Wow...all I can say is wow. What a beautiful story about love and loss, life and death. I highly recommend this heartwrenching book. I think the less I tell you about the book is better in this case. Just a really beautiful story. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a gripping and emotional read! The concept of a character discovering they've been dead for seven years opens up a unique exploration of themes like grief, love, and the impact of loss on those left behind. Amber's journey to understand her new reality while navigating her family's altered dynamics adds depth to the narrative.

I enjoyed how the author used multiple points of view to tell the story as it allows readers to see how different characters process their grief and guilt in their own ways. This can lead to powerful insights into human emotions and relationships, showcasing the complexity of each character's experience.

I loved the timeline jumps as they provided a layered approach to the story, revealing the events leading up to Amber's death and the aftermath, which kept me engaged and constantly questioning who was responsible for her fate.

Overall, it seems like this book not only hooks readers with its intriguing plot but also offers a thoughtful examination of how tragedy impacts individuals and families. It's a compelling mix of mystery, emotional depth, and the exploration of life after death—definitely a story that would resonate with many readers.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Book for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

thank you to netgalley and the author for providing me with an arc of this novel!
this is a heartwarming and bittersweet young adult story centered grief, loss, and all things in between. it had some really sad parts and some really parts. the various perspectives really allowed for a fully fleshed story that was really enjoyable.

amazing, has a whole bunch of timing jumps that really capture the feeling of grief and how to let go of grief for someone who died. 4.5 stars, rounded up. tysm for the arc.

Gayle Forman novels are can't miss novels for me. While this one is more like supernatural fiction than realistic fiction, the writing and plot development make the novel well worth reading.

I've waited multiple days to write this review while I processed what I read. It reminded me of my first experience with David Levithan's "Every Day," which should give you an idea of the brilliance of this novel! I sobbed so so hard, y'all. And I just kept thinking, "Gawd, I miss my Ma." But the book helped me NOT miss her so much. And it made me think about how we DO death in this country and decide that I don't much like it. And, in the mean time, I need to make my wishes clear AND I need to thank Gayle Forman, again, for her wisdom and the gift of her writing. So, thanks. This book will be with me for a very long time I imagine. I cannot recommend it strongly enough! RUN out and get it as soon as you can. I'll definitely be buying a forever copy for me, as well as for my sister who works in hospice palliative care. It's just beautiful. ❤️❤️❤️📚❤️❤️❤️

IM not gonna lie I’ve never met a Gayle Foreman I didn’t like, and this one is no exception. For me, the story is such a unique take on grief and loss and I enjoyed every second of it.

One of my favorite young adult books, If I Stay, was written by Gayle Forman and this new story reminded me of that book. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books and Quill Tree Books for providing the eBook in exchange for my review.

The story begins with Amber riding her bike home from school. She thinks it's just an ordinary day. Everything that takes place after is, essentially, a story of loss, grief, acceptance and a bit of a mystery thrown in.

The chapters alternate between Amber, her mother, father, sister, boyfriend and others who were in some way impacted by Amber's life or death. While Amber's chapters are in the present, the other chapters alternate between the past and present. 

I was a bit frustrated with the chapters from people who were not friends or family. I didn't understand why we needed to know about them. But, by the end of this story some of these were the basis for the bit of mystery surrounding Amber's death by a hit and run driver. 
This story takes us through how Amber's parents' marriage became undone after she died, and also how her sister Melissa managed to keep Amber alive in her own way. I loved Melissa's chapters and how happy she was to see Amber.

For Amber's friends, there are some characters I wish we'd had more from - Dina and her mother Peggy. And there are some I wish we'd had less from - Casey.  I legitimately could not stand Casey by the end of the story. The boyfriend, Calvin, was just enough, but I was so mad at Amber's dad and how unfair he was to Calvin. I was glad Amber's family realized they had failed to support him while he was also grieving. 

I had so many questions as I read. I kept wondering how this was going to end. There was no way Amber was completely back, right? What if she disappeared?  How would the family move on?  Why didn't Calvin go to college? Where was Aunt Pauline? I worried how Amber's return would affect Melissa's life. 

I liked how the outside characters end up entwined in Amber's family by the end of the story.  This had a good result for Aunt Pauline.  This was heartbreaking when we find out who the hit and run driver was, why they drove away after the accident and was never found. 

The interactions between Dina and Amber affected me the most.  I was suspicious when Dina showed up to see Amber.  And even more so, when she went with Amber to find Calvin.  I suspected Dina was also dead when they were riding together on Amber's bike. The entire scene was very poignant. Their final conversation felt like their reunion was a way for Amber to apologize for the unforgivable thing she'd done to end their friendship.

Overall, this is a story about how grief and loss affect people differently. There were plenty of tears as I became emotionally invested in After Life. Especially once I realized that those who genuinely grieved Amber were the only ones who actually saw her.  This was a great read.

This book was a big tear jerker. I dont usually read books that get me sad but this one took my heart! If you ever lost someone in your life, this book will move you.

I absolutely loved this story. Gayle Forman is a go-to author, and this book did not disappoint. I enjoyed the different POVs and seeing how all the stories were somehow individual but also interconnected.

I struggled a little bit getting hooked on this book, I had to put it down for a few days and then go back to it. Forman did a great job with handling a touchy subject, the death of a child/sibling, and once I got past my initial struggle, I really enjoyed the book. Death is always such a difficult topic to tackle and Forman did it with grace and authenticity. I will definitely be purchasing this for my HS library.

Thank you #NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Book for allowing me to read an advanced copy of After Life written by Gayle Forman. #AfterLife

On a normal day just like any other Amber rides home on her bike and notices that no one is home, but something seems off everything seems cold in the house. Come to find out Amber is dead and has been dead for at least seven years. The strangest thing is that she can see her family, and they can see her. Her mom screams in disbelief, Melissa her younger sister acts like everything is normal. Amber now that she knows she is “living” is desperate to find her love of her life, Calvin. But, Calvin and the rest of the world do not believe that she is back. Shifting gears Amber decides to focus on her family and more importantly her sister. Her eighteenth birthday is about to happen and this time this birthday she will not ruin it with her death. To find out more about Amber’s story and other’s read After Life today.

Forman crafts a grippingly beautiful story about grief, death, and how even after death the memories of someone never fades away. #AfterLife

An interesting exploration of grief, the after life (especially of those left behind to mourn and grieve), and moving on. Gayle Forman knows how to build believable teen characters with their flaws, their complexities, their heart. The intrigue and mystery of what exactly happened on that fateful day propelled the narrative and allowed for the successful use of multiple points of view. I wasn't sure how it would all come together, but I was equal parts surprised and satisfied at the end.

I have yet to read a Gayle Forman book that disappoints. She has a way of putting words and ideas together in a way that is poetic. This book is a gem that takes on death and how it effects oneself and those around us.

I am a huge fan of Gayle Forman's work and this book does not disappoint. A portrait of family and friends grieving over the loss of their daughter, sister and friend. Grieving can take so many forms and is different for everyone. A great insight into grief and the way if affects those who love. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another hit from Gayle Forman! I tore through After Life in one sitting. The character development is excellent and the plot moves at just the right pace. The switching POV keeps the pace fresh and interesting. This novel raises lots of important questions about life, love, and grief and I kept coming back to my thoughts on these topics for days after I finished reading. An interesting and engaging story!

Losing a child. It's the nightmare that no parent wants to consider. Please, please, let nothing happen to my child. PLEASE.

But it does happen, and the grief, the loss, must be beyond imagining. How do we keep that child in our lives, in our hearts, active and alive even in loss? Can we control how we grieve and bear that loss?

Gayle Forman explores this topic, as well as loss through the prism of other relationships, both immediate and tangential.

These questions were front and center as I tore through After Life in two day's time. Occasionally brought to tears, I read with interest to see what would happen, how people and events might intersect, etc. I appreciated the Afterword and the author's own insights therein.

Four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of After Life in exchange for an honest review.

It could just be that I’m feeling a bit more sad today than usual but this book had me in tears at the end. Foolishly I believed that Amber was truly back from the dead. Perhaps it’s simply something I wish could be true. All I know is I was hooked in the story, in the sadness, in the hope, the regrets, in the message. With several months to go before the year ends, I can’t say for certain but this book is a clear contender for my favorite book of the year.

I cannot articulate how beautiful this story is and how much I needed it and how many of my students are going to love it. I’ve been a Gayle Forman fan since “If I Stay” and it’s always one of my go-to’s for patrons. “After Life” will be added to that list. The way the words weave through grief are both beautiful yet tragic. A waterproof mascara and Kleenex warning needs to be issued with this book. Readers will want a hot cup of tea as they shift between friends, family, first love and glimpses into what it’s like when the world keeps moving even after ours has stopped.

This book is about life after death and how someone's life and passing can affect those left behind. Seven years after she died, Amber Crane comes home like any other day. Only after her mom sees her and starts screaming does Amber realize something is wrong. Through the unfolding of events in this book, we explore how grief and the passing of someone can affect a person, whether they were close to that person or not.

This book is a great example of what the author is good at. We follow different people throughout the book and, though it can be a little confusing at times, the author pulls it all together beautifully in the end. Gayle Forman hit it out of the park once again and I would highly recommend it to everyone, especially anyone who has experienced grief. This book is in the young adult genre and is a quick read, but doesn't read too young. It's heartwrenching, complex, and makes you think afterward.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.