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After Ever (After #1)

by Jillian Eaton (Goodreads Author)

3.46 of 5 stars 3.46 · rating details · 41 ratings · 21 reviews

“Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you can’t die again in a thousand different ways.”

For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s unexpected death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she has her h...more

Kindle Edition, 196 pages

Published June 12th 2012 by Bay Horse

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Aug 04, 2012 Jillian Eaton marked it as from-the-author · (Review from the author)

Hey everyone! So this is my book... It comes out ~~Tuesday, June 12th~~ [ IT'S OUT! YAY -- click here to purchase! ] and I am super excited. So excited, in fact, that I have decided to make a list of what After Ever has in it so you have... you know... more of an idea.

What AFTER EVER has:

vampires
werewolves
fairies (faeries?)
gods & goddesses

now that THAT'S cleared up...

~~main character with mary sue syndrome~~
main character with dreadlocks
snarky wannabe evil stepmother
evil villain...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Blythe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, didn-t-see-that-coming, hand-me-some-tissues, i-totally-saw-that-coming, judge-a-book-by-the-cover, read-reviewed

I'm not sure as to what I should be writing in this review, because I have conflicted feelings when it comes to After Ever, but I suppose I'll start with the things I really liked when reading After Ever, the things I thought were okay when reading After Ever, and then the not so good.

The (Really) Good

Honestly, I think the good outweighs the bad and the okay, if ever so slightly. The plot is somewhat original, the banter between the characters is witty and entertaining, and the After is an incr...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Belle (Little Paper Rose) rated it 4 of 5 stars

- Review taken from my YA book blog Little Paper Rose

(4.5)

I was so astonished by how well-rounded 'After Ever' was considering it being under the average novel length. You're taken on a complete whirlwind of a journey in Winnie's afterlife or what we learn to be called just the "After" and you'll come out the other end.. intrigued.

Already from the beginning Eaton does a great job of keeping you on your toes. Even though you know Winnie will die, you're not sure when or if she's not already dead...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 17, 2012 Kaitlyn Francis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arr, ax, x, reviewed

Ever wonder what happens after you die, for Winnie just an ordinary teen one day and gone the next isn't something she ever thought of. But when she unexpectedly falls and dies her life doesn't end like that, the Ever works differently. But what happens when death offers you so much more than what life offered, like being able to relive any memory and remember all as if your actually living it. But communicating with the living is a no no and even though the temptation is there Sam is there to h...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 21, 2012 Ornella rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

Excellent book! Really liked the original idea of the After and all it's rules and levels. The Unknowns was a nice addition, it was almost like an after life zombie fight at one point, which I loved xD

The pacing was great, just fast enough that there is always something going, but enough downtime to get to know the characters and for them to develop a relationship. Speaking of which I loved the easy banter between Sam and Winnie, and Winnie's defense mechanism was pretty funny since I...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 13, 2012 Jennifer Bielman (Reading and Writing UF and PNR) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts, young-adult, paranormal, reviewed

From: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

3.5 stars

At A Glance
I loved the concept right away and was pleasently surprised by how much I liked After Ever.

The Good
After her mother's death and father's slow withdraw from the world, Winnie's focus becomes rebelling against her old self. Tattoos, face piercings, and dreadlocks is her new look, and sullen, trouble-making teenager is her new persona. That is until she dies. And the afterlife or "After" is not all its cracked up to be. The After is...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 03, 2012 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley-and-first-reads

After Ever is a novel unlike anything I’ve ever read before. In fact, after pondering over it for a solid twenty-four hours, I’m still not quite sure what to make of it. I really liked it, but I wish there was more. I loved the protagonist, but I wish there was more development for her. I thought the ending was thought-provoking, but it was far too abrupt. Yet, whatever After Ever may be, there is no denying that it is original, unique, and a startling breath of fresh air.

The last thing Winnie w...more After Ever is a novel unlike anything I’ve ever read before. In fact, after pondering over it for a solid twenty-four hours, I’m still not quite sure what to make of it. I really liked it, but I wish there was more. I loved the protagonist, but I wish there was more development for her. I thought the ending was thought-provoking, but it was far too abrupt. Yet, whatever After Ever may be, there is no denying that it is original, unique, and a startling breath of fresh air.

The last thing Winnie wants to do is spend her winter at a vacation resort with her younger brother, father, and Girlfriend #3. Ever since the untimely death of her mother, Winnie has struggled to come to terms with her grief, lashing out at her family and pushing everyone away. Furthermore, her father seems to be stuck in a stupor and blindly listens to his gold-digger girlfriend. So, when Winnie meets Sam Trent, a handsome young guy, at the resort, she believes that things are looking up for the better. However, when Winnie finds out that Sam Trent died seven years ago, she is forced to acknowledge that something is wrong. In fact, she is forced to admit, just a few days later, that she is dead.

After Ever is a novel that can be split in two parts – Before Winnie Died and After Winnie Died. Winnie, our protagonist, is not an easy character to like – she is rude, snappy, and pushes people away. Yet, she is also remarkably human and struggling to cope with her grief, all while trying to live with the family she still has. I admired Eaton’s manner of conveying Winnie’s depth of raw emotion so realistically and I immediately fell in love with her narration of this tale. Although the idea of a deceased family member has already been done before in Young Adult Fiction, Eaton managed to write it in a new and refreshing manner through Winnie’s voice.

In addition to the protagonist, the world Eaton has created in the afterlife is unlike any I’ve read before and is far from being your typical (and rather cliché) heaven. In fact, it is a dangerous realm in itself and Winnie and Sam soon find themselves running for their lives – after they’re dead! I know, crazy right? Yet, this is all explained in a realistic manner and the world-building of After, the place Winnie finds herself in after death, is phenomenal. Furthermore, Eaton manages to convey the universal message of circumstances in life happening for a reason in a way that is not only clever, but easily understood. It was definitely not a theme I expected to emerge from this story, but I’m glad it did.

While I immensely enjoyed After Ever, I think its greatest downfall lay in its length – it was simply too short. I feel as if many aspects in this novel had the potential to be further developed and I wished I could have seen that. For instance, Winnie dies while trying to save her younger brother, Brian, and while I understood her love for her sibling because I have a younger brother myself, I’m not sure if other readers would be able to understand the extent of her affection. Furthermore, I was disappointed by Winnie’s lack of character development throughout the novel. If anything, I felt as if Sam understood how to control and respond to her better opposed to her truly changing. In addition, I really wanted to get some more insight into the people Winnie had left behind after her death. I found the idea of a family torn apart by grief to be very interesting and I hope that we are given a deeper outlook on this perspective in the sequel.

Nevertheless, I found that I loved the lack of a love story in this novel. Although there were plenty of hints of a romance between Sam and Winnie, they remained to be simply friends in this installment and I am curious to see where their story is headed in the sequel. After Ever was a novel I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I would definitely recommend it to anyone searching for a quick, refreshing, and unique read. Sam and Winnie’s story is one that I will be eagerly waiting to read more of in the sequel (especially after that cliffhanger ending!) and the endless possibilities of the world After will keep readers up and thinking long after they’ve read the last word.

I would like to thank Jillian Eaton, the author of After Ever, for providing me with a copy of her novel to read and review. I would also like it to be noted that this in no way impacted my review of this story and my thoughts on this book remain completely honest. Once again, a HUGE thank you to Jillian Eaton for giving me this opportunity!(:

You can see this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
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2 likes · like · see review

Aug 30, 2012 Jessica Williamson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really quite enjoyed this book. As always I enjoyed Eaton's writing style and her ability to make characters the are fun and enjoyable.

Even with all of Win's sass and sarcasm she is overly loveable and isn't far off from people that I keep as friends. And Sam's just adorable with his little sweater vests.

I liked the whole theory of our afterlife and the set-up of it. I mean I disliked the Unknown's and their creepiness but I like their reason for being exactly what they are. I like the idea o...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Lacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

First Thoughts:

I was captured by this book from the very start, I enjoyed the attitude of the main character, I enjoyed the realism and connection I had. This was definitely a quick and enjoyable read. I liked the different dimensions to this world and found the concept and idea to be creative and fun to read. When I went into reading this book I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as soon as I jumped into the world I was able to see that the book was really divided into two parts and I was able to...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 05, 2012 AnQi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, books-in-review, paranormal, recommended-young-adult-fiction, romance-romance-romance, series, young-adult

Goth Girl + Cute Guy In Horn-Rimmed Glasses + A Trip Over Thin Ice= Another Awesomely Written Novella Called After Ever by Jillian Eaton

“Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you can’t die again in a thousand different ways.”

For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s unexpected death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she...more Goth Girl + Cute Guy In Horn-Rimmed Glasses + A Trip Over Thin Ice= Another Awesomely Written Novella Called After Ever by Jillian Eaton

“Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you can’t die again in a thousand different ways.”

For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s unexpected death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she has her hands full. Courtesy of a thin patch of ice and failed swimming lessons, all of that changes in the blink of an eye.

In death Winnie will find the answers that eluded her in life, and a whole slew of other questions she never thought to ask. Like why is she stuck with Sam for a guide? Sure, he’s funny and cute in a geeky sort of way, but he wears sweater vests… and loafers. For a girl who has tattoos on her face and glue in her hair, it’s not exactly the best match up.

But when Sam is taken and his very existence threatened, Winnie must make the ultimate choice between cowardice and courage. Faithlessness and loyalty. Family... and love.

Suspenseful and action packed, After Ever is a must read for anyone who ever wondered: what happens next?

You can never go wrong with a self-published novel that actually has minimal spelling and grammar errors. It's like seeing pizza after a million days eating tofu. And it makes it so much more easier to enjoy.

Winnie Coleman makes me want to laugh and cry in the same sentence. The personality that Eaton has written her is complex and rich, and her relationships with her depressed dad, Girlfriend #3, and her little brother are so vibrant and real it's hard to feel like Winnie is just words on page. And just as she successfully creates such entertaining characters, Eaton builds an otherworldly place in the After, where demons are abroad and magical doors can take you anywhere-seriously. I should call one up to take me to Disneyland.

As the story continues from it's adrenaline fueled introduction, however, loose threads in the plot kept me a little frustrated and overwhelmed. It always felt like there was this rule-book about the After that you kept adding more to, but you still couldn't figure out how it all worked. Nevertheless, After Ever leads to a jaw-dropping ending (cliff-hangers and all) that prompts me to say:

WRITE FASTER! :)(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 11, 2012 Jill Swanson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-and-giveaway, young-adult, blog-review

Full review and interview with the author up on my blog!
http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com

I really loved After Ever! This book was just all around a great read.
Jillian Eaton has produced an original story full of suspense, action and a fresh take on what one experiences in "the After."
Winnie is a different kind of a female lead. She has had a tough time since her mother's death and it has made her defensive, brash and a little rude. Yet, you come to see she is also brave, loyal and simply human....more Full review and interview with the author up on my blog!
http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com

I really loved After Ever! This book was just all around a great read.
Jillian Eaton has produced an original story full of suspense, action and a fresh take on what one experiences in "the After."
Winnie is a different kind of a female lead. She has had a tough time since her mother's death and it has made her defensive, brash and a little rude. Yet, you come to see she is also brave, loyal and simply human. You are taken on her roller coaster ride of emotion and you realize that she is just trying cope with her grief.
The author did a wonderful job of making Winnie a believable character. Her turmoil and frustration were all so real to the reader.
Then in comes Sam. (Girl meets boy, or rather girl meets her afterlife guide?) I loved Sam's character. He is the opposite of Winnie, yet they seem to fit together perfectly. (I am a sucker for sweater vests as well...) Their budding relationship is kept strictly as a friendship, all though I liked how there are subtle hints that it might be something more in future books.
The lack of romance fit great with this story. You were able to focus solely on what was important; the unfolding of an intriguing new world, The After.
The layers of this world are so unique, from the doors one uses to transport from points in time, to the threatening presence of the Unknown. I was impressed by these aspects of the story.
There are a couple twists towards the end of the book that raise some great questions about the plot. Really gets you geared up for the sequel, which I look forward to reading!
The only reservation I have about this book is the length. I didn't notice the slightly shorter length until the end came around. I would have liked a little more detail about Winnie's family and even a little more development of her character. Both of those felt a bit rushed to me.
However, this did not take away from my enjoyment of the story at all! Thinking about "the After" has got my head reeling, in a good way! I can't wait to read more from Jillian Eaton!
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1 like · like · see review

Jul 29, 2012 Judith (Judith'sChoiceReads) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: requested-review, june-2012-releases, tookie-s-got-it, fingers-crossed, ya-fiction, sounds-good-to-me, ghost-stories, paranormal-intrigue

**This review features on my blog, Choice Reads as well, drop by :)

Goodreads Summary

“Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you can’t die again in a thousand different ways.”

For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s unexpected death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she has her hands full. Courtesy of a thin patch of ice

...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 09, 2012 Kerry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-have

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars.

"I hope it's a long walk from the parking lot to the resort. That would teach Girlfriend #3 not to dress like a hooker."

Very unique story! I've read a lot of books about the afterlife, but the plot to this one was something else. I had to laugh at (view spoiler) being in the afterlife though. There was plenty to laugh at in this book. I liked how it was written. I liked Winnifred ~~but who the fuck would hate their kid enough to name them that?~~ she...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Once Upon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Have you ever wondered what happens next after you die. Well in this book After Ever it takes you on a adventure of a sixteen year old that ends up falling through the ice and dying because she went looking for her brother that came up missing. I loved the book so much because I could imagine myself in her situation before. My father died when I was 8 years old and I ended up taking care of my brother and sister. I always wanted to end up breaking up any guy my mom ever went out with because it...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 Kelly added it

I would have liked this book a lot more if the format for the last third of the kindle book had actually been READABLE! Arghh...

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Nov 07, 2012 Kellie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: come-back-to-later

I jus couldn't get into it..
Gave up about 26%
I think I'll try it again at another time

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Aug 28, 2012 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5, really. Better than I expected! Will read the next when it comes out!

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Jul 23, 2012 Alisa rated it 2 of 5 stars

2.5 Stars

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Aug 22, 2012 Autumn rated it 3 of 5 stars

I actually really enjoyed this book. It kept my entertained the whole time.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 28, 2013 Phoe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: free-kindle-books, 2013, paranorm

Interesting world, vaguely interesting characters but everything felt rushed and unresolved. The ending was disappointing too.

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May 19, 2013 Cassie Hawkings marked it as to-read

Shelves: to-buy-from-booktopia

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About Jillian Eaton

I drink too much coffee. I love ducks and horses. Reading is probably my favorite thing to do. I used to have a pet squirrel named Baby Clem. I am convinced my dog is part dingo. More than anything else in the entire world I love to write. What started as something I used to do in Algebra class (sorry Mr. Given) has since become a full blown obsession. I also love to meet and chat with fellow writ...more

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Quotes from After Ever

“For God's sake put on your glasses, Sam. You're staring right at my boobs.” — 3 people liked it

“I am like a ship, cast out in the ocean to bob aimlessly amidst the waves. No, I correct myself silently. Not a ship. More like the buoy that the ship runs over.” — 3 people liked it

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After Ever (After #1)

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