Phone calls in the middle of the night are never a good thing. And for Abi Knight the phone call turns out to be the news every parent dreads receiving. Her daughter, Olivia, has been in an accident. She was found at the bottom of a bridge, bruised and broken.

The doctors say she is brain-dead and must remain on life support until her baby is further along. Baby? How could she not know her daughter was pregnant? And why are there bruises on her wrists?

The police may have ruled this an accident but Abi will go to hell and back to find out who did this to her daughter. And in doing so secrets are exposed, lives will never be the same.

Told with Olivia's voice from the months leading up to her supposed accident and Abi's voice in current time with some bad past secrets coming to light as well. And when you start spilling secrets, not everyone is on board.

This was one of the most heartbreaking and suspenseful books I've read in a while. I kept going back and forth with the characters. None of them were all bad or all good. They were your neighbors and their teenagers, people you've known all your life and yet how much do you really know your own family? We think we are protecting them but the secrets and lies always come to light and it always is painful. 

This story will grab your heart and won't let go until the last page. And even then, I still had hope.

Very Well Done!

Netgalley/February 5th 2019 by Gallery Books

The beginning of the book felt predictable and the conversations felt forced, but I was intrigued by the mystery at the center of the book and really wanted to know what happened to Olivia. As the book went on I realized that I felt the each character introduced was OBVIOUSLY the murderer, but then I realized they can't all be the murder. At this point I was captivated. This is a great beach read, which I did do; read it at the beach in one sitting.

This was a great book! Many times I thought I had everything figured out, and there was yet another twist thrown in. It was very well written and held my attention the entire time!

I enjoyed The Night Olivia Fell. A mother’s worst nightmare but her will and determination for justice all collide in this light suspenseful drama, that kept me on the edge of my seat . The ending was so depressing even though I knew what was coming.

I could not put this book down - several times I thought I knew the ending and just had to keep reading to see if I was right - the characters were so likeable (even the ones not meant to be) - this author takes you straight to the heart of the characters and you see the story through multiple lenses - looking forward to more by this author

I truly enjoyed this book. I was a little concerned at first because it goes back and forth between Mom and Olivia telling the story but I was pleasantly surprised on how easily it flowed. I found the story heartbreaking and also heartwarming if that makes sense. I will look for more by this author and recommend this book to others. It was definitely worth the read!!!

“Whatever, whatever. I’m here forever”

4.5 ⭐️ Stars for this read. I could not put down this book. Make sure you have tissues handy, and don’t finish reading it around anyone! The characters are relatable, flawed and real.

Abi is a single Mom to 17 yo Olivia. She is keeping a secret, thinking she is doing the best thing in protecting Olivia. Olivia is for all purposes, a normal 17 yo girl. But she has questions she needs answered. She unexpectedly meets her ‘double’ randomly and a lot of her questions come to surface. As the mom of a 17 yo daughter, I can so relate to the mother/daughter dynamics, and the school drama. When Abi gets THE phone call no parent ever wants, it sets her world spiraling.

Although, I found some parts of the story predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the author’s writing. This book is so much more than just a mystery, it’s a love story...between mother/daughter, sisters, and young love. The ending ripped my heart out!

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley got this digital ARC. Opinion is my one. I look forward to reading this author again.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was a great, page-turning novel. It's a heartbreaking drama and a thriller at the same time. You know from the first pages that a 17-year old girl has fallen off the bridge and there was foul play involved. Her mother is on a quest to discover the truth, though the police seem to have written her and her daughter off. The daughter lies in a hospital, brain-dead, but kept on life support because it's discovered that she's also pregnant--which no one seemed to know.

There's a sizable cast of characters who could be guilty. I liked how the reader was able to see multiple possible resolutions for this case. You have to keep reading to see which one is correct. I also found it chilling that this young girl led a pretty perfect life: a straight-A student athlete, no drinking or drugs, close to her mother, followed all the rules. And yet we find a number of people who could have wanted her gone for various personal reasons. It reminds you that no matter what you do, you can't escape your fate and there's no prescription for how to lead a perfect life. And that's rather scary.

There were a few places in the novel that were less than perfect: a couple coincidences that I think would have been better re-worked and some suspect police procedures that seem hard to believe would have really taken place the way they did. But overall, this is a great read, full of mystery and intrigue as well as an examination of relationships between parents and children (especially mothers and daughters) and how hard it is to always do the right thing. Highly recommend.

Olivia's mom received a call notifying her that her daughter was in an accident. When she arrives at the hospital, she finds that Olivia is on life support with no brain function. She is also informed that Olivia is pregnant. With her world shattered, she tries to find out the truth about how Olivia fell and discover who is the baby's father.

This book is told through alternating viewpoints in the past and the present. The ending was rather predictable, but I still enjoyed the story.

I received this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to Gallery Threshold Pocket books, and to Christina McDonald for this opportunity.

4 stars

I would call this one a domestic drama or domestic mystery novel with a healthy dose of YA. Though not categorized in either of of my top two genres, I requested it from Net Galley based on all the great reviews. It was the right move.

The Night Olivia Fell is an impressive debut adult novel by author Christina McDonald. Olivia has died (not a spoiler—it’s in the blurb). Was it an accident as the police quickly rule or was there something more sinister at play? It’s up to Abi, Olivia’s protective, introverted mother to determine what happened, as the police do not seem interested in the case.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Olivia in the months leading up to her death and Abi in present time. The novel features an excellent twisty plot filled with intrigue and emotion. As the story unfolded I became more and more immersed. I have not often used the word “beautiful” to describe a mystery novel, but it is befitting in this case. We see how far a mother will go to protect her child, attain justice for what happens, and how to let go. Watching Abi evolve was almost as compelling as the mystery itself. The penultimate chapter and the touching epilogue brought tears to my eyes. The author leaves us feeling inspired and hopeful.

In the crowded field of domestic drama stories, I believe this is one worth seeking out. Highly recommended for everyone.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Gallery Books, and Ms. Christina McDonald for an advanced copy of the book. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

The Night Olivia Fell is a fast, easy read with a gorgeous cover. It is also utterly predictable.

It does have a really interesting premise: Abi's seventeen year old daughter, Olivia, is pronounced brain dead upon arrival after a late night mysterious fall from a bridge. Abi, whose entire life revolves around Olivia, is shattered by this--and then, just after she's told of her daughter's death, she finds out that Olivia is pregnant.

So...what happened to Olivia? Immediately, Abi realizes that what happened to Olivia was no accident, and then it becomes a question of who made Olivia fall? And why?

The cast/suspects are predictable; the male characters are all handsome helpers or possible/probable monsters. Female characters fare little better: the adult women are all devoted mothers or you know, not devoted mothers, the teen ones all have Issues. Everything is very, very urgent and supposed to be tension filled, but the plot is sadly as predictable as the characters, right down to the final "showdown" and misty-eyed epilogue.

Olivia is the most interesting character in the book--the problems she wrestles with are a little more nuanced and the dilemmas she faces, while overlaid with the frantic edge of "This is Drama!!" work because Olivia is a seventeen year old dealing with all the drama that leads to her supposed fall.

Having said all this, I do think that Christina McDonald has promise-the plot might be obvious, but it isn't ridiculous, and with more balanced characters this would have been a much more compelling read.

Oh my goodness, YES and FINALLY! Yes, this is a must read and finally for a book that is truly great from start to finish. It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel as it really has every element of a great read that you need. The plot is gripping and I found myself emotionally connected to the story and the characters.. Each character was beautifully portrayed and realistic. It is also refreshing to read a book where the alternating perspectives of storytelling do not become complicated or confusing.

As a mother, I found the relationship and story between Olivia and her mother beautiful, tender, and heart wrenching. And the journey to the conclusion of the story was exciting, gripping, and emotional. You will not be able to put this one down!

Thanks NetGalley and Gallery Books....amazing!

Positives - short chapters with alternating points of view were really effective for pushing the narrative forward, making for a compelling read. Overall the plot/mystery was attention-grabbing and downright heartbreaking.
However, the dialogue was juvenile between both adults and teenagers, and I had real issues with the Abi character- she was full of nonsensical contradictions, and while I'm all for an unsympathetic narrator, I'm not sure it was intended with Abi - sometimes, she'd jump to insane conclusions out of nowhere, and other times, she would be utterly dense - potential spoiler warning - how is she the ultimate helicopter mom yet doesn't know her daughters' boyfriend's last name?!!?!? Overall, the lack of depth or motivation to each character (i.e., why is Madison so pathologically jealous- because both her parents work?) and the constant lying and misunderstandings between characters was more reminiscent of a 70's sitcom than a compelling plot device, and got tedious after a while. I was definitely motivated to see it through to the conclusion, which was a little too rushed, and somewhat force-fed, though the last few pages were quite beautifully done. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.

Emotionally charged and sharply written with suspenseful twists and turns, Christina McDonald’s debut THE NIGHT OLIVIA FELL is a winner out-of-the-gate! A complex, heart-wrenching tale, resonates Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, Karen White, Heather Gudenkauf, and Sally Hepworth caliber, with a story-line that could be ripped from today's headlines. Dark family secrets are unraveled!

This intense domestic suspense will grab you by the heart from the first page to the last. Prime for book-to-movie adaptation (we can only hope) while we anxiously await the next book from this newfound talented author.

"How far will a mother go to find the truth and justice for her daughter?" They said it was an accident. Her mother knows they’re lying. But the truth comes with a price…

Set in the fictional town of Portage Point, Washington, we meet Abi Knight— a single mom who works hard and guards her daughter like a mother hen. Possessive at times, she wants to keep her teenage daughter, Olivia safe and offer her the best.

She and her daughter are incredibly close. However, what lies stand between mother and daughter recently? Each seems to be hiding their own family secrets.

When Abi receives the phone call (every parent dreads), that her teenage daughter Olivia has been injured, she is scared and upset. There has been an accident. A suspicious fall from a bridge.

Furthermore, Olivia is now brain dead and must remain on life support, because her daughter is pregnant. She has suffered permanent and irreversible brain damage.

Pregnant? How could this be? How could a mother with a close relationship with her daughter not know she was pregnant. She would be a grandmother. Who is the father?

With all the shock of Olivia’s fall from a bridge, she also discovers this may not have been an accident. There will be a police investigation. Due to the bruises on her wrists, it appears there was a struggle. Could someone intentionally pushed her to her death?

What was the motive? Is there something more sinister at play? She was found at the bottom of an embankment near the ZigZag Bridge. Who would want to do her daughter harm?

The author slowly unravels the past of Abi and why she is so protective. We also hear from Olivia and the events leading up to the fall.

Abi: “The thought came fast, an ugly surprise. I set my teeth against it. I’d worried for so long that all the lies I kept hidden on the dark side of my heart would one day be washed into the open. These lies, my past, kept me always on guard.”

Olivia had always been a natural child sunny and sweet, an easy teenager. She was not a party gal. She was a straight-A student. However, lately the events leading up to the accident, thinking back, she had seemed distracted, temperamental, and irritable.

Olivia: “A dark horror slid into my heart. I’d always trusted my mom. Trusted everything she said, obeyed everything she told me to do. I’d never thought twice about questioning her. But now I felt that trust disappearing like evaporating mist. If she could lie to me about something fundamental as this, what else had she kept from me?"

Abi knew Olivia had questions about her real father. However, it was too risky to come clean with this information. Little does Abi know, Olivia has discovered things on her own about her father. Things which could prove very dangerous.

Abi searches desperately for clues.

Could it be the father of the baby or someone from Abi’s past who has harmed her daughter? Did Olivia know too much? Who wants to guard their secret? The silver charm bracelet Olivia always wore was gone. In its place was a string of black and purple bruises.

Written with compassion and lyrical prose, an acutely observed family drama of the devastating lies, secrets, and truths of a mother and daughter relationship—combined with bone-chilling mystery suspense. A heart-rendering and compelling tale of motherhood and loss, of grief and hope, and resilience. I loved this book!

I enjoyed the balance between mystery and heart. Emotional and moving. In today’s world, with all the violence and unrest, it is nice to add a bit of heart and soul which keeps readers coming back for more. The best-laid plans and the extreme risks people take to save those they genuinely care about may not always prove to be the best.

For fans of Lisa Jewell, Heather Gudenkauf, Sally Hepworth, Karen White, Jodi Picoult, and Diane Chamberlain (some of my favorites)! Highly recommend. My Top Books of 2019 list and Feb Top Books List.

A special thank you to #GalleryBooks and #NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of #TheNightOliviaFell

Upcoming

JANUARY
Stay tuned for a book giveaway contest (1 of 1) autographed print copy of THE NIGHT OLIVIA FELL coming January 2019. US only.

FEBRUARY
An exclusive behind the scenes Q&A Elevator Interview with the exciting debut author, Christina McDonald, coming February 2019.

My Initial thoughts after reading:

5 Stars +++ What makes this novel DYNAMITE is the powerful human and emotional, psychological mother/daughter side which will bring tears to your eyes. Stunning and beautifully written which does not read like a debut.

The setting is very atmospheric! On a personal note, I LOVE the Puget Sound area setting and have many fond memories I will cherish for years to come. I have visited many times and one of my favorite cities. From the charming bed and breakfast inns in Seattle, Pike Place markets to the romantic and quaint cottages by the sea in Puget Sound plus the historic area of Snohomish, WA with its great antique shops. (attended a beautiful farm wedding there recently).

I have no words and am stunned. Christina: You are one talented lady, and when this hits the shelves it will be a New York Times bestseller, I have no doubt.

In the meantime readers, get this gem on your pre-order list. Bloggers, a must ARC #Netgalley request! It hits all cylinders and everything I love in a good book. So excited to tell everyone about this newfound author!

The story begins with Olivia’s fall, and it takes us forward from that moment, but also takes us back into the layers of the story. Chapter by chapter..... one dedicated to Olivia’s story, and the next to Abi, her mother. Its always been just Olivia and her mom, who has always said her dad was dead. But then Olivia notices some of the things her mom has said don’t match up....so what is the truth? Thus starts a change in Olivia as she starts to try to unravel the facts, and into a danger zone that she is unaware of....who does she trust and believe....as she loses the trust she has always had in her mom. Is her father who she thinks it is? Abi wants to know why the police aren’t investigating like they should be......and so she starts tracing Olivia’s actions herself in order to find out who wanted to harm her daughter? I loved this book, and it brought me to tears. The story is heartbreaking when following the journey’s of both Olivia and Abi to the tragic results. Definitely recommend this book to other readers. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, the author and publisher in return for an honest review of this book, which this was.

This book tells a story that is what I would think is every parent’s nightmare. Finding out your child has been injured and not know how it happened would be heartbreaking. This single mother took it upon herself to find out what happened to the daughter she carefully raised and tried to protect throughout her 17 years of life. She encountered many stumbling blocks along the way as she discovers the daughter she loved, was trying to be more independent and made some questionable choices which is typical with teens her age.
Story is told from different characters points of view and flowed nicely. I had trouble putting it down.

This book held my attention and felt suspenseful throughout. I really couldn't predict what had truly happened to Olivia and was pretty surprised to discover the truth. This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be my last!

I loved this book so much! This one kept me guessing until the very end, it had me on the edge of my seat. Then by the end I was crying. I will definitely buy a copy when this comes out next year and I will recommend this to everyone!

Olivia has fallen off of a bridge and her mother, Abi, wants to find the truth of what happened. Especially when she finds out that Olivia is pregnant. Did someone hurt Olivia? If so, why? These questions and more are what Abi is seeking answers to throughout the book - followed by twists and turns Abi and the reader don't see coming.

My favorite aspect of The Night Olivia Fell is that it is told through the eyes of Abi in the present and Olivia in the past. This makes the book interesting because the reader is able to follow along not only to get both perspectives on this mother-daughter relationship but also the facts about what happened before and after Olivia fell. The lies and secrets McDonald weaves throughout the past and present made me want to keep turning the pages. I found myself trying to piece together all of the information to find out what had happened. However, the ending was still a shock to me when the final pieces of the puzzle became unveiled.

The family secrets and teenage drama in this book is the perfect combination for a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Christina McDonald brings a parent's nightmare full circle with this taut thriller. Abi Knight gets that late-night call that all parents dread, a call telling her that her only child, Olivia, was found beneath a bridge. Olivia is pronounced brain dead, but she's also pregnant. Both are shocks to Abi, who is determined to find out what happened to the young woman she thought she knew so well.

The author brings this story to life through carefully constructed narratives alternating between Abi and Olivia. The intertwining shows the life of a teenager on the cusp of womanhood, and the struggles of a mother barely hanging on.

Did Olivia fall from the bridge? If she was pushed, who did it? Who is her child's father? So many questions, and just as many secrets. Both Abi and Olivia kept so secrets, some of which can no longer stay hidden. If either had opened up to the other, so much pain and heartbreak could have been prevented.

"The Night Olivia Fell" is a fascinating novel about relationships, secrets and the pursuit for truth. I'm so glad I discovered this author and this intriguing novel.