3.5 stars rounded up

Colt's senior year was meant to be the best time of his life, but it takes a surprising turn when he meets Lucas Oliver, a college-aged vagrant with a shadowy past.

Over the course of the year, Lucas guides Colt and a group of eleven other senior males through a number of rites of passage as their mentor. The force of sacred questions, brave deeds, and raw genuineness test them, but the issue still stands: can Lucas' unconventional beliefs about God, life, and death be trusted? Colt's affections for Noa, a "band dork" he has known for years, grow stronger as he gets to know her through her dazzling green eyes and endearing candor.

As Colt and the gang of young men embark on their senior year's adventures, romance, and wonders, they encounter a situation that calls into question all they believe.

Unfortunately, I have never seen Dead Poets Society (I know, shame on me), but I know a little about it and can definitely see some connections. This was a sad AND heartwarming coming-of-age story that was WONDERFULLY narrated by James Van Der Beek. The listening time for the audiobook is only 4 hours, 18 minutes.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for an Advanced Listener's Copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This was a NetGalley Audio that I downloaded just for fun. It was a very quick listen and it was as deep as I thought it would be. Main characters questions left unsaid. James Vanderbeeks narration made me think of Dawson Creek and Varsity Blues meets melodramatic. The concept of a mentor for a coming of age group of teens boys was excellent, but there were areas that fell a bit flat for me. It wasn't moving to me, but the story was interesting. For an adult, it just wasn't for me, but for YA, I think it would be suitable.

"One Night In A Thousand Years" by Craig Cunningham is a beautifully evocative and deeply reflective novel that explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. Set against the backdrop of a small town, the story follows the lives of its characters as they navigate pivotal moments that shape their destinies.

Cunningham's writing is lyrical and poignant, capturing the intricacies of human emotion with sensitivity and depth. The narrative unfolds through a series of interconnected stories, each revealing the profound impact of fleeting moments and the connections that bind us. The characters are well-drawn and relatable, each grappling with their own challenges and desires, making their journeys feel authentic and resonant.

The theme of time—its fluidity and its weight—plays a central role in the novel, prompting readers to reflect on their own experiences and the choices that define their lives. Cunningham skillfully balances moments of heartache with glimpses of hope, creating a rich tapestry of emotions that linger long after the final page.

Overall, "One Night In A Thousand Years" is a thought-provoking and beautifully crafted novel that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. Craig Cunningham has created a compelling narrative that invites readers to consider the significance of each moment in their lives. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a profound exploration of love and the passage of time.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

The author refers to the book as a modern day Dead Poets Society and while listening to the audiobook I could see a slight similarity to it. Considering it is based on a true story (most likely on an incident in the author's own life), I won't comment much on the story. At under 5 hours, it was a quick book to listen to and the voice of James Van Der Beek was soothing and suited the story.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher BooksGoSocial Audio and the author Craig Cunningham for the ALC of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

I listened to the audio of this book on a long road trip. It was a combination of Dead Poets Society meets freedom writers meets Ferris Buehler. The group of men meet and discuss life and it helps propel them on a more meaningful journey through life. The characters were good and I enjoyed them. I enjoyed following their experiences in their senior year of high school. The narrators voice was so calming and smooth. Overall an enjoyable coming of age story. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher/author for the audiobook to review.

To the Publisher and to Netgalley: I reviewed this book right after I read it this winter (2024) yet it has stayed on my 'to be reveiwed' list. This is the 4th time this happened. The last time two books I reveiwed at the same time didn't make it off the list. This time another book I reviewed along with this one didn't make it off the list.

The blurbs about this book call it a coming of age. Narrated by James Van Der Beek, it is the story of a young man in his senior year in High School
meeting an older, just past college age, fellow. Twelve of the seniors fall under his spell as disciples to learn from him. And then something awful happens.
I enjoyed the book. Van Der Boek is a good narrator never delving into dramatics. He is easy to listen to. I think this book would appeal to a much younger generation than me (I'm in my 70s) and perhaps their parents. I had a similar experience when I was just out of college although there was no incident that caused a turn of events. That man is long forgotten and didn't have much impact on me.

Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to listen to the audiobook before it got archived!
I will make sure to get a copy or the audio version, myself to give a review on my socials.

One Night In A Thousand Years, written by Craig Cunningham and narrated by James Van Der Beek tells the story of Colt, a high school senior. Colt has had a good time in high school so far, and enjoys playing football with his best friend James, but after a tough start to his year Colt realizes things have changed. Colt is invited to join a church group, which he doesn’t think will be his thing, until he is put in the group led by Lucas Oliver. The group continues to grow through the year, and so do its members.
I liked learning about the characters, and seeing how they grew throughout the book. I also enjoyed that it seemed the characters learned from each other, and the book seemed to come full circle by the end. I appreciated how deep this book was, and how the book deals with tough subjects, but also reminds us to recognize what is important, and how to make a difference. I did have a little trouble with the narrator of this book and the volume/quality (was hard to hear and sometimes too quiet at max volume,) but at the same time their tone really did work for the book. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it for high school and young adult readers. Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, publisher, and narrator for an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll admit that I only snagged this audiobook because James Vanderbeek narrated it. And he did a flawless job. He embodied the character. It was like he was doing a voiceover for the movie. Flawless. I actually really enjoyed the book. I saw another reviewer compare it to “Dead Poets Society” meets “Friday Night Lights” and I have to repeat it because there is simply no better description. It was a slow burn, but in my opinion so are both of those references. It was very character driven over plot driven, which I love. It felt like a memoir…which the author says in his note that it is loosely based on his own experience in The Circle. The only thing I didn’t like is how much it steered away from God and the Bible even though it was a church small group. I felt like the author was shying away from that on purpose. Or maybe it was just because Lucas did. But in the end, I would have been like the parents wanting there to be a bit more bible in the church small group too. A man (like Lucas) can inspire and change live with his words and thought provoking quote and experiences, but really only God will change their lives. Alas, it’s not a Christian book and I also know a lot of people will think it’s too religious. But to each his own. I enjoyed it but definitely recommend the audio!

I loved this - it was Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Dead Poets Society. The narration by James Van Der Beek is so spot on perfect! There is no one more quintessential high school than Dawson Leery. Excellent - loved it!

I enjoyed the narration, but the story itself was just a bit odd for me. It took a good while to get into it, and overall was just ok.

For the first part of this audio, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to finish it. Then suddenly, I was intrigued and I’m glad I stayed to the end. It’s a beautiful story and James is just the right narrator for it. (Although I wasn’t sure at first, obviously.) If you stay with it, it will surely stay with you.

3.5 stars rounded up.

“Everything you need is already inside you.”

Had some issues with narration, while I love James Vanderbeek’s voice I typically listen to all audiobooks on 1.9 or 2.0 and definitely had to slow this down a little bit to be able to understand. Not sure, but there was kind of a raspy something to his voice that did not work at my normal speed. Also kind of put me to sleep at times if I’m being honest.

Excellent concept of a mentor for a coming of age group of teen boys. Didn’t move me as much as it did others, I’m not really into poetry nor do I claim to know much about it. I did find the story interesting and enjoyed reading about Colt and the female character, Noa, which I thought was a great name.

Would I read it again? No.

Am I mad that I read it? No

Would give the book my recommendation, especially since it’s a fairly quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced audio, copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I keep starting and stopping this it wasn't holding my attention (The narration of James Van Der Beek was keep me going back. He did a wonderful job with the narration of this book!)

I just couldn't connect with the book and just all in all wasn't enjoying it. Its a short read so I finished it but it just wasn't for me. all the reviews I've seen people loved it and I'm just sorry I wasn't one of them.

Thank You NetGalley for this audio-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I throughly enjoyed this book. It's my first by this author, and would love to read more.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of the book

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and Craig Cunningham for letting me read/listen to this beautiful audiobook.
James van der Beck has such a pleasant voice to listen to. This voice actor simply made this story come to life in such a great way. I enjoyed the seconds, minutes, even hours of this tale.

I really wanted to love this novel. I had high hopes because it's hard to find novels about male main characters. I really didn't find the novel interesting until the last fourth of the book. I don't think my students will find this novel interesting. I feel that this novel would be more suited to a mature audience instead of the teen audience.

The story was beautiful and heartfelt, and the narration by James Van Der Beek was the perfect enhancement. There were times that it felt slow, but once the pace picked up it was a really enjoying read!

This was such a well done true coming off age story. As a teacher of seniors, I was really drawn into the importance of friends to get you though life. The power of forgiveness was a prevailing, which was also well done. At times, it seemed a little like this group of boys was a little cultish, but it seems that wasn’t the case in the end. And James VanderBeek, who millennials grew up with as the voice of or youth was the perfect narrator