The After Girls by Leah Konen

A small synop from the author's webpage:  Ella, Astrid and Sydney were planning the perfect summer after high school graduation. But when Astrid commits suicide, the girls’ world is shattered. Shouldn’t they have seen this coming? Couldn’t they have saved her?

As Ella hunts for answers and Sydney tries to dull the pain, a chilling message from Astrid leaves them wondering whether their beloved friend is communicating from the after world. The girls embark on a journey to uncover Astrid’s dark secrets, and the answers to the questions they never dreamed of asking will change their lives–forever.

My Take

I really loved the characters in this book.  They were so unique yet tied together through their friendship.  I'm sure when a friend commits suicide, those left behind so shoulder those feelings of responsibility or at the very least have nagging questions as to why. 

There was a line I loved in this book as well.  Sydney was talking about her long time love interest Max (not the ideal guy for her).  She said, "He wanted everything from her and nothing all at once."  I know I've been there more than once!  So perfectly said. 

The story moved along at a decent pace.  It didn't totally enthrall me, but I did like it.  I'm giving this one 4 ghostly kisses!

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers

This is one of the books for the Contemps Challenge. To find out more about it, please click on the link provided HERE. Here’s a blurb about the book from Ms. Summer’s website: When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on… but are some questions better left unanswered?


My Take

Eddie’s father committed suicide and she’s become consumed with wanting to know why. I can see how that would could easily become an obsession. It’s difficult enough when people die without throwing in the fact that they committed suicide. It’s also easy for kids to absorb some of the blame for things. They feel that surely they played some part in things. I felt for Eddie trying to grapple with everything and only having her best friend Milo to count on.

Her mother is too deeply mired in grief to even realize the pain that Eddie is in. She’s checked out, emotionally anyway. She can’t see to her own emotional needs, let alone be there for Eddie.

Eddie meets Culler Evans, a student of her father’s. They begin exploring clues left behind by Eddie’s father as Eddie grows closer to Culler. She clings to each message in hope that it will give her the answer she’s been longing for. How will this triangle between Eddie, Milo and Culler work out?

This book was as lovely as a book about a girl’s agonizing trip through grief can be. There’s hope in Eddie’s and Milo’s relationship. The writing was wonderful, evocative, and thought provoking. In the end you realize that sometimes there are no answers. I’m giving this one 4 kisses!

By the Time You Read This, I'll be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Here’s a blurb from Ms. Peter’s website: Daelyn’s been the victim of bullying throughout her life and now she’s simply counting down the days until she can commit her final act on Earth. It’s destiny that she finds a Web site to help her in her quest. She has the motive, the means, and the determination. Then she meets this boy, Santana, who makes her examine her choice of death over life. But is he too late to save her? And is she too damaged to save him?

As a writer it is difficult to approach scary subjects sometimes. But being brave enough to dive in completely, is going to result in a better book. Julie Anne Peters presented the subjects of bullying and suicide in raw honesty. Daelyn was bullied from kindergarten on. She was once an overweight child. While she’s no longer fat, Ms. Phillips understands that it’s the mental self-image that most often sticks with a person and drives those inner demons.

I adore Santana, the guy who begins talking to Daelyn. He’s charming, smart and just plain funny. While he’s not so conventional looking, as I’ve learned over time, true wisdom and life’s greatest lessons can come in the most unlikely packages. This book counts down the days until Daelyn’s final Day of Determination.

While the ending didn’t tie everything up and spell it all out plainly for you, it worked for me. It made me think and consider things long afterward. The cover is gorgeous!  I loved the discussion questions, the suicide prevention information and signs to watch for in the back. I’m giving this book 3 roses.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

A brief summary I took from Amazon: After losing her best friend, Ingrid, to suicide, Caitlin is completely immobilized. Unable to function, and refusing to visit a therapist, she begins the long journey to wellness alone. During this year of heart-wrenching, raw emotion, Caitlin finds Ingrid's journal, which not only reveals her descent into irreversible depression, but also serves as Caitlin's vehicle for renewed hope in the future. The book is written with honesty, revealing one's pain after the loss of a loved one. Caitlin learns, with the help of new friends and her parents, that there is life after Ingrid.—Sharon Morrison, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK

I was wondering if this book was going to be depressing. It wasn’t. The story begins after Ingrid’s death and while Ingrid plays an integral role in the story, it’s more about Caitlin grieving and coping with the loss of her best friend. I think that Caitlin comes to find that she can be her own person who’s completely different than Ingrid. She can understand Ingrid’s pain without feeling responsible for it. And ultimately, that she deserves happiness out of life. One of my favorite parts was where Caitlin after an encounter with a homeless man on the street considers this: “Instead, I imagine what would happen if everyone turned their regrets into wishes, went around shouting them. Signal lights would change at intersections, and as the people on opposite sides of the street stepped off the curbs, the would call to one another – Finish college! Exercise at least three times a week! Never start smoking! Tell your mother you love her! Wear a condom! Make peace with your brother! Don’t sign anything before you’ve met with a lawyer! Take your dog to the park! Keep in touch with your friends!”

It got me to thinking about how cool that would be. Okay, initially embarrassing, but ultimately very cool. This was a great story of healing and a journey of self-discovery, and ultimately the story of caring about someone with mental illness.  The cover was pretty and interesting with the drawings on the inside. I give this 3 roses.