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The Beginning After by Kiersten Modglin deserves six stars honestly, I don’t have words strong enough to explain how this one got to me. It’s more than just a thriller. It’s grief, secrets, love, and betrayal all wrapped up in these heavy small-town vibes where everybody knows everybody… or at least you think they do.
Peighton’s story hit so close to home for me, I wasn’t ready for it. The feeling of losing someone you thought you knew, only to have your entire world spiral as you start uncovering things you never expected, it made me cry, it made me angry, and it made me sit there just staring into space after certain chapters.
The drama is intense. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist waiting. And the small-town setting added so much to that, whispers, side-eyes, everyone having their own version of the truth. It felt so real, almost like I was right there walking those same streets with Peighton.
And I have to say: Clay is absolutely my favorite book boyfriend this year. There’s just something about him, the steady patience, the quiet strength, the way he shows up when it counts. He wasn’t just a love interest, he was exactly the kind of person you hope for when everything in your life is falling apart.
This book left me with so many mixed feelings. I cried, I was pissed, I smiled through tears. If you love a thriller with real heart, small-town secrets, and twists that will knock the air out of you, The Beginning After needs to be at the top of your list.