This book was such an intense book!! This book is really the definition of a Thriller! I could not put down! Had me at the edge of my seat!! Yikes!!

I added this to my TBR list mainly because I was first drawn to the cover. It's gorgeous! I also loved the description- it seemed like a thriller/mystery mixed with parental love and hidden secrets, and I cannot resist that kind of emotional and mysterious read!

This book is told in alternating perspectives between Olivia and her mother, Abi. It is also told in alternating timelines, obviously, because Olivia is currently in a coma. As the story of the past unfolds we learn about Olivia's world and what happened in her life leading up to the fall. How her old friends and new friends all become suspects in her "accident" and how the secrets her mother kept from her may be the reason she is now laying in a hospital room brain dead and pregnant.

As Abi investigates her daughter's life she realizes, despite being a helicopter and overbearing parent, she really didn't know her daughter at all. She begins to realize her obsession with keeping her daughter safe and her refusal to tell Olivia about her own past, may be the cause of Olivia's sneaking around, getting pregnant, and ultimately her future inevitable death.

This was a great read. Every character was well developed and it was easy to follow the well written plot by author Christina McDonald. By the last page, I found myself satisfied with how it ended- plausible, believable, and not over the top.

This was my first read from the author, but I look forward to reading more from her! The Night Olivia Fell will be available on February 5, 2019 in the U.S. so pre-order now! A solid 4 star read!

Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket books and author Christina McDonald for allowing me an egalley to read and give my honest review.

Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review. This is available for purchase February 5th.

I'd rate this 3.5 - 4 stars. For mystery/thriller material, it was really good. The characters had depth and unlike a lot of similar books, I cared about them. Olivia, the daughter of a single mom, falls and is in a coma. Her mother is on a hunt to discover who did it. I found the relationship between Olivia and her mom to be especially touching and very well written. I had a lot of different theories about the book as I was reading and while one of them did pan out to be true, it wasn't until the end that I for sure figured it out. I rated it what I did because there were a lot of different avenues the story could take and I found that a little frustrating. After about 3/4 of the way through, I just wanted to get on with it and figure it out. Will be a great beach read this summer.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Christina McDonald for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - 5 stars for a book I couldn't put down! A debut novel? Can't wait to read more from this author!

Abi is a single mother to teenage Olivia. She's always been overprotective due in part to issues she had growing up. When she gets a middle-of-the-night phone call saying that her daughter has fell off a bridge and is brain dead, Abi is devastated. But when she finds out Olivia is also pregnant and she sees bruises around her wrist, she knows that it wasn't an accident as the police said. She decides to investigate on her own to find out what happened.

Told in present day time in Abi's voice and in Olivia's in the months leading up to the fall, this is a book filled with secrets, suspense and, above all, emotion. Both characters are easily relatable and I found myself glued to the pages to see how it would all turn out.

Highly recommended!

For those of you who like lies and secrets and dysfunctional families and stupid women this book is for you! Also for those of you who are not disturbed by lack of credibility.

There were multiple evidences of incredibility, so I’ll only cite one. The man who impregnated the woman gave her a [generous] check to have an abortion. She decided not to have the abortion, but instead used that money to support herself, go to college and buy a house! Really? I have no idea how much abortions cost, but I don’t think even a generous check would cover college plus living expenses plus a house. Oh, and then there are the expenses of childbirth and 3 or 4 years of feeding, clothing and caring for the child before she can qualify for a job.

“Wooden” would be a good description of the characters – and with no character development. The main characters were like the Stepford wives. They played their part in the story without any depth nor any personality.

In defense of this novel, it was well written in that it was difficult to put it down. I guess it’s the meaning of today’s buzzword “compelling” in reviews. Also the premise is first rate and the ending is satisfactory. There are lots of red herrings.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Gallery Books, in exchange for an honest review.

A mystery about the fall of 17 year old Olivia told from her perspective before the fall that made her brain dead and her mother's perspective after, this book is more than just a mystery. As a mother, this book made me cry. It made me reflect on my own daughter and the unbreakable love I have for her. I cared so deeply about these characters and this story both broke my heart and filled it with hope. I will definitely be recommending this book to people. I think it will appeal to wide range of readers.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! I was constantly second guessing what happened to Olivia. Told from the point of view of mother and teenage daughter- you really see how different each mind thinks and what goes into a mother/ daughter relationship. We loved this novel and can’t wait to share this one with our readers!

4.25-4.5 STARS

“The Night Olivia Fell” is a suspenseful, intricately woven tale that lays out the events leading up to a young girl’s mysterious death. Boasting a myriad of secrets and lies, this story takes the reader on a complex journey of discovery. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the journey’s ride, I had arrived at the destiny long before the final stop. Still, solving the puzzle early on, did little to dissuade my overall enjoyment of this book. With an intriguing premise and strong, multi-dimensional characters, “The Night Olivia Fell” is an emotional, gripping story you won’t soon forget.

My first thought when I read what this book was about was—do I really need to reread Reconstructing Amelia? This is basically the same story. Turns out yes, yes I do. Because I loved it.

The overall idea of the two books are very similar. A tragic event happens to the daughter and only child of a single mother. The mother, completely shattered and full of rage and questions, goes on a quest to discover the truth about what happened to her daughter. That is, however, where the similarities end.

I read The Night Olivia Fell in one day on vacation. It was so fast-paced that I couldn’t put it down. And yes, I took it to the ship’s sports bar with me one night so I could read while my husband watched sports—don’t tell me I’m the only one who does that. 🙂 It was impossible to put down.

Whenever I read from Abi’s point of view I came close to sobbing and my heart broke. Her whole life revolves around her daughter.

This is a very emotional read. It shifts from Abi’s point of view after the fall, and Olivia’s point of view before the fall. It’s heart-wrenching. It’s painful. It’s so good.

The characters are very well-developed—every one of them. I knew this book would stay with me for a while because I could feel all their emotions, their thoughts, their actions. I wanted to hug Abi, bring Olivia back and honestly just live in this book for a bit while I processed my emotions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 shinning stars!!!!!
A gripping and emotional story told from two alternating perspectives: Abi’s narrative is told in a present day, after the accident (or not an accident??) in which her daughter Olivia falls from a bridge and becomes brain dead. Abi not only has to face the horrible news of her daughter’s accident but she also finds out that Olivia is pregnant!! Now, Abi faces two questions that she desperately wants answers to: who is the father of the unborn child and what really happened to Olivia? Olivia’s narrative is told in the few months leading up to her fall from a bridge. We learn about Olivia’s troubles in love, in her relationships with her friends, and in a relationship with her mom. We learn how Olivia finds herself in a very difficult situation and how she decides to deal with everything she learns during her search for her real father.
This book was very emotional for me! As a single mom raising a young daughter I felt Abi’s frustration, anger, sadness, and agony of dealing with her daughter’s horrifying situation. I wanted the same answers that Abi wanted. I understood her will to find out what really happened, and not giving up even though there were so many things playing against her.
I loved everything about this book, starting with a beautiful cover!!! I was emotionally invested in the story from the start. I mean, the beginning of the book got me already crying ugly, and I am not going to even mentioned my state at the end of the book (**sigh and sniff**)! I loved both Abi and Olivia with all their little quirks and imperfections. The author did a great job in pulling me into the story with the beautiful writing and the shifting suspense. There were times where I was suspecting almost everyone in Oliva’s life of having something to do with her fall, and up to the end I was changing my mind about who could be the culprit of Olivia’s tragedy.
I would love to read other books from this author, and I hope to see a new book from her very soon!
Thank you NetGalley, Christina McDonald, and Gallery Books for an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. This was a real treat!

I belong to a few FB groups for book lovers and after seeing so many great things said about this book, I had to read it and see what the buzz was all about. And for those that recommended it, a BIG thank you!

This doesn't happen often with me but this book was SO good that I read it in one day!

Abi Knight gets the phone call that every mother fears. There has been an accident and her daughter Olivia is at the hospital. How could this be? Abi, who is a single parent has taken every precaution to safeguard her daughter's well being, some would even say including Olivia, to the point of being overprotective.

When Abi gets to the hospital, her nightmare begins. Not only is Olivia brain dead but she is also pregnant. Can't be!! Olivia is a good student, has many friends, and never drank or did drugs. And in Washington, life support can't be turned off when a woman is pregnant.

The police aren't investigating because they have ruled Olivia falling to her death at the ZigZag Bridge to be a tragic accident. But Abi notices that Olivia has bruises on her wrist that resemble finger marks. She doesn't accept this as an accident but foul play and she needs to find out the truth.

The story alternates from 6 months prior to the accident and to the present day.

Not only was this a suspenseful read from beginning to end, it was also very emotional. The author's writing style will have you feeling every emotion that Abi is dealing with. I thought I had it all figured out when I was 1/3 into the book, but not even close! I could not put this book down!

Love, lies, betrayals, secrets, pain, guilt and a mother's need to know to be able to say goodbye.

A captivating read!!

Posted to GR 01/28/19: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2683134379
Will post to blog 01/30/19: http://cmashlovestoread.com/?p=19836

The Night Olivia Fell opens with a mother’s worst nightmare - waking to the news their teenager has been in a terrible accident! The investigation is going nowhere and Olivia’s time is running out. Have the secrets of the past caught up with them? Was Olivia pushed off the bridge? Christina McDonald weaves a gripping story with twists and turns that keep you reading. I do not want to share any spoilers but will say I thought I knew what happened but was wrong, and then turns out I was wrong again! I would highly recommend this book! I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

What do you do when a parent's worst nightmare happens to you?


Abi Knight is awoken just before 5 a.m. with a startling phone call. Her daughter, Olivia, is at the hospital and she needs to come immediately. When she arrives she finds out her daughter had fallen off of a bridge and is brain dead; however, she's on life support because she's pregnant. Abi didn't know of her daughter's pregnancy and she thought they had always told each other everything.

When Abi was younger, her mother committed suicide and she was always left wondering why her mother did it. She doesn't want her grandchild to wonder the same things. Why did Olivia fall off that bridge? More importantly, who pushed Olivia off the bridge? Abi knows her daughter wouldn't have committed suicide and it wasn't an accident.

As Abi unwinds the secrets of her daughter's life and her own, she'll be left with more questions than answers. The Night Olivia Fell is a quick thriller that is perfect for a cozy day sitting inside during a snowstorm or sitting on a beach in the summer.

3.5 stars
Abi has given everything over to raising her daughter. She's changed her career, shied away from dating and keeps in close touch with Olivia throughout the day. Despite their close relationship and Abi's protective measures it quickly becomes apparent that Olivia had her secrets.

Christina McDonald's debut novel <b>The Night Olivia Fell</b> hits the ground running from the very first page. Abi is woken in the middle of the night with the most horrific news. Her daughter Olivia has fallen from a bridge and is in serious condition. To her shock, she learns that Olivia is pregnant and will remain on life support until the birth of her child. As the weeks go by she is alarmed by increasing evidence that Olivia's fall was no accident. The police do not seem to be investigating the case. Abi sets out to get answers drawing on whatever resources she can. One of the most endearing parts of this novel is that it is in this time of sorrow and devastation that Abi finds her strength. She seeks resolution for her past and perseveres to overcome her insecurities.

This was a quick yet somewhat predictable read. I guess I was expecting more twists and turns out of this suspense novel. But I have to say that <b>The Night Olivia Fell</b> makes up for that with the family drama. The mother-daughter relationships in this novel really pull at the heart strings. Would I read another Christina McDonald book? Most definitely.

<i>Special thanks to NetGalley, Gallery, Threshold Pocketbooks and Christina McDonald for an advanced copy of this book.</i>

I loved The Night Olivia Fell! What happened to her was quite a mystery; did she actually fall, was she pushed, did she jump on purpose? And why did it happen? These are questions her mother definitely wants answered! And when the find out that Olivia had secrets of her own, the puzzle deepens. So many suspects, from her high school boyfriend, to her best friend, to someone else Olivia might have been intimate with. Very well developed characters, and intriguing questions, made this book a must read for me! I highly recommend it, and thank NeyGallery for the chance to read it.

A heartbreaking story of losing someone to soon. Abi Knight, mother to Olivia, is woken in the night about her daughter. This is every mothers biggest fear as she soon finds out that her daughter has had an accident and is brain dead. To make matters worse the doctors are telling Abi that Olivia is pregnant so she is unable to be taken off of life support. As she is sitting by her daughter in the hospital she brings to the attention of the doctors and nurses that there are unnatural bruises on her wrists.

As time continues by it seems to Abi that no one on the police department is really taking the case seriously. She also realizes that they have dropped the ball on the investigation by not searching for her phone, computer or digging into any of the days leading up to the suspected murder. Abi takes it into her own hands with the help of Anthony an investigator from Seattle to uncover what really happened to Olivia.

Abi Knight soon joined a club that she didn’t sign up for. She was living the worst nightmare that no parent ever wants to face! She received a call in the early morning advising her that her daughter was in an accident. An accident? What kind of accident? Abi thought Olivia was in her bedroom fast asleep. After all, Abi drank a couple glasses of wine the night before and crashed, so why was this doctor calling her about Olivia. Abi is hysterical and confused. She jumps up and heads straight for Olivia’s room and sure enough she isn’t there. This had to be some sort of mistake, right? Abi calls her sister Sarah and they head to the hospital.

When the doctor meets them, Abi learns that the daughter she knew and loved isn’t quite the same. She fell from a bridge and was found brain dead. No, not a coma, but absolutely no brain activity whatsoever. Meaning, she’s never going to wake up ever again. She’s dead. And to make matters more difficult, Olivia is pregnant. The doctors were not permitted to turn off life support, due to the laws in their state. So, in order to bring Abi’s grandchild to term, Olivia had to be kept alive. Once the baby was born, unfortunately, Olivia would expire—although she was already that.

On one hand Abi didn’t care about the baby. She just wanted her baby to get up and be her regular teen self—getting ready to be a senior and soon head off to college. This is not how she envisioned her child. Now she learns her child is with child. What the hell? All she knows is there’s been an accident. How did Olivia fall from the bridge? Why was she there? Was she alone? Did someone push her? Was this really an accident?

As the reader embarks down this dark road with Abi Knight, your heart will break right along with hers. You will find your pulse quickening as Abi demands answers as to why her baby is on life support and pregnant. What will soon be revealed is that there are several liars in this story. There were so many lies being told that you’ll be hard pressed to figure out just what is the truth. McDonald did an exceptional job in throwing so many red herrings in the story. I had about six scenarios going, and I’m proud that my first scenario was the correct one, along with a few surprises that I didn’t see coming.

This novel was so exciting, I read it in a day and a half. Hot damn this was such a good read! I loved it! I urge you to download this book as soon as it is ready for sale. You will NOT be disappointed. What an amazing group of characters and what a tangled web they all weaved! Simply incredible story. Wowww!

Loved this book. Will add Christina McDonald to my list of favorite authors . Great psychological suspense novel told by mother and daughter. Kept me guessing and I was surprised at the ending. I liked the way the epilogue brought closure to the story.

This is a great read for young adults looking for a book they can't put down. A lot of suspense and very relatable!

The Night Olivia Fell is a novel of a mother and daughters emotional ups and downs. The mother lied to protect her daughter. Her daughter lied to protect her mother and her friends.

Abi received a phone call no one would ever want in the middle of the night. Her is in the hospital in a coma brain dead and pregnant. All they can say it was an accident. Olivia fell from a bridge. Why would she have been there? Who have been with her? Who is the father of this unborn child? Who has Olivia become? Christina McDonald has weaved a beautiful spider web of a story with suspense, mystery and emotional turmoil. I truly love how she captured the process of learning to grieve, love, and letting go, so the living process can begin.#thenightoliviafell #netgalley