ARC Review: Us in the Before and After by Jenny Valentine

I was gifted a copy of this book by Simon and Schuster UK to give an honest review.

Blurb:

There is one side of that moment, and the other

Before

After

I have dreamed about it ever since

At the start of a long, hot summer best friends Elk and Mab face the fallout of a sudden death, and the lifelong consequences of a single tragic act.

My thoughts:

Us in the Before and After is a beautiful story about lost love and friendships. We follow the story of Elk, Mab and their families as they grapple with a new normal. It’s impossible to talk too much about this book without going into spoilers and I don’t intend on doing that.

I loved the dynamic and the evolution of the two characters and how we get to see a glimpse of them before and after the events that take place during the book. Their friendship is lovely to read about and they felt like a realistic portrayal of teenagers. I also liked the inclusion of their brothers, France and Knox, and how the story impacted them. There are scenes that will rip your heart out and ones that will make you question life and what’s truly important.

There were some lighthearted moments in the midst of the grief which added to the story, mainly from the main character’s best friend, Mab. I think it’s important to note how useful this character is in the plot to show how people have different perspectives on life. Not taking things too seriously during sad times can be a reality in how some people cope with loss.

I thought the descriptions of grief were so powerful. There’s a scene where Elk and Mab talk about mental health, how one should let go of the negative thought like a balloon. But the main character’s balloon lands on the ceiling, not quite flying away as intended. In some ways, descriptions like these felt similar to reading poetry because of the lyrical tone of the writing.

This is one of those books you’ll need a box of tissues at hand. I enjoyed reading about Elk and her journey from past to present. There were moments I found to be a bit predictable but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment in the slightest. It’s a fantastic fast-paced read, one I will be recommending to everyone of all ages.

Rating: 3.5/5

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What’s the saddest novel you’ve read? Let me know in the comments below. I’m also on Instagram and Twitter – @bookwormgirl_24