✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“The Future is unwritten. The Pattern is less forgiving.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ With a tagline like The past doesn't haunt us - it hunts us, it certainly delivered in that aspect. And while the idea behind the time traveling concept was not too original and a bit convoluted at times - ie difficult to keep up with - the concept of The After Hours, itself was an intriguing notion, one which I'm curious to see how it will play out in the next book. 🥺

Yes, it does end on a cliffhanger. And what a cliffhanger it was. 😟

“. .. you can end up hurting them or yourself or both, because you just feel this immense need to be one with them. Your soul longs to be in one place.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The odd thing is, though, that the writing was very --- not campy, but pulpy. Like it read like a pulp thriller I would be watching a teen flick, where the action and dynamics move at such a swift pace that you have to literally keep up with the hasty momentum of it. 🫣 The first person perspective also had something to do with the unnerving feeling I had - not to mention how hasty and impractical, if not impulsive decisions nineteen-year-old Sloane Becker made at times. 'Everything comes at a price.' Not that I blame her, considering how she was suddenly thrust into this strange and unpredictable change to her life, but still... There was like this crazy insane rush to the dialogue and interactions that I felt like I was watching a movie in descriptive detail. 🍿

Odd explanation for the writing style, but that's how it came off at times.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Despite its length, it was also a very quick read. It helped because literally the time jumps and the time skips were where the character development was taking place, centering from Sloane's graduation night - an unforgettable, but cataclysm night with her best friend, Tom, that led to major turns of the story, her mysterious meet-up with the cute intern, Eric at her father's law firm - 'The things I do for you, Sloane Becker.', and her stumble into a world of Lunai and Jumpers, with a crazed huntress on the loose, desperate to wipe out Sloane as not only her victim, but her prey, as well. She was --- a character... 😥 But, the reason behind her behavior was also interesting - one swayed by how we cannot escape time, how we long to control it, for our own sake. It doesn't excuse her deranged behavior, but it ties into how she was losing something that made her become the person she was... A lame excuse, in theory, but it is something to think about... 🤔

“Sun-singed skin.
Star-filled skies.
Fluttering leaves on a warm breeze.
Sprinkles of balmy raindrops.

I could have stayed in Eric’s transitional state forever.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ We do have an interesting cast of characters introduced, but I don't think they've really become fleshed out enough to make me care enough for them, or feel their threat enough. as more mysterious details about themselves were slowly brought up as the story progressed. Eric and Tom, even Justin were likeable characters, but I'm not yet at the point to see what part they'll play in Sloane's future. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 Sloane, herself was a protagonist who was too easily swayed by her emotions. I thought it was interesting how easily she accepted how she was granted the power to manipulate time, and how conveniently the story simply became about this whole other world she never knew about - power-hungry for her newfound capabilities and deciding for herself what was best. 'I knew I had to be really careful moving forward. But I’m hungry for that rush.' Her actions were fueled by her intense emotions, which was unique, but also at times, very rash, which made me dislike her a bit. She sometimes comes off a bit rude and emotionally unpredictable, but her heart seems like it is in the right place. 🙆🏻‍♀️

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I think where the story excelled was how it depicted how precarious meddling with time was. How we can have multiple versions of ourselves existing in one plane and that in itself is enough to dissolve the past-present- and future. Sloane's desperation to ease the pain of past events, without remorse or resolve for her own self, was a double-edged sword. It was hard to sometimes discern the difference between which timeline the characters existed in, but in the end, it was clear that things have changed - for the worse. What only matters now is how exactly Sloane will come out of it that makes me only slightly curious as to how it will play out. 😥

Oh, and kudos on a stunning cover, definitely played a part in alluring me towards it. 🤌🏻

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“The Future is unwritten. The Pattern is less forgiving.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ With a tagline like The past doesn't haunt us - it hunts us, it certainly delivered in that aspect. And while the idea behind the time traveling concept was not too original and a bit convoluted at times - ie difficult to keep up with - the concept of The After Hours, itself was an intriguing notion, one which I'm curious to see how it will play out in the next book. 🥺

Yes, it does end on a cliffhanger. And what a cliffhanger it was. 😟

“. .. you can end up hurting them or yourself or both, because you just feel this immense need to be one with them. Your soul longs to be in one place.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The odd thing is, though, that the writing was very --- not campy, but pulpy. Like it read like a pulp thriller I would be watching a teen flick, where the action and dynamics move at such a swift pace that you have to literally keep up with the hasty momentum of it. 🫣 The first person perspective also had something to do with the unnerving feeling I had - not to mention how hasty and impractical, if not impulsive decisions nineteen-year-old Sloane Becker made at times. 'Everything comes at a price.' Not that I blame her, considering how she was suddenly thrust into this strange and unpredictable change to her life, but still... There was like this crazy insane rush to the dialogue and interactions that I felt like I was watching a movie in descriptive detail. 🍿

Odd explanation for the writing style, but that's how it came off at times.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Despite its length, it was also a very quick read. It helped because literally the time jumps and the time skips were where the character development was taking place, centering from Sloane's graduation night - an unforgettable, but cataclysm night with her best friend, Tom, that led to major turns of the story, her mysterious meet-up with the cute intern, Eric at her father's law firm - 'The things I do for you, Sloane Becker.', and her stumble into a world of Lunai and Jumpers, with a crazed huntress on the loose, desperate to wipe out Sloane as not only her victim, but her prey, as well. She was --- a character... 😥 But, the reason behind her behavior was also interesting - one swayed by how we cannot escape time, how we long to control it, for our own sake. It doesn't excuse her deranged behavior, but it ties into how she was losing something that made her become the person she was... A lame excuse, in theory, but it is something to think about... 🤔

“Sun-singed skin.
Star-filled skies.
Fluttering leaves on a warm breeze.
Sprinkles of balmy raindrops.

I could have stayed in Eric’s transitional state forever.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ We do have an interesting cast of characters introduced, but I don't think they've really become fleshed out enough to make me care enough for them, or feel their threat enough. as more mysterious details about themselves were slowly brought up as the story progressed. Eric and Tom, even Justin were likeable characters, but I'm not yet at the point to see what part they'll play in Sloane's future. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 Sloane, herself was a protagonist who was too easily swayed by her emotions. I thought it was interesting how easily she accepted how she was granted the power to manipulate time, and how conveniently the story simply became about this whole other world she never knew about - power-hungry for her newfound capabilities and deciding for herself what was best. 'I knew I had to be really careful moving forward. But I’m hungry for that rush.' Her actions were fueled by her intense emotions, which was unique, but also at times, very rash, which made me dislike her a bit. She sometimes comes off a bit rude and emotionally unpredictable, but her heart seems like it is in the right place. 🙆🏻‍♀️

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I think where the story excelled was how it depicted how precarious meddling with time was. How we can have multiple versions of ourselves existing in one plane and that in itself is enough to dissolve the past-present- and future. Sloane's desperation to ease the pain of past events, without remorse or resolve for her own self, was a double-edged sword. It was hard to sometimes discern the difference between which timeline the characters existed in, but in the end, it was clear that things have changed - for the worse. What only matters now is how exactly Sloane will come out of it that makes me only slightly curious as to how it will play out. 😥

Oh, and kudos on a stunning cover, definitely played a part in alluring me towards it. 🤌🏻

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yoooooo! This book is out of bounds! Set in California in and outside of our time Sloane has acquired the ability to move throughout time but has no idea where this ability came from. There is a magic sanctuary, a love struck, heartbroken, crazy villan, and a soft love story. This is all sub context to the non stop action! It was like reading something from the Marvel Universe! AND THE ENDING!! The ending was not expected, not what I wanted, but it was accepted. It definitely left my jaw on the floor! Maybe a book 2 on the horizon??

I devoured this book in one day...I couldn't put it down!

Thank you Aspen Anderson for writing to phenomenal, imaginative book! Thank you Netgalley, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America | CamCat Books, for providing me with the ARC and allowing my voluntary honest review!

Sloane is an ordinary girl living an ordinary life in Los Angeles - complete with a summer internship at her dad's law firm and a crush on the cute older guy at the office. But one day, everything literally stops...and Sloane realizes that she is more powerful than she could have ever known.

There was a certain amount of wish fulfillment that I felt reading this book - Sloane is able to use her powers to protect herself from some horrific trauma. The book had incredibly strong female characters - from Sloane to her young friend Maddie to action mom Malina to cheerleader with heart of gold Rebecca. I really enjoyed those relationships as much as the romance. I also really appreciated the unique world building - this was very different to most fantasy or superhero books I've read.

I will say that because the world is so creative and unusual, I wish the book had eased into the world building a bit more - the fantasy elements are not really present until 1/4 of the way through the book and then a lot of information is thrown at the reader at once. There were a lot of details that I would need to re-read to enjoy more thoroughly. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I will definitely be interested in the sequel and am excited to see how this author grows and develops.

I just recently finished "The After Hours" by Aspen Andersen. The book will be published on March 4, 2025.



I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was intrigued with the plot line - time traveling, romance, intrigue, murder - I mean that is what all books should be made of.



The story goes into depth on how this "supernatural abilities" came about and what it entails -and the rules that go along with using them.



I really do not want to give to much away - the one group of beings that have this power has supposedly wiped out by a battle with another group - well it turns out that there was one more person until she "jumps" to the future and gives her power to a girl, Sloane, that we meet in her present.



Sloane has a lot of baggage of her own - and the book shows her trying to deal with it - with jumps back to the past, but then there will be like three or four "hers" in the past so it gets complicated. Also, when you start jumping to much it takes time off your life.



Basically, at the end, she is going to be accused of murder, that the actual killer is actually dead, and has been for at least five years - the evil chick from the side that everyone thought was dead.



I really didn't like the ending - maybe there was no way to tie it up that Sloane had a happily ever after - and it had to end the way it did - which is sad. I guess I like to think that there are happily ever afters and that often isn't the case.



I would give this book a solid four - it got a little complicated to me with the whole "supernatural ability" description - I also wish the other group that wasn't the bad group had actually sat and talked to Sloane - maybe there would have been another outcome.



Thank you so much for allowing me to review the book!

I gave this book 4 stars because I really liked this story. The After Hours is such a good story to read on a cosy rainy day. Lovely book.

"The After Hours" by Aspen Andersen is a novel that navigates the intricacies of human connection and emotional vulnerability, set against the backdrop of an engaging nighttime atmosphere. Andersen’s writing is filled with raw, evocative prose that captures the struggles of the protagonist’s inner world as they grapple with their personal dilemmas. The emotional depth of the characters is impressive, especially in their quieter, more reflective moments, which are amplified by the book’s setting—a world that seems to exist between wakefulness and dreams. There is an undeniable allure in the way the author portrays fleeting moments of clarity amidst chaos.

However, while the novel certainly succeeds in creating a mood of introspection, there are aspects of the plot that feel somewhat underdeveloped. At times, the narrative’s pacing can drag, as it lingers too long in moments of self-exploration that do not advance the story significantly. This slower pace may lose some readers’ attention, as the plot can feel repetitive in its focus on existential musings without offering enough momentum to keep the stakes high. Additionally, while the characters' emotions are vivid, some may find the character arcs a bit too predictable, missing opportunities for more profound development.

That said, "The After Hours" is a thoughtful exploration of solitude and self-discovery, offering glimpses into the complexity of human emotions and the beauty found in quiet moments. Aspen Andersen’s ability to capture a mood and evoke powerful imagery is commendable, and readers who appreciate introspective, character-driven stories will likely find much to enjoy in this novel. While not without its flaws, the book offers a reflective and gentle journey, one that may resonate deeply with those seeking stories that delve into the human experience, albeit with a slower, more contemplative pace.