Review: Blink Once by Cylin Busby

Blink Once by Cylin Busby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




Source: Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:
West is a high school senior who has everything going for him – until an accident leaves him paralysed. Strapped down in his hospital bed, moving in and out of consciousness, West is isolated and alone. Until he meets Olivia.

Olivia is the girl next door – though not the typical girl next door. She is in the hospital room next to his, and before long, she’s sneaking into his room to talk with him. Only Olivia seems to know what he’s thinking, and even dreaming about. Yet certain questions haunt him: Why is Olivia in the hospital? And how is she connected to the terrible dreams he’s been having? But the biggest shock of all comes when West must face the possibility that the girl he’s fallen in love with – and who’s done more to aid his recovery than anyone else – may not even be alive.

Blink Once is a moving and clever story that managed to stun me and left it's impression on me as well. For a fairly short book there is a lot of story, and I liked going into the backgrounds of the two main characters. It has a lot of depth.

Considering that most of the book takes place while main character West is lying in a hospital bed drifting in and out of consciousness the pace never drags or feels like nothing is happening. I liked the shifting between memories, dreams, and real-time action, which gave the narrative a bit of variety, and made finding out about what happened to the characters more interesting.

I especially love how quirky and resourceful Olivia from the room next door is. West at first is determined to be depressed and miserable, but Olivia refuses to let him feel sorry for himself. The couple develop a great bond and are able to be really vulnerable with each other.

Because West can't talk, Olivia is the only one who makes an effort to find a way to communicate with him. While others are busy making decisions for him- Olivia takes the time to ask West what he would like. As even his closest friends don't know how to react around him and gradually stay away, West and Olivia rely on each other more and more heavily.

Blink Once is a beautiful love story between two fragile and damaged characters, West and Olivia, in the last place you would expect to find it- a hospital ward. With a twist I never saw coming, I was thrilled and moved by this book- I really enjoyed it.