by Tara Hudson Hardcover,
400 pages
Expected publication: June 7th 2011
by HarperCollins
ISBN 139780062026774 4 stars
Can there truly be love after death? Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she’s dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she’s trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive. Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever. Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won’t want to miss.
Summary: Amelia is dead. She knows that and not much else. Each night dreaming of being churned in water of her tragic end and each day wandering aimlessly through the land of the living. Then one day a boy she’s never seen is in the water with her and she can hear his heartbeat. Somehow against all odds he can see her, can touch her. So begins a whole new chance- hope blossoms anew for Amelia. She has never felt so alive, she’s never desired to follow or know anything more than this boy Joshua. But Joshua comes from a long line of seers– those who can see ghosts. And his grandmother knows their secret. She will do anything it takes to keep Amelia and Joshua apart. Then she’ll go a step further and try to send Amelia away forever.
What I loved: Both main characters. The two of them have off the charts chemistry and I found them genuine. They are likeable. They have real lives in the ordinary day to day happenings of a teen. Joshua is an all-American boy from a stable grounded family. Amelia is a captivating mystery. I’m a sucker for ghost stories and local history, always have been. So this book was perfect for me. And the cover…Gorgeous.
What I wish: The ending felt rushed and convoluted for me. I was wanting a fleshing out of evil bad boy Eli as well as why he felt a pull to Amelia. Readers will wonder why things shake out the way they do and will be left with unanswered questions. I’m hoping the sequel will answer those.
Will I read book 2? Yes Please! It’s been a long time since I’ve found a couple of characters I enjoyed as much as these two. This book will hold a tender spot in my heart as a doomed but destined story of love. Tara Hudson had my attention and held me entranced.
Source: NetGalley and HarperCollins. THANK YOU! HarperCollins is giving away a copy on Goodreads so hurry on over there to enter!
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