The premise of this book drew me in, Long before I read the first page, being a novel by Gayle Forman, I knew it was going to be done tastefully.

We are thrown straight into Amber's life and instantly we are hit with the subject of death. What comes after? What happens to our families? Heavey questions at any point in our lives, but I think they are explored so expertly within these pages that you allow yourself some gentle exploration.

This character driven novel, is short, at 272 pages, and provoking. Each character shows a different reaction and belief on the idea of death, the afterlife and resurrection. Providing a point of relatability for every reader.

Towards the end of the novel we realise what is happening, how healing is different for each individual, how beliefs and having a support system aids that healing.

After Life is thought provoking, moving and a little confronting, loss of a loved one isn't an easy topic to write with authenticity and grace, but Gayle Forman has done that. Written in Formans way of making the pages flow easily, this fast paced ebb and flow of a read will leave you thinking long after you turn the final page.

Thankyou to NetGalley and Allen and Unwin for a review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
This book leans heavily into the young adult genre, which it’s clearly marketed as. While I typically enjoy YA, this one didn’t resonate with me as much as usual. The numerous characters and shifting POVs were a bit confusing at times, although the short chapters were a plus.

The story focuses on themes of death, grief, and the ways people cope and move forward. The ending, while tied up a bit too neatly, still managed to evoke some strong emotions and leave me with a sense of closure.