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After

by Kristin Harmel (Goodreads Author)

3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 · rating details · 283 ratings · 48 reviews

Lacey's world shatters when her dad is killed in a car accident. And secretly? She feels like it’s her fault. If she hadn’t taken her own sweet time getting ready that morning . . . well, it never would have happened. Her mom wouldn’t be a basket case. Her brother Logan wouldn’t drink. And her little brother would still have two parents.

But life goes on even if you don’t w...more

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published February 9th 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (first published January 29th 2010)

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Jan 14, 2012 BookChic Club rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've read two other Harmel books, her YA debut When You Wish and her adult debut How to Sleep with a Movie Star, and loved both of them. This is no different in the fact that I really enjoyed it, but it's different from her previous novels in tone. I was a bit surprised by what the book was about when I got it in the mail a few weeks ago, considering Harmel's past works, but was eager to see how she would fare with a more somber book.

Let me just say that she did a very good job- there's just the...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, ya

I enjoyed this book. It's a YA, so I read it in a day. I like this author a lot and I'll read anything from her, but I like her chick-lit books better. I think maybe because they last longer. But this one was okay. The "issue" was the girls dad died in a car accident and she sort of blamed herself for the accident. She and her two brothers were in the car with their dad when he got into an accident. She blames herself because she purposely and jokingly took longer in the bathroom then needed and...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

A sweetly told story of a teenaged girl’s struggle to survive the unexpected death of her father, After, was a quick subtle read.

There was a fair share of angst, as one would expect from a story based on the loss of a parent, but it wasn’t of the hang-wringing, over wrought into hysterical depression variety. It was understated and for a book of short length paced very well. Surprisingly, Harmel was able to deep dive into the subject matter with ease and tremendous focus despite the book’s brevi...more

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May 20, 2011 Haylee rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was definately not a terrible read. But there were some major things that should've/could've been changed to make it more realistic and likeable.

Firstly, let me start off by saying that the writing was the main problem in this book. The characters did not have enough differences. I mean sure, you have Logan who has a temper, and a bunch of stereotypical mean girls, but the author had them say the same lines a lot, even though they're different people. For example, whenever a character...more This book was definately not a terrible read. But there were some major things that should've/could've been changed to make it more realistic and likeable.

Firstly, let me start off by saying that the writing was the main problem in this book. The characters did not have enough differences. I mean sure, you have Logan who has a temper, and a bunch of stereotypical mean girls, but the author had them say the same lines a lot, even though they're different people. For example, whenever a character didn't know a good comeback, they would always say:

"Yeah, well,"

Every. single. character. I'm sorry, but people don't all talk the same way. It just really bugged me. A simple problem, with a simple solution. I can't believe the editor didn't catch it.

Another thing I did not like about this book was the fact that the characters were. not. real. I mean, they always were doing and thinking unrealistic things. These are high school students, they don't act like that.

Here's an example. If your going to read this book then don't read this paragraph because it has a small spoiler in it. Okay, here it is: ********SPOILER********* The main character Lacey, decides she's gonna start this club for people who lost their parents, to "help them feel normal". ****** I'm sorry, first of all, no teenager would have the guts or stupidity to ask a bunch of students they don't know well to come to some club to talk about their dead parents. And secondly, the kids who lost a parent would NOT be eager to go to some group like that. I mean, be real. These are teenagers, that stuff is embarrassing and weird. And they aren't suddenly going to like it just because they tell eachother how their parent died.

Another thing that bothered me:
WHY DOES THERE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SOME MYSTERIOUS NEW GUY WHO INSTANTLY FALLS IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE WHO YOU'D LEAST EXPECT HIM TO?????

I can't give the author too much crap about that one though, because pretty much every romance novel is like that. But it still annoys the crap out of me.

What did I like about this book? Well, Sam, the main guy was cute and it was a fairly cute story. Also, she didn't give into peer pressure and drink and destroy her health like a lot of the depressed teen characters do in a lot of the newer books. So it wasn't a terrible read. I don't feel like I got ANYTHING out of it though. But hey, not all books can be amazing.(less)

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Nov 15, 2012 Wan Yu( Stephanie) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 11th-grade

Lacey's life was perfect, but everything changed and shattered after her father died during a car accident. Her mother put all her attention in work; her older brother drank; her younger brother will have a "family". She thought she should take the responsibility for her father's death because she believed her father won't die if she leaves the house 5 mins early or later.
"There's before. And then there's after." This line is showed clearly in the front cover of the book and it really stands...more

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Feb 14, 2010 Cassy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-in-2010, first-reads, problem-novels

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the third book that I've won off Goodreads and it is easily the best. It deals with a sixteen year old girl and her grief. It also deals with her family and how her entire world changes when her father is killed. I think Harmel did a very good job with describing the events of this young girl's life without going over the top.

Lacey's reaction to her father's death is that it was her fault. She believes that she was the reason for his death, mainly because she dragged her feet the morning...more This is the third book that I've won off Goodreads and it is easily the best. It deals with a sixteen year old girl and her grief. It also deals with her family and how her entire world changes when her father is killed. I think Harmel did a very good job with describing the events of this young girl's life without going over the top.

Lacey's reaction to her father's death is that it was her fault. She believes that she was the reason for his death, mainly because she dragged her feet the morning it happened. She seems to deal with her grief by taking on every responsibility. Her family is falling apart around her and she constantly feels the need to fix things. I felt like she was trying to fix everything in the hope that it would make up for the one thing she couldn't fix.

Lacey also couldn't seem to drum up sympathy for anyone around her. Her best friend, Jennica, had parents who had just gone through a divorce. All Lacey could think was that at least they were still alive and, despite being such good friends with her, couldn't really see how it was worse than what Lacey herself was going through. It wasn't until Jennica's father remarried, and decided not to invite his two daughters to his wedding, that Lacey started to understand that just because your parent didn't die didn't mean you couldn't lose them.

Sam was the love interest of the story and was actually one part of the story that I didn't enjoy. His arrival seemed too well-placed. He moved into Lacey's school about ten months after Lacey's father died and plays the part of the understanding comforter and friend who has also lost a parent. He seemed to be everything she needed and, of course, Lacey, who had been closed off to everyone since her father died, opened up to Sam. Then, predictably, he betrayed her. However, to Harmel's credit, it was not in a way I thought. Harmel had Sam tell Lacey the ever ominous "I have something to tell you" line, which always ends up being something bad. I was betting on Sam being sick. Then Sam disappears for five days and Lacey finally talks to his aunt. It turns out that Sam's father isn't really dead; he was just in a coma and had woken up.

Lacey had started a group that consists of kids her age who have lost a parent, including her older brother. It isn't really a grief group; they've all been through that and couldn't stand it. It was just a group of people to hang out with who understood and weren't going to treat you differently. For the first time people weren't staring at them, weren't giving them sympathetic looks and they knew that the other people weren't befriending them for the sole reason that they had just lost a parent. It was a group of kids that finally started to feel normal again, if only for a few hours. Sam joined the group, not realizing at first that it was a group for kids whose parents had died, no just people who felt that they had lost them. When Lacey learns that, not only did he never clear up the misunderstanding, but now his father is awake and Same has gotten his second chance, she refuses to talk to him, feeling betrayed, and reasonably so. It wasn't quite the surprise I expected which counteracted the formulaic feeling I was starting to get in terms of the romance.

Lacey's family is also a mess. Her mother spends almost all of her time working, never really helping her kids in the way that they need it. She wasn't dealing with the situation so she couldn't really help her kids deal with it. Lacey's younger brother, Tanner, all but stopped speaking. If he said a sentence a day it was a big deal. He completely retreated into himself and even stopped hanging out with his friends. You find out later it's because he thinks that it wasn't right for him to feel happy, to be happy, now that his dad was gone. Lacey's older brother, Logan, started drinking heavily. Lacey's way of coping was trying to hold her family together. I liked the different reactions Harmel presented her readers with. No two people dealt with their grief in the same way. Lacey continually insisted that she was fine when it was obvious to everyone that she wasn't fine.

One of my favorite scenes in the book was when Lacey went to her father's grave on the one year anniversary of his death. She had been there earlier with her mother and younger brother but was once again taking care of her family. Later that evening, she went out running and ran to the cemetery. She starts talking to her father's headstone apologizing for everything: how she dragged her feet that fateful morning, how she should have said something when she saw the SUV coming, how she should have looked up sooner, and finally, that it wasn't her, that she wasn't the one that was hit. It was such an emotional and moving moment and Lacey finally confronted all of the things that she had been avoiding for a year. She finally admits that she was angry at him. She was angry at her father for leaving and not caring enough to stay.

When she leaves the cemetery, Sam is standing there, ready to support her and Lacey finally forgives him, realizing that just because people's parents haven't died doesn't mean that she should shut them out of her life.

The only other thing about the book that I didn't like was that, at the end, Logan ends up in the hospital after drinking and hitting a telephone pole with a car. He ends up being ok but suddenly, all the problems the family was seeming to have disappeared. Lacey's mother started to take an interest in her family again, Logan went to rehab, Tanner found a friend, the younger sister of one of the kids in Lacey's group, and started talking again. I don't mind things fixing themselves, because eventually things usually do fix themselves. It's never easy and it's never quick but it happens. I just think Harmel did it a little too quickly. Everything was wrapped up into a neat little bow and everyone was happy again. Not that it wouldn't happen, I just think that it would take more time than that.

Overall, I was impressed with the book. I love YA lit anyway and Harmel really presents us a tragic yet wonderful story. I was a little unsure of this book because often books that deal with grief don't execute well. However, I really feel like Harmel managed to show you how differently everyone reacts to things and not just to death. (less)

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Feb 01, 2011 Paige rated it 2 of 5 stars

"After" is a book about a loss of a family member and how to stop feeling grief when it comes to that person passing away. As Lacey tries to cope with losing her dad, she feels alone. Her older brother is drinking, her mom works way too much, and her younger brother isn't doing anything anymore! When Lacey starts a group for people that have lost a parent she meets Sam. Lacey starts falling for Sam, but then he tells her that he "knows how she feels" when she talks about losing her dad. Lacey g...more

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May 15, 2010 Carissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I haven't read really any young adult novels since that particular time in my life, but I was drawn to this book because it deals with the deal of a father, which is something I unfortunately am familiar with. The moment I began reading this book, I was instantly drawn to the main character, Lacey because I felt her pain and really related to so much of what she was going through even through she is only 16. I really feel that Kristin Hamel did such an amazing job at portray...more

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Jun 07, 2010 Vanessa Chen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2009-2010

The book is about a girl,Lacey, who loses her father in a car accident. Her whole school feels bad for her because of her loss and she feels that they are treating her differently because of it. She wants to act normal like any other kid but she relizes that other people in her life wont let her. They try to make her feel better and comfort her but Lacey feels thta it is just making her uncomfortable. When I put myself into Lacey's shoes, I can see and feel what she goes through in her life. I c...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-2011-books

Losing someone specail to you is very difficult, it gets harder when your family refuses to to accept the fact that he or she is gone and you are forced to hold up the family and keep yourself from being too grieved. This is what the main character has to face, though out the book she refused to let anyone into her world and she always thought she could solve all the problems because she thought she was the reason why everyone was in grief, asd so she tries hard to get everyone to speak up about...more

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May 29, 2011 Catalina Sennett rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay so here is my story: My father passed away when I was 5. The thing is...I am not sorry. He was a horrible person, he killed people, and he abused my mom for 14 years, it was only a matter of time before he would kill her too. I absolutely hate when people tell me they are sorry when they find out my father died. I think the world is a better place without him in it. So in a way I couldnt really relate to the kids in this book, because they all loved their parents who passed. But, I put myse...more

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Jun 15, 2010 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book really impressed me. It clearly shows readers about grief, that it looks different for everyone, people can handle it in healthy and non healthy ways, and nobody is perfect.

It compares death to divorce, which is common in grief, and shows that it's not a perfect comparison. I like that the book really starts 9 months after the death, and shows that grief is not a short season, but takes a long time to process.

I strongly encourage everyone to read this book, both people who have experie...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Lacey's father dies in a car accident she feels like it's her fault. If she didn't insist on putting on an extra coat of mascara or if she merely woke up an hour earlier then her father would still be alive and her family wouldn't be acting the way they were.

The accident has also changed the way people at school treat her. Some people even act like they are her friend just to get the attention of others. When she meets a new student named Sam, she thinks that he is diffrent, she feels und...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Stefanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, realistic-fiction, washyarg-reviews

When Lacey’s dad dies in a car accident, her once perfect family is broken. Her mother works too much trying to forget the pain, her older brother has started drinking and her younger brother barely talks. Lacey has nominated herself as the family’s caretaker and doesn’t want anyone else’s help or pity. But when she meets a cute new boy and organizes a group of kids whose parents have died, she realizes she might not be dealing with things so well after all. This is a story not only of death, bu...more

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Jun 19, 2010 Rachel Mercaldo rated it 4 of 5 stars

What impressed me most about “After” was how author Kristin Harmel did such an excellent job with her characters. While I felt that some of Lacey’s thoughts were a little small-minded at times (well, maybe once), I never once thought Kristin could have written her more believably. Instead, I saw Lacey as a real human being whose emotions had taken a roller coaster of a ride and who was, understandably, a little less open to other people’s pain. It is definitely a book I’d recommend for this reas...more

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May 08, 2012 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars

After is a touching book about a teen’s life after the death of her father. Lacey is a very independent teenager; her emotions are complicated and jumbled. She’s not perfect and doesn’t act that way.
This book shows a great look at how the death of a parent changes a teenager. Lacey feels like an outcast after her father dies. She begins to take more responsibility on herself, trying to fill in for her mother, who is hardly around, and also helping others who are dealing with a similar kind of lo...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Samantha Mccoy added it

This was a decent story..some of the MC's thoughts annoyed me to no end and not on my "I read this in 6 hours" list. It made me think back to when I was 15 and I lost my stepfather who has been a major part of my life for 12 years and what life was like when he was gone. Although it was one of my worst memories to date, I don't recall reacting to the whole "what happened to me is worse than whatever is going on in your life" so the transition from what happened at home did not affect my relation...more

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Apr 03, 2010 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sara by: Goodreads

Shelves: 2010, young-adult

Though the topics covered in this book were heavy, this was a light and quick read. After Lacey's dad dies in a car accident, Lacey notices all the changes around her: her mom absorbs herself in work, her older brother starts drinking, her younger brother withdraws, and Lacey keeps wishing for things to be the way they were before. When Lacey realizes that others at her school are dealing with the same sort of problems, she reaches out to help them and, as a result, helps herself.

I liked how all...more

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Feb 14, 2010 Steph Su rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: debs10

AFTER is a gentle and sweet read about death and love. The book doesn’t cover any new ground, but it makes for a quick, pleasant read.

The characters’ dilemmas regarding, grief, friendship, family, and love are realistically complex. Grief affects people differently, and in AFTER we get to see many different facets of it: Lacey’s younger brother’s silent withdrawal, her older brother diving into a relationship that she can’t understand, her mother flinging herself into work and neglecting the res...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Angela S. for TeensReadToo.com

Sixteen-year-old Lacey had her life turned upside down one Saturday morning, when a routine trip for breakfast with her dad and two brothers turned tragic. Just minutes from their house, Lacey's father was killed and Lacey was seriously hurt in a car accident that no one could have predicted.

Lacey has spent the last year of her life blaming herself and trying to hold her family together. She tells herself that if only she hadn't taken as long getting rea...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

this book really pulls at your heart strings you never think that it could happen to you . that you're just going to be the lucky person who survives life without anything crazy or anything bad ever happening. after reading this book i was like. it can be anyone. like it can be me. it opens your eyes really to the world out there. and i would strongly recommend this book to other readers.

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Jul 11, 2012 Jpaulson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This very easy read will be a great seller to middle school girls. Lacey's life changes forever the day her dad dies in the car accident. But not only is she trying to keep everyone in her family afloat, she is also working on students in her school in the same situation. Kristin harmel makes the characters believable and enjoyable. You will not leave this sad tale down in the dumps.

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Oct 23, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is awesome! It's one of the best books ever. It's all about a girl named Lacey whose father died in a car crash. She starts a group for kids whose parents have died and overcomes her feeling of guilt that it was her fault that her dad had died.

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Nov 30, 2010 Daddysprincessbanana rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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Apr 20, 2010 Kelley Matthews rated it 3 of 5 stars

So far "After" by Kristin Harmel, is a written testament of my life. The main character, Lacey's life changed within seconds. A car crash claimed her father's life, and she never got the chance to say good-bye, and secretly, she feels like it's all her fault.

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Aug 13, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is a nice read but definitely not one of her best. The book is well formed and talks about guilt and dealing with death of a love one. As women normally do, take on the burdens of others. Not a bad read at all but smewhat a short read.

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Aug 25, 2012 Lthelibrarylover rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book gives amazing insight into what it is like to lose a parent. This book deals with intense emotions... the characters are so real and likeable. Lacey's strength to help others astounded me. I really enjoyed this book.

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Mar 09, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

I should not have read this right after "Life of Glass" because it's essentially the same story. I actually got the characters confused a couple of times. Not bad, but isn't going to stick in my mind.

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Apr 05, 2010 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

No, the writing ain't stellar nor is the story particularly revelationary. On the plus side, it is an immediately immersionable/relatively easy teen read that tackles the many modes of grief--& depicts teens taking responsibility for tackling their own.

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May 08, 2010 laaaaames rated it 2 of 5 stars

Super generic, really, somehow. Wish there was more complexity here, and wish I hadn't seen nearly every event coming from a mile away.

(read: 59)

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About Kristin Harmel

Hi everyone! My name is Kristin Harmel, and I'm the author of seven novels, including THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING, which comes out this August from Simon & Schuster! I'm so happy to finally be on goodreads!

In addition to writing books (including ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS and the YA novel AFTER), I've also been a magazine writer for years; my credits include People, Men's Health, Woman's Day, Ameri...more

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