You know when you’ve read one too many thrillers/ horrors in a row and need a tear-jerker to break up your ‘who killed who?’ streak? Jodi Picoult never disappoints.

I could honestly feel the stress spots starting to break out on my face when reading Nineteen Minutes. I couldn’t put it down.

Don’t be put off by the size of this book, it’s worth every Nineteen Minutes (I’m sorry) of your time.

The plot:

On the morning of 6 March, Peter Houghton walked into high-school and started shooting.

This book is split into two parts – the first jumping between different narratives and periods of time to give us an understanding of why someone could commit such a crime.

The second part delves into the trial for Peter and this is when it gets really intense. It’s a very harrowing read, especially when shootings have happened before in American high-schools. It shows how little things can build up and the effect this has on others.

We meet additional characters and their circumstances, but everything links back to Peter. Themes like bullying, revenge and family are weaved in to make Nineteen Minutes a book to really make you think about your actions.

From my point of view, I definitely couldn’t read this book if I had a child. It hit me right in the feels and I just scroll through Instagram watching videos of cute kids doing silly things like giggling at bubble wrap being popped.

The second part of Nineteen Minutes is really when the book comes alive. I probably sat gawping for like Nineteen Minutes (I’m sorrrryyyyy) before I rushed through the pages to see how Jodi Picoult was going to do this.

“I just had to put it down for a moment and breathe”

There were times when I’d get goose bumps reading this book; I could honestly feel them in my toes, and I just had to put it down for a moment and breathe. Jodi Picoult has outdone herself here.

Bookmark That. Now. Or in Nineteen Minutes (that’s the last one, I promise).

Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult, RRP £8.99/ £14.99 (paperback/ hardback); Waterstones