Blink And We'll Miss It

by Ginny Kochis

Mae Griffin’s last blink was six hundred and fifty-three days ago, when she left Minnesott Beach, North Carolina, for good. It might have been the move. It’s probably the lack of stress now that her mom is stable. All Mae knows is that her world no longer shifts. She doesn’t glimpse people from the past or fall headlong into their private moments. As long as she can go to school, keep her friends at arm’s length, and make sure Mom takes her medication, she’ll have a pretty solid end to junior year. Except stability breeds complacency, and when Mae’s not looking, life falls apart. Reeling from a tragedy she should have seen coming, Mae returns to her grandparents’ centuries-old house on the Carolina coast, to the friendships she destroyed and the stoic, dark-haired boy who makes her heart ache. Back to the blinks that plague her mental health. As Mae’s blinks ramp up in intensity and frequency, she discovers an unsettling truth. Her greatest fear is the key to healing old, brutal wounds and unearthing family secrets that sparked a bitter feud. Torn between loyalty to the friends she once loved and protection from the pain of starting over, Mae must decide if she can open her heart. Not just to the life she let go, but to the parts of herself she’d rather keep hidden. Blink and We’ll Miss It is a poignant, swoon-worthy novel about finding the strength to forgive, the courage to move forward, and the vulnerability to fall in love.

Genres: Young Adult

342 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2023

Reviews

[NinaNana]

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and deals with mental health issues realistically, yet sensitively. Mae is a teenager whose life has been upended by her mother’s mental illness. We accompany her on her journey to cope with the impact it has had on her future plans, friendships, and her budding romance with childhood friend Ezra. Mae experiences “blinks” in which she is momentarily thrown into the past and is able to uncover family secrets that shed light into her family’s dysfunction. The parentification of the protagonist and her struggle to find normalcy in a difficult situation will pull at your heart strings, but you will be uplifted by this coming of age tale of resilience, friendship, and love. This book gives major Outer Banks vibes, but is age-appropriate for the target audience as a YA book.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Carolyn]

4.5 stars

Excellent debut YA clean contemporary romance by Ginny Kochis.

This book reminded me a lot of T.I. Lowe's Under the Magnolias, another novel featuring a Southern female teen protagonist trying to hold everything together in the wake of a parent's ongoing manic episodes (with the help of a handsome, loyal, compassionate boy who loves her). That association may be what kept me thinking the setting was more modern historical despite group texts between characters. (I kept picturing the main character's parents in the 1970s instead of what would've been the early 2000s.)

The instability Lily Mae Griffin's mother creates as her mental health goes from bad to good and back again has left "Mae" running and shutting out her friends as a defense mechanism. A forced return to her family's roots exposes a history that explains her penchant for escape and the source of troubles between her family and the family of the boy she loves (dreamy Ezra) and his twin, her best friend (faithful Evangeline).

Lots of Outer Banks vibes like you'd find in Nicholas Sparks novels (think A Walk to Remember). An inspiring clean read for teens and adults. (Some underage drinking but no drunken behavior.)

[Joey Paul]

I picked this up on release day because the cover was gorgeous and I loved the sound of the blurb and I ended up reading it all in one sitting. Mae is an engaging character who pulls you into her world, and let’s you get settled in, desperate to know more about the blinks, about her family, about her fears and worries. I adored the friendships, and the ups and downs, twists and turns that were told perfectly through the story. It was beautifully told and had me hooked until the very end. Very much recommended for some great mental health rep and great characters too!

[Beth †]

3.5 STARS ROUNDED UP

Blink and We’ll miss it helped me to get out of a slump. This book was written really well, and the characters were real. They weren’t perfect, they didn’t always make the smart decisions, and they had realistic problems, apart from the blinking of course.

Evan is now officially in my top 15 book boyfriends and Van was probably my favorite character. I always love a sarcastic as much as shes sweet kinda side character.

Overall, This book was good and entertaining. I will re read it, and i would recommend it as a clean romance.

Thanks for reading! x

[Brittany McCormick]

Blink and We’ll Miss It is a coming of age adventure into the world of a young woman who deals with mental illness. The author, Ginny Kochis, has crafted a story that not only analyzes the stereotypical attitude towards neurodivergence, she has developed a character that is relatable. Kochis has formed a character, Mae, who not only shows the reader that it is ok to live and love a parent who has a mental illness, she created a character who learns to accept and love her own divergence. Mae deals with “blinks” in time which helps her to develop and understand of her past and the possibilities of her future.

Kochis also creates a family who attempts to cover up her mother’s “episodes” because of the years of conforming to societal norms pertaining to mental illness and the stressors that were placed on her teenage daughter (who has become her caregiver). Through Kochis’ craftiness, she was able to help the family become accepting and understanding as well as a way for Mae to understand what a teenager is truly responsible for.

What would a coming of age story be without a love story. The amazing author created a love story that shows an acceptance of different. She crafted a character that loves Mae no matter how much she continues to cause pain due to her neurodivergence.

Anyone who has someone in their family or who themselves could be considered neurodivergent, should read this story. Blink and We’ll Miss it is an amazing story that is heart wrenching as well as eye opening.

I have received an advance copy of Blink and We’ll Miss It.

[Leslea Wahl]

Mae has been through a lot in her 17 years. Uprooting your life and dealing with a mom who suffers from mental illness makes it nearly impossible to lead a normal life.
Following her mom’s latest relapse, Mae not only must deal with the guilt she feels for enjoying her life and missing the signs of trouble, but she’s also forced to go live with her grandparents in a little town in North Carolina—a place she didn’t think she’s ever be again. A place where she left a trail of destruction when she’d left a few years earlier.
Stuck where she doesn’t want to be, Mae reluctantly spends her summer caring for her mom, mending fences with friends she had abandoned, uncovering a mystery from her family’s past, and worrying about her own mental health.
This was a great teen novel with wonderful characters, a beautiful setting, and lots of interesting topics, such as, mental health issues, the bonds of friendships, and complicated family situations. If you’re looking for a fun summer adventure with some depth, Blink and We’ll Miss It would be one to check out.

[Zephyr Thomas]

Life rarely goes the way you want it to, and the same can be said for books. Sometimes you'll find yourself practically yelling at a character to just do the right thing, or the fun thing, or whatever it is that they're avoiding. This book is a lot like that; an emotional journey where everything seems like it's coming together nicely, the characters finally get to be happy, but then it all comes apart yet again. I won't spoil anything, but this journey is definitely worth following.
Content-wise this book is safe for older teens who are comfortable with suicide and mental health issues. The romantic elements are very tame and clean.

[Angelina Singer]

I did enjoy this fun fictional story that blended sun, sea, and awkward coming of age moments in stride. The characters were wonderfully nuanced and added so much to the world of this story. My only critique is that the pacing might have been a little faster to hold my attention more. I also would’ve liked more of a clear goal for the characters to work towards. Otherwise, I loved the unraveling of family secrets and the meaningful way the author touched on mental health stigmas and struggles. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who may be struggling with similar issues. The concept of blinks was overall well-written and creative, and for all of this, it gets 3.5 stars from me!

[Evelyn V]

Thank you Author for the ARC! I am voluntarily leaving a review. Mae is not only dealing with her mother's mental health issues but her own affliction as well. She has episodes that she calls "blinks",which take her back into the past. When Mae's mom has a particulary bad episode,they head back to her grandparents' house. Back to where she left behind her best friend and the boy that she loved. Will they forgive her for leaving without really saying goodbye? Will the fear that her "blinks" mean she is headed down the same road as her mother come true? This was an interesting read.

[Tara Bozarth]

Blink and We’ll Miss It is a story that follows Mae seeing and solving the mysteries of her family’s history through “blinks”, when she sees the past. As she navigates high school, she is plagued by worries and a sense of responsibility for her mother’s mental health, her grandparent’s relational problems, and her own tendency to push people away in order to protect herself.

Blink is honest, open and hopeful about mental illness, and they toll it may take on families and individuals.

[Becky]

I am 40 and I love YA novels. This is one that I couldn't put down! Perfect teenage romantic summer set in Minnesott Beach by the Neuse River, the characters and the setting are heartfelt with true friendship and a mix of small town and family dynamics, with just enough imagination thrown in. Truly magical. I can't wait for Kochis' next novel!

[Meredith]

Unique book that is so worth your time

Do you want a book about friendship? Because this book has a lot going on but it is so much about friendship, trusting your people and trusting yourself.

If you like YA, mental health, star-crossed romance, neurodivergent representation, small town, summer read, boats, and books that pull so much emotion, read this one.

[Jennifer Kenny]

Such a good coming of age story with representation for mental health and the reality of what that can look like for those around us. Blinks are such an interesting concept and I love the way they were incorporated! The writing is cohesive and clean which this 25 year old enjoyed!

[Patrice Fagnant-macarthur]

Wonderful Story

This YA story delves into mental illness and generational trauma with insight and tenderness. I was eager to keep reading to see how it would all turn out. I really enjoyed it!

[Kylee]

4.5 stars

[tirzah :)]

If you have not read this extremely niche contemporary fiction...what are you doing with your precious time? Our time on this Earth is fleeting, and you only live once, so while you're at it, make sure you pick up this book

[Book Lady P]

You won’t want to blink!

I didn’t want to blink so I wouldn’t miss a word! I don’t know why this is listed as teen fiction- as a 40 something woman I couldn’t put it down! The struggles felt real and the author made me feel what the characters were feeling. So much love and forgiveness. I can’t wait for the next book from Mrs. Kochis!