With a plot that takes place just after the main character’s abrupt and somewhat mysterious death, I was expecting a fairly dark narrative. I was not prepared for the depth of societal commentary and reflection that was developed over the course of the novel.

This felt like a long novel, one in which you can really take your time and get drawn into the lives (or afterlives) of the characters, which some teens will adore.

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed What Comes After by Katie Bayerl. It was a ver interesting premise and I enjoyed it a lot!

I could NOT put this down. I was so drawn in by Mari's journey, her tenuous relationship with her mother, the underpinings of a romance after death, and the ins and outs of what comes after. I was supremely invested and each new chapter had me hooked. An amazing read that you don't want to pass on!

Katie Bayerl’s *What Comes After* is a deeply moving, multilayered story that explores grief, healing, and the strength of human connections in the aftermath of a tragedy. This contemporary young adult novel centers around the lives of three main characters—Amelia, her best friend Leah, and the vibrant yet tragic figure, Jimmy—whose lives are intricately tied together by love, secrets, and ultimately, loss.

Bayerl’s writing is poignant and richly descriptive, drawing the reader into the raw emotional landscape that Amelia navigates. The prose is often lyrical, making the book feel almost poetic at times, yet grounded in the heavy realities of loss, betrayal, and the complex nature of friendships. The alternating perspectives in the story offer a deeper glimpse into the emotional lives of the characters, particularly Amelia and Jimmy, and make the novel’s mysteries even more gripping.

Amelia’s character development is particularly compelling. Initially, she is overwhelmed by her grief and her need to find out the truth, but as the story progresses, she grows into someone who can not only face the past but also make peace with it. The way Bayerl handles the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and self-discovery is sensitive and realistic, which will resonate with readers.

One of the novel's key strengths is its treatment of relationships, especially the nuances of friendship and love. Amelia’s relationship with Leah is depicted in flashbacks, painting a picture of a deep, complicated friendship that is far from perfect. The tension between what Amelia thought she knew about Leah and what she discovers after her death adds depth to the story, forcing the reader to confront the idea that we can never fully know the people we love.

The novel does an excellent job of showing that healing comes in unexpected forms and from unexpected people. Amelia’s journey is not just about uncovering the truth about Leah’s death, but about finding a way to move forward with her own life, to make sense of a world without her best friend.

However, the novel occasionally drags in places, particularly in the middle, where the focus shifts heavily towards introspection and slows the momentum of the plot. Some readers might find the resolution to the mystery of Leah’s death somewhat predictable, but the emotional payoff in the end makes up for it.

Overall, What Comes After is a beautifully written exploration of grief, loss, and the enduring power of love and friendship. Katie Bayerl’s debut novel is a compelling read that will linger with readers long after they’ve turned the final page, offering them a profound look into the ways in which we navigate the painful yet necessary process of saying goodbye and moving forward.

This book was really well done, it had that concept that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening with the characters. It was dark and had a message going on, I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed how everything was written. Katie Bayerl was able to create a great story and was glad I got to read this.

I'm still unsure if I really liked this. The concept gave me the good place vibes majorly but the story itself fell really flat around 50% cause we find out how Mari died and the story just kind of meanders around the actual after life place rather than the characters which is also where I felt the good place kind of fell flat as well. Plus there is an added maybe romance that I just felt like could have been left out altogether and it would have been the same book. Was a great location and the characters were good but the plot was lost and it lost me at a certain point.

The Good Place x School Spirits x the dystopian society of Divergent

i really liked this one!! the concept was so fun and well executed. there’s so many layers to this story and each one is captivating. at its centre it’s a story about healing and learning to forgive yourself and moving on. but then there’s the mystery elements like the truth behind Mari’s death, the sketchy organization running the purgatory settlement, and the rebellion brewing. the world building was super cool and i’d love to see a prequel exploring the origins of the PTB and early days of the settlement.

(also shoutout using Star Wars discussions as code for something else. that felt written especially for me)

This one was a great ride, I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved Maris voice and the humor in such a heavy topic is wonderful. I will admit, there were times where the pacing felt a bit sluggish, but overall I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC!

Hm- okay. This was a really captivating YA dystopian read but i need few days to gather my thoughts and write a proper review. To keep it simple, you should definitely try this once!

Thankyou netgalley for the arc. All opinions are my own!

#WhatComesAfter #Netgalley

It's bad enough that Mari's dead. No, she has to wake up to find herself stuck in some sort of weird dead-people suburbia slash commune rooming with her dysfunctional mother, who already ruined her life and is now mucking up her afterlife. Mari only has 90 days to improve her vibes and find peace so she can "ascend" to a better place or else she's going to be thrown out to wander in limbo forever. Or maybe something worse? Oh, and also she has no idea how she died but everyone has decided she died heroically and neither the afterlive's paparazzi nor social media are any better than the life ones.

This is a fun, fast-paced book filled with well-rounded characters who you're rooting for to find peace with their lives - as well as get to the bottom of the dual mysteries of how Mari died and what's really going on in Paradise Gate. Five stars.

Book Name: What Comes After
Author name: Katie bayerl @katiebayerl
Pub date April 29 /2024
PENGUINGROUP
My Rating:🌟🌟🌟💫

Thank you to #NetGalley and #penguingroup for the ARC of this heartfelt and darkly humorous novel.

What Comes After centers around Mari, a sixteen-year-old navigating the afterlife in Paradise Gate. She has 90 days to figure out how she died and make peace with her complicated relationship with her mother, Faye. Told from Mari’s point of view, her fight to live the dream life she never had is admirable—she’s a true fighter. The story captures Mari’s self-reflection, love, betrayal, and emotional battles, and Bayerl does a fantastic job of exploring her inner world.

While I loved the characters and the concept of the afterlife in Bayerl's world, I struggled with the pacing. At times, the story felt dragged out, and I believe a shorter version would have been more impactful. The mystery of how Mari died is a driving force throughout the novel, but I was personally disappointed by the lack of detailed explanation when the reveal came.

That said, the afterlife setting is unique and intriguing. The quirky elements, like grief scarves and vibe trackers, add humor to a story that deals with heavy themes of forgiveness and self-discovery. However, I can't help but hope Bayerl's version of the afterlife stays fictional—I wouldn’t want to experience it in real life!

Fans of Adam Silvera and The Good Place will find What Comes After a thought-provoking, character-driven story, but I think it could benefit from a tighter narrative.

What comes after by Katie Bayerl was literally a wild ride from beginning to end. We learn the story of Mari Novak as she tries to navigate what comes after death and how she died in the first place. From reliving moments of her past to making new memories in the afterlife - I was riveted the entire time!

This YA dystopian ghost story features Mari, who finds herself in the limbo of a location run by a self-improvement cult with no memory of how she got there. Even worse, she's assigned to live with her estranged mother, who failed to take care of her when she was growing up and who preceded her in death by a month and a half. Mari has always been a rule follower--a reaction to her mother's chaotic life--and she has the further incentive of ascending into Paradise to be reunited with her beloved grandparents.

However, Paradise Gate seems to be setting almost everyone up for failure. Despite the beautiful promises, fewer than half make the cut, and no one knows what happens to the rest--or to young residents of Paradise Gate who seem to be disappearing. Through her growing attachment to bad-boy Jethro, Mari is drawn into a rebel movement that promises justice and change--but spies are everywhere and she has no idea who to trust.

Bayerl draws from pop psychology and social media hype to create a nightmare world designed to entertain while bringing self-doubt and harm to ordinary people while making the rich and powerful ever more so. An unlikely heroine who discovers that redemption and change depend on working with others, Mari will resonate with teen readers fed up with social media sites that create dissatisfaction and self-doubt through endless comparison and competition. This is a story that needs to be told, and Bayerl does it with a perfect mix of mystery and humor.

In this captivating new story, Katie Bayerl brings to life—or rather, to death—Mari, a 16-year-old girl who died unexpectedly and remembers little of the tragic event. Bayerl weaves the intriguing concept of a center for souls like Mari's, suspended in limbo, and from this, a journey of self-discovery and personal growth emerges.

Mari must navigate a series of challenges to reach the longed-for heaven. Between yoga lessons, karma tests, activities that seem to open doors to romance, and her deceased mother at the heart of all her problems, this young adult novel walks a delicate line, teetering between humor and poignancy. Yet, the story’s balance is masterfully maintained, delivering a narrative that is both engaging and brilliantly crafted.