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Hereafter (Hereafter #1)

by Tara Hudson (Goodreads Author)

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 8,652 ratings · 1,259 reviews

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 lifeor her actual deathshe'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 wi

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ebook, 432 pages

Published June 7th 2011 by HarperTeen

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Mar 15, 2011 Vinaya rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bleh, arc-galley, could-have-been-better, ya-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Oh boy, am I sick of the insta-love trope in YA romances! Do all these YA PNR authors shop at the same shelf in Writers R Us? I really should have known better than to read any book Becca Fitzpatrick has called a "tender and poignant love story". Hereafter, I shall never read another book recommended by Fitzpatrick. Hereafter, I shall know better than to judge a book by its blurb. Hereafter, I shall not fall for pretty covers.

Amelia (and it took me a minute to recall her name!) is a ghost who...more

95 likes · like · see review

Jul 17, 2012 Blythe rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: judge-a-book-by-the-cover, take-your-insta-love-and-leave, 1-star, 2012-reads, disappointments, hand-me-some-tissues, i-totally-saw-that-coming, read-reviewed, was-warned-not-to-read-this, snark-bait-ooh-ah-ah

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Explain to me what happened in Hereafter. I dare you.

You’re at a loss of words trying to describe what happened, aren’t you? I’ll tell you why—

BECAUSE NOTHING. HAPPENED.

(yes, the caps locks were extremely necessary)

Amelia is dead. She can’t remember how she died, her family, or even her last name (but she can remember how to find the order of a differential equation and the fact that she doesn’t like Hemingway’s writing). Amelia finds a boy who is driving off a bridge, and the boy dies for a...more

47 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2012 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, for-review, e-galley, ya-paranormal-romance

Posted on: http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/

Hereafter is the first book by debut author Tara Hudson, and its everything I could of wanted from a book. A forbidden romance, mystery & excitement.
I said this last week with Die for Me by Amy Plum but let me say it again - "this is one of the BEST ghost stories I have ever read"

Amelia is a ghost, who doesn't remember anything about herself, other than her name and parts of her death. She doesn't know when she died, who she was before or h...more Posted on: http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/

Hereafter is the first book by debut author Tara Hudson, and its everything I could of wanted from a book. A forbidden romance, mystery & excitement.
I said this last week with Die for Me by Amy Plum but let me say it again - "this is one of the BEST ghost stories I have ever read"

Amelia is a ghost, who doesn't remember anything about herself, other than her name and parts of her death. She doesn't know when she died, who she was before or how she ended up in the river that night. She believes her afterlife has no purpose, that's until she saves Joshua, a stunning and handsome boy from drowning in the river after his car accidentally drives over the bridge.

After saving Joshua, Amelia and him become fast friends and their relationship takes a fast turn. When they decide to try and find out who Amelia really was, they see things are not as they once seemed. They run into a few obstacles along the way, lending Joshua finding out what his destiny is and they realise their relationship is a forbidden one.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the story line, the romance, the characters, everything! Mostly I loved Amelia's journey and how we only found out bits about her at a time, keeping me on the edge of my seat through out. As her story unfolds, she goes through emotions that she never thought she would feel again and its really beautiful to read about. Not only does the author write beautifully but you can't help being sucked into their world and hope these two characters stay together.

Joshua's story is one that completely shocked me. To be honest, I never saw it coming and I think it really fits well within the story. I'm hoping we get get to see more of that in the future as it will be interesting to read about.

And lastly, I'm so glad there wasn't any major cliffhangers at the end. Yes, there is a small one and few unanswered questions but I'm glad that it was nicely finished up and it made me enjoy the story that much more.

Overall, this is a fantastic start to a new series. One, I am eager to continue reading about. Lets hope the next released date comes around fast.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to reading and reviewing this book. (less)

22 likes · like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: covergasm, ghosts, pretty-dress-on-the-cover, owned-ebooks, boooooring, cheese, dont-understand-why-its-hyped, insta-love, i-am-disappoint, sorry-excuse-for-a-romance, unlikable-heroines

This review is also available over at my blog.

___________________________

You know guys, I think the actual rating might be 2.5 stars.

My expectations for this book were low from the start. But really, I don't think it was horrifyingly bad or anything. Just plain bleh. It's neither bad nor good, and it wasn't really memorable either. The kind of book where you finish it and you just go, "Next."

I love ghost stories and the different twists that some authors usually put when writing ghost-themed boo...more

10 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2012 Lissa added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Hereafter was a very pleasant experience with the 'monster' of the young adult paranormal couple being the girl for a change - and a dead girl at that!

I'm not really sure what to say about it. I got about halfway and then picked up another book, finishing that before I finished Hereafter. Some parts of it are very slow, and you have to remember that this is a romance so Amelia spends an awful lot of time with the boy over only a few days developing that.

Apart from the romance I found the concept...more

6 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2012 →kelly♥[: rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: breathtaking-cover, 2011-book, books-i-own, ya-book-exchange

My Rating: 4.0

My first thought when I first saw Hereafter was oh my god, I have to read this! However, after checking out the not so flattering reviews on goodreads, I was left skeptical; would Hereafter be a disappointment for me like the people on goodreads said it was for them? When I got my hands on Hereafter, I was afraid to start it, hoping that the book wouldn't be one of those books with the beautiful cover, but an awful draggy story. To my surprise, I enjoyed reading Hereafter, but the...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hereafter was just okay for me. I enjoyed reading the story.... but nothing about it really grabbed me. I think that I needed to know a little bit more about the world that Amelia was in. What was the Hereafter? Why didn't Amelia go to heaven? What were those menacing black blobs!? I think that I was a little distracted by all my questions at times.

I didn't particularly care for any of the characters either. I mean I liked them, they were nice, funny at times, but nothing about them really touch...more

7 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2011 Annabelle Marie Veronica rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, paranormal, gorgeous-cover, hereafter, i-love-a-guy-in-this-book, magic, fantasy, ghosts, books-that-made-me-cry, romance, sexy-sexy-bad-boy, unlikable-heroines, insta-love, got-sucked-in-by-the-cover, made-no-sense, ending-that-ticked-me-off, wtf-is-this

FINAL RATING: 2.25 STARS

CATCHALL
Hereafter was a lovely, if bland, book. For the most part enjoyable and exciting, it was a read with action and romance. The blurb grabbed me from the beginning, and the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I had to have it. I should've known better than to fall for a cover after Fallen.

This review will contain minor spoilers.

THE HEROINE
Sadly, I did not like Amelia. I really wanted to. However, she was so annoying and selfish that I realized early on that nothing would...more

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2011 The Bookologist rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-i-own, for-review, june2011

Haunting and eerie, Hereafter is a touching love story with supernatural mystery. It’s engrossing from the very beginning and Hudson captivates readers with its vibrant characters, remarkable writing, and heart-rending drama.

Hudson’s writing is beautiful with her well-described tales and picturesque descriptions. Her prose is alluring and breathtaking. The way Hudson was able to portray emotions along with action was very remarkable. Her interpretation with afterlife came to be so creative and o...more Haunting and eerie, Hereafter is a touching love story with supernatural mystery. It’s engrossing from the very beginning and Hudson captivates readers with its vibrant characters, remarkable writing, and heart-rending drama.

Hudson’s writing is beautiful with her well-described tales and picturesque descriptions. Her prose is alluring and breathtaking. The way Hudson was able to portray emotions along with action was very remarkable. Her interpretation with afterlife came to be so creative and original.

Amelia doesn’t know much about herself. She doesn’t remember anything from her life and she’s living outside the light because there’s no one there to help her remember anything about her. Amelia is entertaining at times but she is also protective and brave. Joshua is the likeable, handsome type of guy. He didn’t need to lift a finger to be liked. He’s an extremely down to earth person and was very caring when it came to family.

The relationship between Amelia and Joshua is so enthralling and heartbreaking. A ghost and a handsome ‘human’ in a relationship is so unique and Hudson was able to pull it off. It was very realistic and believable. It wasn’t too quick and was perfectly paced, but when their love kept growing, it wasn’t tacky nor had those cliché representations. Although, as the story unravels, it’s not just a romance; it’s an adventure to discovering more about each other and themselves.

Hereafter is a brilliant start to a series. Readers will be engaged from start to end with Amelia and Joshua’s relationship, the actions, the drama, and most importantly, the interpretation of afterlife. Definitely a must read for all fans of paranormal!

Merged review:

Haunting and eerie, Hereafter is a touching love story with supernatural mystery. It’s engrossing from the very beginning and Hudson captivates readers with its vibrant characters, remarkable writing, and heart-rending drama.

Hudson’s writing is beautiful with her well-described tales and picturesque descriptions. Her prose is alluring and breathtaking. The way Hudson was able to portray emotions along with action was very remarkable. Her interpretation with afterlife came to be so creative and original.

Amelia doesn’t know much about herself. She doesn’t remember anything from her life and she’s living outside the light because there’s no one there to help her remember anything about her. Amelia is entertaining at times but she is also protective and brave. Joshua is the likeable, handsome type of guy. He didn’t need to lift a finger to be liked. He’s an extremely down to earth person and was very caring when it came to family.

The relationship between Amelia and Joshua is so enthralling and heartbreaking. A ghost and a handsome ‘human’ in a relationship is so unique and Hudson was able to pull it off. It was very realistic and believable. It wasn’t too quick and was perfectly paced, but when their love kept growing, it wasn’t tacky nor had those cliché representations. Although, as the story unravels, it’s not just a romance; it’s an adventure to discovering more about each other and themselves.

Hereafter is a brilliant start to a series. Readers will be engaged from start to end with Amelia and Joshua’s relationship, the actions, the drama, and most importantly, the interpretation of afterlife. Definitely a must read for all fans of paranormal!(less)

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 12, 2011 Krystle rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish

I'm sorry I didn't finish you. Okay, maybe I'm not.

This book is really boring. There is no tension in the pace, no urgency in the writing, and absolutely no chemistry between the two leads. The writing is rough, unpolished, and suffering from a lot of repetition. There is nothing that makes the female character, Amelia, stand out. She's just so blah. Oh wait, she somehow MIRACULOUSLY is ace at Calculus, just when our guy needs it. Uh huh, right.

After she saves him the BOTH of the fall so fast...more

19 likes · like · see review

May 28, 2013 Lia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-it

I must say, this book went over and above my expectations. I'm not sure I had any clearly thought out, "this is what the book will be like" expectations, but it certainly surprised me in many ways, and all pleasantly.

Firstly, Amelia was perfect. Not perfect as in, had no flaw, but perfect as in the perfect main character. She was everything I think I ever want in a character. She reminds me of the time I first met Tris Prior in Divergent, or Lena Halloway in Delirium. The coveted, best, perfect...more I must say, this book went over and above my expectations. I'm not sure I had any clearly thought out, "this is what the book will be like" expectations, but it certainly surprised me in many ways, and all pleasantly.

Firstly, Amelia was perfect. Not perfect as in, had no flaw, but perfect as in the perfect main character. She was everything I think I ever want in a character. She reminds me of the time I first met Tris Prior in Divergent, or Lena Halloway in Delirium. The coveted, best, perfect main character. And interestingly enough, that includes flaws. I won't go into details - I'm writing this on an iPad, and I hate touch screen devices, so I'm going to spare myself the torture. But I will say this: Amelia, by herself, without a storyline, is enough to make me recommend this book. I would read the sequel, even if I was told there was absolutely no storyline or anything else substantial, because Amelia is the best main character girl a reader could ever ask for. And that is something I can truly appreciate.

In saying that, I come to Joshua. Oh, Joshua, you are simply too much for me. Amelia can claim you for hers, and have no fear, I won't try to come between you. You are just too perfect for each other. And much to my sheer delight, not perfect in the cheesy sense of the word. The occasional rifts in the romance - delicious. True perfection. Made the romance all the more realistic, solid, tangible. This was one of the best, most ideal romances I've read ever, and my dear readers, I have read a multitude of books not listed on goodreads. I think what I loved most about the romance was the tragedy. Oh, it made my heart ache. Made me question love. Made me plead with God to never find myself in that situation. And that, my fellow world-goers, is what any good, tragic romance should do to you.

As for Eli, he isn't worth my time. So I shall simply end like this:

If you value a good read, if you value something that's substantial enough to seem real, yet not so substantial is forces itself onto you like an annoying, immature teenage boy, if you appreciate the delicious feel of turning the glorious pages of a delectable book, if you enjoy devouring a good read, and if you love being challenged with philosophical question that are just light enough not to give you a headache, then this book, my dearies, is for you.

And Tara Hudson, my lovely author, you have done a superb job winning me over. Bien fait, ma chere Tara. Bravo. Sincerely, Madame, you are awe-worthy.

Spoilers below - WARNING.

Note: I think the only thing I didn't like was when Joshua didn't notice the injuries that Amelia received from Eli. It seemed like the tiniest possible plot hole - Joshua was too kind and compassionate not to notice, as well as worried out of his head about Amelia. But that is my only critique of the book. Apart from that, well, how shall I say it. Glorious goodness. Delicte deliciousness. Pure perfection. Catch my meaning?(less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 25, 2012 Leigh Herondale rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

for more reviews: http://sybillinebooks.tumblr.com or http://hypnosomnus-leighmarbella.blog...

I finished Hereafter by Tara Hudson a few days ago and I must say that I loved this as much as I loved the last few books that I’ve read this past few weeks. I was actually a bit hesitant at first since this book had mixed reviews on Goodreads. The story’s protagonists are Amelia and Joshua.

To start with, the story is really good. The concept is refreshing for me as this is only my second Ghost YA book....more for more reviews: http://sybillinebooks.tumblr.com or http://hypnosomnus-leighmarbella.blog...

I finished Hereafter by Tara Hudson a few days ago and I must say that I loved this as much as I loved the last few books that I’ve read this past few weeks. I was actually a bit hesitant at first since this book had mixed reviews on Goodreads. The story’s protagonists are Amelia and Joshua.

To start with, the story is really good. The concept is refreshing for me as this is only my second Ghost YA book. To be honest, I thought I was getting bored within the first few pages and I didn’t even realize that I was already half way done after a few hours. It’s the type of book that would seem boring at first but as I got deeper into the story I found myself immersed in it completely. First of all, I loved Amelia from the very first page. I think she is one of those very well written characters. Though I did find her character a little bit “dry” at first but Ms. Hudson developed her well as the story progressed. There were moments when I wanted to give her a hug since almost everyone around her seems to have a hidden agenda or something. I actually liked the fact that she decided to fight for what she believes is right in the end. Anyhoo, she’s one of those heroines that would hopefully turn for the better and not the worst like most heroines in some YA novels.

Then there’s Joshua. I don’t know what it is with dark haired boys and their blue eyes. haha. I love Joshua. The fact that he’s not a jerk even if he is one of those “IT BOYS” in school is something that I definitely liked about his character. I love the fact that he loves Amelia even though their love seems to be doomed in the end since everyone seems to be against their relationship. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, right?

Overall, I loved this book and I can’t wait to read Arise. I’d definitely recommend this to those who are into sappy tragic romance stories. But I am warning you this is not a scary ghost story per se. The pacing was okay for me. I can’t really explain it but it seems slow at the beginning but as the story builds up I found myself completely captivated by it. I’m giving this a 4.5/5 rating.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 06, 2012 Zuleeza rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ongoing-series, debut-author-read-in-2012, tbr-challenge, series-i-given-up, paranormal

This review is also available on my blog, Qwerty

*Sigh* I really hate it when I have to read a book in many sittings. I can't be sure if the book was indeed not that good or the gap between the sittings made me losing my interest. The book started so well, I think the first four chapters were the best starter I've read so far. It was sharp, well-paced and deep with emotions.

After Chapter 4, it was...well...okay for me. Some of the scenes truly entertained me such as the differential equations inc...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 14, 2011 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received an advanced copy of this book from 'NetGalley' in exchange for an honest review. It was an 'uncorrected e-proof'. As i don't have an e-reader it came with a free download of 'Adobe Digital Editions' so I could read it on my computer.
Amelia knows she is dead and that she drowned and she knows her first name but that is all she knows, she can't remember what lead to her death or what she was like in life. Left alone in despair and replaying the moments of her death in horrible nightmare...more I received an advanced copy of this book from 'NetGalley' in exchange for an honest review. It was an 'uncorrected e-proof'. As i don't have an e-reader it came with a free download of 'Adobe Digital Editions' so I could read it on my computer.
Amelia knows she is dead and that she drowned and she knows her first name but that is all she knows, she can't remember what lead to her death or what she was like in life. Left alone in despair and replaying the moments of her death in horrible nightmares, Amelia wonders if this is all death is. Until one day a car accident lands Joshua in the River with her, his heartbeat is stopping and Amelia desperately wants to save him, but can't. By some miracle, he survives and can now see her, the pair become close, but dark powers are after Amelia stopping her from having her happily ever after.
I was fascinated by the blurb of this book and the cover was very striking, I love how she's see through but still there. When I received the message saying I had been given a copy to read and review I was so pleased and couldn't wait to get stuck in. I had to do it in two goes as my eyes don't read off a screen very well, it gives me headache after a while, but saying that I would sit there with it open in front of me and say to myself I'll just read one more chapter, or I'll just read until I get to page..., then would not be able to pull myself away, I was so drawn into the story I had to know what would happen next, I was totally hooked.
Amelia is a very likeable character although you don't know much about her, the story is written so that she finds out about herself the same time we as a reader does, it's a very different way of doing things and I really liked it, it was like I was there by her side as she discovered everything, made me feel a part of her life (well, death!)
Joshua is a sweetheart and the sort of boy all us girls wish we could find, loyal and caring with a great sense of humour and a strong desire to do the right thing.
I really felt like I knew the characters and was eager throughout to know more about them.
Eli is another ghost and was written very well, he is like the perfect villain - dark, creepy and quite terrifying but with redeeming moments that draw you in and make you feel safe before BAM he turns on you again. He was written so well I could almost see him staring at me through the screen.
This is Tara Hudson's first novel and she has done spectacularly well with it. Some first time novels can feel clumsy and uncertain, but this one has great rhythm and pace and the writing flows off the pages.
I am hoping there will be more from Hudson, either completely different or a follow on from 'Hereafter' - would like more as there are some questions left unanswered in this book, things I would like to see tied up.
I will definitely be buying a copy of this book when it is officially released, I want to see it on my bookshelves all pretty and nice.

I would give this book 9.5/10. A captivating read that takes you on a journey of self-discovery, life, death and love. Some things are made to last and this book will be one of them. (less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jun 09, 2011 Stacey (prettybooks) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-after-university, read-in-my-twenties, young-adult-fiction

I think I really like ghost stories. There’s just something about them. They feel more realistic to me than any other concept in YA paranormal romance and they can be intriguing, creepy - or both. However, I was genuinely expecting to be indifferent to Hereafter as I’ve read quite a few reviews saying they thought there was too much romance (and this is coming from people that like paranormal romance) and that they just didn’t think much of the book in general, that it was a struggle to get thro...more I think I really like ghost stories. There’s just something about them. They feel more realistic to me than any other concept in YA paranormal romance and they can be intriguing, creepy - or both. However, I was genuinely expecting to be indifferent to Hereafter as I’ve read quite a few reviews saying they thought there was too much romance (and this is coming from people that like paranormal romance) and that they just didn’t think much of the book in general, that it was a struggle to get through.

I was captivated from the very first chapter. We’re thrown into action as Amelia – our dead girl protagonist – struggles to save a boy unknown to her from drowning. Amelia describes to us her lonely life spent wandering around High Bridge river and cemetery, having nightmares that feel unbearably realistic, and, as if that isn’t bad enough, she cannot remember anything about her past except for her name, her age and how she died.

Overall, I really enjoyed Hereafter and could clearly imagine everything happening as it was described. Tara Hudson writes eloquently and I constantly felt like I was reading by a cold, dark river or within an eerie cemetery. Amelia was able to adequately describe her unhappiness and strife without becoming a whiny, annoying character. I have no qualms about her character, nor Joshua (our drowning guy) and Eli (our antagonist and fellow spirit) – all three were satisfactorily interesting to me. Josh is your standard lovely nice-guy (and I really like those) whereas Eli definitely would have that snarky, indifferent bad-boy look about him.

One of the main concerns that others had about this book is the so-called “insta-love” that is hugely popular within the young adult genre. Love at first sight, basically. Now, I won’t deny that insta-love was present in this book because it happens for both Amelia and Josh, but it didn’t bother me because I could understand Amelia’s reasons. If I had been dead ten years and hadn’t spoken to another person in all that time, hadn’t been recognised or acknowledged, I’d probably fall head-over-heels in love with Josh if he was the only person that could see me and talk to me. Loneliness is a terrible thing and it’s not surprising that Amelia was obsessed with Josh from the very start. What I had more difficulty understanding was Josh’s attachment to Amelia…

I think a major improvement would have been to have a lot more detail. There were quite a lot of unanswered questions, character backgrounds and plot details that were touched on but not fully explored in depth. Nonetheless, I don’t think that Hereafter needs to be part of a trilogy or series, which it will be. What is with young adult literature’s obsession with making everything long and drawn-out? Hereafter would have been more satisfying as an in-depth novel. This won’t stop me reading the sequels but I do think it’s a great shame.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and so I’m giving it four stars. I still feel bemused as to why some young adult paranormal/fantasy romance fans really disliked it, but each to their own. It’s one of my favourite novels of this genre that I have read.

This book was obtained as an eGalley from the publisher for review.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 23, 2011 Petra Sýkorová rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, young-adult, ghosts

Ani nevím, co jsem od knihy čekala. Nejspíš jsem toho nečekala příliš, tudíž jsem ani nebyla nijak zvlášť zklamaná. Byla jsem prostě zvědavá, jestli to bude dobrá duchařská kniha. A taky že byla.

Musím říct, že Tara dokázala moc dobře popsat stav, v jakém se může duch nacházet. Veškeré myšlenky, obavy, strach, nadšení, touhu po životě. Amelia je opravdu silná postava. Líbilo se mi, jak popisovala svět okolo a pocity, jaké se v ní odehrávaly. Postupně se snažila přijít na kloub tomu, kdo vůbec za...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Natasha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, supernatural

Take supernatural beings, a beautiful girl that doesn't know she's beautiful, an extremely attractive and popular boy, insta-love, specialness, and a cheesy bad guy and you have Hereafter.

I only like cookie cutters when they are making cookies, not books. I'm sure there have been cases where girls, who consider themselves plain, fall in love with attractive, smart, popular boys who love them back, but there are other people out there!!! Why aren't there plain or merely attractive girls or geeky,...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 01, 2012 Cas rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts-spirits, ebook, left-me-at-deaths-door, insta-love-virus, paranormal, romance, young-adults

Half a star, actually(and I'm being nice). This book was so boring and useless.
I'm not even going to ramble on. It was that pathetic. All in all, those $0.99 I used to buy this book was a dollar too much!

We will kill it!! Yeah!!

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 06, 2011 A Canadian Girl rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2-stars, 2011, harpercollins

I’ve been vacillating back and forth between how I feel about Hereafter, the debut novel of Tara Hudson, and I still can’t seem to make up my mind. So, I figured it was time to do another pros and cons list rather than a formal review.

Pros:
- The first chapter manages to ensnare the reader into the story and convey just how terrifying Amelia’s “nightmares” are.
- The writing flows nicely and I enjoyed reading Hereafter.
- The secondary characters are or seem pretty interesting.
- I could feel the ch...more

13 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2011 Zemira Warner rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts, paranormal-romance, net-galley, disappointed

So,I'm done with this book. Don't know what to say. I guess it was ok. That's why I gave it 2 stars.
I expected more but it didn't deliver at the end. It could be better. Hereafter just wasn't for me. For some strange reason I will stick around and read the second one when it comes out.

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 02, 2011 Novel Novice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With the market for paranormal YA romance so over-saturated these days, I find myself getting pickier and pickier about the books I’ll heap praise on — and the series I’ll commit to following through into additional books. After all, there are SO many multi-books series popping up these days, and not all of them feel worthy of the multi-book treatment.

But I can say with absolute certainty that Tara Hudson’s Hereafter is one new paranormal YA series that I will see through to the next book.

The bo...more With the market for paranormal YA romance so over-saturated these days, I find myself getting pickier and pickier about the books I’ll heap praise on — and the series I’ll commit to following through into additional books. After all, there are SO many multi-books series popping up these days, and not all of them feel worthy of the multi-book treatment.

But I can say with absolute certainty that Tara Hudson’s Hereafter is one new paranormal YA series that I will see through to the next book.

The book follows Amelia — a ghost wandering the banks of the river where she drowned. She’s not exactly sure how she drowned, or who she was before she died (those memories are hazy), but she knows she’s dead and she knows none of the living can see/hear/touch/feel her. Until one day she sees a boy drowning and someone manages to make a connection. When he survives, she discovers that Joshua can see her; can hear her. He can touch her. As they begin to explore their unique bond, parts of Amelia’s past start to unravel — all the while outside forces (both living and from beyond) threaten to tear them apart.

What first struck me about Hereafter was the lovely writing. Each passage is simply beautiful — and since Amelia starts off her story in a solitary existence, Hudson is given ample opportunity to show off her skills as a writer. My enchantment with the book only grew as I got to know the characters. Amelia and Joshua are interesting individuals, but they’re even more compelling together and when juxtaposed with the other characters in the book. A romantic couple alone do not make an interesting read; it’s the characters around them who make their story worth reading.

It’s also nice to see Amelia come into her strengths as she discovers exactly what she is and isn’t capable of as a ghost.

And while Amelia and Joshua’s romance seems doomed to fail, they never seem to give up hope — and their fortitude is contagious; it’s easy to get swept up in the urgency of their love and the challenges facing them. And while Hudson wraps up the main conflict of the story, she leaves even loose threads open to keep me lingering in this world and ready for more. This is an example of a multi-book series that works, because I want to keep reading. I want the rest of this trilogy — and I look forward to seeing more plot points addressed and resolved.

Hereafter is a ghost story unlike any other. And much like Amelia haunts the river where she drowned, her story will haunt you beyond the very last page.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2013 Melanie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bleh, books-i-own, f-a-i-l, fantasy, paranormal, romance, take-your-instant-love-and-get-lost, young-adult

See more reviews at http://theyabooklover.blogspot.com.au/
1.5 stars For the last half, I skimmed the pages
Scrap 'it was okay' this book was drop dead gorgeously ghastly.

Normally I give my own synopsis of the book, but I can't bring myself to write it. Yes, it was that BAD.

I'm not a big fan of giving out low ratings but lets be honest here, WHERE IS THE PLOT?! Sure, their were a few complications here and there but there wasn't anything I could classify under 'plot'. The closest I'll go...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 04, 2013 Dana atallah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, i-hated-it

This is one of the slowest books ever , personally I think the idea of the plot is good and this book could have been way better . It started out amazing and the first 5 or so chapters were awesome and so catchy but after that I completely lost interest. I feel the characters started going shallow and I was looking forward to finishing this book to get rid of it . I BARELY finished the book and I hate it . I think this book is so boring and so pointless , the last 5 chapters were " supposed " to...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Melissa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, ya-fiction, 1-star, fantasy, fiction, mystery, paranormal, part-of-series, read-2011

I give this book ZERO stars. I hurts me that this is not even and option. It does not even deserve that star that i am forced to give it.

While reading it, i was yawing and last night fell asleep reading it!
I mean what the hell! What were the publishes thinking when they published this book! It is not worth the paper it is printed on. I never even got to the end. Im sitting here thinking why the hell did i just read 247 pages of this book?!
It was so rushed! There was no depth to the story that ma...more I give this book ZERO stars. I hurts me that this is not even and option. It does not even deserve that star that i am forced to give it.

While reading it, i was yawing and last night fell asleep reading it!
I mean what the hell! What were the publishes thinking when they published this book! It is not worth the paper it is printed on. I never even got to the end. Im sitting here thinking why the hell did i just read 247 pages of this book?!
It was so rushed! There was no depth to the story that made it believable! None at all!
The two main characters really got on my nerves and i wished that she would go to the "afterworld" place and he would just go and die. Which i know sounds harsh, but after reading so many YA books now, this is a poor excuse for one. I am actually ashamed of buying it!
There was one chapter right at the beginning of the book, can't remember which where the only words coming out of her mouth were "Oh"! She said it like 10 times in that chapter. I was like can you say anything else, or is that the entire range of you vocabulary!
The story was just lame. The characters were boring, and when Amelia or whatever he name is, is trying to find out who she is, i really couldn't be bothered to care!
Im hammering down on my keyboard typing this review, and im so angry, im fuming. Trying to calm myself down! "It's only a book!"
ARRRR!!!!!
Why just tell me! What is there in the book that can possibly give this book 5 stars.
The relationship, if you can even call it that.! A ghost and a human! Yeah because that's believable! It made me want to throw up! The relationship was to fast. Within 3 or 4 chapters, they "loved" each other!
Yeah, with Twilight, at least their relationship was believable. And not just Twilight but other books to. Shiver, Die for Me, and one of the book i hate, Fallen. I could actually see the relationship working. This it was, creepy and i just can't bare to read on. Im sorry i just can't. And to now find out that it is going to be a 3 part series?! Yeah, like im going to be getting them.
Trust me, no matter what reviews you read and no matter who good they make the book sound, don't read it! And to now know that i've brought this book twice, one for me and one for my mum! I want my money back! I could of used those minutes of reading i used with this book, on another totally amazing book and got a lot more enjoyment out of it.
Read it if you want, and ghost are your kind of thing, try it if you want. But if you've never read about them, don't read this book. Im sure there are other good ghost stories out there.
And im not even going to bother by saying "Happy Reading" as this book has made me so miserable, at no point in that book was i happy! I've actually forgotten what happy feels like :O
Please, save yourself the bother and don't waste those precious hours reading this, and use it on some other book!(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Taneika (Flipping Through The Pages...) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

More of my reviews can be found at Flipping Through the Pages!

So this is more 2.5

Hereafter tells the story of a ghost, Amelia, who has been wandering lost for god knows how long and constantly suffers from nightmares of the night she died. The beginning is good because we know everything about Amelia that she knows - her name, her age and how she died. So the book begins with Amelia having a nightmare which is beautifully described, but when she wakes up, she is still in the river drowning, howe...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 12, 2011 Gina (Fantasia Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, my-favorite-covers, books-i-love

"I always would choose the hereafter, when it was a hereafter spent with him."

Wow, this book was a very enjoyable read and i loved the plot of it!! There was a forbidden romance, which is always interesting in a novel - especially this one because she was a ghost and i was interested to see how it would actually work - there was excitment and new mysteries kept coming my way and i was always shocked when i found out the answers.

I loved Amelia's character as there was a lot of mysteries surroundi...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 02, 2011 Cristina (Bibliophile Mystery) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: galleys

You can find this on my blog
http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.com/

The description of this book intrigued me a lot, so I was thrilled when I received it as an ARC.
A big THANK YOU to Harper Collins for giving me this chance.

It’s a first person book, the whole story is told from Amelia’s point of view and I love reading such ones. Makes me get into the scene so much more, the feelings seem more natural…you know …when you start to believe that you’re going to kiss the partner instead of the heroin...more You can find this on my blog
http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.com/

The description of this book intrigued me a lot, so I was thrilled when I received it as an ARC.
A big THANK YOU to Harper Collins for giving me this chance.

It’s a first person book, the whole story is told from Amelia’s point of view and I love reading such ones. Makes me get into the scene so much more, the feelings seem more natural…you know …when you start to believe that you’re going to kiss the partner instead of the heroine…

So Amelia is dead…of that thing she’s sure of and the fact that she drowned. She doesn’t remember anything more from her life, not her parents, not her friends, not the way her death happened. She spent a lot of the time after death – because she doesn’t remember when it happened, doesn’t even know how many days or centuries passed since – shouting at living people, demanding to be seen and helped…but she eventually gave up. She think she’ll spend eternity in this river she drowned in, and that’s all. She’s the non living proof that the ghost stories are wrong…ghosts can’t move objects, can’t pass through things, can’t float around the way you see in movies… people just by-pass them without knowing and they walk a lot without feeling tired. She can’t feel a thing from the living world either.

But all this changes when, one day she saves a boy from drowning in her river. The moment Joshua opened his eyes and looked at her as if he actually saw her, changed all her afterlife. He is a funny, typical teenager, who thinks it’s cool to have a ghost as a friend.

They grow even closer, when Joshua wants to find out who she was and uncover the strange circumstances of her death. Although she is unsure, and even scared of her condition as a ghost, she lets herself taken by his enthusiasm. The Amelia – Joshua moments are epic, very intense, oh you must read it to find out more!

In the Hereafter part of the world, there’s this strong spirit, Eli who’s doing everything in his power to destroy their bond and have Amelia for himself. I totally liked Eli, he’s dark, handsome and…evil :D. I love it when villains are like this.

The story is a paranormal romance, but with horror accents…I recommend it for ghost stories and gothic fans, but also for those who like a good young adult fantasy(less)

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Oct 28, 2011 Dhezza Silverio rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, e-books-slash-i-books, read-in-2011, wishlist

Amelia is a ghost. She knows she's dead, that she drowned (replaying her death in nightmares) and her name is Amelia. Apart from that she doesn't remember a single thing about her past life. Until one day a car accident happened. A boy named Joshua is drowning and she saved her. That was the first time a living thing saw her. They became friends and more than friends. She can also touch and smell him. When they decided to to find out who Amelia really was. They run into few obstacles. First, Jos...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 04, 2011 Ruth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Why This Book Bugged Me So Much:

p. 24, "A boy climbed out of the driver's side of the car... From his profile I could see he had full lips and a fine nose with just the slightest curve in it, as though it had been broken once but set well. He had almost black hair and large, dark eyes."

p. 29, "As I suspected, his eyes were very dark, but not brown. They were a strange deep blue- an almost midnight sky color. I was certain I'd never seen eyes that color before..."

p. 56, "His profile- square jaw,...more

9 likes · like · see review

Nov 13, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Kelsey Jones for TeensReadToo.com

HEREAFTER was a romantic and alluring debut novel that will surely captivate teen paranormal fans. I liked how the main female character was the ghost and the boy was human - it was a fresh twist and made things that much more entertaining. Tara Hudson has a beautiful and lyrical way of writing, and I know I would read anything she wrote just because of that. Luckily, HEREAFTER succeeded in more ways than one, and after the slow beginning I really got...more Reviewed by Kelsey Jones for TeensReadToo.com

HEREAFTER was a romantic and alluring debut novel that will surely captivate teen paranormal fans. I liked how the main female character was the ghost and the boy was human - it was a fresh twist and made things that much more entertaining. Tara Hudson has a beautiful and lyrical way of writing, and I know I would read anything she wrote just because of that. Luckily, HEREAFTER succeeded in more ways than one, and after the slow beginning I really got into Amelia's story.

Amelia was a unique main character not only because she was a ghost, but because she had so much mystery surrounding her. She knew nothing about herself other than her first name and the age at which she died. No inkling of her family or who killed her/how exactly she died. I felt for her because it must be so horrible to feel so lost and not understand or remember anything about your life.

Also, she has had no human contact for years and keeps waking up from terrifying nightmares where she relives the day she drowned. Drowning is definitely on my list of top five worst ways to die, and I hated having to see Amelia relive her pain day after day. Soon, though, her life (if you can call it that!) is changed forever when she attempts to rescue a teenage boy from drowning in the same river where she herself perished. Amelia discovers that Joshua actually sees her and that they can communicate, as well.

Even though their relationship moved a tad fast, I did enjoy watching Joshua and Amelia get to know and understand each other. Joshua definitely had more to him than met the eye, and his family history was something different. He was a sweet and extremely likable guy and went against all of the usual stereotypes. His feelings for Amelia were clear and he would do so much to protect her, even though she was a ghost. I also liked how much he cared for his sister and made sure she was okay. Jillian was a nice secondary character, and I felt for her when things got tough near the end.

There were so many supernatural elements to the story, and Amelia and Joshua were soon caught up in a web of intrigue and mystery. I liked how I wasn't always entirely sure what was going to happen next, and Tara Hudson definitely surprised me several times.

The last few chapters were extremely intense and I was on the edge of my seat. After making it through the slow beginning, I was soon caught up in HEREAFTER and its original premise. I am anxious for the sequel now, since the ending left me wanting to know more! If you're a fan of paranormal YA fiction, then I definitely recommend checking this one out. (less)

1 like · like · see review

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About Tara Hudson

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Tara Hudson graduated with a degree in law, mostly because she believed all the horror stories about English majors and their careers in the food-service industry. Luckily, she soon remembered how much she loved telling ghost stories, particularly to her girlfriends who liked visiting abandoned cemeteries as much as she did. Tara currently lives in Oklahoma with her hu...more

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Quotes from Hereafter

“See you soon,” I whispered. I bit my lip; and, in a moment of sheer abandon, I added, “I think I might . . . you know . . . love you, by the way.”
“Too,” Joshua whispered back groggily. “Love.” — 45 people liked it

“Jillian,” I whispered, “I know you don’t know who I am. But I love your brother, and I know you do too. So . . . do you think you could wake up? Do you think you could at least try?”
For far too long she gave me no response. I’d just about given up—hung my head and prepared myself for the inevitable, impossible job of comforting Joshua—when Jillian whispered back.
“I guess. Since you asked so nicely.”
In spite of everything, a quiet laugh escaped my lips.
“Thank God. Because I have a feeling you’d be a huge pain in the ass if you died.” — 42 people liked it

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