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In The After
There is a reason fairy tales end when they do ... because happily ever after is just the beginning of real life.
Once upon a time in the quaint, forgotten coastal town of Joyce, Washington Emmy Burns existed in the middle of an inconsequential life that resembled a small-town fairy tale; days filled with caring for her daughter Avery, running her small but thriving pottery store, married to the only man she had ever loved. But all of that changed when the fog rolled out one beautiful morning, leaving emptiness where Emmy had stood only the day before. She had seemingly and without a sound vanished into the thick misty air of the Pacific Northwest, taking with her a lifetime of secrets.
In the aftermath Stephen Burns is content telling the police his wife must have simply chosen to walk away from him and their daughter. But Sidney Ruth, Emmy's closest friend, knows the truth. Sidney is the one person who had watched as the vines grew around the dark forest that was the Burn's marriage trapping Emmy inside and keeping everyone who loved her out.
Years of abuse has led to this moment. As the days unfurl so do the secrets Emmy kept walled away, leaving the people of Joyce wondering: What really happened to Emmy Burns in her happily ever after?
Once upon a time in the quaint, forgotten coastal town of Joyce, Washington Emmy Burns existed in the middle of an inconsequential life that resembled a small-town fairy tale; days filled with caring for her daughter Avery, running her small but thriving pottery store, married to the only man she had ever loved. But all of that changed when the fog rolled out one beautiful morning, leaving emptiness where Emmy had stood only the day before. She had seemingly and without a sound vanished into the thick misty air of the Pacific Northwest, taking with her a lifetime of secrets.
In the aftermath Stephen Burns is content telling the police his wife must have simply chosen to walk away from him and their daughter. But Sidney Ruth, Emmy's closest friend, knows the truth. Sidney is the one person who had watched as the vines grew around the dark forest that was the Burn's marriage trapping Emmy inside and keeping everyone who loved her out.
Years of abuse has led to this moment. As the days unfurl so do the secrets Emmy kept walled away, leaving the people of Joyce wondering: What really happened to Emmy Burns in her happily ever after?
398 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2012
13 people are currently reading
1125 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Mackler-Paternostro
4 books42 followersAshley Mackler-Paternostro lives in Naperville, Illinois with her husband Mark and their three wild dogs. She considers herself a bit of magpie, picking up inspiration for her novels from the world around her. Her novels include The Milestone Tapes, In The After and a short story featured in the collection Holiday Wishes.
More information can be found on: www.ashleymacklerpaternostro.com
More information can be found on: www.ashleymacklerpaternostro.com
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 15, 2012
booknook — Young Adult book reviews
Wow, you guys. In The After is truly an amazing and beautiful (but sad) story! It's one of the most heartbreaking stories I've ever read, but I can't recommend it enough! I love everything about this book: the cover, the title, the characters, the story, and the insane way that Ashley made me hope when there was no hope. When I first read the synopsis, I wasn't totally sure what to expect from this book, but that's what I loved about it! And as soon as I read the first chapter, I knew that Ashley had me completely hooked.
This story is about an incredible friendship between Sidney and Emmy. The two girls have a falling out and by the time the story starts, they haven’t spoken for several years. Then one day, Sidney gets a phone call from a police officer reporting that Emmy has possibly gone missing. Frustrated by the police department's lack of progress, Sidney takes matters into her own hands and embarks on a journey to find her friend... despite the fact that she feels it in her heart that Emmy is dead.
Ashley's prose is absolutely beautiful and I love the way this story is written. Ashley switches between present time and memories from Sidney and Emmy's past. We read stories from their childhood to learn about their friendship and the beginnings of Emmy's abusive relationship with Stephen, all the way up until the day Emmy goes missing. This wonderful way of writing made me completely fall in love with the characters and become sadder and sadder as I started to really adore Emmy. The more I read about Emmy's incredibly sweet and loving personality, the more distraught I was at the prospect of her being abused and possibly murdered, and the more I hoped that somehow she was alive! It was silly of me to hope, because surely Emmy was dead.. but I just couldn't imagine horrible things being done to such an amazing person. Ashley really got me invested in the characters, and I swear I thought they were real!
If it weren't for the fact that I read this entire book cuddled up in my boyfriend's arms, I probably would have cried my eyes out the entire time. My heart broke more and more every time I read a chapter about Emmy's abusive relationship. Each time, I snuggled a little closer to my boyfriend and thought about how insanely lucky I am to have him. I just wanted to reach out to Emmy and hug her and find her a husband like my boyfriend or like Sidney's husband Paul. This book will rip you apart emotionally, and that's what makes it so incredibly powerful and one of the best books I've ever read!
Not only is this an amazing and heartbreaking story, but it's also a story about friendship, abuse, love, parenting, the power of the media, and bravery. It's deeply moving, incredibly sad, and very powerful. In The After actually reminds me a bit of the movie Enough. If you enjoy that movie then you will LOVE In The After . The stories are kind of similar: dealing with an abusive relationship when a child is involved. The most devastating part is how real this story is. There are women out there who don't know how to get out of their abusive relationships. So although In The After is written as an adult contemporary fiction story, it deals with some very real issues.
Even though I have been reading a lot of contemporary lately, In The After is not the kind of story I usually read. But I am so insanely glad that I read it! The cover and blurb are initially what intrigued me and they didn't disappoint! This story is a complete emotional whirlwind that will totally suck you in. It's intense, mysterious, and will probably make you cry your eyes out. In The After one of my favourite books of the year, and is one that will likely stay with me for a long time. This is the kind of book that I think about for days or even weeks after I finish reading. I almost feel like I lived the story, because that's how powerful it was!
HUGE thanks Ashley for letting me review her amazing book! ♥ ♥
October 16, 2012
Once upon a time, children's stories stared with "Once upon a time". Now, this opening is apparently the domain of eloquent, extremely well written stories that convey a kind of subtle beauty and tragedy, where the characters dreams and ambitions meet the harsh indifference of reality.
In The After opens with a woman recounting her experience bonding with her mother over fairy tales leading into a class, as an adult, analysing them clinically; a kind of thing that, as a male reader, still managed to resonate with me. Not because I shared these experiences, but because Ashley's style conveys this kind of thing so well. There are few words spent on this part, compared to its importance to the rest of the book, but I knew before I'd hit page four that this book was going to be one of my favourites.
There's emotion woven into the very flesh of this story, and every sentence evokes a feeling of some description. We're inside the characters heads, we know them and feel what they feel. We are guests in their lives. For the good times, for the bad times.
This book is about the bad times. In The After says that "No one takes pictures of the bad moments", but that's just what it is. It's a picture of a woman's misery.
It's fair to say I loved this story, but being unashamedly gushing isn't what I do. So here goes.
I felt the decision to change from first person in the prologue to third person for the remainder was remarkably effective but a little jarring. I, generally speaking, prefer to read third person prose; but in this case loved being inside the head of the woman we'd later learn to be Sidney. Perhaps I'm just dumb, but it took me a few pages at least to figure out we were now seeing Emmy not through Sidney's eyes. I had to readjust the flow of the story to no longer treat "Sidney" as a separate character from the narrator, but when I'd done that the story flowed easily, this little bump in the road -- little more than a stylistic choice and a very well executed one at that -- completely forgotten.
I wasn't sold with how easily Sidney knew what had happened with Emmy. Perhaps I'm approaching it from, again, a male reader's perspective, but I wasn't sold on that. That's okay though. A theme in this work is the strong bond between mothers and daughters, between lifelong friends; it's quite okay to play up this connection. It's a beautiful scene anyway.
I thought the camp scene was padding. Although it was very well written, I couldn't really relate to it and wanted to get back to the main story.
Awesome ending.
But that's enough about the plot.
The editing is smooth and the piece flows well. It's mostly without typos, odd sentences or poor phrasing; easily the equal of any trad published piece. The cover, of course, is absolutely beautiful. The use of drop-caps was a neat little attraction even if the map wouldn't display properly on my phone. There's a lot of visual pretty in this book.
In The After plays to Ashley's strengths and I'm glad it does. I reviewed Ashley's first book, The Milestone Tapes, nearly six months ago. Sometimes I think about it every now and then. I think about it not just because I find it to be an extremely compelling, haunting read that exemplifies the storytelling power of a precious few talented independent authors struggling for recognition in an ocean of mediocrity, but also because I knew that Ashley had so many more stories within her and that her journey as a writer was just beginning.
I went into The Milestone Tapes not wanting to like it and came out extremely impressed. But now that advantage, that feeling of being pleasantly surprised by something you really wanted to hate, is gone. I *know* Ashley's gifted. This is her second book. The curtain is pulled back. I know she can pluck my heartstrings without mercy and I'm prepared for it this time.
So when I say my unreasonable expectations were met, it should be viewed through this strange prism of someone who wanted to hate this book but secretly knew it was going to be good. And it was.
The Milestone Tapes proved me wrong, challenged my preconceptions and told me, in no uncertain terms, that Ashley was brilliant, her stories were tissue-snatchingly wonderful and that I'd be the first to snatch up a copy of all of her books whenever they're released.
In The After vindicated this choice.
In The After opens with a woman recounting her experience bonding with her mother over fairy tales leading into a class, as an adult, analysing them clinically; a kind of thing that, as a male reader, still managed to resonate with me. Not because I shared these experiences, but because Ashley's style conveys this kind of thing so well. There are few words spent on this part, compared to its importance to the rest of the book, but I knew before I'd hit page four that this book was going to be one of my favourites.
There's emotion woven into the very flesh of this story, and every sentence evokes a feeling of some description. We're inside the characters heads, we know them and feel what they feel. We are guests in their lives. For the good times, for the bad times.
This book is about the bad times. In The After says that "No one takes pictures of the bad moments", but that's just what it is. It's a picture of a woman's misery.
It's fair to say I loved this story, but being unashamedly gushing isn't what I do. So here goes.
I felt the decision to change from first person in the prologue to third person for the remainder was remarkably effective but a little jarring. I, generally speaking, prefer to read third person prose; but in this case loved being inside the head of the woman we'd later learn to be Sidney. Perhaps I'm just dumb, but it took me a few pages at least to figure out we were now seeing Emmy not through Sidney's eyes. I had to readjust the flow of the story to no longer treat "Sidney" as a separate character from the narrator, but when I'd done that the story flowed easily, this little bump in the road -- little more than a stylistic choice and a very well executed one at that -- completely forgotten.
I wasn't sold with how easily Sidney knew what had happened with Emmy. Perhaps I'm approaching it from, again, a male reader's perspective, but I wasn't sold on that. That's okay though. A theme in this work is the strong bond between mothers and daughters, between lifelong friends; it's quite okay to play up this connection. It's a beautiful scene anyway.
I thought the camp scene was padding. Although it was very well written, I couldn't really relate to it and wanted to get back to the main story.
Awesome ending.
But that's enough about the plot.
The editing is smooth and the piece flows well. It's mostly without typos, odd sentences or poor phrasing; easily the equal of any trad published piece. The cover, of course, is absolutely beautiful. The use of drop-caps was a neat little attraction even if the map wouldn't display properly on my phone. There's a lot of visual pretty in this book.
In The After plays to Ashley's strengths and I'm glad it does. I reviewed Ashley's first book, The Milestone Tapes, nearly six months ago. Sometimes I think about it every now and then. I think about it not just because I find it to be an extremely compelling, haunting read that exemplifies the storytelling power of a precious few talented independent authors struggling for recognition in an ocean of mediocrity, but also because I knew that Ashley had so many more stories within her and that her journey as a writer was just beginning.
I went into The Milestone Tapes not wanting to like it and came out extremely impressed. But now that advantage, that feeling of being pleasantly surprised by something you really wanted to hate, is gone. I *know* Ashley's gifted. This is her second book. The curtain is pulled back. I know she can pluck my heartstrings without mercy and I'm prepared for it this time.
So when I say my unreasonable expectations were met, it should be viewed through this strange prism of someone who wanted to hate this book but secretly knew it was going to be good. And it was.
The Milestone Tapes proved me wrong, challenged my preconceptions and told me, in no uncertain terms, that Ashley was brilliant, her stories were tissue-snatchingly wonderful and that I'd be the first to snatch up a copy of all of her books whenever they're released.
In The After vindicated this choice.
October 29, 2012
Once again I am not sure where to even start with this book. I loved this book and I am not sure how to even put into words how I feel about it. Her writing right from the start grabs my attention and I can't put the book down until I am finished with the book. The first thing I will say about this book is that at first it reminded me of the Susan Powell case. If you aren't from Utah you may not have heard about this case but that is what I thought this book was going to be like but it didn't end that way. I am still in shock how it ended and I think it would shock just about anyone. Her characters always seems to be like people I would get along with if they were alive. She did a great job of explaining everything and why the characters did what they did in the last chapter. I could keep going and going on about this book but I don't want to giveaway the ending so I am going to just stop now before I give it away.
February 21, 2013
Wow. Okay, I am highly impressed with Ashley Mackler-Paternostro... and actually, I am a bit jealous. She is able to create a real-life event, make the characters so tangible, draw you in emotionally, and then master a fantastic story. I can prove to you that I felt so attached to this book and my mind was constantly thinking about what was going to happen next. I stopped reading when I got to work at the part when Emmy disappeared, and a few other things happened (not to spoil anything)… so I am working away and I come across a news story that headlines “Women’s Body Found in the Woods.” My first thought was “oh my God! Did they find Emmy?” and, of course, started laughing because Emmy is a fictional character. Anyways, I found it truly fantastic. Ashley is descriptive and laced with pure emotion with fine-tuned details. It allows you to understand the true definition of friendship and how far you will go for the friend that you love dearly.
December 7, 2012
Like the authors first book, I love that the characters are very real. They are described so well that its easy to understand their emotions, what motivates, frustrates, and excites them. I enjoy that they aren't perfect, just human. While dealing with the topic of domestic abuse, I admire the way it was approached. As a reader, we understand how it started, why she stays, why she feels she can't leave, and why she still loves him. We also understand how this would strain other friendships and relationships in her life. Its hard to love someone who is being hurt, and I think the best way to view it was when Sydney says that Emmy didn't want to be saved, she just wanted someone to share her secrets with. What a sweet way to say, she did what she could, while still giving Emmy the agency to decide for herself.
This book is a must read. Its not a flighty fluffy beach book, but a page turner that will leave your mind reeling for days!
This book is a must read. Its not a flighty fluffy beach book, but a page turner that will leave your mind reeling for days!
March 22, 2017
I really hate domestic abuse - I cannot imagine that there is anyone out there who thinks it is really okay. I'm sure I am wrong, or it wouldn't happen all the time. This book was a book of fiction but based on so much truth. Emmy Burns is described as a quiet, very smart child while her best friend Sidney is outgoing and also very smart. Emmy meets a young man while she is at college, after working very hard to get a full scholarship, and throws it all away because she falls in love with him. Sidney tries to like him but just can't - so she lies to her best friend and says she knows she will be happy. Avery is Emmy's daughter. She loves her more than life and wants to keep her safe - so she does the one thing that she knows will keep her safe from her father. You'll need to read the book to follow the story and find out.
November 8, 2012
Emmy Burns and Sidney Ruth have been friends their entire lives. That's why, when a detective calls Sidney asking if she has heard from Emmy in the past 48 hours, Sidney knows something is very wrong. She also knows Emmy would never disappear and leave her 7 year old daughter behind. And what she believes, above all else, is that Emmy's abusive husband Stephen is the one behind the disappearance.
Sidney makes the decision to go to the tiny town where Emmy lives and try to unravel the mystery of her vanishing. As she goes about getting media attention for the case, she also reminisces on all the moments that made their friendship so special. The end reveals a shocking secret that will make you think about the way you view love, motherhood, and friendship.
Just like Mrs. Mackler-Paternostro's debut book, The Milestone Tapes, this novel hit me right in the feels. I am writing this review right after finishing the book, but I know I will be thinking about the events that occurred for a while to come.
The story starts with the disappearance of Emmy, but the heart of things for me, was the evolution of Emmy and Sidney's friendship, told through flashbacks. Although they have been lifelong friends, Emmy and Sidney are definitely different. Emmy is artistic, quiet, and loving. Sidney is outspoken and doesn't take anything lying down. Though their lives didn't go the way they planned, they always swore nothing would get in the way of their friendship....until Emmy married the controlling, demeaning Stephen.
Emmy was lovable but extremely frustrating. I don't understand how someone could ignore all the warning signs, all the concerns from friends and family, and be in a relationship with someone that clearly doesn't love them. I am very lucky to say I have never had to experience being in this position. We all like to say we'd never be that woman, we'd never stick around with an abusive spouse. But God, as hard as it is to admit...you can't say what you'd do, if you're not the one that's being put in that impossible predicament. This is of course, made all the worse when a child is in the picture.
This is not to say that Sidney was perfect, not at all. She did come off as being sort of a know-it-all sometimes, and I guess I could understand where Emmy would feel she was being bossed around by her. But no friendship is perfect, and I believe in my heart that Sidney was always doing things with Emmy's best interests at heart.
The tale unfolded quite slowly, until the punch of an ending, which I NEVER saw coming. But I liked it this way...years of friendship can't be retold in just a few chapters. And as I said, the book wasn't really about Emmy's disappearance, or the abuse. This book is a heartbreaking but hopeful tale of a beautiful relationship that had its' ups and downs. The author has done a terrific job in writing another book that deals with some of life's most difficult moments, and I applaud her.
Sidney makes the decision to go to the tiny town where Emmy lives and try to unravel the mystery of her vanishing. As she goes about getting media attention for the case, she also reminisces on all the moments that made their friendship so special. The end reveals a shocking secret that will make you think about the way you view love, motherhood, and friendship.
Just like Mrs. Mackler-Paternostro's debut book, The Milestone Tapes, this novel hit me right in the feels. I am writing this review right after finishing the book, but I know I will be thinking about the events that occurred for a while to come.
The story starts with the disappearance of Emmy, but the heart of things for me, was the evolution of Emmy and Sidney's friendship, told through flashbacks. Although they have been lifelong friends, Emmy and Sidney are definitely different. Emmy is artistic, quiet, and loving. Sidney is outspoken and doesn't take anything lying down. Though their lives didn't go the way they planned, they always swore nothing would get in the way of their friendship....until Emmy married the controlling, demeaning Stephen.
Emmy was lovable but extremely frustrating. I don't understand how someone could ignore all the warning signs, all the concerns from friends and family, and be in a relationship with someone that clearly doesn't love them. I am very lucky to say I have never had to experience being in this position. We all like to say we'd never be that woman, we'd never stick around with an abusive spouse. But God, as hard as it is to admit...you can't say what you'd do, if you're not the one that's being put in that impossible predicament. This is of course, made all the worse when a child is in the picture.
This is not to say that Sidney was perfect, not at all. She did come off as being sort of a know-it-all sometimes, and I guess I could understand where Emmy would feel she was being bossed around by her. But no friendship is perfect, and I believe in my heart that Sidney was always doing things with Emmy's best interests at heart.
The tale unfolded quite slowly, until the punch of an ending, which I NEVER saw coming. But I liked it this way...years of friendship can't be retold in just a few chapters. And as I said, the book wasn't really about Emmy's disappearance, or the abuse. This book is a heartbreaking but hopeful tale of a beautiful relationship that had its' ups and downs. The author has done a terrific job in writing another book that deals with some of life's most difficult moments, and I applaud her.
October 18, 2012
Ashley Mackler-Paternostro paints a painfully accurate portrait of a domestic violence victim whose own prince turned out to be something different from what she envisioned. From one moment to the next, Emmy is gone without a trace, and her life-long best friend Sidney, knowing what was going on behind the closed doors of Emmy's home, cannot accept the fact that Emmy would simply walk away and leave her daughter behind. A race with time begins to prove that something happened to Emmy, something horrible, but everyone continues to turn a blind eye, even the police.
Books about domestic abuse are never easy reads. When I started this novel, I didn't really know how harrowing it would become. I was hooked by the premise that promised a lot of mystery and heartbreak, and the dark side of a fairy tale gone wrong. Nevertheless, something in the execution fell short of capturing me emotionally. It took me a while to become invested in the story, mostly due to the character of Sidney. While Emmy grew to become a person I love, Sidney was a tough nut. I was put off by her tendency to engage in long monologues that broke the otherwise smooth and easy-flowing narrative. The length she goes to help her friend is admirable, but as a person, I just couldn't connect with her.
Though the emotional pay-off came a bit late, I found myself reading the rest through a veil of tears. It is hard not to, seeing that Emmy is a woman who sacrificed her own well-being in favor of her daughter. I can't imagine any mother staying cool at that. There's a twist too, though I'm fairly certain that you've seen this sort of twist in TV dramas. Still, it comes as a surprise, and the closure is, if tough for all parties involved, a very satisfying one.
All things considered, this is a well-written and powerful family drama, and my complaints are completely based on personal biases. So please do consider giving this book a chance.
Books about domestic abuse are never easy reads. When I started this novel, I didn't really know how harrowing it would become. I was hooked by the premise that promised a lot of mystery and heartbreak, and the dark side of a fairy tale gone wrong. Nevertheless, something in the execution fell short of capturing me emotionally. It took me a while to become invested in the story, mostly due to the character of Sidney. While Emmy grew to become a person I love, Sidney was a tough nut. I was put off by her tendency to engage in long monologues that broke the otherwise smooth and easy-flowing narrative. The length she goes to help her friend is admirable, but as a person, I just couldn't connect with her.
Though the emotional pay-off came a bit late, I found myself reading the rest through a veil of tears. It is hard not to, seeing that Emmy is a woman who sacrificed her own well-being in favor of her daughter. I can't imagine any mother staying cool at that. There's a twist too, though I'm fairly certain that you've seen this sort of twist in TV dramas. Still, it comes as a surprise, and the closure is, if tough for all parties involved, a very satisfying one.
All things considered, this is a well-written and powerful family drama, and my complaints are completely based on personal biases. So please do consider giving this book a chance.
October 10, 2014
Originally posted on my blog
http://asoutherngirlsbookshelf.blogsp...
Amazing. Wonderful. Heartbroken. Emotional.
Those are just a few of the things I thought/felt while I read In The After. This book stirred so many emotions that words simply cannot explain. This is one of the most heartbreaking books I've read in a long time. Emily and Sidney have been friends since they were little and have vowed to always be there for one another. No matter what. So when Emmy goes missing Sidney sticks to that. Being there for her friend, Emmys voice and the keeper of her secrets. Letting everyone and anyone who would listen letting them know Emmy wouldn't just walk away from everything, especially her daughter. If she did there had to be reason... leading everyone to look at Emmys husband Stephen.
While I wont spoil the book I will say it's a very heartbreaking story that literally had me in tears, especially at the very end. When I was done I felt I had gone through an emotional roller coaster. I can say without a doubt that this is one of my favorite books this year and one of my all time favorites. I dare anyone to read this and not be emotional involved or moved to tears. It's that good people!
I would like to thank Ashley Mackler-Paternostro for allowing me a preview copy of her book. She's an awesome and amazing writer. Please also check out her debut book if you haven't The Milestone Tapes it's another must read. I advise anyone who wants a GREAT read pick this book up, trust me you won't regret it.
http://asoutherngirlsbookshelf.blogsp...
Amazing. Wonderful. Heartbroken. Emotional.
Those are just a few of the things I thought/felt while I read In The After. This book stirred so many emotions that words simply cannot explain. This is one of the most heartbreaking books I've read in a long time. Emily and Sidney have been friends since they were little and have vowed to always be there for one another. No matter what. So when Emmy goes missing Sidney sticks to that. Being there for her friend, Emmys voice and the keeper of her secrets. Letting everyone and anyone who would listen letting them know Emmy wouldn't just walk away from everything, especially her daughter. If she did there had to be reason... leading everyone to look at Emmys husband Stephen.
While I wont spoil the book I will say it's a very heartbreaking story that literally had me in tears, especially at the very end. When I was done I felt I had gone through an emotional roller coaster. I can say without a doubt that this is one of my favorite books this year and one of my all time favorites. I dare anyone to read this and not be emotional involved or moved to tears. It's that good people!
I would like to thank Ashley Mackler-Paternostro for allowing me a preview copy of her book. She's an awesome and amazing writer. Please also check out her debut book if you haven't The Milestone Tapes it's another must read. I advise anyone who wants a GREAT read pick this book up, trust me you won't regret it.
February 27, 2013
There is much to like about IN THE AFTER. Sidney and Emmy have been best friends since childhood, although they haven't spoke in two years. Sidney receives a call from the police, Emmy was gone missing, without her beloved daughter. According to her husband, she's run away. But Sidney knows her friend is dead, and that her abusive husband has killed her. Sidney spearheads publicity to help find Emmy's body.
Although poorly edited, this book is well written. Toward the second half of the book, I got tired of Sidney's long monologues, and by the end everyone seemed to be conversing in pages, rather than sentences or paragraphs. The writer seemed to use these monologues as a way to tell stories, which would have worked better if used more sparingly. The writer seemed to need to over explain what the reader already understands.
Without giving anything away, I was not surprised at what should have been a plot twist. The entire last chapter was unnecessary in the over telling of the story. We get it.
Although poorly edited, this book is well written. Toward the second half of the book, I got tired of Sidney's long monologues, and by the end everyone seemed to be conversing in pages, rather than sentences or paragraphs. The writer seemed to use these monologues as a way to tell stories, which would have worked better if used more sparingly. The writer seemed to need to over explain what the reader already understands.
Without giving anything away, I was not surprised at what should have been a plot twist. The entire last chapter was unnecessary in the over telling of the story. We get it.
February 11, 2013
I enjoyed this book from the very beginning. The fairy tale theme was a great attention grabber. For me, this book was a solid four stars from the get go. The tragic tale of domestic violence interwoven with memories from the past was the perfect way to tell this story. As we read about the disappearance of Emmy, we were also learning the story of Emmy's and Sidney's relationship from the beginning. I really enjoyed the way the two parts were intertwined. It was a heartbreaking tale of a troubled marriage told through the eyes of a best friend. It was a great story, but we all knew how it was going to end, hence the 4 stars. As the ending unfolded and the brilliance came through, it quickly became a 5 star book. Everything you thought, was wrong and the author came up with a fantastic ending to this novel. The shocker was unexpected and in that way it reminded me a little of "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. I would really recommend this book, it's a great read.
February 19, 2013
Sidney and Emmy are friends, no not just friends, BEST friends. They have been since their early childhood years. So what do you do when your "Best friend" quits college, gets pregnant and marrys her abusive lover?? He is "evil" to Emmy, and Sidney, God bless her for her strength and kindess, tries to be there for her friend and tries to guide her to a better path. But some women take the abuse a lot longer than "outsiders" think they should and what can you do to help? This was a really hard read but the ending will knock your socks off. Ashley Mackler-Paternostro must have known a woman intimately that was her Emmy character because she hit the emotions right on the head. They way she feels throughout the book, her feelings that she can "save" the man and the marriage is so A typical. Very emotional read (at least for me) but very well written. Makes you want to change some of the laws these states have. two thumbs up!!
December 30, 2012
Whilst not my normal genre of reading book, I had seen the high ratings this story and author had received so I decided to give this book a go. Fairy tales are not real and this is as far from a perfect story as you can get. Despite the themes included, the characters are true and likeable and you feel yourself being absorbed in the story. Don't get me wrong, there are parts that I found extremely different to read but that just shows the candor in which the author wrote with. Nobody likes an unhappy ending but sometimes there is no other way. The twist was very good and I'm glad it was in there.
As I previously stated, this is not my favourite genre to read and I shan't be rereading anytime soon if at all but I am glad I read it once.
As I previously stated, this is not my favourite genre to read and I shan't be rereading anytime soon if at all but I am glad I read it once.
July 23, 2013
I was so excited to receive this in a FR giveaway, and this book did not disappoint me at all! The characters are complex and so real, you really feel as though you get to know them by the end of the book. A beautifully written story about the lives and relationships between two best friends and the things that can tear even the closest friends apart. The ending is a surprise, but also not....I guessed it but wasn't completely accurate. Overall, a beautiful book that will be hard to put down once you start!
April 12, 2013
Beautifully written. Many women will relate to the sort of life-long friendship that Sidney and Emmy have ... that friendship that goes beyond friendship into something visceral as if they are two sides of the same coin. Lives intertwined, lovingly wrapped around each other forever. Tragic, moving, engaging, and so visually and emotionally stimulating you find yourself moving with the characters through this tale. Like all things it had to come to an end, and I could not have wished for a better ending. Kudos!
January 25, 2013
4.5/5
An emotional gauntlet. I would easily place this as a top 5 must read for 2013.
I love controversial reads. Works that make you think, feel and live out of your normal comfort zone.
My heart was stripped reading this. I have only felt that raw a handful of times while reading works of fiction.
Read this!
**there were some grammatical errors that got me hung up a few times, hence the .5, but other than that-this book is phenomenal
An emotional gauntlet. I would easily place this as a top 5 must read for 2013.
I love controversial reads. Works that make you think, feel and live out of your normal comfort zone.
My heart was stripped reading this. I have only felt that raw a handful of times while reading works of fiction.
Read this!
**there were some grammatical errors that got me hung up a few times, hence the .5, but other than that-this book is phenomenal
April 30, 2013
Wonderful book about friendship, loss, and the grey areas in life. I didn't see the twist coming, and I tend to pride myself on seeing the twists coming.
This one kept me up reading it. I was expecting it to be a bedside book I read for a half hour before bed but it was not to be. I had to finish it. Good book with a good message and a great ending. It made me think about all of the friends I've had and lost along the way in life. I enjoyed the writing style as well.
This one kept me up reading it. I was expecting it to be a bedside book I read for a half hour before bed but it was not to be. I had to finish it. Good book with a good message and a great ending. It made me think about all of the friends I've had and lost along the way in life. I enjoyed the writing style as well.
January 12, 2014
This was one of the most amazing stories of friendship that I have ever read. The abuse and horrors Emmy had went through were gut wrenching. As a mother my heart went out to Emmy and Avery, for all they endured, a mother will do anything for her child, even die for her. Sidney and Emmy had such a strong friendship, through thick and thin. This was a great book.
March 13, 2013
An extremely well-written book about a woman trapped in an abusive marriage and her best friend's attempts to save her. Even the "Nancy Grace"-type of national coverage for the missing Emmy was gripping. The bittersweet ending was a twist that I did guess but quickly dismissed about half-way through, so I was still taken aback. Well done.
February 6, 2013
This was REALLY good. Another one I just could not put down until I found out what happened. The ending totally took me by surprise. I thought it would end several different ways from what it actually did. It was better than anything I was prepared for!! Definitely worth the read!
September 16, 2013
Very well thought out book well planned and a good story.
I loved the best friends, hard to find good friends like that these days.
I knew this twist was coming... in the middle of the book Sidneys comment to Emmy about getting rid of Stephen is when I knew...
I loved the best friends, hard to find good friends like that these days.
I knew this twist was coming... in the middle of the book Sidneys comment to Emmy about getting rid of Stephen is when I knew...
February 7, 2013
A gripping book - hard to put down, and difficult to read at the same time. Quite a bit of strong language.
February 28, 2013
Excellent book. A little slow in the beginning. EXCELLENT twist!
August 2, 2013
Picked this book up as a free kindle addition. I was hooked from page 1 and couldn't put it down. Awesome story of friendship, bravery and the things you do for love.
April 15, 2013
The story was good, the writing was good. I just wasn't that interested in the topic.
June 26, 2013
really good. a little difficult for me not to relate. excellent ending
April 30, 2013
Great opening, little slow for the rest of the first two thirds, AWESOME ending!
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