My Life After Now

by Jessica Verdi

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.

And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Coming Of Age

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2013

About the author

Jessica Verdi lives in Brooklyn, NY, and received her MFA in Writing for Children from The New School. She loves seltzer, Tabasco sauce, TV, vegetarian soup, flip-flops, and her dogs. Visit her at jessicaverdi.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @jessverdi.

Reviews

[Jessica Verdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know, I know, I gave my own book five stars. It's totally like voting for yourself in an election -- just couldn't resist. :)

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it amazing when a book can be both a great read and an eye opener at the same time. HIV is a very misunderstood disease, and it's especially heartbreaking when teenagers fall prey to it. This is made even worse when an already terrible disease is so misconstrued that it makes those infected feel like lepers. It's not uncommon to see people afraid of touching, or even being in the same room, as a person with HIV--even though most know it can't be transmitted through touch or kissing. Lack of education on the subject is what's to blame. It's obvious that Jessica took time to do her research on HIV/AIDS. She gives us a teenager's personal insight on what it's like to live with this disease. Every single perspective of a life changes after a positive HIV test, which is what we experience first hand when Lucy gets hers. I'm impressed at how Jessica was able to point out the importance of safe sex without pointing out anything at all--the story does it on its own. We all take sex-ed classes in school, but nothing sticks as well as a story like this. I wish all teens would read it! All the while, she keeps the book engaging with wonderful characters who take us through this emotional journey.

Lucy, actress and drama club star, does not have the easiest life, and one night out to escape it all will change her life forever. An impressively sympathetic character, Lucy is a sweet sweet girl with a bright future ahead of her. Sure she's going through a rough time but she's paying the ultimate price for doing something that was very out of her character for her; something that happens to the best of us. We all make mistakes, and knowing how grave the consequences of hers will be really tugged at my heart from the start. I couldn't stop imagining myself in her shoes, which is incredibly easy with Lucy's accessible voice. I found myself pondering what my own response would be upon finding out something so devastating. How much my life would change? Who would I tell? How would my family/friends react? How would I react? The book really makes you live her story. It's so easy to imagine exactly how Lucy feels; it's tragic, really. At least she has a great support system, even if some don't even know it. Her family, though unconventional with a spastic disappearing mother and two fathers, are very loving and caring. I adored her fathers they were well rounded and extremely down to earth as far as parents go. I also loved her friends and fellow drama club members. Everyone, including the jerks, evens those with the smallest roles, gives off a lot of energy and personality.

What I loved the most about this book, though, is how inspiring it is. It may have an especially difficult topic that brings out a lot of sadness and regret, but it's not a depressing read. It's about acceptance; about learning to live your life with your illness, not letting your illness become your life. Lucy, as well as myself, learned a lot during this novel, I found her so inspiring, even through her mistakes and breakdowns. I only wish I knew her for longer. The book spans a fairly short time in her life which left me longing for a bigger glimpse at the future, even just an epilogue would have been great. Not only her future either, but Roxie's too; for the small supporting role she holds this girl really leaves a lasting impression!

An incredible issue book that holds heartbreaking as well as uplifting emotions in perfect balance, My Life After Now is a thought provoking page-turner that may even shed light on such a darkly misunderstood disease. I also have a new appreciation for the cover which is such a perfect representation of the book in the most symbolic of ways.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Kels · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Because, when it comes down to it, life really isn't all that bad.

And of that I was absolutely positive.

*sniffles*

This is my second Jessica Verdi book, and I must say that I'm impressed. This book is powerful, and deals with some very tough issues and taboo topics, that I simply don't think you see enough of in YA novels or in most genres for that matter, and I think that needs to change. I don't want to spoil the book for you, but if you're curious to know what exactly this book deals with and also because the blurb is so darn ambiguous the main character contracts HIV and we see first hand how she handles life, love, friendships, and family as she comes to term with her illness.

Lucy's life is near perfect. She's your All-American girl: Straight A's and straight lace, with a "perfect" boyfriend to match (NOTE the QUOTES!). But all this changes dramatically, and one problem too many leads her to make a series of bad choices that will forever leave a mark on her once perfect life. We see Lucy at her absolute worse, we see her before, during, and after this life-changing event severely shakes up her world. And guys, it's heartbreaking. I really sympathized with Lucy and could connect with her on so many levels. There were a few times I wanted to shake her how could you take him back so easily??, but more than that, I wanted to wrap my arms around her and just be angry, sad, and emotional with her. What I appreciate most about this novel is how real and authentic Jessica Verdi presented the characters. They were are flawed, and somehow that makes the issue that much more poignant, that much more real. Because what happened to Lucy, can happen to almost anyone.

I also loved the focus on friendships, family, and intimate relationships, which I thought were all nicely done. It was such an eye-opener to see how easily those various relationships can crumble and even a girl such as Lucy who initially had such a great support system, could end up so isolated and shut out. Being in her head and in her thoughts was incredibly insightful. She didn't feel like she could talk to anyone about her issues, not even her own very loving (and very awesome) family, and I think if I was in her shoes I would most certainly feel the same way. I even was able to connect with her as she made mistakes, and also as she tried to force the blame of her problems on the people around her. Seeing her go through the many stages of denial, shock, grief, anger, sorrow, and the focus on her psychological state allowed me to truly understand and admire her growth, acceptance, and small victories that much more.

Reading this novel was such a memorable experience. It's striking, well written, moving and has deeply impacted me. I adored Lucy in the end, and even thought her tale doesn't have the brightest of happy endings, I loved how Mrs. Verdi ended the book on such a positive note. This isn't a perfect book, but still, I can't recommend this book enough. It's positively beautiful.

[Jasprit · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

My Life After Now first captured my attention because of the mystery which was blurbed surrounding our main character Lucy, she seemed to have a happy life, but something happened to cause everything to tumble down around her. I had a few ideas in my mind of what this could be, but was surprised to find out what the big mystery turned out to be.

I have to praise Jessica Verdi for tackling this taboo topic in her story in the first place. I don’t think I’ve come across a novel which places this issue in the forefront of their story. It was truly an eye opening experience getting into our protagonist's head when she had to go through such a rough ordeal. And despite having a strong support network through her parent’s, best friends Max and Courtney and boyfriend, it just goes to show you how this issue can quickly cut off the support around you. Some chose not to support Lucy because they were scared for themselves, whereas Lucy also lost some friends because she wasn’t knowledgeable on the subject and so shut everyone down. I know that if I was in Lucy’s shoes I would feel like my life had become pointless, so cutting everyone off would have probably have been my first response too. And as Lucy felt ashamed to confide with anyone about her issue, (the rights and wrongs had been drilled into her for so long), and she had slipped up, it’s no wonder she immediately jumped to the worst case scenario. It was a tough time for Lucy at first, and Verdi portrayed well just how isolated an individual could feel.

On top of that Lucy had to deal with the unexpected arrival of her pregnant mother, her ex-boyfriend being in love with the evil Elyse St. James and the school play where the most important scene, her co-star wouldn’t even come close to her. I admired Lucy’s character, as things at times did get extremely bad for her, but she tried to hold her head up high and battle on. It’s at times like these you truly discover just who your true friends are and I’m glad Lucy was able to realise which ones she could hold onto forever and which she should have dropped a long time ago.

My Life After Now was a beautiful read, but also a truly insightful one. Authors take note; novels such as My Life After Now not only leave lasting impressions, but are also able to build knowledge and insight into issues many individuals try to bury their head in the sand about.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nose Graze — Young Adult book reviews

Life After Now was incredibly powerful and absolutely heartbreaking. For the first quarter of the book, my heart was HAMMERING. It's that scared, nervous, anticipating feeling you get when you know something bad is going to happen and you're morbidly curious but also a bit terrified. I knew the story was about HIV, I knew Lucy was going to get it, but part of me was curious to see how it happened, and the other part was terrified. It's just SO SAD. It broke my heart just thinking about it and it was like watching something happen in slow motion. I knew what was going to happen, but I was afraid to see it through.. but also curious.

This book manages to deal with some intense and deeply saddening issues, but in a non-judgmental way. On the one hand, I knew it was "wrong" for Lucy to have unsafe sex, but seeing it through her eyes made me sympathize with her instead of judge her for her mistake. I thought it was brilliantly crafted, and that allows the book to send a strong message without it being so in your face.

Lucy's parents (a male gay couple) were some of my absolute favourite characters. There was just something so sweet about them. They were such adorable, supportive parents, and I loved how open they were with Lucy. They were almost like close friends with her in the sense that they were always on her side and supporting her without question.

I highly recommend My Life After Now to anyone who loves contemporary and is looking for a sad, heartbreaking, but extremely powerful read. I read this book from front to back in one sitting because I was completely hooked. At 2:30am, my boyfriend turned to me and said, "It's time for bed, babes." But I just gave him that "MY BOOK IS SO GOOD" look and he knew he wouldn't be able to pry me away. So he stayed up with me until I finished (what a sweetheart ♥ ). I promise that you will completely power through this book and love it from front to back!

[Aman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed @ Enticed by Books

Do.Not.Miss.This.Book! So Freaking Good.

2013 is such a great year in books. Forget about Top Ten, I might be doing a Top 30 or 50 this time around. My Life After Now is one of the best books I've read this month, I loved how easy and simple the storyline seemed from afar, but was filled with realistic emotions and fears on a deeper level. Going into this book, I knew the basic storyline and the type of issue it covered, but for some reason I expected a very sad read and imagine my surprise when I felt good and happy reading Lucy's journey. Jessica Verdi has delivered a beautiful story with a strong message in a very subtle and memorable way.

Lucy is a high school student who loves theater. Being on Broadway and acting is her life, passion and dream, and she is working hard to achieve that. Lucy is a very normal girl, at times I felt like I was reading about me. Her decision and opinions are so realistic and she has a very girl-next-door vibe which makes her extremely relatable. I loved that she had two dads, it's the first time I've read about homosexual parents in YA and damn, if every parent were just as fun and understanding as them. They loved Lucy and it showed the way they supported her at every step. I adore them, more so than Lucy.

After having a bad week at school and some disagreements at home, Lucy goes out to party one night and ends up getting infected by HIV. Ah! Horrible! Once mistake. That's all it took for Lucy to change her course of living. Instead of the carefree way, she had to take certain precaution and medication on a day to day basis. But I'm so proud of the way she handled the situation. She was frustrated, angry, terrified and scared at first which was expected from any sane person, but after she discussed it with her parents and told them about the incident leading up to it, she started to feel more comfortable with herself and gets on a path for a normal life. With Lucy, I learned about the virus in a step-by-step informative way. I thought I knew enough about HIV, but I clearly don't. My Life After Now was certainly a very good learning experince for me and I wouldn't forget it anytime soon.

I loved it! Loved it! LOVED IT! My Life After Now is the newest addition in my Unforgettable Reads list and I highly recommend everyone to give this book a try. I can't believe this is a debut novel for Jessica Verdi. The writing was beautiful, addicting and easy to follow. I devoured it within few hours and immesely enjoyed my time with these characters. Plus, I loved that it ended at a very positive note. It was perfect. Do read this book! I might not sound very excited in my review but it was a feel good book (even if it talked about the virus) and I felt great after finishing My Life After Now.

A Copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review via Netgalley. (Thank You!)

[Ye Olde Poopy Review Account · Rating 1 out of 5]

I imagine this is how the script for a Glee special in which Rachel gets HIV would read. My Life After Now would probably serve better as a satirical comedy than as an "educational resource." The setting and characters are so campy, the book in danger of being mauled by a bear.

The writing is extremely simplistic. By the end of page two, I thought I was reading amateur fanfiction. You can write realistic fiction for reluctant readers that isn't like the script of an overly bright and outrageous tv show. Believe it or not, teenagers can handle some level of prose-like description and large word usage before becoming bored.

If I had a teenager, I would not recommend this book to them for anything other than a laugh. If you've been a decent parent at all, your kid won't need a book to teach them about HIV and other issues - you'll have done it yourself. (Also, your kid will flat-out refuse to read this.)

Maybe a musical-obsessed pre-teen would enjoy this book, but anyone who's past that phase of their life is, in my opinion, more likely to laugh and post bad quotes on the internet.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snagged an arc of this. Thoughtful read. Enjoyed it alot!

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can also be found here.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars

My Life After Now is one of those books that had a subtle but very powerful impact on me. It tells a story that has reached me so deeply because what happened to Lucy, the MC, is something that can happen to anyone in a blink of an eye and that made me connect with this book, despite my unfamiliarity with the issue it discussed. I have to say that this book may be one of my favorite books for this year because it was extremely heartwarming and beautiful.

When I decided to read this book, I was very oblivious to what it exactly was about. It had a beautiful cover and an intriguing synopsis and that was enough to get me on board. The book started out very lightly. It was funny and cute, with the usual high school drama that Lucy was going through. So it's suffice to say that I was pretty surprised at the sudden turn the story took and with it Lucy's life irrevocably changes as well. I won't exactly say what happened, just that it has to do with an illness that has the power to turn your life upside down and also change the way others see you.

I had never read a book concerning this illness. I have never directly encountered people who have it either, so reading about it in this book, was a very eye opening and remarkable experience for me. I really liked the way the author treated the way this illness affected Lucy. From a normal and lively girl, this unexpected discovery puts her into a numb and empty state, a depression that makes her question the reasons that kept her on her feet until that life-changing moment. Lucy was a very realistic portrayal of a teenage girl who might have the tragic misfortune to go through all of this pain and helplessness. She was undeniably strong and admirable, but her fears and doubts made her that much more reachable and real to me. She was just proof of how this kind of illness is never anybody's fault, that it can happen to even the most amazing people.

I generally loved how while this was a very serious theme for a book, that didn't make the story heavy or depressing. Instead it was warm and inspiring, a story of making it through each day with the love of everyone around you, your family and friends. Speaking of Lucy's family, I have to say her dads were two of the most supporting and caring parents I've ever read about in YA. Their unconditional love and support for their daughter was just something I wish I could come across every book. I also respect the author for portraying her parents as a very normal and natural couple despite them being gay. It's about time they were accepted and treated as human beings. It's also pretty ironic considering, here, they were much better parents that most straight parents I've read about.

I really liked Lucy's friends, too. Their fallout was very natural after what happened to her, but I was glad that after they found out the truth, they accepted and loved her just the same. With Evan, her love interest, it was a bit more complicated, but his initial reaction was understandable as well. I liked how he was there for Lucy as well, in the end. Lucy's mother wasn't the greatest person ever, but it was shocking how much she indirectly had an effect on Lucy's subconscious and her beliefs. Her mother's erratic behavior only showed how important and lucky it was for Lucy to grow up in an amazing family with her two dads.

My only 'problem' with this book was that the story, despite its beauty, was somehow predictable and figured out since unfortunately illnesses like this have already written the last chapter earlier than you planned it. However, it was very interesting to see Lucy's gradual acceptance of her new condition and to come to terms with the fact that every moment can be her last. Her journey was realistic, a bit sad when you think about something like that happening to you or someone you care about, especially being as young as her, but it also fills you with great appreciation for life, every little thing that makes it so precious and the people in it who will always have your back and love you despite everything.

I can't recommend this book enough. It might not affect you personally, but it definitely gives you an insightful and memorable experience about a terrible and spread illness that few people understand it or know what it's like to bear it at such a young age. My Life After Now gives you that unique perspective.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on my blog, Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You can find it, and many more reviews at the blog.

My Life After Now is a very emotional, authentic look at the life of a teenage girl who seemed to have it all but who made one mistake that changed her life forever. I’ve never read any novels about HIV, and I was curious to see how the author would handle such a serious subject. I think it was brave of Verdi to write this book - HIV is something that doesn’t get talked about enough, and My Life After Now explores it in an honest way that doesn’t sugarcoat things.

This book was a great contemporary read while also being an eye-opener about a very real, very scary subject. Lucy was an average girl - a good student and a talented actress who had great friends, a wonderful family, and a boyfriend. She had a well-balanced life and the only thing that set her apart was the fact she had two dads (which I loved, by the way - Verdi clearly wasn’t afraid to go all out and be different). Lucy’s safe little world was set off-kilter with the arrival of her birth mother, who had been in and out of her life a few other times, and had done nothing but leave Lucy feeling confused and hurt. Between that and other things that made Lucy feel like she was having the worst week ever, she needed an escape. That escape happened to be something a lot of people probably would have done, which made the book that much more real - it showed that one stupid choice, one seemingly harmless mistake can end up having serious, life-changing consequences.

I liked Lucy a lot. There were times I wanted to shake her for the way she acted, but I also understood her motives and her line of thinking. Nobody knows how they would react to life-altering news, and everybody deals with things differently. She didn’t necessarily handle it in the best ways, but she was scared and angry, plus she was only seventeen. Her attitude, actions, and reactions all felt very genuine to me, and I liked her even when I didn’t like what she was doing or how she was acting. What really got to me was the fact that she was sweet and smart with a bright future to look forward to - the exact type of person you would never think would end up sitting in a clinic being told she had HIV.

My Life After Now had all the elements of a great contemporary - strong, likeable heroine, a great cast of secondary characters, romance, and real life problems. Lucy’s best friends Max and Courtney were the type of friends anyone would be lucky to have, and her dads were loving and supportive. I enjoyed the different relationships and dynamics between the characters, and I liked the element of romance and that it wasn’t the main focus of the story.

It was clear that Verdi did her research for this book. Through the eyes of a scared teenage girl, we get to see everything from the types of tests involved when diagnosing HIV to the questions that would be asked by counselors and doctors to the steps required/suggested after diagnosis. I appreciated that the book was educational without ever being the least bit preachy. Sex education is obviously something that needs to be a bigger part of schools and home lessons because many people are still ignorant about STIs (when did they start being called that? I feel so old) and HIV/AIDS. I know that if I had a teenage daughter, I’d want her to read this book.

My Life After Now shed light on a serious subject in a way that was thought provoking, heartbreaking, and yet inspirational. It wasn’t always comfortable, but it was always honest and real. With elements of humour, romance, and personal triumph mixed in with the frightening reality of life with HIV, My Life After Now is a sparkling debut from Jessica Verdi that shouldn’t be missed.

[Notbagels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggle with rating books like this. I don't know what the actual publishing definition for the kind of book would be, but I kind of mentally refer to it as a Special Subject Book, using the word "special" in the "Tonight on a very special episode of Blossom..." kind of way.

This was...okay. The subject was interesting and somewhat unexpected (I was guessing pregnancy from the back cover), but with the Special Subject comes the almost inevitable preachy vibe. The preaching wasn't necessarily bad, but it still felt like a book with a MESSAGE. Maybe I was looking or a lighter read...

I actually didn't rate this before I started typing and I'm talking myself lower the whole time. I liked a lot about it, but there were several empty characters--placeholders for the appropriate relationships in her life and vehicles for her story--and no one was all that interesting, other than Lucy. And it's reasonable that the Subject is like a character on its own and takes away page space from the others, but then cut some characters. I also really hated some of the character's choices, but not necessarily the ones you were *supposed* to disapprove of.

Anyway, I wouldn't tell you not to read this. It was good. I think it gives the message it intends without being TOO After School Special-y about it (although I think that feeling is somewhat unavoidable in this kind of book). I think it's food for thought. But I don't love how some the issues were dealt with. Or left hanging without consequences or judgement. If you're going to have a message, make some judgements. It's okay to have opinions about your own characters' behaviors.

[Selene ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seen on Eat Read Shop.

As a semi-hypochondriac, I try to steer clear of books where any form of illness is the central theme. I already worry incessantly about other stuff so fretting for what I may or may not have on top of that is overkill. Anyway, I was browsing through the new releases when this book caught my eye. I loved the dress! I thought if the blurb sounds as good as that dress looks, then I'm sold. It didn't say much though so I had to check the reviews for clues as to what Lucy did that changed her life. My Life After Now is the first HIV/AIDS-themed novel I have ever read. And though it's not one I would normally pick out, I'm glad I did. I was curious not just about the disease but as to how a 16-year-old would handle contracting the virus and living with it for the rest of her life too. With a realistic plot and relatable characters, Jessica Verdi has written a powerful, heart-wrenching story that just as much entertains as it enlightens and perhaps even moreso.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was an okay story about a difficult subject.

Lucy was an okay character, although I was pretty shocked at the massive mistake she made. That being said, she’s not the only person to ever lose herself in a moment and regret it later, this was just a humongously major complication to be left with.

The storyline in this was okay, and I felt Lucy’s panic and fear. It was such a horrible thing to happen to her, and it was almost unbelievable at first. You just don’t expect that to happen to a perfectly normal 17-year-old girl, which kind-of proves that it can happen to anyone.
I can’t say I really liked the romance aspect of the book, and I didn’t really like some of the choices Lucy made after what happened.
The ending to this was okay, although certain aspects were predictable. This was an enjoyable (if uncomfortable in places) story overall.
7 out of 10.

[Audrey Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impeccable, striking, and completely unforgettable. Jessica Verdi brings to light issues that aren't always positive. Definitely a must read for every teen--young and old alike!

[Michelle novelsontherun · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 24th March 2013 :

RATING : 5 POWERFUL STARS!

I am sooooo excited for this debut author. Jessica has hit this story out of the ball park. You are going to find many reviewers have the same idea as me. This book NEEDS to be in school libraries, it NEEDS to be a part of the high school curriculum.

Jessica has written such an important story. It needed to be told. It is a story about a 16yr old with HIV. I know the blurb does not say about the ‘what’ that changed Lucy’s life. I did toss up whether I kept it a secret for the reader to find out for themselves. Then I checked the reviews out already and everybody is saying it is HIV.

This is a quote from this book.

The HIV/AIDS plague wasn’t going away, and yet no one was really talking about it. At least, not in the same way they had a decade or two ago. We’d become complacent and we’d become ignorant.

Jessica follows up her story at the end with ‘HIV/AIDS at a Glance’. Q & A’s and stats. I was blown away. AIDS was first recognized in 1981, and has caused an estimated 30 million deaths ( as of 2009) . As of 2010, approximately 34 million people around the world are living with HIV.

I bet you didn’t know that!

I didn’t!

I was one of the ignorant people...among far too many.

So this is why I want as many people as possible to read this story. Jessica has given me a lesson in HIV by telling me the story about a girl who was not a wild child and didn’t live on the dark side. She is a good girl, one partner, her boyfriend Ty. They are part of the Eleanor Falls Drama Club, rehearsing for Romeo & Juliet. Ty decides he likes his Juliet more than his Lucy. Lucy decides to go against her normal behaviour and gets drunk with her besties, leaves with the hot band guy and has a night of unprotected sex.

Lucy meet HIV.

It was that simple.

This is the story of a girl who should not have been subjected to HIV but she was. She made a mistake and to her credit she did not blame the wild child she was infected by.

Not once.

You think this story is going to be about living with her two fathers, her dad and Papa, Adam and Seth. Her parents are gay. Her best friend Max is gay.

Her biological mother Lisa is a total waste of space who invades her life when she needs help. She is a drug addict.

No, this is a message about trusting the people who love you the most, to let them help and support you.

I finally knew what to wish for: Please don’t hate me, please don’t hate me, please don’t hate me, I thought.

And then I said it. “I have HIV.” It’s amazing how much weight three small words, five tiny syllables, can hold.

The only sound in the whole house was the crackling of the candle. I blew it out.

It is a message about understanding HIV and I was taught a lot through the eyes of Lucy and what she was going through.

It is very confronting as a parent to watch Lucy and her parents cope. It could be any parent. It could be me.

“You listen to me, young lady. You are a minor, and we are your parents. Therefore, you will do what we say. Got it?”

My eyes grew wide. Papa never spoke to me like that-- he always took my side. But clearly something had changed in him. “But--“

“This is not up for negotiation, Lucy,” Papa said, releasing his grip on me. “You are not giving up.”

“Papa,” I said slowly and calmly. “What is HIV?”

“Don’t you know?” he asked.

“Of course I know. But I want to hear it from you.”

He remained silent.

“Fine , I’ll say it. It’s the virus that causes AIDS. And what is AIDS?”

I waited again for him to respond, but he didn’t, so again I answered my own question.

“It’s a disease that tears your body apart until you die.” I paused to clear my throat and collect myself. “Papa, don’t you get it? I have HIV, and someday I’m going to have AIDS, and someday after that I’m going to die.”

I heard Dad’s sniffling, but I didn’t remove my gaze from Papa’s face.

He stared back at me with fiery eyes and a set jaw. “Not on my watch,” he said.

This book is so well written as you don’t even realize you are getting a life lesson. Jessica has used her characters so well. It could just be a normal YA contemporary, but it comes with a difference. This girls night of sex ended with her life changing forever, no HEA, it was never going to happen with the wild child, it was just a one night stand. Now Lucy must learn to live and understand her disease she is carrying in her blood, her body and how that affects her friendships, her school colleagues, her relationship with a boy.

Her future.

I loved all the sub characters of the support group. Roxie is a wonderful character and we also learn that HIV can be contracted in other ways. I have a very healthy respect for support groups after reading about these characters.

Evan is a great character. He brings more to the story. He is part of the acceptance and understanding process.

What I love about Jessica’s writing is she keeps it real.

Real reactions.

Real misunderstandings.

Real fears shown by uninfected people.

Cancer is a killer, but so is HIV/AIDS. It just doesn’t get as much air time. That is why I would LOVE beyond LOVE to see this book saturating schools, being a part of their reading plan.

I think it would save lives.

Safe sex is no joke. Condoms are life savers. We just probably don’t appreciate how much. I think most young people think of not getting pregnant. I now realize it is also not getting STD’s. They can be killers.

You can’t abort HIV.

I think every parent worries about pregnancy in young teenagers, but do we put as much thought into STD’s?

This is a heartfelt read that kept me turning the pages, a YA contemporary with a powerful message.

Check out the cover. I didn't actually think it suited the story until I finished writing this review and then I realized it is a cover that shows HOPE, a new day to look forward to.


Michelle

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I heard what this book was about I knew that I HAD to read it. Any book that can serve two purposes by being entertaining and giving a lesson at the same time is a winner with me. Before I even read the book I had no doubt in my mind that this would be a 4-5 star read for me. And that's exactly what it was.
Lucy is a 16 year old girl who loves theater, her two best friends, and her boyfriend Ty. But then a week of misfortune brings her to letting all her inhibitions go and getting reckless. Her entire world comes crashing down when she finds out she's contracted HIV.
What I like most about this book is the fact that it serves as a real eye opener for its readers. There are so many factors that could have been the cause of Lucy catching the disease that it makes you think a little harder about all the contributing factors and what could be the cause. Not only in Lucy's case but in real life as well. I also enjoyed the lesson in this because it is so well written out, I think teens would rejoice in reading this novel versus sitting through 90 minutes or so to a Coach throwing stats at them from a book.
This book was extremely well written and I applaud Verdi on tackling such a tough issue. Not only was I learning things (there were facts in there I didn't even know!) but I was fully entertained. I loved all the characters and the incorporation of theater. I like how although this was such a huge topic it wasn't super harsh and serious but still made you think.
As for the characters, they all were amazing. The only thing I didn't like was Lucy's poor choices involving them. For example, when she finally chose to confide in someone she chose the person she barely had gotten to know and not her friends of 12 years. To think that she didn't immediately trust them baffled me. Especially when they were characters like Max and Courtney. Max was hilarious. But, I must admit, Evan was pretty amazing himself. Even with his little hiccup he had when he first found out. And finally, there was Lisa. I really hated her. I remember thinking the entire story that it was her fault. I wanted to be so bad. And only because I couldn't stand the way she treated Lucy or her dads. Yes I said dads. Another really unique thing about this story. Verdi did not go along with the norm at all.
This book is a fast paced read that will hook you as soon as you crack the spine. I admire Verdi for branching out and tackling this disease when no one else would. This engaging read is fast paced and will leave you with a new found knowledge about a difficult subject.

[Mai is a Happy Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Life isn't all that bad..

..And of that I was absolutely POSITIVE."



Have you ever sat down and think of all the things you should be grateful for? Or have you looked into the mirror and see yourself truly?
There are a lot of things we took for granted and mishaps we took a bit lightly. My Life After Now is such a beautiful story about Lucy Moore, an adopted child of two bisexual men, who learned life the hard way. The concept of the story is nicely written and the issues were tackled in a very careful yet realistic way.

Lucy is a really strong character for me. The first parts of the story, I found her a bit annoying. Having her heart broken by a social climbing, limelight sucker named Ty, she took refuge on a night of alcohol, clubbing and a stranger.

I graduated with a degree in Nursing and know that HIV is a dormant virus that will not be triggered easily unless the immune system of the infected one is compromised. With healthy living, medications and preventive measures, one can live a possibly longer life than those who chose to neglect medical attention. I really like the idea that this book opens our mind to someone (fictional or not) dealing with this type of situation. It showed us the process, coping, prognosis and psychological aspects of HIV in relation to Lucy, her dads, and friends.

I love the characters. All of them. Even Elyse and Ty. They all feel real and necessary to the story line. Even Evan who I disliked on the earlier chapters because he acted like a complete jerk.

I also love the idea that HIV is not the only issue tackled here. It's like a burst of emotion supernova!



Read this. Now. :)

5 stars!

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I will put in my daughter's hands when she becomes a teenager!
Lucy is a happy sixteen girl who lives with her two dads. She is a devoted and excellent student, lead actress of the drama group, perfect daughter .. But after a few bad events she decides to do only one wrong thing in her life! Precisely because of that one mistake she will suffer for the rest of her life! Once she learns that her mistake cost HIV infection, begins her struggle for love, acceptance and ultimately life!

The book really speaks about the issues that are real and really can happen to anyone.

This should definitely be mandatory reading in the first year of high school!

“That’s the point. This healthy-feeling time now just feels like a tease. Like I’m in this holding pattern, flying in smooth circles within sight of the airport, in super-comfortable first class. But I can’t enjoy the in-flight movie or free chocolate chip cookies because I know that before the airport is able to make room for us, the plane is going to run out of fuel, and we’re going to crash-land into a fiery, agonizing death.”

[Dodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Life After Now carries several important messages for teens without a hammer on the head attitude. Even though Lucy should know better, she engages in risky sexual behavior and ends up contracting HIV. Thirty years ago, among my peers, this was essentially a death sentence. It is both unnerving and reassuring that the perceived downside of this infection, now, is never having unprotected sex. I am glad to have HIV brought to the attention of a teen audience, and appreciate Verdi's realistic depiction of reactions from family and friends. The dialogue rings true, and the HIV resources listed in the appendix will be useful for research or personal use.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed reading this book. Deals with a tough issue in a non-preachy, accessible way with a strong teen voice.

[Novels On The Run · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle 24th March 2013 :

RATING : 5 POWERFUL STARS!

I am sooooo excited for this debut author. Jessica has hit this story out of the ball park. You are going to find many reviewers have the same idea as me. This book NEEDS to be in school libraries, it NEEDS to be a part of the high school curriculum.

Jessica has written such an important story. It needed to be told. It is a story about a 16yr old with HIV. I know the blurb does not say about the ‘what’ that changed Lucy’s life. I did toss up whether I kept it a secret for the reader to find out for themselves. Then I checked the reviews out already and everybody is saying it is HIV.

This is a quote from this book.

The HIV/AIDS plague wasn’t going away, and yet no one was really talking about it. At least, not in the same way they had a decade or two ago. We’d become complacent and we’d become ignorant.

Jessica follows up her story at the end with ‘HIV/AIDS at a Glance’. Q & A’s and stats. I was blown away. AIDS was first recognized in 1981, and has caused an estimated 30 million deaths ( as of 2009) . As of 2010, approximately 34 million people around the world are living with HIV.

I bet you didn’t know that!

I didn’t!

I was one of the ignorant people...among far too many.

So this is why I want as many people as possible to read this story. Jessica has given me a lesson in HIV by telling me the story about a girl who was not a wild child and didn’t live on the dark side. She is a good girl, one partner, her boyfriend Ty. They are part of the Eleanor Falls Drama Club, rehearsing for Romeo & Juliet. Ty decides he likes his Juliet more than his Lucy. Lucy decides to go against her normal behaviour and gets drunk with her besties, leaves with the hot band guy and has a night of unprotected sex.

Lucy meet HIV.

It was that simple.

This is the story of a girl who should not have been subjected to HIV but she was. She made a mistake and to her credit she did not blame the wild child she was infected by.

Not once.

You think this story is going to be about living with her two fathers, her dad and Papa, Adam and Seth. Her parents are gay. Her best friend Max is gay.

Her biological mother Lisa is a total waste of space who invades her life when she needs help. She is a drug addict.

No, this is a message about trusting the people who love you the most, to let them help and support you.

I finally knew what to wish for: Please don’t hate me, please don’t hate me, please don’t hate me, I thought.

And then I said it. “I have HIV.” It’s amazing how much weight three small words, five tiny syllables, can hold.

The only sound in the whole house was the crackling of the candle. I blew it out.

It is a message about understanding HIV and I was taught a lot through the eyes of Lucy and what she was going through.

It is very confronting as a parent to watch Lucy and her parents cope. It could be any parent. It could be me.

“You listen to me, young lady. You are a minor, and we are your parents. Therefore, you will do what we say. Got it?”

My eyes grew wide. Papa never spoke to me like that-- he always took my side. But clearly something had changed in him. “But--“

“This is not up for negotiation, Lucy,” Papa said, releasing his grip on me. “You are not giving up.”

“Papa,” I said slowly and calmly. “What is HIV?”

“Don’t you know?” he asked.

“Of course I know. But I want to hear it from you.”

He remained silent.

“Fine , I’ll say it. It’s the virus that causes AIDS. And what is AIDS?”

I waited again for him to respond, but he didn’t, so again I answered my own question.

“It’s a disease that tears your body apart until you die.” I paused to clear my throat and collect myself. “Papa, don’t you get it? I have HIV, and someday I’m going to have AIDS, and someday after that I’m going to die.”

I heard Dad’s sniffling, but I didn’t remove my gaze from Papa’s face.

He stared back at me with fiery eyes and a set jaw. “Not on my watch,” he said.

This book is so well written as you don’t even realize you are getting a life lesson. Jessica has used her characters so well. It could just be a normal YA contemporary, but it comes with a difference. This girls night of sex ended with her life changing forever, no HEA, it was never going to happen with the wild child, it was just a one night stand. Now Lucy must learn to live and understand her disease she is carrying in her blood, her body and how that affects her friendships, her school colleagues, her relationship with a boy.

Her future.

I loved all the sub characters of the support group. Roxie is a wonderful character and we also learn that HIV can be contracted in other ways. I have a very healthy respect for support groups after reading about these characters.

Evan is a great character. He brings more to the story. He is part of the acceptance and understanding process.

What I love about Jessica’s writing is she keeps it real.

Real reactions.

Real misunderstandings.

Real fears shown by uninfected people.

Cancer is a killer, but so is HIV/AIDS. It just doesn’t get as much air time. That is why I would LOVE beyond LOVE to see this book saturating schools, being a part of their reading plan.

I think it would save lives.

Safe sex is no joke. Condoms are life savers. We just probably don’t appreciate how much. I think most young people think of not getting pregnant. I now realize it is also not getting STD’s. They can be killers.

You can’t abort HIV.

I think every parent worries about pregnancy in young teenagers, but do we put as much thought into STD’s?

This is a heartfelt read that kept me turning the pages, a YA contemporary with a powerful message.

Check out the cover. I didn't actually think it suited the story until I finished writing this review and then I realized it is a cover that shows HOPE, a new day to look forward to.


Michelle

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5: Was it an amazing book…no. Was I not able to put it down…yes.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ALMOST SPOILER ALERT***
MY LIFE AFTER NOW is young adult fiction, specifically realistic fiction dealing with a serious issue in a teenage girl's life. This is not a thriller, so my review is not really spoiling anything big by telling you WHAT issue the main character is facing in this book. That said, the description of MY LIFE AFTER NOW that is provided on most of the sites I frequent actually does not make any mention whatsoever of the specific topic of this novel. While most reviews and blogger descriptions I've seen DO detail character Lucy's particular issue, I can appreciate that some readers will want to be totally surprised, going along with the journey from the perspective of someone who is seeing everything with fresh eyes. That said, if you want to be 100% completely unspoiled about the topic matter of this novel, please do NOT read my review until you have finished the book.

That said...

I feel like I've completely hit the jackpot this month, finding two new favorite books -- first in POSITIVELY by Courtney Sheinmel, and second with this gem, MY LIFE AFTER NOW by Jessica Verdi. I actually had no idea what this particular book was all about, so it was entirely a coincidence that I ended up reading two novels almost back to back that dealt with the same subject matter. They were both magnificently written, although each took a different perspective on the subject matter.

While Emerson was actually born with HIV in Sheinmel's book, our character Lucy from MY LIFE AFTER NOW actually acquires the disease in her late teens as a direct result of her own actions. An aspiring actress, Lucy is on top of the world at her high school, sporting the perfect boyfriend and the top roles in each of the massive productions by her accomplished drama department. Feeling that nothing could ever go wrong, Lucy is unprepared to deal with her life when everything slowly begins crumbling around her -- beginning with an unexpected breakup with her boyfriend, an unfortunate fall from grace in the drama department, and another emotional disruption from her absentee birth mother who gave up Lucy immediately after pregnancy, deciding she just wasn't interested in mothering a child.

In a moment of drunken confusion, Lucy makes a hasty decision that will ultimately change the course of her life forever, in ways that she never could have imagined. And although Lucy's own actions directly led to her contraction of HIV, she is a typical studious teenage girl who has her head on straight and her dreams directly in sight at all times. In other words, she is not a girl who engages in promiscuous sexual activity or who casually uses drugs on a regular basis. No, Lucy is a girl who has had a serious boyfriend, who happened to be her first sexual partner, and who is heavily devoted to her family and her studies -- a girl who let her emotions get out of control for only a few months, which was all it took to make the fateful decision that enabled her to contract HIV.

MY LIFE AFTER NOW is compulsively readable, as Verdi has a poetic writing style that is beautiful and intense without feeling too dramatic or overdone. Lucy is a highly likeable character, which makes her very easily relateable, helping to convey a potentially eye opening message to readers about the fear and judgment that typically surrounds HIV and AIDS.

I very much adored everything about MY LIFE AFTER NOW and I am certainly adding it to my list of favorite books. If you are interested in highly engaging, realistic young adult fiction dealing with the topic of HIV/AIDS, I definitely urge you to check out MY LIFE AFTER NOW as well as POSITIVELY.

I am very impressed with author Jessica Verdi and can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Will I die? Will my dads hate me? Will my friends abandon me? Will I ever be able to have sex again? Will I ever be able to have a baby? Will I ever be able to be on Broadway? Will I have to go on medication? Will anyone ever love me?"

I hadn't heard of My Life After Now until I was asked to take part in the blog tour and seriously, how haven't I heard of it? I honestly don't know but I started it Thursday afternoon and by the next morning, I was finished. Talk about an addictive read!

My Life After Now follows Lucy - a sixteen year old teenager who loves acting. She goes to school, she has a boyfriend, she has the best friends and the greatest parents. But when her boyfriend breaks up with her and her unreliable mother returns, Lucy needs to let her hair down. So, she does what any normal teenager would do. She goes to a party and gets drunk. The only problem is, she wakes up the next morning next to a complete stranger and realises she's had unprotected sex with him. As the weeks go by, Lucy tries to put it out of her mind but some thing's can't be forgotten, especially when she finds out she tested positive for HIV.

I don't even know where to start by telling you how great this story is. It brings so much awareness to people and really is an eye opening read. We all know about HIV and how serious it is but, out of all the books I've read over the last few years, this is the first time I've ever read about it. Lucy's situation is probably like many people's who have HIV, people go out and have a good time, and sleep with someone without protection and then suddenly, their whole life has changed. This was the case for Lucy. Once she found out she had tested positive, everything changed in that one moment, and gosh did my heart go out to her. I can't imagine being sixteen years old and being in that situation. I thought Lucy handled everything as well as can be expected. It took her time to realise that her life wasn't over - that she'd just have to amended her life to fit in with her situation.

Character wise. Lucy was really easy to connect to and even with the drama, she was a very down to earth character. I loved her connection to her parents and her relationship with her friends was entertaining. Evan became a very stronger fixture in her life and he really was a strong person Lucy could lean on. Even though he did have a bit of a freak out moment when he found out about her, he recovers quiet well.

What I also liked about this book was the fact that Lucy had two dads - yep, her parents are gay. It's another thing I've never read about and I think it's something that should be wrote about more because this is another life situation that is becoming more common.

In all, My Life After Now is a remarkable and beautifully written story that brings a lot of awareness to teenagers about HIV. Jessica Verdi's work is up there with the likes of Janet Gutler - who also brings a lot of awareness out through her writing.

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting My Life After Now, I had no clue what to expect. I had read no reviews and I had heard very few things about it. The synopsis, however, really caught my attention and I knew I was going to have to give this one a shot. Now that I've finished it, I'm so glad I did.

My Life After Now is so different from any other YA book that's out there at the moment. Sure, it's a very simple contemporary story about a girl going through lots of changes in her life and there's some romance and drama but there is so much more to it. My Life After Now is a story about a girl who makes one stupid mistake and shortly afterwards finds out that she's HIV positive. It's a story that will have you laughing at times and crying at others.

Lucy seemed a bit whiny at first but, to be fair, life wasn't being so great to her. Her boyfriend ditched her for her archenemy (who also stole her starring role as Juliet) and her parents followed that up with a bomb that definitely changed Lucy's life. All she wanted to do was go out for a night and be someone else. It's understandable. However, that one night ended up only making things worse for Lucy and that's when I really started to love her. I found Lucy to be an amazingly strong character even through all she was facing. My heart broke for her more than once and there were times when I just wanted to reach into the book and hug her. Although, there were also times I wanted to reach into the book and slap her. Sometimes she was a little clueless.

Lucy's friends and family were completely awesome. Her dads were some of the best parents I've read about. Even when they didn't know what exactly was going on with Lucy, they were always there for her and they tried their hardest to figure out what was wrong and what they could do to help. They were funny and loving and they added to my overall love of My Life After Now. As for Lucy's friends, they all had their flaws but that made them seem more real to me. I enjoyed watching them work through their problems and in the end, it was clear how much they really loved Lucy. Also, there's a bit of romance (that's super sweet) but it's not a huge focus of the story and I actually really liked that.

Now I do want to mention that obviously this book touches on some more mature subjects; sex, HIV, AIDS, etc. However, every last bit is handled amazingly and I didn't find any of it to be offensive or unnecessary. The story was informative without being boring and it didn't come across as a lecture or anything like that.

Overall, My Life After Now is one contemporary novel that I highly recommend. I was highly impressed with Jessica Verdi's debut novel and I will definitely be checking out her future releases!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much - every part of it was perfect for me. I'm so glad there's finally a YA book out about this issue, and I love the way it's handled in My Life After Now. Lucy's story is an important one, and I'm so glad I got to read it.

The whole idea of this novel is fascinating. Like the tagline of the novel says, you never think it will happen to you, so I hadn't given it too much thought what it would be like to live with HIV, to be honest. My Life After Now really opened my eyes to the struggles related with this disease; how it affects not only your health but also your relationships and the way people see you. I oftentimes found myself wondering how I would have dealt in Lucy's case - whom to tell, for example, is such a hard question. The portrayal of Lucy's life with HIV is very open and honest; I thought I knew the most important things about the disease, but this book still taught me quite a bit with it's educational but not preachy approach.

Lucy is a girl living with HIV, but that is by far not all she is; I loved reading about all the other aspects of her life as well. For example, the family storyline is great. I don't want to give anything away, but her family is different, and I had very strong emotions towards her family members. Then there's Lucy's friends, whom I loved. (Except for the fact that the whole two-girls-and-one-gay-guy-as-best-friends thing is kind of overdone. That made me think about how there's so many gay guys as friends in YA, but never any gay girls. Can we get a lesbian as more than a stereotype in YA soon, please?) Anyways, Courtney and Max are a great support system for Lucy, and I liked seeing their relationship evolve over the course of the novel. Then there's the romance, which is an important part of the novel but never really takes center stage, which I appreciated - it's just kind of there, a part of Lucy's life, and it's integrated into the story in a casual kind of way that I loved. My favorite character is probably Roxy - I loved reading about the support group! I also love how it all centers around drama club and acting, since that added a lot to the story as well.

I'm glad someone finally tackled this issue in YA, and I'm happy it was Jessica Verdi. Her writing is captivating and made My Life After Now a great read. It's eye-opening as well as entertaining, and I loved it. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...

[Margarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very clear to me from the start that Jessica Verdi did her research for MY LIFE AFTER NOW. This page-turner was eye-opening, full of compassion and knowledge...

Lucy seems to have the perfect life until she finds out that her boyfriend is cheated and wants to break up, and her estranged mother comes back into town with some shocking news. Before she lets herself spiral into emotions she doesn't want to deal with yet, she decides to grab her two best friends and head into NYC for a night of partying. What she didn't expect to do was to wake up the next morning in a strangers apartment not remembering how she got there or what exactly happened. So she decides to just put the one-night stand behind her and move on with her life.

Little does Lucy know that that one reckless night of 'fun' is going to have some serious consequences.

Jessica Verdi tackles some very hard topics, like teen sex, drinking and drug abuse. But an even harder topic that is rarely ever discussed, HIV and AIDS. And she definitely delivers with her knowledge and delivers a very believable main character. Lucy's reaction to the news and her determination to keep it all a secret from everyone, even her family, was heart-wrenching. It pained me to see her in so much fear, pain and denial. And Lucy's fear of rejection, of not being lovable anymore, her anger toward herself - all of these emotions bled through the pages. I wanted to reach into the book, grab her, and give her a hug and tell her that everything will be okay. No child should have to endure something so big alone.
I am happy with the way Lucy's story ended... it was a bit predictable, but it was what I wanted for her, and for everyone around her that loved her.

And I have to point out that at first I did not understand the cover to this book. But after having time to reflect on Lucy's story... I like the symbolism behind the use of the red dress and the scenery completes it. I really like what they did with it and I love it.

This is a book that should be on every school library's shelf and used in Health Ed. It would definitely be an eye-opener for many teens, and their teachers and parents too. It is definitely a subject that should be addressed a lot more.

[Megan (The Book Babe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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I was really nervous about starting My Life After Now, because I really haven't heard anything about it. But I'm glad to tell you that despite my nervousness, this turned out to be a rocking book! I've never really thought that deeply about STD's, so this came as a shock! By far, this is one of the best "issue" novels I have ever read. It made me laugh, but it also had a lot of serious moments.

When Lucy first finds out, she immediately starts to withdraw within herself. She drops connections with friends, doesn't really want to do anything, and sulks. A lot. This is an extremely realistic reaction! I'm sure that in her place, I would do the same thing. It's a teenage thing to do! But as a character, Lucy still managed to win a place in my heart.

Lucy just made this book for me. She was realistic-- and I liked how she would explain past moments of her life like plays. It gives us better insight into her character, and it's really fun to read. My only issue with her was that when she withdrew, she didn't tell her parents why. You can tell from the very beginning that they're very open about almost everything, but she shuts them out anyway.

And it was kind of sad to see her do that. Because her parents (Dad and Papa) totally made me crack up, and well....good family relationships just make a book for me, and here she was shutting them out. Also, I have to admit that I don't understand Lisa. She makes no sense to me. She just shows up out of nowhere and expects them to take care of her! Urrggh.

Anywho, we don't need to talk about that. We should talk about Roxie and Evan! They were really good secondary characters. I enjoyed their interactions with Lucy, and I love that she had at least a couple friends that knew to help her out.

All in all, My Life After Now is a startling book with a new message that we haven't really heard before in YA. It rocked, in it's own, melancholy way!

[Gabriella Cerasuolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Spoiler Alert***
What was the worse choice you ever made? Well for Lucy Moore it was getting drunk that night. If I were her I wouldn't do something that stupid but i can see where she was coming from. She had just got cheated on, didn't get the leading role in Romeo and Juliet, and her horrible mother came back asking for help again. The genre of this book is friendships, family, and health problems.

Lucy went to a club with her best friends Max and Courtney. They got drunk and the next things she knows she is going home with a guy from the club, Lee. When she wakes up she regrets it immediately. She doesn't remember using protection so shes afraid of getting pregnant. But that not what she should be worrying about. So she takes a test for HIV and it comes back positive. That complicates her relationships with her best friends and the new guy, Evan.

I like the way the author pretty much wrote down what I would do if I were in that situation but I would have told my best friend first before my parents and my boyfriend. The main character changed so much through out the book. In the beginning she to do everything as safe as she can but closer to the end she seems a lot braver. I understand why Lucy was so distant with everyone else because she was trying to protect then plus she was embarrassed. But I disagree with the way Evan reacted when she told him. I thought the ending of this book was amazing because they were about to do a play about HIV. Earlier the principal asked Lucy to do it but she was too embarrassed but now shes more brave.

I loved this book. It teaches you an important lesson about being safe and taking care of your self. But I thought Lucy Should have told her best friends first because that would have saved them from all the drama. I would recommend this book to people that like relationships, health and family drama. Also I rate this book a 10 because I love how a thing like an illness brings out more of the better side of people. Of course no one likes illnesses but if you knew you were going to die soon wouldn't you want to do certain things and make a difference before you died?

[Sarah (YA Love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at YA Love

Somehow My Life After Now escaped my attention until a few days ago. Once I found out what it’s about, I instantly wanted to read it. My debate right now is whether to go into detail about Lucy’s “dilemma” since the summary doesn’t state it and it might upset some readers to know prior to reading. That being said, I’m going to go ahead with openly discussing it because I think knowing that piece of information will prompt more readers to pick this debut title up and read it since it’s not an issue that’s often addressed in YA (that I know of).

The main reason I decided to read Jessica Verdi’s debut right away is because it’s about Lucy contracting HIV. I’ve read plenty of YA novels about girls getting pregnant and teen boys dealing with getting girls pregnant, but I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about a teen getting an STD. I’ve never read one about a teen getting HIV. Our teens need to read stories like Lucy’s because 1.) They need to find themselves in a book if they’re also dealing with this and 2.) They need to see that they aren’t immune.

I will say, however, that My Life After Now isn’t preachy. There’s an obvious message present in Jessica Verdi’s novel, but it isn’t off-putting like it so easily could have been. It’s quite accessible and quite enjoyable. I felt Lucy’s anguish, shock, and anxiety. I was reading this during SSR and got to the part when Lucy finds out that she’s positive and wanted to stop reading to start discussing this with my students. Lucy’s emotions became my emotions. I think many of my students will love this book and really start thinking about their actions. Besides the HIV, students will like this book because of the relationships and other conflicts that are present. I’m sure my drama students will appreciate the drama/theater aspect as well.

Overall, My Life After Now is an engaging book with well-developed characters. It’s a fresh story that I can’t wait to share with my students. Jessica Verdi is an author to set your sights on.