As a book reviewer, I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher or author to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation, and all opinions are always 100% my own.
Afterward opens just after the ambulance has left, the EMTs shouting out the name of the hospital, and Lauren stumbling blindly out of an apartment that has now become unbearable to be in. She follows the ambulance with her boyfriend Kyle’s lanky body in it to the hospital, where she finds that she can’t bring herself to call Kyle’s mom or even her friends. How can she put into words what has happened? How can she deal with everyone knowing and gossiping?
Lauren finds herself thrust unwillingly into a whole new world of extended family visits and counseling appointments. Her old life, one filled with work and friends, late night drinks and life with her funny, intelligent boyfriend, has disappeared. As it becomes clearer and clearer to the reader that Kyle attempted suicide, Lauren finds her life utterly changed, even after Kyle comes home.
Kyle’s mom wants him to move home, an idea that the old Kyle would have hated. Lauren’s mom understands how hard it is to be the caregiver, but Lauren doesn’t want to talk about it. Their friends either ghoulishly want all the details, or are moving on. Lauren finds herself isolating more and more, meeting new challenges with a refreshing cluelessness that’s so relatable.
Afterward takes an unflinching look at how life really looks after a major life change. It’s both funny and moving at times, as we watch Lauren reluctantly come to terms with things. Author Bristol Vaudrin is adept at sketching characters with just a few sentences, so that the crowd of side characters come to life. This is a novel that goes deep into everyday life with all its pains and triumphs and ordinariness. It’s an excellent book. Highly recommended.
Author Bio:
Bristol was born in Alaska, and named after Bristol Bay, where her parents fished commercially. Later, she was raised in Southcentral Alaska, splitting time between her family’s off-the-grid homestead at Flat Horn Lake, and attending school in Anchorage. She now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, dog, and way too many books.
