After the Fall by Kate Hart
Raychel is BFFs with Matt who is hopelessly in love with her-- and she's basically the only one who doesn't know it.She's also trying her best to fly under the radar and NOT date high school boys. Then Matt's younger brother and her start something on the DL-- but things get in the way.
In the meantime, Raychel's dealing with financial troubles at home, a traumatic sexual experience, growing apart from several of her friends who left for college, and wondering if she'll even be able to go to college.
When a major tragedy happens, nothing will ever be the same....
This book made me so mad and I wish I could tell you all the reasons why. But I can't because SPOILERS. But I will tell you some of the reasons.
Reason A-- Raychel. As soon as I saw that this Rachel spelled her name with a "Y" I knew she was going to be annoying. And I was right. She was all up in her own head-- trying to make the reader think she "didn't want to stand out", but she was constantly playing the victim and waiting for Matt or Andrew to come save her.
There is a sexual assault part to this book, and I'm certainly not referring to that when I say she wanted to be saved. It was all these other dumb things-- like constantly hurting her ankle and getting too drunk to walk and needing them to carry her and such that IRKed me.
Reason B-- Matt. Oh my god could this boy get any more pathetic? There was nothing I liked about him. Not only was he a uptight goody-goody, but there was a storyline where he was like trying to be better about being respectful to women-- but then he didn't change anything in the end, so I don't really know what the point of all of it was except to make me think he was a bigger DOUCHE than I already thought he was.
Reason C-- UUGHHHHGHGHWKHWOIHFNJNSK!!! The spoilery thing I can't tell you about. I found it so unnecessary and all it did for me was take the only part of the book I liked and set it on fire.
So I guess this looks like I didn't like the book. See, that's where my feelings get COMPLICATED because I kind of did like this book. I liked it enough to not want to stop reading it. I liked it enough to THINK about it long after I stopped reading it. I know for sure this is a book that won't soon leave my mind because UGHHHH the spoilery things that happen are so infuriating!!!
I wasn't super impressed by the writing (like I said the characters talk unnecessarily in their own heads a lot & say things like "nothing much happened on Monday" and "StuCo"), but there was something about the story and the drama that hooked me. I also enjoyed some of the tough conversations that the characters had about consent, treating people with respect, and it being okay to be sex positive but also okay to say no when you want to.
The last 1/3 of the book felt like a very different book. There's an event that takes place and things change so drastically that I'm not sure I wanted so much story after it took place. I did like the ending though because if it would've turned out differently I would have SCREAMED. But I didn't scream, I was calm, and all was well.
I'm going to go ahead and recommend this because I do think it's worth reading. It's not boring, and I can see where some people might like the big "twist".
OVERALL: A book I liked despite being so ANGERED that I almost threw a Kindle. It's the story of 2 really annoying friends and a kick-ass brother-- and drama happens and things get COMPLICATED and SAD and UGLY. I think it's worth trying if you like Contemporary.
Date Published: 1/24/2017
How I got this book: Thanks to Farrar, Straus, & Giroux and Netgalley for allowing me to read and honestly review this book
Publisher: Macmillan Children's (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux)
Add it to your To-Read List!!
This Book Contains:
- Friendship
- Sex
- Drinking & Drug use
- Sexual assault
- A college town
- Economic class differences
- Single parent household
- Family
- Frat parties
- Consent issues
My Rating: 3/5
Character: Raychel
Book: This is Our Story by Ashley Elston- I think Raychel would relate a lot to Kate. They both live with single moms who barely get by & both are hiding relationships. Plus, this book was also a TALE OF TWO HALVES, so I'd like Raychel to feel a little of what I did reading this book :)
I think this might be the first negative review I've seen of this one! I'm sorry this one angered you so much, yet somehow still redeemed itself a little lol. I might still give this a chance because I've been on the fence about it. I'll probably wait for an ebook sale, though >.<
ReplyDeleteMolly @ Molly's Book Nook
I didn't mean for it to be super negative, but UGHH some parts of the book were super rage-inducing!! I hope you do try it-- it's definitely readable!
DeleteAhhh I know the feeling of wanting to throw my book/kindle because of a character as well! I hadn't heard of this one before but it sounds like one I might have to pass over. I'm not a big contemporary YA reader in general and it sounds like I may have the same issues as you with the character.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I feel like if you're not normally into Contemp, this probably wouldn't be a good pick for you. It's super drama-filled, angsty, and the writing was a little MEH.
DeleteI'm so curious about this one. I know I won't be reading this book but I really want to know the twist so I've been looking around for some spoilers. No luck so far haha...
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'll DM you.
DeleteThis book sounds so atrocious eeeek. Thanks so much for reading it on our behalf, lolol. The spelling of her name annoys me, too!! Is it pronounced like the normal Rachel? I swear, I hate when people do that to their names. I'd been tempted to add it previously, but I'm glad to hear it's not worth it but the idea of a college town sounds interesting tbh.
ReplyDeleteIt's weirdly interesting-- but that's mostly because SO MUCH DRAMA. I really hate when people have random Y's in their names. or double E's when there should be Y's. It's just..... why??
DeleteHaha this review cracked me up, especially the part about the Y in her name. I don't read contemporary anyway, but I imagine I'd be frustrated with these characters of I did. It's always so weird though when you have all these issues with a book but somehow you still liked it and you don't know how to explain that in your review.
ReplyDeleteOmg that Y crap is super annoying. And YES!! It's so weird when you like a book, but also hate it. I think this might have been a case of a book I LOVED TO HATE. Like I was having so much fun hating it, that I couldn't stop reading it?? Something like that.
DeleteHahaha! Every time I see the MCs name with the Y I cringe. I'm happy you still enjoyed it even through all the anger. I'm really intrigued about the spoilery thing. I want to know what it is!!
ReplyDeleteUgh the random "Y"s. Seriously, Y??? Lol. If you decide not to read the book, I'll DM you the spoilery things!!
DeleteI can't with this book. The name "Raychel" hurts my eyes. But I TOTALLY want to read This is Our Story. ;)
ReplyDeleteUh-oh! Sounds like this one might be a "skip." I'd seem it around and because of the pretty cover, was curious (I haven't read much about it). But you're review sounds like it won't be a "me book." Thanks! :)
ReplyDelete