An enjoyable read as Autumn is forced to face a miracle that happened in her life although she cannot figure out why it happened to her. She as the one survivor of a train explosion and doesn't understand why. She has spent a year trying to figure it out and finally faces it a bit more head on when she begin to receive letters from the child of one of the victims. This causes her to explore her purpose and to become closer to that family.
I would recommend this for a good read as it is easy to read and had to put down.
"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review, the review is my own."




More from the author can be found at http://katieganshert.com/

Wow. I’m not sure I have the words to adequately review this novel. I knew from the outset that this would be an emotional read, and indeed, it held my heart in a vice throughout—sometimes squeezing to the point of wringing tears, occasionally releasing unexpectedly with a moment of levity, but mostly, holding it in a sure and firm grip. And yet, as I sit here now, absorbing and reflecting on what I have just read and the emotions I have experienced, I feel this strange sense of peace, as though I can breathe more freely, more deeply now than I could before. And I think that’s exactly how Autumn and Paul felt at the end of this novel too.

I love the opening line of this novel: We rarely know when death will come. It perfectly sets the tone for the story and for the weight of grief that burdens both Autumn Manning and Paul Elliot—except in the case of Autumn Manning, the grief is not one of loss, but survival. Why, of all the people on that train, was she the lone survivor? She no longer feels like she belongs in the land of the living, which only deepens her sense of guilt. Surely, as the lone survivor, she should be making her life count for something.

While Autumn is struggling to deal with the past every day, Paul Elliot refuses to dwell on it—or to let his twelve-year-old daughter Reese dwell on it, either. While it may have been Autumn’s story that initially drew me to this novel, I found myself drawn ever deeper into the story as the layers of complexity to Paul’s story, and therefore Reese’s, were peeled back, one by one. I could feel every bit of the tension between Paul and Autumn, even before I fully understood all of the reasons behind it, and yet the way they began to connect was also so real, so authentic.

This novel is a powerful illustration of two truths that run contrary to human instinct: Firstly, that nothing good comes from hiding the ugly, and secondly, that God is good, even in the midst of unfathomable tragedy. This is certainly not the first story to tackle these truths, but it is one of the few that will linger in my memory as having helped me experience those truths for myself.

A powerful and compelling read!

Life After was a great and fast read. My attention was drawn to this novel by the beautiful cover and an invitation from Waterbrook & Multnomah to be part of the Launch Team for Life After that, after reading the blurb, I simply could not decline. And the novel didn’t disappoint me!

What I really liked about the novel was that the bombing and the consequences weren’t just an excuse for a dramatic love story. Instead, the love story was just a part of the greater story about guilt, forgiveness and family. The love story seemed very natural to me and wasn’t too dominant. Also, the characters were relatable and amiable. The side characters didn’t just fulfil stereotypical roles, but were real and complex personalities.

And the story avoided the cliché of someone converting to Christianity, which I really appreciated. The protagonists’ faith was very authentic and inspiring.

All in all, Life After is a great Christian novel and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading Christian fiction. It’s probably the best Christian novel I’ve read so far!

The exploration of the aftermath of a life-changing event is at the centre of Life After: A Novel by Katie Ganshert.

Life After: A Novel, tells the tale of two protagonists a year after a train bombing that irreversibly changes and links their lives. The story alternates between the perspectives of Autumn Manning and Paul Elliot and their attempts to move onwards beyond the incident. Autumn is the sole survivor of the incident that struggles to let go of the past, despite wanting to move forward with her life. Paul on the other hand, is the spouse of one of the victims of the bombing. Unlike Autumn, he is content with the past to remaining in the past but is constantly dragged back to face it.

Autumn and Paul's respective journeys is riddled with complications stemming from family, work and even themselves. This provides a realistic aspect to the story that makes the story relatable to real life. Additionally by using two protagonists that are similar yet different, it allows a contrast that mirrors the different reactions different people would have when facing such a scenario, which accentuates the realistic aspects of the novel.

For those that are not Christian, there are many religious references in this novel. For me (a non-Christian), this element added to the characters' backgrounds and identities that influence their growth throughout the novel. Those that do not want any religious references in their stores, this book may not be the one for you. Needless to say, the Christian aspects of the novel does not detract from the story.

Life After, is an enjoyable read that has hooked me in through its exploration of the concepts of purpose, hidden truths, and the unanswerable question of why things happen. Those looking for an emotional story, interesting characters and a plot with a surprising amount of twists will enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Blogging for Books and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review at no charge

Recently, I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Life after: a novel by Katie Ganshert, and I am glad to have read it. It touches on so many emotional keys: loss, life, survival, Christianity, reclaiming your life after trauma, PTSD, survivor guilt, grief over the loss of parents, siblings, children, relationships. It addresses truth and being true to yourself, looking at yourself and others with honesty. Basic opening premise: A blast has ripped apart a commuter rail train and all but one life is lost. Autumn faces her life in hopelessness, feeling she cheated death and should have died too. A year after the explosion, lives collide, lives change, lives touch and do not implode.
The feelings, reactions, trials and triumphs feel very realistic. Katie Ganshert has written a stunning book which stays with the reader, as I have been reflecting its impact on my heart for over a week.
One of the most stark feelings I dealt with while reading this was a girl whose mother died on the train. Because I lost my mother to death as a preteen, vicariously it enabled a certain amount of healing to occur in my own life, as my loss happened at a time when there was no grief counseling.