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14th out of 115 books
—
158 voters
Before Ever After
by
Samantha Sotto (Goodreads Author)
Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max—same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose—he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Itali...more
Paperback, 296 pages
Published
February 2012
by Crown Publishers
(first published August 2nd 2011)
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Aug 23, 2011
K.D. Oliveros
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to K.D. by:
Samantha Sotto
Shelves:
local,
love-story,
romance,
tragicomic,
mystery,
chick-lit,
travel,
about-philippines,
french,
first,
humour
Today is exactly one month after I bought and started reading Samantha Sotto’s first novel, Before Ever After. For the first 2 days, I read the first 50 pages and I stopped. I did not like it. Had I continued till I finished it, I would not know how to give her my feedback without being dishonest or worse, hurting her feelings.
She was one of the member-guests in the 5th Meet Up of Filipinos group here in Goodreads on July 23, 2011. Few months before that day, she invited us to attend her book la...more
She was one of the member-guests in the 5th Meet Up of Filipinos group here in Goodreads on July 23, 2011. Few months before that day, she invited us to attend her book la...more
61 likes
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Its Sunday, the warm days are over and trying to cover myself with a piece of blanket while listening to the beautiful sound of the rain and the strong stamping of the wind while reading a book. A baked egg and cheese, and a cup of Jasmine tea are nice combination for a perfect Sunday. Well, who said I can't be somebody who enjoyed chicken in its maximum level? I think most of us does.
Yesterday was the best day of the week because I was doomed by the number of exams I attended last week. At leas...more
Yesterday was the best day of the week because I was doomed by the number of exams I attended last week. At leas...more
41 likes
·
like
· see review
Dec 14, 2011
Joyzi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who love Time Traveler's Wife
Recommended to Joyzi by:
Samantha Sotto
I think I’m one of the few fortunate people in Goodreads who actually have been given 3 free books, as of this year 2011 (And I’m talking of real, tangible books not just e-books). First I've won in the Goodreads Giveaways (I’m not confabulating its really true) and I’ve got two books Envy and Chill Factor by Sandra Brown delivered at my doorstep and it was autographed…Oh My Gosh.
And then my luck of receiving free books doesn’t end there. This book that I’m reviewing Before Ever After was given...more
And then my luck of receiving free books doesn’t end there. This book that I’m reviewing Before Ever After was given...more
23 likes
·
like
· see review
Oct 24, 2011
jzhunagev
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Romance novel readers and fans of The Time Traveler's Wife
Recommended to jzhunagev by:
Samantha Sotto
Of Chickens, Journeys, and Forever
(A Book Review of Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto)
With its share of joys and aches, Shelley Sullivan’s love story, on its surface, is something we have known and heard before — that is until the day of her husband’s untimely demise in a terror bombing in Lisbon, halting her blissful though short marriage to Max Gallus. As three years of grief and difficulty of moving on have made her painfully realize, sometimes love stories doesn’t always turn out for the b...more
9 likes
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STORY:
Shelley is devastated with grief over her husband Max’s death. Then one day a familiar stranger knocks on her door, and Shelley’s world is turned upside down. There is more to her husband than she realized. Who was Max?
WRITING STYLE:
The prose was a bit bizarre for me— I love it one minute, it grates on me the next. Not because it was horrible, but because for me the writing bears a slightly freakish resemblance to fanfiction. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it gave me that vibe. (Let it...more
Shelley is devastated with grief over her husband Max’s death. Then one day a familiar stranger knocks on her door, and Shelley’s world is turned upside down. There is more to her husband than she realized. Who was Max?
WRITING STYLE:
The prose was a bit bizarre for me— I love it one minute, it grates on me the next. Not because it was horrible, but because for me the writing bears a slightly freakish resemblance to fanfiction. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it gave me that vibe. (Let it...more
7 likes
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like
· see review
This is not a review. I’m simply thinking out loud.
I’ve chewed on my thoughts far too long. Yet, all my thoughts were merely reduced to one question: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”
No, do not laugh at me. I’m serious. Well, I am, (except) I think that is a less complicated question than “which came first, life or death?” Then, of course, you’ll reply: “It’s the circle of life.” I’ve seen all the Lion King movies too, and I also bow to Mufasa’s wisdom; but another wiser being also s...more
I’ve chewed on my thoughts far too long. Yet, all my thoughts were merely reduced to one question: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”
No, do not laugh at me. I’m serious. Well, I am, (except) I think that is a less complicated question than “which came first, life or death?” Then, of course, you’ll reply: “It’s the circle of life.” I’ve seen all the Lion King movies too, and I also bow to Mufasa’s wisdom; but another wiser being also s...more
5 likes
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like
· see review
I loved the historical fiction. The transition of timelines is amusing.
I didn't focus much on Max & Shelley's love story. I didn't like Shelley but I loved the other characters. What captured me most is the different identities of Max Gallus. I always loved the story behind the history. Oh, and the baked eggs got me curious. What's the recipe? What could be that secret ingredient? A pinch of ----. Tsk!
I didn't focus much on Max & Shelley's love story. I didn't like Shelley but I loved the other characters. What captured me most is the different identities of Max Gallus. I always loved the story behind the history. Oh, and the baked eggs got me curious. What's the recipe? What could be that secret ingredient? A pinch of ----. Tsk!
3 likes
·
like
· see review
Jan 18, 2013
Joy (joyous reads)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU and most especially, YOU.
Shelves:
cant-put-these-down,
favourites
I wish I could sufficiently say
exactly what's on my mind
or how to pick up the pieces
of a heart that's been sliced to rinds.
I wouldn't even know where to start
or how to put it in perspective,
but if I silenced my thoughts...
would that be more effective?
It was lovely and sad
maybe even life-changing
It was a story about love
and of a man never ageing.
There was no magic spell
nor is he a night creature.
He is just a man
who'd lived a thousand lives
and adventures.
It would all make sense
once you read this b...more
exactly what's on my mind
or how to pick up the pieces
of a heart that's been sliced to rinds.
I wouldn't even know where to start
or how to put it in perspective,
but if I silenced my thoughts...
would that be more effective?
It was lovely and sad
maybe even life-changing
It was a story about love
and of a man never ageing.
There was no magic spell
nor is he a night creature.
He is just a man
who'd lived a thousand lives
and adventures.
It would all make sense
once you read this b...more
14 likes
·
like
· see review
Eggs.
Whether its well done, sunny side up, creamy scrambled eggs, by the time I'm finished with this book, I was having egg withdrawals.
You guessed it. Before Ever After revolves around eggs which I think, for some time, was pretty out of the box. That and the egg hunt tour around Europe.
But then, it's what gave the novel a unique charm. I've always been in love with Europe. The cobbled streets lit by the warm glow of lamps. The brick houses and the castles. The history and culture that resonate...more
Whether its well done, sunny side up, creamy scrambled eggs, by the time I'm finished with this book, I was having egg withdrawals.
You guessed it. Before Ever After revolves around eggs which I think, for some time, was pretty out of the box. That and the egg hunt tour around Europe.
But then, it's what gave the novel a unique charm. I've always been in love with Europe. The cobbled streets lit by the warm glow of lamps. The brick houses and the castles. The history and culture that resonate...more
You are in love, married and happy and suddenly everything changes. He is gone, and a part of you has gone with him.
If after three years of misery and sadness, you were told your assumed to be dead husband was actually alive, what would you do?
This book is not a YA book but it sure has a feel to it. It's magical, heartbreaking and inspirational. Love makes us believe in silly things, doesn't it? Oh well, I like to think so.
Samatha Sotto has beautifully written this book, it is clear how much t...more
If after three years of misery and sadness, you were told your assumed to be dead husband was actually alive, what would you do?
This book is not a YA book but it sure has a feel to it. It's magical, heartbreaking and inspirational. Love makes us believe in silly things, doesn't it? Oh well, I like to think so.
Samatha Sotto has beautifully written this book, it is clear how much t...more
3.5/5
There were things I loved, things that had me melting, and moments that just didn't compute. Before Ever After isn't something I'd normally pick having sworn off time travel romances... but the epilogue saved me from days of agonizing over what if's and what could be's. The very same epilogue that's got me craving baked eggs and cheese.
Positives.
The last book of stories in another story that I did read was one I didn't love so much. In it, I kept waiting for the big connect, the common thre...more
There were things I loved, things that had me melting, and moments that just didn't compute. Before Ever After isn't something I'd normally pick having sworn off time travel romances... but the epilogue saved me from days of agonizing over what if's and what could be's. The very same epilogue that's got me craving baked eggs and cheese.
Positives.
The last book of stories in another story that I did read was one I didn't love so much. In it, I kept waiting for the big connect, the common thre...more
8 likes
·
like
· see review
I find it really dragging at first. Una pa lng sad na. Stalled yun mga memories, scattered even. But as I find my way to the end, it keeps on getting better and better. It has piqued my interest. Not only by the eggs and chickens but the stories behind Max. I liked it. The novel is sad but filled with hope.. my heart is full of hope.. I really want to believe that there's forever after for Max and Shelley..
"I have every reason to be sad, but I don't have any reason to mourn. People grieve when t...more
"I have every reason to be sad, but I don't have any reason to mourn. People grieve when t...more
3 likes
·
like
· see review
Apr 02, 2013
Michelle Lancaster
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-i-ve-reviewed
By Samantha Sotto
Broadway Paperbacks (Random House), 296 pgs
978-0-307-71988-1
Rating: 2.5
Shelley and Max meet on a tour of very personal and specific alternative European history. Shelley is a recent American transplant to London, trying to escape the death of her father and her mother's consuming grief, and Max is a tour guide from AD 79. Time travel and immortality are trendy in popular culture and this is yet another addition to the cannon, although this seems more like reincarnation than anyt...more
Broadway Paperbacks (Random House), 296 pgs
978-0-307-71988-1
Rating: 2.5
Shelley and Max meet on a tour of very personal and specific alternative European history. Shelley is a recent American transplant to London, trying to escape the death of her father and her mother's consuming grief, and Max is a tour guide from AD 79. Time travel and immortality are trendy in popular culture and this is yet another addition to the cannon, although this seems more like reincarnation than anyt...more
Honestly, I got bored at first. It was too descriptive... I guess? (Or maybe that's just me).
Anyway, my sister was the one who told me to read it. I read it but then stopped then reread it again after some time. I regret thinking that it's not nice and that it's boring.
It might be confusing to others because she (Samantha Sotto) switches settings from time to time but she indicates it though. It had the right amount of romance and there were information about the places they visited. While I wa...more
Anyway, my sister was the one who told me to read it. I read it but then stopped then reread it again after some time. I regret thinking that it's not nice and that it's boring.
It might be confusing to others because she (Samantha Sotto) switches settings from time to time but she indicates it though. It had the right amount of romance and there were information about the places they visited. While I wa...more
Mar 29, 2013
Ella Quing
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
chick-lit,
borrowed-library-books
I'm not usually a fan of chick lit unless a) they're really funny b)someone who knows my tastes recommended it to me c) it's in the library and I can read it for free and I have free time.
This book was recommended by a blogger I follow so I thought, well ok if I see it in the library I'll borrow it. I saw it on the library the following day so I borrowed it.
At first, the story was alright. The husband of the character died in the first chapter and I was thinking "Oh, is this like P.S. I love you...more
This book was recommended by a blogger I follow so I thought, well ok if I see it in the library I'll borrow it. I saw it on the library the following day so I borrowed it.
At first, the story was alright. The husband of the character died in the first chapter and I was thinking "Oh, is this like P.S. I love you...more
I originally rated this four stars, but then when I was writing my first draft of my review, I realized it needed to be downgraded, because it turned out I had a few big problems with it. I think it's original four star rating was because it was much better than I expected it to be, so maybe let's give it 3.5 stars.
The Good:
*All the Max stuff. Pretty much all the parts of the book related to Max were surprisingly depth-ful. I loved Sotto's exploration of mortality and family. And the chickens pa...more
The Good:
*All the Max stuff. Pretty much all the parts of the book related to Max were surprisingly depth-ful. I loved Sotto's exploration of mortality and family. And the chickens pa...more
This week I read Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos. I absolutely loved this book, and I laughed out loud many times while reading it. Shanley Belle took the book to her dorm before I could write this post because she could tell how much I enjoyed it.
Chloe Parker, a 38 year old divorcee with an eight year old daughter, is on the verge of bankruptcy. Her upscale printing business has been impacted by the sluggish economy: no one wants to purchase her lovely hand pressed and embossed sta...more
Chloe Parker, a 38 year old divorcee with an eight year old daughter, is on the verge of bankruptcy. Her upscale printing business has been impacted by the sluggish economy: no one wants to purchase her lovely hand pressed and embossed sta...more
It had been months ago since I heard of the BIG NEWS.
About that Filipina author whose first novel got published by Random House... Her FIRST novel, let me emphasize. I couldn't be prouder, now that there's a Filipino who has displayed excellence in the World of Words, and not just in the boxing ring, the beauty pageant catwalk, and the football field. And from that day, I had been drooling, almost literally, on getting my hands on and feasting on the book's content. Unfortunately, it was too pri...more
About that Filipina author whose first novel got published by Random House... Her FIRST novel, let me emphasize. I couldn't be prouder, now that there's a Filipino who has displayed excellence in the World of Words, and not just in the boxing ring, the beauty pageant catwalk, and the football field. And from that day, I had been drooling, almost literally, on getting my hands on and feasting on the book's content. Unfortunately, it was too pri...more
I usually am a sucker for this kind of romance stories spanning over centuries. But I have to say that I am always reluctant to pick up this kind of books since I know for a fact that most do end on a sad note. For a person who has read My name is memory, Time traveler's wife and the Historian to name a few I tend to see the same themes repeating themselves and then again the storylines would be become cliche. I was pleasantly surprised with the writing style and I do consider Samantha a very in...more
An interesting, novel idea that was poorly executed.
Our story opens with Shelley still struggling with the sudden, violent death of her husband Max three years earlier. She is slowly piecing her life back together but cannot seem to put any real meaning behind her efforts. All of that changes when a Paolo, a man who looks shockingly like her deceased husband, shows up at Shelley’s apartment claiming to be Max’s grandson! Not only that, but Max is alive and well in the Philippines. As Paolo and S...more
Our story opens with Shelley still struggling with the sudden, violent death of her husband Max three years earlier. She is slowly piecing her life back together but cannot seem to put any real meaning behind her efforts. All of that changes when a Paolo, a man who looks shockingly like her deceased husband, shows up at Shelley’s apartment claiming to be Max’s grandson! Not only that, but Max is alive and well in the Philippines. As Paolo and S...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Most chick-lit begins with a heroine going through a number of awkward and cringe-worthy moments before ending happily ever after with the prince charming of her dreams. This is not that novel. Shelly has been mourning her prince charming for three years since he was killed by a bomb in Spain, barely able to breathe under the weight of his absence. Ironically, on the day she finally begins to heal, a stranger arrives on her doorstep who reminds her of Max to such an extent that she begins to won...more
1. Did you like the book? Why/why not?
I got about 50 pages into the book and had a few moments of "Oh, crap. How do I get out of reading the rest of this book?!" Something about it just didn't click for me at first. But, I pressed on. The more I read, the more I liked it. By the end of the book, I was quite emotionally engaged with the character of the main plot and sub-plots. I genuinely wanted to know what came AFTER the author's chosen end to the book.
I will say that this book led me to think...more
I got about 50 pages into the book and had a few moments of "Oh, crap. How do I get out of reading the rest of this book?!" Something about it just didn't click for me at first. But, I pressed on. The more I read, the more I liked it. By the end of the book, I was quite emotionally engaged with the character of the main plot and sub-plots. I genuinely wanted to know what came AFTER the author's chosen end to the book.
I will say that this book led me to think...more
It seems like the consensus on this book has been "a great premise with average-to-mediocre execution." I agree.
The overarching concept - an immortal man's "widow" is in search of him, discovering that the European tour he led was based more on fact than it orginally seemed - is intriguing. The concept of the same person being able to live throughout different eras and be able to remember his life from them, is obviously intriguing, especially for lovers of history (or historical fiction).
But th...more
The overarching concept - an immortal man's "widow" is in search of him, discovering that the European tour he led was based more on fact than it orginally seemed - is intriguing. The concept of the same person being able to live throughout different eras and be able to remember his life from them, is obviously intriguing, especially for lovers of history (or historical fiction).
But th...more
Done with "Before Ever After" and I must say, it was an interesting read. I think you would love it if you have dreams of going on a European tour someday, especially if you enjoy historical novels.
It was interesting for me, not because it contained beautiful prose but because of it's cover. The cover really got me because I found it cute, no, gorgeous.
Anyway, here's what I have to say: I read it and it gave me a "so-so" feel. I was bored with Shelley's personality, and I cannot understand why...more
It was interesting for me, not because it contained beautiful prose but because of it's cover. The cover really got me because I found it cute, no, gorgeous.
Anyway, here's what I have to say: I read it and it gave me a "so-so" feel. I was bored with Shelley's personality, and I cannot understand why...more
I found this book in the "reader's choice" section of my local library and thought it sounded fun and romantic. I was disappointed. I thought the writing was pedantic and a little bit cheesy. I don't mind cheesy if it's a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, but this one seems overly sentimental. I found it difficult to sympathize with any of the main characters; the most interesting character barely appeared in the story. My main issue with this book is silly, but it seriously bothered...more
2 likes
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like
· see review
This is kinda late but I just had this need to express my feelings about the story.
I'm not a big fan of a Romance genre, Just a fan.
I'm more of a history-fiction girl with a little pinch of mystery and stuff.
A friend gave me this and I was uninterested at first but hey it's got an immortal guy so I opened the book.
And just like other book.. It got me hooked up. I couldn't put it down. The only difference is that it's romance. Books like that usually got me bored. But this is just perfect.
I was...more
I'm not a big fan of a Romance genre, Just a fan.
I'm more of a history-fiction girl with a little pinch of mystery and stuff.
A friend gave me this and I was uninterested at first but hey it's got an immortal guy so I opened the book.
And just like other book.. It got me hooked up. I couldn't put it down. The only difference is that it's romance. Books like that usually got me bored. But this is just perfect.
I was...more
Feb 23, 2012
Beverly Diehl
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Beverly by:
Smart Chicks Book Club
Loved it. The hero gets blown to pieces in the prologue, leaving Shelley, the heroine, a rich if heartbroken young widow. So the story is shown in flashback style, a la The Time Traveler's Wife, but this is a very different book. Yes, it's a love story, and it's happy, and sad, and there's much mystery as the story unfolds, but it's also light and funny, with tasty turns of phrase sprinkled in: "Shelly made do with a breakfast of burned toast slathered with trans-fat-free disappointment."
I fell...more
I fell...more
A book written by Samantha Sotto. A Filipino writer based in the Philippines who obviously and enviously made her way to the world of writing.
The book is about the love of Max and Shelley. They’re a beautiful and happy couple who made everyday a moment to love each other and make endless memories together. The type of couple who knows each other so well to the point that each knows how each other wants their tea made or what kind. Then a drastic and inevitable life changing incident happened – M...more
The book is about the love of Max and Shelley. They’re a beautiful and happy couple who made everyday a moment to love each other and make endless memories together. The type of couple who knows each other so well to the point that each knows how each other wants their tea made or what kind. Then a drastic and inevitable life changing incident happened – M...more
Before Ever After is one of those books that will make you think a lot even after you finished reading it.
I liked this book. I totally do. I even forgot that this was written by a Filipino author because the work is so foreign as to say. Also, it's her debut novel so it really amazed me that she has written such great literary piece.
The story goes. A couple is involved. The guy died. A younger-man-resembling his dead husband came up in front of her door saying her dead husband is alive and that...more
I liked this book. I totally do. I even forgot that this was written by a Filipino author because the work is so foreign as to say. Also, it's her debut novel so it really amazed me that she has written such great literary piece.
The story goes. A couple is involved. The guy died. A younger-man-resembling his dead husband came up in front of her door saying her dead husband is alive and that...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Giveaways: Win 'Before Ever After' by Samantha Sotto! | 1 | 19 | Jun 03, 2012 06:48pm | |
| which among the stories relayed by Max did you like the most? | 4 | 53 | Sep 11, 2011 09:25am | |
| Read It Forward: Meet the Author! Join Samantha Sotto Wed 9/7 @ 8:00 p.m. EST | 71 | 85 | Sep 10, 2011 07:46am | |
| Isshin Dream: Group Read August Week One- Before Ever After | 89 | 22 | Aug 30, 2011 08:03am |
In an alternate universe, I am Dr. Who’s faithful companion, traveling through time with him and constantly rearranging furniture on the TARDIS. I am also Oprah’s best friend and Ellen’s favorite Friday night poker buddy. And did I mention that I have legs that would make Giselle Bundchen hang her head down in shame? In this one, I am a five foot two rabid Dr. Who fan (I miss you, David Tennant) w...more
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“We change at least one person's life just by being born”
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“If we accept time for what it is, how it flows and how we flow with it, I doubt very much that would continue wasting loads of it by constantly checking our watches.”
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