrounding Olivia's fall and, in fact, rule it an accident. Abi will have none of it and sets out to determine what happened on that fateful night.

Abi has kept a secret from Olivia. She has never revealed the identity of Oliva's father, nor has she ever explained to Olivia what he was capable of. However. unbeknownst to Abi, a chance meeting on a school trip with a girl who bore an uncanny resemblance to Olivia, led her to her father. Determined to understand why Abi hid the truth from her, Olivia confronted him and learned for herself what kind of person he is. When Abi discovers that, prior to her fall, Olivia knew more than Abi realized, she is devastated . . . and suspicious.

Author Christina McDonald effectively employs the alternating voices of Abi in present day and Olivia commencing six months before her fall to construct an absorbing, gut-wrenching tale of a mother living out her absolutely worst nightmare. Added to Olivia's tragic demise is the issue of her unborn child -- the hellish months of seeing her daughter kept alive artificially in order to give the baby a chance at life, the unanswered questions about how Olivia ended up on the bridge in the first place, and the unknown identity of the unborn child's father. McDonald's portrayal of Abi's anguish is believable and absorbing, as is her fierce determination to learn -- despite the police department's disinterest -- precisely what happened to her child. Equally engaging is the first-person narrative of Olivia as she explains how she encountered Kendall Montgomery, the girl who looked so much like her, her growing frustration with what she perceived as Abi's over-protectiveness, and her secret relationship with her best friend's brother. Through the two threads, McDonald portrays a mother-daughter relationship with no shortage of love and care, but punctuated by secrets and resentments, as well. A relationship that, tragically, cannot be repaired because Olivia will never regain consciousness.

At the heart of the story is the mystery: What happened to Olivia on that night? What was she doing on the bridge? Who put those bruises on her wrists? And who is responsible for her death? Will that individual be held responsible?

The Night Olivia Fell is an emotionally exhausting, but satisfying story. McDonald draws readers hearts and minds into the tale from the first page and never releases her grip until the very last page of this fast-paced mystery. The Night Olivia Fell is a poignant reminder to hold our loved ones close and work daily on maintaining honesty and transparency in our relationships. Because you never know when tragedy might strike and there will not be an opportunity to set things right. It is a powerful portrait of a mother's undying love, devotion, and strength -- a strength she didn't know she possessed until she needed it to sustain her and her unborn grandchild.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.

I love this. Especially the love story. It made me actually think she would miraculously be okay at the end. The mystery itself felt more organic and real than most I’ve read so far. It was beautiful. The one part I hated was the custody arrangements and how possessive she was over her grandchild. I get helping out while he is in school but for her to say if Derek gets an apartment after he graduates he can get her on the weekends. No ma’am. He is that baby’s father and he stepped up, he should have custody. Also the way Abi described how the baby got her name makes me wonder if Derek actually had any say in the matter

2.5~3 stars
I have to take off a whole star for the last few chapters of this book. Once the mystery is solved Christina seemed to forget how to write and kept harping on like this was a therapy book.