Book Review: The Everafter

The Everafter

By: Amy Huntley

Published By: Balzer & Bray

Publication Date: September 2009

Page Count: 248

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Young Adult - Paranormal

Have you ever wondered what happens to us when we die? I have to admit that I have probably devoted more time to thinking about that concept that I should. I feel most comfortable when I can deal in absolutes. The shades of gray make me a little queasy. I love seeing how authors choose to tackle the notion of the afterlife in their writing. The Everafter is one of my favorite books on this topic. The writing is compelling and the format is unique. It's not a novel that can be easily forgotten.

Maddy awakes to find herself in a dark void. She has no idea how she got there or how her life ended. The entire novel is told through her moments in the void and her memories. As she comes across objects from time to time in void, they carry her back into moments from her life. Maddy knows she isn't amongst the living anymore, but she has no recollection of what happened to her. As she collects her experiences - one by one - she begins to piece together the story of her life. She remembers the beautiful boy who loves her and the friends who surrounded her in life.

This is one of those novels that is hard to put down. I really enjoyed the unusual story telling and I was frantic to piece together the mystery of Maddy's death. I never could have predicted what happened to her on that fateful day. The reveal made me stagger for a moment; I didn't see that one coming. 

The Everafter will tug at your heart strings and keep you frantically flipping pages. It kept me on the edge of my seat. This novel is part love story and part mystery with a healthy dash of paranormal. This novel haunted me long after I had finished the final sentence.

One Last Gripe: It isn't a gripe, but the format does take some getting used to - it's worth the effort - I promise

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I loved everything, but I do have a soft spot for the Maddy and Gabe moments

First Sentence: I'm dead.

Favorite Character: Maddy

Summary:

Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this - she is dead. And alone in a vast, dark space. The only company Maddy has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things she lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that, with these artifacts, she can reexperience - and even change - moments from her life.

Her first kiss.

A trip to Disney World.

Her sister's wedding.

A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and frightening truths about her life - and death.