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After Ten
Four women, once best friends, have not spoken to each other in ten years. A drunken, decade old promise and a class reunion will bring them together again. For Jordan, her lofty dreams now a distant memory and her life at a crossroads, a reunion with her one-time friends offers a chance to make amends and start anew, but only if she can avoid falling back into self-destructive habits. After years of struggling with her identity, Sarah has found personal and professional contentment. Will she finally have the courage to reveal the secret she hid from her friends? Beth thought she was on the verge of having at all, but after a personal crisis now risks losing it all. In order to face her future, she must first find a way to let go of the past. Tracey is still searching for happiness and approval. Will she find what she is looking for at the reunion, or leave stronger because she doesn't? A story of forgiveness, acceptance, the bonds of friendship and the age old question of whether you can go home again.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 24, 2013
From the moment I began reading After Ten, I felt at home with the four women meeting the night before their ten-year law school reunion. As Beth sits waiting for the other three to show up, I'm wondering how the other women fared even though I don't know any of their stories. Because of Beth's anxiety at the meeting, I know the stories will be universal ones shared by my friends and me.
After Ten is my kind of women's literature, and the telling and revealing of each woman's story did not disappointment me in the least. Shriver creates a history of the four lawyers that is unique. Its the emotions evoked by their experiences that makes it universal. Beth, Jordan, Sarah, and Tracey are all successful, at least as deemed by the outside world, if not by their families. But each carries scars of the friendships that formed in the first year of law school. Those scars went deep enough that the women lost track of each other and their friendships. They've managed to keep up through the alumni newsletter on a superficial and artificially devised tidbits.
Shriver slowly reveals the stories taking the reader from the promise made to return ten years after graduation to their favorite college hangout the night before the reunion. All four managed to keep their promise to one another, and Tracey brings evidence of that night in the form of a cocktail napkin where she wrote the aspirations for each of the four. As the napkin reveals their hopes and dreams, reality converges to allow the women to share secrets that reveal not all is as perfect as the periodic newsletters profess.
I so liked the book, I've already downloaded Shriver's book Sixth South that focuses on one of the secondary characters from After Ten. If you like strong female characters with compelling stories, then you'll enjoy reading this book. I highly recommend it for your summer reading enjoyment.
After Ten is my kind of women's literature, and the telling and revealing of each woman's story did not disappointment me in the least. Shriver creates a history of the four lawyers that is unique. Its the emotions evoked by their experiences that makes it universal. Beth, Jordan, Sarah, and Tracey are all successful, at least as deemed by the outside world, if not by their families. But each carries scars of the friendships that formed in the first year of law school. Those scars went deep enough that the women lost track of each other and their friendships. They've managed to keep up through the alumni newsletter on a superficial and artificially devised tidbits.
Shriver slowly reveals the stories taking the reader from the promise made to return ten years after graduation to their favorite college hangout the night before the reunion. All four managed to keep their promise to one another, and Tracey brings evidence of that night in the form of a cocktail napkin where she wrote the aspirations for each of the four. As the napkin reveals their hopes and dreams, reality converges to allow the women to share secrets that reveal not all is as perfect as the periodic newsletters profess.
I so liked the book, I've already downloaded Shriver's book Sixth South that focuses on one of the secondary characters from After Ten. If you like strong female characters with compelling stories, then you'll enjoy reading this book. I highly recommend it for your summer reading enjoyment.
August 21, 2013
After Ten by Michele Shriver is different from most things I’ve read lately. I’ve always been a huge fan of realistic fiction. I do enjoy other genres, but I’ve always been drawn to a story that stems from real life, not too farfetched or fluffed up so much it becomes unbelievable. The author does a fabulous job of taking four very different main characters and taking you through their personal journeys of friendships, love, loss, betrayal, and addiction.
The story starts in present day Texas where the four former classmates / friends are to meet up for the first time in ten years. As they reluctantly show up and share with one another, truths come out and the reader gets an inside look at the last ten years since graduating from law school.
Shriver is a top notch story teller. The writing style moving between past and present is not an easy one, but the author does a superb job.
I can’t wait to read more and I highly recommend After Ten to all!
The story starts in present day Texas where the four former classmates / friends are to meet up for the first time in ten years. As they reluctantly show up and share with one another, truths come out and the reader gets an inside look at the last ten years since graduating from law school.
Shriver is a top notch story teller. The writing style moving between past and present is not an easy one, but the author does a superb job.
I can’t wait to read more and I highly recommend After Ten to all!
June 19, 2016
"After Ten" by Michele Shriver
Interesting First Novel
Michele Shriver's first novel is an interesting exploration of the lives of four women, who at one time were the best of friends in law school, but drifted apart before graduation.
They all made a promise one evening after their final exams that they would meet back up in a decade, on the night before their 10th reunion. That same night they also stated their goals and where they saw themselves in 10 years.
The author writes about each woman in the present at their get together, but also weaves in different time periods from the past that gives the reader a clearer picture of how they got to where they are today and what happened along the way.
Each one is looking to restart the friendships anew, but also have things in the past they must address first. For some if is addressing individual issues, for others it is closure, and for almost all, forgiveness for and toward one another for minor and more complicated issues.
Each of them is so very different personality wise and in the way they have lived their lives over the last 10 years. Yet they all were best friends at one point and desire to reignite those friendships.
Can they revive their friendship's or are some things better left in the past? Can they truly be honest about where they are in their lives and what they have been through? As different as they are from one another, can they drop the old habits and feelings that led to their parting of ways so long ago? Or is closure and moving forward in the present on the paths they are on the only option available to them?
Michele Shriver has written a novel that addresses so many topics and and weaves the lives of these four women in and out of several time periods in their lives. She has amazing characters that she brings alive through the back and forth of the time periods. The plot was perfectly fitting and adventitious to the type of novel the author wrote.
This was an enjoyable read from beginning to end and one I am sure any reader would enjoy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/1V68kHx
Interesting First Novel
Michele Shriver's first novel is an interesting exploration of the lives of four women, who at one time were the best of friends in law school, but drifted apart before graduation.
They all made a promise one evening after their final exams that they would meet back up in a decade, on the night before their 10th reunion. That same night they also stated their goals and where they saw themselves in 10 years.
The author writes about each woman in the present at their get together, but also weaves in different time periods from the past that gives the reader a clearer picture of how they got to where they are today and what happened along the way.
Each one is looking to restart the friendships anew, but also have things in the past they must address first. For some if is addressing individual issues, for others it is closure, and for almost all, forgiveness for and toward one another for minor and more complicated issues.
Each of them is so very different personality wise and in the way they have lived their lives over the last 10 years. Yet they all were best friends at one point and desire to reignite those friendships.
Can they revive their friendship's or are some things better left in the past? Can they truly be honest about where they are in their lives and what they have been through? As different as they are from one another, can they drop the old habits and feelings that led to their parting of ways so long ago? Or is closure and moving forward in the present on the paths they are on the only option available to them?
Michele Shriver has written a novel that addresses so many topics and and weaves the lives of these four women in and out of several time periods in their lives. She has amazing characters that she brings alive through the back and forth of the time periods. The plot was perfectly fitting and adventitious to the type of novel the author wrote.
This was an enjoyable read from beginning to end and one I am sure any reader would enjoy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/1V68kHx
October 18, 2012
This story of four friends in law school shows the writer's diversity and complexity. They can't imagine not being friends, so after their first year in law school, they make a drunken pact to meet together the night before the school's ten year reunion.
At first, I questioned having a story from 4 points of view, then she throws in flashbacks. Michele does this seamlessly.
Beth spoke to me because of the one thing she was denied that she wanted more than anything. So much so, she may have pushed away the one person meant to help her through it. She spent her ten years wondering what life would have been like if her college boyfriend hadn't cheated on her ... with her best friend.
Jordan struck me as a spoiled rotten, selfish brat. She gets what she imagines is her dream job straight out of law school and is quickly snapped to reality. Her ten years may have taken the hardest toll, and I end up empathizing with her at the end where I didn't like her much in the beginning.
Tracey seemed to relish in her mother's open disappointment in her. Her perfect siblings could do no wrong. While in law school, she's constantly seeking the attention and approval of a tenured professor, believing herself his favorite student. The ten years after graduation are filled with blessings, trials, and successes, though not in her mother's eyes.
Sarah held on to a secret so well, that even at the reunion, her former friends would never have guessed it. While she found happiness and fulfillment in her ten years, true freedom came when she confessed this secret to the others.
Bravo, Michele! If there was a sixth star, you'd have it from me.
At first, I questioned having a story from 4 points of view, then she throws in flashbacks. Michele does this seamlessly.
Beth spoke to me because of the one thing she was denied that she wanted more than anything. So much so, she may have pushed away the one person meant to help her through it. She spent her ten years wondering what life would have been like if her college boyfriend hadn't cheated on her ... with her best friend.
Jordan struck me as a spoiled rotten, selfish brat. She gets what she imagines is her dream job straight out of law school and is quickly snapped to reality. Her ten years may have taken the hardest toll, and I end up empathizing with her at the end where I didn't like her much in the beginning.
Tracey seemed to relish in her mother's open disappointment in her. Her perfect siblings could do no wrong. While in law school, she's constantly seeking the attention and approval of a tenured professor, believing herself his favorite student. The ten years after graduation are filled with blessings, trials, and successes, though not in her mother's eyes.
Sarah held on to a secret so well, that even at the reunion, her former friends would never have guessed it. While she found happiness and fulfillment in her ten years, true freedom came when she confessed this secret to the others.
Bravo, Michele! If there was a sixth star, you'd have it from me.
December 9, 2011
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com...
After Ten is the story of four women who meet in the first year of law school. They become friends, and discuss where they expect their lives to take them in ten years. They agree to meet in ten years time to see if expectations meet reality. The book moves back and forth between the four characters and back and forth through the ten years telling their stories. Not surprisingly, life takes unexpected turns for all of them both in positive and negative ways. Whether or not the friendship lasts is for you to discover in the book.
This book is definite chick lit. The plot is not a new one. The issues raised - lost loves, parental disapproval, siblings, care taking for elderly parents, alcoholism, building a marriage, bonds of friendship - are common but real life issues. They are issues we can all relate to in some way. Different ones will strike a chord with different people. That perhaps is the value of this book - to remind us that no matter what the issue we may be facing, we are not alone. Others face the same things, and if we are lucky, we have people around us to help us get through.
Overall, It's not a bad book, but it's not a memorable book. A quick weekend or airplane read.
***Reviewed for LibraryThing Member Giveaway Program***
After Ten is the story of four women who meet in the first year of law school. They become friends, and discuss where they expect their lives to take them in ten years. They agree to meet in ten years time to see if expectations meet reality. The book moves back and forth between the four characters and back and forth through the ten years telling their stories. Not surprisingly, life takes unexpected turns for all of them both in positive and negative ways. Whether or not the friendship lasts is for you to discover in the book.
This book is definite chick lit. The plot is not a new one. The issues raised - lost loves, parental disapproval, siblings, care taking for elderly parents, alcoholism, building a marriage, bonds of friendship - are common but real life issues. They are issues we can all relate to in some way. Different ones will strike a chord with different people. That perhaps is the value of this book - to remind us that no matter what the issue we may be facing, we are not alone. Others face the same things, and if we are lucky, we have people around us to help us get through.
Overall, It's not a bad book, but it's not a memorable book. A quick weekend or airplane read.
***Reviewed for LibraryThing Member Giveaway Program***
September 3, 2012
After Ten is an interesting story about the trials of growing up and how things aren't always what you think they'll be. Michele Shriver does a great job in this book of showing us the lives of four friends from law school, ten years after they graduate.
I love seeing how things in their lives did (or didn't) go according to plan in the years since the women parted ways. It all builds until we see their reunion with each other, none of them knowing whether friendship can be repaired after feelings that were hurt in the past.
I read this book in just three days once I started it. The beginning started out a little different, and it took me time to get used to going between present day and flashbacks, but overall it worked once I became accustomed to it.
I admire the way this author doesn't shy away from writing about tough issues. Terrific novel and I can't wait for Michele Shriver's next one.
I love seeing how things in their lives did (or didn't) go according to plan in the years since the women parted ways. It all builds until we see their reunion with each other, none of them knowing whether friendship can be repaired after feelings that were hurt in the past.
I read this book in just three days once I started it. The beginning started out a little different, and it took me time to get used to going between present day and flashbacks, but overall it worked once I became accustomed to it.
I admire the way this author doesn't shy away from writing about tough issues. Terrific novel and I can't wait for Michele Shriver's next one.
February 15, 2012
After Ten is the story of four college friends who decide to meet ten years after graduation at their ten-year reunion to see if their lives have turned out the way they have planned. The four women have each had very different experiences with work, love and family. Some of them have also held past grudges against each other that they were not able to let go of.
After Ten is a well-written women's fiction novel that delves into the lives of each of these four women and the joys and pains they experience. The characters and situations are definitely believable and the storyline is interesting. I enjoyed reading this book, and at times even had trouble putting it down because I wanted to see what happened next. Author Michele Shriver did an excellent job with this debut novel and I look forward to reading her future books.
After Ten is a well-written women's fiction novel that delves into the lives of each of these four women and the joys and pains they experience. The characters and situations are definitely believable and the storyline is interesting. I enjoyed reading this book, and at times even had trouble putting it down because I wanted to see what happened next. Author Michele Shriver did an excellent job with this debut novel and I look forward to reading her future books.
January 16, 2013
I found this to be a very good debut novel. I wasn't sure when I started reading it about switching points of view between the four main characters and moving back and forth between time eras ten years apart. However I was impressed with Ms. Shriver's ability to put the story together in an interesting and coherent fashion. And most of all, she had the ability to keep it interesting and kept me turing the pages.
In fact, moving between the characters kept everything fresh as new perspectives were constantly introduced into the story and the reader is left anxiously awaiting for the reunion and the outcome of the meeting up after they all went on to live their lives in different directions. A very interesting concept in storytelling and one I throughly enjoyed.
In fact, moving between the characters kept everything fresh as new perspectives were constantly introduced into the story and the reader is left anxiously awaiting for the reunion and the outcome of the meeting up after they all went on to live their lives in different directions. A very interesting concept in storytelling and one I throughly enjoyed.
November 27, 2011
This was a wonderful book about 4 college friends. The author captured stuff we all have either faced or dealt with in our lives. This book shows the struggle that the women faced and how they overcame the problem. This book dealt with marriage, motherhood, being a single parent, alcoholism, and being gay. The author has written a great book with well developed characters and a wonderful plot. Thanks for allowing me to read this book Ms. Shriver.
October 21, 2013
I really liked this book. It's a good introduction to the rest of the series, though I didn't find it quite as engaging since it only gives a little bit of each character's life, instead of the in-depth look the individual novels do. I recommend it as a good starting place, though!
May 31, 2014
Ann okay read and a bit predictable. Four women, former law school graduates, meet again after a ten year hiatus and during the reunion, settle old differences,reveal their live's secrets and solve problems, revealing some surprises about each once along the way.
April 4, 2017
Really enjoyed this! A definite must-read:)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews