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Book Review of The Beginning of After

The Beginning of After
amywarren avatar reviewed on + 36 more book reviews


I enjoyed how this novel was very similar to real life. I understand that it is a contemporary YA but most novels that have a young protagonist faced with death often hurry up the grieving process by inserting romance. This book didn't have that. It took Laurel forever to begin to move on from the death of her family and I believe that that was incredibly realistic.

However, when I read, I want to be taken into a different kind of world. I felt like Laurel's relationship with Joe and with David was too much. It was like she didn't even know what she wanted but she kind of did at the same time.

There was no conflict. Just an event that happens in the beginning of the book and the aftermath with Laurel's friends, school, and the remainder of her family.

David was annoying to me. It was almost like he was playing the sad card but was really just trying to use Laurel and her grandmother.
Joe was just a filler....

This book was ehh to me. I felt like it was a good topic but too heavy on the grief and no plot line.