Summary according to Goodreads;Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.
Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.
My Review: The Beginning of After was truly a wonderful story. When her family died, It was truly heartbreaking. In the pages prior to the accident, you kinda get a feel for them. But even after the accident, you get to know them as if they were living and part of Laurel's everyday life.
I suppose I should tell you exactly what this book is about.
Okay. So. This book is about a sixteen year old girl, called Laurel. One night, she and her family go to a dinner at a neighbours house. After dinner, the group decides that they are going to go out for ice cream. But Laurel and David both decide they don't want to go. The remainder of the two families pile into a car to go to Freezy's. While Laurel is home studying, she hears a knock at the door. It is a police officer. He tells her that her family dies in a car accident.
The Beginning of After is just the story of Laurel returning back to her old life and trying to make the best of it.
I did love Laurel as a character. But I did feel as if she didn't make the right decisions. For example, when she started falling for David. I just didn't feel as if the were right for each other. I also thought that Laurel was a bit too predictable at times. Same with the plot. Sure, there were some times where there were some surprising moments, but I just felt that I could predict most of the story.
Towards the end of the book, I started feeling as if the story turned into Laurel's personal diary. Too much "Today I did this, then I did this." It was sorta like she was listing the things she did, instead of the more important things she could have narrated. I also felt as if each paragraph covered a totally new subject.
I did think the book had some amazing points, and it was a beautiful message. 'You don't know what you have until it's gone." All in all, I did enjoy the book. I think everyone should read this as well.
My Rating: 4 stars.
-Adelia
No comments:
Post a Comment