There really isn't a whole lot that Armstrong can't write, in virtually any genre.

The very fact that she combined a very sensitive topic with a mystery and somehow made it both mysterious and heartfelt make it work, is truly a talent not a lot of authors have.


I love that this kept me on the edge of my seat wondering exactly if the main character wasn't slightly unhinged herself or if she really was being bullied and pranked by those that really didn't want her there.

Truly a great stand alone read that fans of Armstrong are going to love and new fans will be glad they took a chance on.

This book was truly great. I have to admit that when I first saw that this book would involve a school shooting I was really nervous about reading it. Did I really want to read a book about such a terrible event especially in the current climate? I really wasn't sure but I decided to add this book to my reading schedule because I wanted to see what Kelley Armstrong could do with such a terrible event. I haven't read too many books written by Kelley Armstrong but I have really enjoyed the ones that I have read so I trusted that she would deliver a story worth reading. This book ended up being one of those books that are almost impossible to put down. I am so glad that I decided to give this one a try.

As previously mentioned, this book does involve a school shooting so I was really afraid that it would be one of those books that would break my heart to pieces. In some ways, I guess it did because I hated everything they had gone through but it wasn't the traumatic reading experience that I had feared it would be. The focus of this book is Skye, the sister of one of the teens responsible for the school shooting that tore her hometown apart just a few years earlier. Skye is forced to move back home with her Aunt and go back to the school with the same kids who knew her brother and what he did.

Jesse was Skye's best friend and was possibly becoming more when everything happened. His brother was one of the victims and his life is completely different than it was before the shooting took place. Jesse not only lost his brother but also his best friend when Skye's family quickly left town. Jesse isn't really sure what to think about Skye's return to their hometown.

This book was a whole lot about the characters. Spending time with both Skye and Jesse as they work through their thoughts and feelings about everything going on was very eye opening. This book was also a really well done thriller. I think I might have actually missed the fact that there was some new issues when I first read the book's summary but I was quickly caught up in the events surrounding Skye and Jesse. I had a few suspects but I was never quite sure who was responsible for all of the things going on and I found myself completely glued to the pages. I really liked how Skye and Jesse were able to reconnect as they worked to figure things out.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a thought provoking page turner filled with wonderful characters. I can't wait to read more from this talented author.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Children's - Crown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.

Thank you Net-Galley, Kelley Armstrong and Random House Children's publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I highly recommend this story. It is so much more than what I thought it was going to be. Yes I know if was about a school shooting but its so much more than that, its about what an accused shooters family goes though after the fact. There is so much more to this story. I was sucked in to this heartbreaking story and then yesterday before I finished the story I was watching the news about the school shooting in Texas and this story got harder to finish but I did. Just remember that how you treat someone will stay with them forever. If you don't know the facts don't make assumptions, don't believe everything you hear because someone could be lying and it may destroy and even end someones life but listen and try to find out the truth. This story was an eye opener for me and I hope it will be for anyone who reads it. My emotions were all over the place while reading this. I was angry, I was sad and heartbroken I am giving this story 5 stars but that doesn't feel like enough.

Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong is a must read book!!! It's filled with great characters and edge of you seat suspense. My heart broke for Skye and Jesse and what these two had to go through. Great Great Book.

Kelley Armstrong has done it again! This is a unique, powerful story about the aftermath of a school shooting. It does something I haven't seen done before using the perspectives of the sister of the shooter & the brother of one of the kid's shot who also happen to be best friends. It's written in this beautifully heartfelt way while also maintaining a wonderful mystery throughout that will keep readers turning the pages. My only issue would be the shift at the end to focus more on the romance developed than the issues at hand in the aftermath, but it was still a very enjoyable read. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy YA standalone thrillers.

It has been three years since Skye’s brother was killed in a school shooting and her family made her move away. Due to her grandmother’s health issues, she is forced to move back to the town of the shooting and attend school with some of the victims’ families and friends. What makes the move even more complicated is the fact that her brother was not a victim, but one of the shooters. Will Skye be able to overcome the hatred of the teens and adults around her? What truths will be uncovered along the way?

Aftermath is a stand-alone novel about school violence and the untold impact it has on the community. This story will pull on the reader’s heartstrings, yet the mystery woven throughout will make readers not want to put it down. Armstrong has done a wonderful job creating characters that are believable, lovable and despise-able. I recommend everyone who loves to read realistic fiction to add this to their TBR list, even if you don’t normally read young adult novels.

First off, I have to start by saying the blurb on the book is slightly misleading. I absolutely cannot stand it when that happens, though it’s not as bad with this book as with other’s I’ve read.

Jesse’s character is can be described as nerdy in the beginning. He doesn’t like getting into trouble and maintains high grades. Skye, on the other hand, is known to be a trickster, skips a few classes, but still keeps good grades.

In the beginning Jesse and Skye are around thirteen and entering the stages of their first ‘puppy love’ and a deep friendship. Then the disaster hits the local high school where their brothers attend.

As you can probably guess, for most of the book Skye is bullied for her brother’s part in the shooting. I would have liked to have seen more of the ‘before’ in order to get to know the characters better. You see glimpses of their past selves enough to know how much the shooting changed them (great characterization and growth), but not enough of Luka and the shooters to know them and get a feel for their characters.Even though Luka doesn’t have a big part in the story itself, his presence as ‘big brother’ is strong and heartfelt, and I would have loved to have seen more interaction with Luka and Skye.

A big part of this ‘school shooting’ genre I’m still seeing is no active adults (like most YA books, but you’d think with something more hardcore adults would be involved). Skye has non-active parents, an older grandmother, and a clueless aunt. Jesse has two parents that let him do anything even if they don’t approve of his actions. The vice principle and police involved in the story do nothing.

Again a major problem with YA books, the ending started to focus more on romance between the two characters instead of the serious problem they had on hand. This ‘love sickness’ really just makes the characters look immature instead of starting a good relationship.

Overall Aftermath is a good, tearjerking story that puts a lot of modern ideas into a new perspective, but could have lost some of the YA tropes and been a lot better.

Unusual perspective on a school shooting - from the sister of the shooter and the brother of the kid who got shot, who just happen to be best friends and both lost siblings in the shooting. I loved Skye and Jesse and the nuance in their relationship. I could have done without some of the thriller / mystery aspects of it - the running around into abandoned buildings and throwing oneself blindly into harm's way bit - as much of it came off as unrealistically lucky to me. There seemed to be good dose of deus ex machina in the plotting.

That said, four stars - it was a truly engaging read, and offered a new and unusual perspective on an oft-visited subject.

Wow! What a quick read! Right from the beginning I felt for the main characters and wanted to know more about what their lives were like after the shooting. I liked the mystery aspect of this book as well. I would definitely recommend giving this book a try.

Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong is a standalone YA thriller. Aftermath focuses on the fallout after a shooting at the local high school, and the affect it has on those closely related to the tragedy.

Skye Gilchrist, our heroine, is 13 years old when we meet her. She is at school, having a conversation with her friend (maybe soon to be boyfriend), Jesse. They are called to the principal’s office, and hear news that will change both of their lives; a school shooting with both of their family members tragically killed. Jesse’s brother was shot and killed, but Skye’s brother was one of the shooters, killed by the cops.

Jesse Mandal, our hero, and Skye’s friend tried to talk to Skye to tell her that he does not blame her, but she was grieving for her brother Luka, and never allowed Jesse to talk to her. Skye and her family left town shortly thereafter, and with her mother ill, she returns three years later to stay with her aunt. She dreads going back to school, rightfully so as everyone treats her like a pariah; and when she sees Jesse, she is surprised that he too would not acknowledge her.

Soon Skye will get threatening notes, videos sent to her phone, and horrible treatment from the students. Jesse never blamed Skye, as she was not at fault, and regretted how he ignored her the first day; since he was hurt that she never called or wrote to him. Jesse keeps his distance early on, but quietly follows her, as he sees her being harassed, and when she is stuck in a room at school which is set on fire, Jesse will begin to help Skye to find out who is threatening her. Their friendship and eventually romance (background only) will bring them together again.

What follows is a very tense last half of the book, as the stakes rise when Skye finds herself in dangerous harmful situations a few times. Everyone at school, including the officials blame all the threats, notes, fire as Skye being behind them, trying to get attention. Jesse and Skye try to find the clues as to who wants to harm her, and why. This was a wonderful intense mystery, and as we get closer to the end, becomes a real thriller.
I really liked both Skye and Jesse, as they were very good together. I found it a bit heart wrenching to see her being treated that way by almost everyone, especially since she had nothing to do with the shooting. I also loved Jesse’s mom who was a respected Doctor, and stood up for Skye. Armstrong touches a number of issues along the way, such as grief, anger, bullying.

The tension became even creepier as we raced to the exciting climax, with Armstrong throwing us so many curves and surprises. The mystery was so good, I was surprised to discover who and why. Aftermath was a great read, with a subject very much real in today’s world, but Armstrong made this into an exciting intense thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I suggest you read Aftermath, which was so well written by Kelley Armstrong.

I love Kelley Armstrong's books. No matter the genre or subject matter she is able to create amazing characters that you fall in love with. Given the subject matter I'm not sure this book will be for everyone, but I think it will be impactful. Along the lines of Thirteen Reasons Why.

I couldn't get into this one. I love The Darkest Powers Series, but I haven't been able to like any of Kelley Armstrong's books since. This started off promising, but then the viewpoints switched and we landed years in the future. The level of bullying mixed with a principal who was reckless was over the top, especially the big misunderstanding between Jesse and Skye which wouldn't have happened in the first place if they only spoke to one another. It's easy to predict the course of the book from where I stopped at 15% so I decided to pass on it and read something more appealing.

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. I discovered my first book by her when I was 12 years old. Now, I’m 20 years old and I can honestly say I am still a fan. Armstrong writes such riveting, creative stories—whether their genre be paranormal, thriller or even both. Aftermath was not any different. In fact, Aftermath is the absolute best thriller I have read thus far in 2018.

First off, I wanted to read this book because it was written by Kelley Armstrong buttttt I also wanted to read it because the main character’s name is Skye. That is my name! Do you understand how incredibly rare it is that I stumble across a main character with my name AND my name is spelled correctly? Yeah, practically never. So, I was sold when I realized the female protagonist’s name was Skye. I have no shame.

Let’s talk about the characters in this story: Skye and Jesse. They’re both such multidimensional characters. Armstrong did such an incredible job in developing them. These two characters are incredibly realistic and relatable. I understood where each of these characters was coming from and why they acted the way they did. This may not seem super important but it honestly is. There is nothing worse than a flat, one dimensional character.

Now, the plot. I love love love love loved this plot. We see several stories on the news about school shootings but rarely do we ever consider how the family of the shooters are treated and how they are affected. In Aftermath, Skye’s brother was part of a school shooting. He was actually killed by a police officer. This story follows how Skye’s life is forever altered as a result of the shooting. Skye and her mom moved away, but 3 years later Skye is forced to go back home to live with her aunt. Needless to say, she was not excited about this—for good reason. The kids at her high school are unbelievably cruel to her. They feel that she is a danger to everyone in school simply based off her relation to her brother.

Jesse, on the other hand, is effected in a different way than Skye. Jesse’s brother was killed in the shooting. But, what hurt worse was the fact that he lost Skye, his best friend, the same day he lost his brother. Skye moved away and never contacted him again. This caused Jesse to morph into a completely new Jesse. When Skye shows back up in town, Jesse is forced to remember the feelings of abandonment from her leaving all over again.

However, these two reunite when Jesse discovers Skye is being harassed by an anonymous person. Each encounter with this anonymous source is only creepier and much more threatening. However, Skye is also getting messages about her brother not being a part of the shooting. But, who would know that? And why would they only want the truth to come out now?

Read this exceptional book and you too shall find out the truth in regards to what happened that fateful day 3 years ago—and who is behind all of the cryptic messages. Let’s be real that’s what you really want to know, isn’t it? ;)

I thought that I would totally love this book after reading the summary, but it was different from what I thought it was going to be. It is about the aftermath of a school shooting and the effects on the families involved afterwards, but it turned into a suspense mystery thriller somewhere in the middle and I feel the the story got kind of lost in all that happened. The story is of Skye, whose brother was supposedly part of a school shooting which he also died in, who returns to the same school district 3 years later where many of the kids from her brother's former school go now. Her best friend from the past Jessie attends the same school and they reconnect, slowly but they become close again. In the meantime, Skye is being followed, bullied and terrorized about her brother's past and she id determined to find out who is behind it and why. This where the story becomes less about the victims left behind and more into a suspense thriller, YA style. The end ties up the story reasonably well but the entire story is a little unbelievable. Also, Skye's chapters from her point of view are in the first person but Jesse's aren't, which do not understand. I think it would have been so much better for me if Jesse's chapters were in first person too. Just my opinion though. It's a good story though and thanks to NG for the ARC!!!!

This read came at just the right time with the student walk outs and conversations about school shootings. Kelley Armstrong does a great job with creating a suspenseful mystery with dynamic characters that you quickly care about. Skye and Jesse are best friends in 6 th grade until they are called to the office and overhear on the office radio that there has been a shooting at the high school. Skye’s brother is involved with the shooting that kills Jesse’s brother. Skye and her mother leave town, and she is forced to return after a few years because her aunt gets custody of her. Of course would you think the sister of a killer is welcome back with open arms?

Oh man, this was amazing.

I loved Skye and Jesse. They’ve both gone through a horrible tragedy, but they’re at different sides of the event. I loved getting both sides of the story and reading them figuring out how to go forward. And Jesse’s mom was one of the best parts.

Plot wise, it was everything I wasn’t expecting. There were definitely some heartbreaking moments, but a major part of this story is a mystery and it’s absolutely delicious. There are a lot of creepy moments and I spent a good portion of the time reading wondering if everything was in Skye’s head. It was fantastic.

Overall, it was a quick read filled with tension. It had me second guessing everything and everyone and I can’t wait to read it again.

**Huge thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers for providing the arc free of charge**

I voluntarily read an ARC of Aftermath!

First Thoughts:

The first thing that came to my mind after reading the last word was; Wow. This was such a wonderful and awesome read. The first half really had me near tears while the last half was empowering. This dealt with a difficult topic while adding some action to keep the book moving. A lot happened and I'm still struggling to pick up the pieces. There were so many different emotions I felt while reading this book; so many feels. While there may have been some overly-dramatic moments, in the end it wowed me.

Goodreads Summary:

Three years after losing her brother Luka in a school shooting, Skye Gilchrist is moving home. But there's no sympathy for Skye and her family because Luka wasn't a victim; he was a shooter.

Jesse Mandal knows all too well that the scars of the past don't heal easily. The shooting cost Jesse his brother and his best friend--Skye.

Ripped apart by tragedy, Jesse and Skye can't resist reopening the mysteries of their past. But old wounds hide darker secrets. And the closer Skye and Jesse get to the truth of what happened that day, the closer they get to a new killer.

Plot:

This was about a sensitive subject but this book didn't really start until three years after the incident occurred. But in the beginning of the book there is a short moment of the day of the shooting itself, like when Skye learned of what happened.The book focused on showing us a victim of bullying and dangers of being a sister of someone who is supposedly dangerous. This was definitely a mystery thriller because someone was after Skye and things kept happening to keep the story flowing. This was such a fast paced book that I literally had a hard time putting it down. I stayed up past 3 am just because I couldn't put it down. The story literally had me captivated. Most of this book was about trying to find peace within oneself. The bullying that Skye was put through was heart-breaking and I would hate to think someone would ever have to endure that an intense bullying. Also, there were moments in this book that took you back to when Skye and Jesse were 13. And one or two times of Skye and Luka. What I would have liked was to see those past explanations in italics or a different font so I knew when she was going back. Other than that the plot was really worth reading.

Romance:

The romance was okay, though it took me awhile to adjust to Skye and Jesse's relationship. They definitely didn't click right away after being apart for 3 years. Jesse was more aloof and standoffish and Skye was more apprehensive. But as the story progressed the two formed and from there things went in their own direction. So yes there's romance and yes I'm glad there wasn't really a love triangle (thank goodness!!) but I still hated how Jesse treated Skye in the beginning. If you love someone you don't treat them the way he treated her at first (and yes I know the history!).

Characters:

I liked Skye, she was the main protagonist. She had a lot on her plate and considering what she had to endure she was really strong. If it were me I'd hate to think what it would've done to me. Jesse was an unlikable character but by the end I was satisfied with him, just wished I could've of liked him a bit more. Skye's mom didn't make an appearance really (maybe at the end?). She was a weak character to me and I think if the author would've made her stronger maybe things could've been different. Aunt Mae was interesting but she fell kind of flat to me. Some of the other characters were well placed but there's too many to name. The characters were pretty well thought out to me. I could really feel what they were feeling.

Transformation of the Character:

Skye definitely transformed in this book. She changed from some taking crap to wanting to put it all behind her and stand strong. I really loved seeing her transformation because it gave hope to all of us. Jesse transformed in this book too. I liked seeing him become someone I didn't despise. Aunt Mae did some transforming herself, though her's was less noticeable. But she changed from a distracted character to someone who was worth looking at. She kind of was uncaring in an uncanny way. Not in a way of not loving Skye but one overlooking the little details.

Description:

I loved the description in this book. I loved the eerie way the author allowed us to feel as she described some scenes. It gave the book a chilled way that really allowed the reader to feel on edge but feel safe at the same time. Ms. Armstrong had a way with words when it came to describing Skye's emotions. The bullying was betrayed realistically and so emotionally that for a moment I forgot it wasn't real.The mystery was written in a way that allowed the reader to keep guessing who was the real person behind each threat. For one moment you were sure it was this person but in the end it totally ended up being someone unexpected. So the description definitely was portrayed perfectly in this book.

Style:

This was written in first person and in two POV's (point of views). This being written in first person allowed the author to really dig deeper into Skye and Jesse's psych. I loved being in their mind and exploring their thought processes. Skye's especially allowed me to know how it felt to be on the edge of everything you loved but not being able to touch it. This being in Skye and Jesse's point of view allowed the reader to go back and forth to see different views of the story itself. I thought it was an excellent idea to use these two main characters. They really allowed the story to expand. I loved the author's writing too. This isn't my first book by Ms. Armstrong. She has a way with words that really allows the reader to get attached to the story-line and characters.

Quote of the Book: (This is an ARC this is subject to change, but let's hope not!)

"I see their expressions, and I crumple to the floor. I hear this scream, this terrible scream, and I realize it's coming from me."

Last Thoughts:

This was a fantastic read; one of my favorites by the author actually. So many feels and moments on the edge of my seat. This had me guessing till the very end. Loved the thriller part of it but also the transformation part of it too. This was definitely one thrill ride I loved to ride and sad to see the end. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author. I totally recommend that you pre-order this book; you won't be disappointed!!

I had to give this one some thought prior to writing my review. I was conflicted.

I really like the author and I found the book was extremely suspenseful.

I also don’t know that I’m ready for the School Shooting YA sub-genre that seems to be on the horizon. My initial thought was…if it’s done well it should be okay.

This largely is. The focus isn’t so much on the shooting itself, but on the aftermath (hence the title). We see the turmoil for the friends and families of the victims, as well as the friends and families of the assailants. It’s horrible and heart-rending and you realize how terrible it is for both sides involved.

But…

The story dissolves into a romance, complete with the brooding hero. And our heroine is prone to utter stupidity. A good third of the book could have been avoided if she only had a brain.

Ultimately, the book left me just a little unsatisfied as it turned what could have been strong and powerful commentary into a popcorn teen romantic suspense novel.

Skye doesn't allow herself to miss her brother Luka. Three years ago, Luka participated in a school shooting and was killed by police. Even though he never took a shot, Luka is not one of the victims. When Skye returns home and attends school with people she knew before the shooting, it doesn't take long before the harassment begins. Despite the fact that Skye had no knowledge that the shooting was to occur, nearly everyone in town blames her. As the bullying escalates, Skye needs to figure out who the aggressor is before she ends up dead.

A touchy subject given current events, but Aftermath turns into a well written mystery. I didn't love how Luka's character was handled, but I think his character makes the book slightly less painful to read. This book will appeal to both realistic and mystery readers, but may be uncomfortable for some.

With school shootings becoming all too heart-breakingly common, this novel may not be for everyone.  I will say the content is more about the aftermath (hence, the title), and focuses more on the grieving loved ones left behind.

With hints that the details of the shooting may not be entirely truthful, this book kept me turning the pages - and also because of Jesse and Skye.  Both are well-developed characters who struggle to reconnect and revive their friendship years after a horrendous tragedy.  Their relationship depicts what a strong friendship should be built on - support, humor, common interests, shared experiences, and steadfast loyalty.

Although the author offers several suspects, I guessed who the 'villain' was before the halfway point, but never really bought into this person's motives and actions. Things still seemed a little unclear when all was said and done.  The behavior and actions, or lack of action, of a couple of adult characters also required me to suspend my disbelief a bit.      

Aftermath deals with sensitive subject matter and handles it respectfully, but don't look for commentary on the politics surrounding gun control.  This is a straightforward YA thriller with an intriguing mystery.    

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.