A VERY SHORT LIST OF REASONS WHY I HATED AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER

1. Insta-romance. The characters' relationship progressed (and started, really) too quickly. Bonus points since the romance was a Toxic one! *showers book in confetti*
2. Douchebag hero. The love interest was mean, problematic, and didn't want take realistic measures fix himself.
3. Boring characters. I couldn't connect with anyone in the book, and frankly, I didn't care for any of them.
4. Plain writing. The writing style didn't have any personality, which is probably the main reason why I couldn't get into the book.

That's pretty much it! The only reason why I added .5 to my rating was because of how I appreciated the ending–it was pretty much one of the only positive things I can say about this book.

August and Everything After introduces Quinn and Malcolm who meet when they are both grieving the loss of friends in traffic accidents: she her best friend and he two band mates. In the aftermath of loss, Quinn is paralyzed by panic attacks and Malcolm substance abuse. When Malcolm invites her to play drums for his new album, she finds it the perfect summer distraction. As their relationship deepens through music and her desire to save Malcolm from his demons, Quinn struggles with sublimating her own desires to Malcolm's demands. Pressured by her mother and aunt to decide on a master plan for her future, she must decide whether to go on tour with Malcolm after they record his demo or focus on her own goals and healing. Appropriately named after the Counting Crows' debut album (1993), the book is about change and redemption and forgiving oneself.

I really loved this book. The characters were well developed, the plot was believable and realistic, and the development was well thought out and beautiful. I love damaged characters and boy, did this book deliver on that front. If you are looking for a fairy tale happy ending, this isn’t your book, but if you want something a little closer to reality, this fits the bill. I highly recommend this one! You won’t regret it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

I like music a lot, but probably less than most people? I have the same artists/bands I listen to and don't go out of my way to look for new music EVER though. I don't listen to it very much because I spend so much time listening to audiobooks and podcasts. So, I have to admit, books about music or bands don't appeal to me as much as they do other people. Either way, I loved the idea of this book because there was a reality TV concept thrown in... and the second chance at love trope.

This missed the mark for me but lots of other people seem to love it. I don't know - I didn't think that a lot happened? There wasn't enough depth to the novel, in my opinion, and I was hoping for a lot more from it.... The whole reality TV show battle of the bands premise was SO interesting but it took a total backseat to everything else. I wanted to know more about the competition, the shows, the other bands, the eliminations, the cities they toured. This book is fairly short (under 300 pages) so I feel like she could have dedicated a few more pages to exploring the actual concept a bit more.

I liked the then/now concept too; it gave good insight into their relationship and history. I didn't really ship them and honestly didn't care that much about their relationship. I can't pinpoint why! I skimmed quite a bit while reading and speed-read a lot of it. I just wasn't into it.

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It's out of character for me to read a suuuuper summery book (especially with the actual word August in it) during the month of May because I just CRAVE these on the beach later in the season. I figured I should read this one around the pub date instead ;) I've had this author on my TBR before and even own one of her books. I've been meaning to check her out so this egalley was a great motivation to get myself going. I prefer fluffy summertime books but this one involves the death of a best friend and a brooding musician (two things I really have to be in the mood for to enjoy). It's nice to hop out of my comfort zone every once in a while though... even though some books remind me why I don't do it that often.

I definitely didn't love this one. I didn't mind the writing style at all but felt zerooooo connection to the characters. There wasn't enough tension or build-up or SPARK for anyone or anything. It was all VERY rushed (romance-wise) and involved a lot of telling instead of showing. I didn't see the appeal of Malcolm (or Quinn for that matter). She did a lot of the things I loathe in a main character when the author is trying to drum up drama, like seeing something, jumping to conclusions, and running away before the person can explain themselves. There was a lot of focus on her mistakes, like feeling responsible for her friend's death and some other issues that happened during high school, but there wasn't enough depth to anything for me. It was edgier and more dramatic than a fluffy YA, but didn't have enough oomph to really feel like a darker contemporary... if that makes sense.

It was predictable in some areas, but I was genuinely surprised at the ending. It seems like the story was supposed to be about Quinn moving on from what happened and finding herself, but most of that was sidelined due to the back-and-forth romance. This ties back to my feelings on the ending: SPOILERS! After the random person named Andrew was discussed so much throughout the book, he finally showed up on the literal last page and implied some kind of relationship between them. I'm okay with her and Malcolm not getting together, definitely, but it was annoying that the vast majority of her story was about him. If the book did a better job of highlighting her changes or growth, I wouldn't mind as much... but it made romance the focus and there wasn't any "payoff" for that. SPOILERS ENDED. Don't go for this one if you don't like instalove, either. I liked the Jersey Shore setting but that's about it?

Great summer romance that you'll just love. Perfect beach read and great characters. You'll won't be able to put this one down.

This is my first YA read in a while, and man was it a great return to the genre. A coming-of-age romance with wonderful family and rock-and-roll elements, August and Everything After hits you in the feels while remaining uplifting and relatable.

I enjoyed Quinn's narration and somewhat stream of consciousness thoughts from the beginning, and her story progresses at a leisurely but still interesting pace. Doktorski strikes a balanced tone that makes sure you understand what's going on (casually explaining the many references) without condescending. I had Catcher in the Rye vibes from early on, and I loved the general everyday-ness of the plot. Yes, there are tragic elements and a few tear-inducing moments, but it's ultimately a story of growth and acceptance.

I LOVED the integration of both rock and roll and literary references. The Blue Oyster Cult cowbell reference absolutely made my day (do yourself a favor and watch the SNL skit "More Cowbell" ASAP), and brought this story firmly up to 5 stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing a copy of this book for review. I really wanted to love this book after reading a lot of fantasy and horror books lately. It was time for a change, but this was a little too far in a direction I don't really enjoy. There was an awful lot of romance, just for the sake of romance, and less character development and story telling. I feel like the synopsis is a bit misleading, to be honest. It's not something I would read again. But for anyone who loves a story soaked in romance, this may be for you.

YA contemporary romance is my favorite genre and I enjoyed the characters and their relationship development in the novel. My only hesitation is the inappropriate relationship that was discussed between the student teacher and main character (as a teacher myself I have a hard time when YA goes this route). However, it was not glamorized and the character did face a consequence from this relationship so I was able to get past that. The main focus was on her moving on and her new relationship which kept me interested from start to finish.

The cover to this book first captured my interest as its so pretty. i haven't read anything by Jennifer before (unsure if she's a debut author, but she writes like she has been for years). I thoroughly enjoyed her writing and her story. This little book was super charming and i would love to read more!

Jennifer Salvato Doktorski is officially a favorite author of mine with her incredible story of growing up, love, and choices in August and Everything After.

This novel follows Quinn as she starts fresh at the Jersey shore with her aunt. Maybe only an hour away from her home, but it feels like thousands of miles as she leaves behind whispers and mistakes she never thought she would escape. As Quinn tries to find her new footing, she finds herself falling into some old habits, but also making new friends, and learning all new things about herself. Doktorski developed this character in Quinn that is emotional and gritty. She so realistic because she makes mistakes and does things that make you question her sanity, but at the same time we are cheering her every move. Doktorski's writing was raw, like an open wound, and so pure. I will not lie, I cried on more than one occasion reading this book.

The supporting characters, Malcolm, Liam, Keke, Auntsie, and more were all these perfectly crafted, integral parts of the story. Any one of them missing would have left a huge gaping hole in the story. All formed pieces of the puzzle that came to fit together perfectly to create this amazing story. This isn't to say the writing was super complicated or anything. It was so simplistic it came out like poetry.

August and Everything After is a perfect summer read. Take it to the beach or read it on your back porch on a warm summer day, but be prepared to be emotional. I was overwhelmed with emotions of all kinds throughout this book and I was kind of surprised by the ending. It wasn't a perfect little bow at the end. It was left kind of open, but there was closure, the way life tends to be. If you love a good young adult read with a lot of meat on it's bones, pick up August and Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski. You surely will not regret it.

The author does an excellent job of providing well-rounded characters. We get to know them through their highs and lows and follow,them on their path to moving forward with their lives. The romance proceeded at a realistic pace, and it’s always heartwarming when the heroine chooses follow her best interests.

When I first read the synopsis, I had a very different picture of the book in mind versus the book I just read.
I couldn't connect to the characters at all. The romance felt rushed, it all happened too fast.
I find that instead of focusing on the issues the characters are facing, the story focused more on Quinn falling in love with Malcom. Which I didn't really sign up for.
It wasn't the fluffy kind of romance I like but it wasn't the angst-y type of book I like either. It just fell flat to me. Which is kinda sad since I was looking forward to it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a quick read, but not very enjoyable for me. There was a whole lot of issues happening in this book. It was quite exhausting, You were thrown right into it. The first chapter the main characters and meet and had some cute banter, but it just felt too rushed to me. You're still trying to figure out what exactly transpired in the past, and instead you're thrown directly into a romance.

Quinn, the main character, came off quite prickly and I had a hard time connecting with her and her attitude. I probably liked Malcolm slightly more. Some of the side characters were enjoyable.

Overall, it just felt too rushed, packed with way too many issues, that I found hard to get through. This didn't work for me, but will probably work better with others.

A great read for the summer with lots of angst. I enjoyed the musical references to the 90's. A fast, realistic, contemporary read.

August and Everything After. Man, this book takes you on a ride. I was super into it when I first started reading, and then it tapered off a bit, but drew me back in pretty quickly.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I had a great feeling about this book as soon as I read the synopsis and saw the beautiful cover--I know, I know, we aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but c'mon! Look at this beautiful cover, I couldn't help it🤷🏼‍♀️. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. I wanted to know what happened the day Quinn lost her best friend in an accident. I wanted to know what Quinn's life plan would be after the summer. I wanted to know what would become of Malcolm and Quinn. I simply wanted to know every possible thing. So, naturally I tore through these pages voraciously.

First off, let's discuss Quinn's growth throughout this novel. Quinn matures beautifully. Through making new friends, opening up, and allowing herself to heal Quinn is finally able to come to terms with Lynn's death. When we start this novel, Quinn is in a bad place. She is living with her aunt for the summer as a means to escape a scandal back home. Quinn has also just begun to wear a pair of her grandmother's old glasses when the story starts. Then, by the end of the story Quinn has removed the glasses--she isn't hiding anymore. Honestly, there are a few symbolic things Quinn does to let go in this book, but I won't spoil them for you.

This story isn't simply a romance nor is it simply a coming of age novel nor is it just a book about healing. This book is all of those things. Jennifer Salvato Doktorski does a phenomenal job of writing a book that is simply about life. This book is full of friendship, humor, love, heartbreak, healing, forgiveness, and self-love. It's a lot like a Sarah Dessen novel where romance is not the main component of the story, but one of many facets of the narrative. Everyone should read this book!

The title alone sold me on this book. As a Counting Crows fan and a child of the 90s - I had incredibly high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I didn't particularly like either of the characters (and had an especially prickly reaction to Malcolm). This book forced me to take a step back and possibly admit that I might have aged out of the YA genre. I didn't have the patience for these characters or how they dealt with their issues. I didn't connect with their feelings or their personalities. In the end, it was a DNF for me at 30%, and time to take a real look at how my reading tastes have evolved.

Sadly this book just wasn't for me.

It focused a little too much on the summer romance, and not enough on the main character really finding herself. Nothing really happened for her until the last quarter of the book. Until that point, she was just too worried about the guy and 'helping' him. When she should have been working on herself.
I will say that I did really enjoy learning about music and how certain things happen in the music business.

This is a quick summer read about two young people that have had their fair share of bad luck. Finding each other at the right moment might save them or ruin them.

I enjoyed some aspects of the book, having a female lead as a drummer for a band is pretty uncommon but the drugs and alcohol seemed to cheapen the story. I am happy that the ended happened they way that it did and but having her mom and aunt act the way they did felt illogical.

Loved this book!
Quinn was an awesome character. She was complex and interesting. Her aunt was also very cool.
I loved the guest characters such as her mom, sister, and friend.
Malcolm was an interesting character as well. He has deep rooted issues that rear up and cause issues for him and Quinn.
The music element made this book though. Seeing Q and Malcolm mesh when music was involved was bliss.
The fact that they both had a similiar past issue was good because it gave them a firm topic to lean onto each other.
Of course all books need that dramatic plot twist and this one had it. I did not like this one though. I felt each character overreacted to the extreme and made it just a tad bit hard to enjoy or relate to.
I loved the ending. I will read more by this author.