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Afterlife Academy
Even being dead isn’t enough to get you out of maths class.
Dying wasn't on sixteen-year-old Riley Richardson's to-do list. And now, not only is she dead, but she's stuck in a perpetual high school nightmare. Worse still, she's stuck there with the geekiest, most annoying boy in the history of the world, ever.
In a school where the geeks are popular and just about everything is wrong, Riley has become an outcast. She begins a desperate quest to get back home, but her once-perfect life starts to unravel into something not nearly as great as she thought it was. And maybe death isn’t really that bad after all...
Welcome to Afterlife Academy, where horns are the norm, the microwave is more intelligent than the teachers, and the pumpkins have a taste for blood.
Dying wasn't on sixteen-year-old Riley Richardson's to-do list. And now, not only is she dead, but she's stuck in a perpetual high school nightmare. Worse still, she's stuck there with the geekiest, most annoying boy in the history of the world, ever.
In a school where the geeks are popular and just about everything is wrong, Riley has become an outcast. She begins a desperate quest to get back home, but her once-perfect life starts to unravel into something not nearly as great as she thought it was. And maybe death isn’t really that bad after all...
Welcome to Afterlife Academy, where horns are the norm, the microwave is more intelligent than the teachers, and the pumpkins have a taste for blood.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2013
21 people are currently reading
1469 people want to read
About the author
Jaimie Admans
32 books709 followersJaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 14, 2017
DNF 26%
The MC is such a bitch that I couldn't take it too far.
The MC is such a bitch that I couldn't take it too far.
April 3, 2016
In popular culture, young dead girls usually spell trouble, especially if they had been chosen queen of the prom before they died. We know this from films like Carrie and Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II. And even if they happened not to be the belle of the ball, at the very least, they hang around the girls' lavatory whining about their sorry lot to whomever will listen.
Well, Riley Richardson is not a prom queen, although that's more an accident of circumstance than anything. (Had she lived in America, she tells us, she would no doubt have been one.) But she was at the top of the pecking order in her school, going out with a hunk she absolutely adored. People were fawning all over her and life was sweet. Until she died, that is. Now she's stuck at a weird version of her old school, where the staff is understanding in a creepy, ever-vigilant and near-omniscient sort of way, and her only friend is a woman with horns. There are all kinds of restrictions and hardly any perks--one of the few being that you can eat whatever you want without getting fat. That aside, the afterschool afterlife (as it were) is not much fun. This definitely ain't Hogwarts, folks.
Despite the fact that she is now deceased, Riley is still a typical schoolgirl, who hates classes, distrusts authority figures and craves the popularity she had in her former life. Even though she is shallow, in Jaimie Admans' hands, we see that she has her problems too, and we even get to like her.
And along the way, there are lessons about confronting the mistakes one has made in one's life, and about the sheer wickedness of being cruel to those who deserve some sympathy.
Well, Riley Richardson is not a prom queen, although that's more an accident of circumstance than anything. (Had she lived in America, she tells us, she would no doubt have been one.) But she was at the top of the pecking order in her school, going out with a hunk she absolutely adored. People were fawning all over her and life was sweet. Until she died, that is. Now she's stuck at a weird version of her old school, where the staff is understanding in a creepy, ever-vigilant and near-omniscient sort of way, and her only friend is a woman with horns. There are all kinds of restrictions and hardly any perks--one of the few being that you can eat whatever you want without getting fat. That aside, the afterschool afterlife (as it were) is not much fun. This definitely ain't Hogwarts, folks.
Despite the fact that she is now deceased, Riley is still a typical schoolgirl, who hates classes, distrusts authority figures and craves the popularity she had in her former life. Even though she is shallow, in Jaimie Admans' hands, we see that she has her problems too, and we even get to like her.
And along the way, there are lessons about confronting the mistakes one has made in one's life, and about the sheer wickedness of being cruel to those who deserve some sympathy.
April 24, 2013
It’s a question that humanity seems to have grappled with ever since the evolution of complex thought; what happens when we die? Some people say that, if we've been good, we go to heaven (or somewhere significantly worse than the naughty-step if we've been bad) and some say that only sweet, eternal nothingness is what we have in store. But in Jaimie Adman’s third novel, Afterlife Academy, sixteen-year-old Riley Richardson finds out that, after she dies, it’s back to school. Immediately.
Yes, things don’t exactly start out well for popular girl Riley in Afterlife Academy as, moments after dying in a car crash, she finds herself standing outside the gates of The Afterlife Academy; a school for people who die before they have a chance to finish their education. To make matters worse, she’s stranded there with class geek from her old school and second victim of the crash, Anthony. After the unlikely pair make their way inside they soon discover that they have to participate in a series of lessons; haunting, visualisation, (even maths!) in order to ‘graduate’ – a mysterious process by which they leave the academy never to return.
So, a lot for Riley to deal with then, and, unfortunately, she does not deal with it well. After finally accepting that she is in fact dead, Riley becomes seriously frustrated when, despite having been the most popular girl at her previous school, she realises things are now very different. Riley is the school bottom-feeder; mocked, tripped over in the dinner hall and generally despised for not exhibiting the pale grey tones the other students, as well as the school building, all sport.
With Riley having been a pretty nasty person in life (she and her boyfriend Wade viciously bullied Anthony), you might well expect to be cheering this punishment on. And you probably would be if it weren't for the fact that, in death, Riley comes across as a remarkably likeable character. It’s a surprise that you can be so easily won over by such a (previously) mean girl but, thanks to Adman’s superb writing, this is exactly what happens in Afterlife Academy and, despite initially maintaining a feisty facade, Riley soon begins to realise how cruel she’s been and begins to crave redemption.
All this might sound like it makes for a somewhat dark and depressing read, but the book is actually exceptionally funny, and this is in no small part thanks to the colourful cast of supporting characters; other recently deceased teenagers, a demon dinner lady and even a bloodthirsty (but completely immobile) pumpkin named Charlie. There is also a strong strand of romance throughout the book and this ties in with the redemption theme very nicely; after all, if love can’t save us, what in the afterworld can?
Yes, things don’t exactly start out well for popular girl Riley in Afterlife Academy as, moments after dying in a car crash, she finds herself standing outside the gates of The Afterlife Academy; a school for people who die before they have a chance to finish their education. To make matters worse, she’s stranded there with class geek from her old school and second victim of the crash, Anthony. After the unlikely pair make their way inside they soon discover that they have to participate in a series of lessons; haunting, visualisation, (even maths!) in order to ‘graduate’ – a mysterious process by which they leave the academy never to return.
So, a lot for Riley to deal with then, and, unfortunately, she does not deal with it well. After finally accepting that she is in fact dead, Riley becomes seriously frustrated when, despite having been the most popular girl at her previous school, she realises things are now very different. Riley is the school bottom-feeder; mocked, tripped over in the dinner hall and generally despised for not exhibiting the pale grey tones the other students, as well as the school building, all sport.
With Riley having been a pretty nasty person in life (she and her boyfriend Wade viciously bullied Anthony), you might well expect to be cheering this punishment on. And you probably would be if it weren't for the fact that, in death, Riley comes across as a remarkably likeable character. It’s a surprise that you can be so easily won over by such a (previously) mean girl but, thanks to Adman’s superb writing, this is exactly what happens in Afterlife Academy and, despite initially maintaining a feisty facade, Riley soon begins to realise how cruel she’s been and begins to crave redemption.
All this might sound like it makes for a somewhat dark and depressing read, but the book is actually exceptionally funny, and this is in no small part thanks to the colourful cast of supporting characters; other recently deceased teenagers, a demon dinner lady and even a bloodthirsty (but completely immobile) pumpkin named Charlie. There is also a strong strand of romance throughout the book and this ties in with the redemption theme very nicely; after all, if love can’t save us, what in the afterworld can?
February 18, 2015
First of all, the story had a somewhat different and apparently interesting premise.
The idea that if someone under eighteen dies, he or she will have to attend a school: The Afterlife Academy.
Then it had some cute elements, like the blood thirsty pumpkin, who definitely should have had more relevance in the story. Because it was CUTE...
It had also had some interesting ideas, like the classes that the students take at the academy:
_Redemption classes, hauntings, Visualizing and so on...
“How nice to have a class full of new faces,” he says chirpily. “My name is Mr Golding, and I will be your Haunting instructor.
Hopefully you will all have a bit of fun in this class. We know Afterlife Academy can seem terribly serious at times, but we do want to you to enjoy a few lessons as well. Haunting is meant to be fun. After all, what is the essence of being a ghost if you cannot haunt?”
On the less positive sides:
Character development was less than stellar. Riley was a bully, a snob bully, and dying didn't improve her attitude all that muuch.
She's bossy, manipulative, irritating, has no consideration for anyone but her, and then she's a whinny BRAT. How can I, as a reader, like her??
Nothing much happens in this story, besides Riley complaining that she wants to go home because she misses her long time boyfriend...the idiot WHO KILLED HER IN A CAR ACCIDENT, and someone who she later founds out has been cheating on her with her best friend! But even upon discovering THAT, she still wants to go home to him!! O_O
I’ve decided to pull another prank. It’s harmless, it probably won’t get me into much trouble, and it’s hopefully a lot more fun for everyone than a fire drill at two in the morning.
“Because I have to go back to Wade,” I admit. “This place is messing my head up. I love Wade. I have for years and I can’t just let that go.”
Nevermind that she's DEAD, because supposedly there's an exit...
Instead of loosing an awful amount of pages with Riley complaining how it isn't fair, what had happened to her, i think the author should have show us, some kind of change behaviour in Riley's.
Anthony was okay. He's a good person, but there isn't much life in him..no pun intended.
Then the way the story ended, just felt very rushed.
The idea that if someone under eighteen dies, he or she will have to attend a school: The Afterlife Academy.
Then it had some cute elements, like the blood thirsty pumpkin, who definitely should have had more relevance in the story. Because it was CUTE...
It had also had some interesting ideas, like the classes that the students take at the academy:
_Redemption classes, hauntings, Visualizing and so on...
“How nice to have a class full of new faces,” he says chirpily. “My name is Mr Golding, and I will be your Haunting instructor.
Hopefully you will all have a bit of fun in this class. We know Afterlife Academy can seem terribly serious at times, but we do want to you to enjoy a few lessons as well. Haunting is meant to be fun. After all, what is the essence of being a ghost if you cannot haunt?”
On the less positive sides:
Character development was less than stellar. Riley was a bully, a snob bully, and dying didn't improve her attitude all that muuch.
She's bossy, manipulative, irritating, has no consideration for anyone but her, and then she's a whinny BRAT. How can I, as a reader, like her??
Nothing much happens in this story, besides Riley complaining that she wants to go home because she misses her long time boyfriend...the idiot WHO KILLED HER IN A CAR ACCIDENT, and someone who she later founds out has been cheating on her with her best friend! But even upon discovering THAT, she still wants to go home to him!! O_O
I’ve decided to pull another prank. It’s harmless, it probably won’t get me into much trouble, and it’s hopefully a lot more fun for everyone than a fire drill at two in the morning.
“Because I have to go back to Wade,” I admit. “This place is messing my head up. I love Wade. I have for years and I can’t just let that go.”
Nevermind that she's DEAD, because supposedly there's an exit...
Instead of loosing an awful amount of pages with Riley complaining how it isn't fair, what had happened to her, i think the author should have show us, some kind of change behaviour in Riley's.
Anthony was okay. He's a good person, but there isn't much life in him..no pun intended.
Then the way the story ended, just felt very rushed.
January 9, 2018
Ein Autounfall tötet Riley und Anthony. Statt vor dem Himmelstor stehen sie vor ihrer alten Schule, die in Afterlife Academy umgetauft wurde. Zu ihrer Überraschung erfahren sie dass Teenager die versterben, nach ihrem Tot weiterhin die Schule besuchen müssen und Fächer absolvieren wie Geistergesetze, Visualisierung und Wiedergutmachung. Riley war zu Lebzeiten die Beliebteste und ihr liebster Zeitvertreib war es Andere zu schikanieren. In der Afterlife Academy ist sie jedoch der Außenseiter. Krampfhaft sucht sie nach einem Weg zurück in ihr altes Leben. Zurück zu ihrem Freund der den Unfall verursacht hat und zu ihrem Leben als Promqueen.
Der Plotgrundgedanke war gut und es ließ sich auch super lesen, wenn, ja wenn ich doch nur die Hauptfigur gemocht hätte. Aber Riley ist wirklich die unsympathischste Protagonistin der ich seit langem gefolgt bin. Sie klingt wie eine Platte, die einen Sprung hat. Ständig will sie zurück nach Hause zu ihrem Freund der eigentlich verantwortlich ist für ihren Zustand, selbst als er sie noch mit ihrer besten Freundin bescheißt. Obwohl man eigentlich nicht von betrügen sprechen kann, weil Riley ist ja tot. Nicht einmal kommt sie auf die Idee im Visualisierungsunterricht nach ihren Eltern zu sehen. Ja ihr ist nicht einmal klar, dass sie gar nicht so leicht zurück kann, da ihr Körper ja bereits beerdigt wurde. Außerdem ist sie wie ein trotziges Kind was erst handelt und dann denkt. Abgesehen davon waren ein paar putzige Ideen dabei, wie der blutdürstige bissige Kürbis, eine Mikrowelle die alles ausspuckt, was man möchte und eine dämonische Küchenbedienung. Für die Fülle an Ideen war die Story aber eher zu kurz, da fehlt es der Autorin glaube ich noch ein bisschen an Übung. Und dass Ende fand ich feige, es hätte sonst Stoff für weitere hundert Seiten gegeben.
Als kurzes Leseintermezzo war die Story ganz in Ordnung, das Potential für mehr wäre dagewesen, nur leider hat es die Autorin nicht genutzt.
Der Plotgrundgedanke war gut und es ließ sich auch super lesen, wenn, ja wenn ich doch nur die Hauptfigur gemocht hätte. Aber Riley ist wirklich die unsympathischste Protagonistin der ich seit langem gefolgt bin. Sie klingt wie eine Platte, die einen Sprung hat. Ständig will sie zurück nach Hause zu ihrem Freund der eigentlich verantwortlich ist für ihren Zustand, selbst als er sie noch mit ihrer besten Freundin bescheißt. Obwohl man eigentlich nicht von betrügen sprechen kann, weil Riley ist ja tot. Nicht einmal kommt sie auf die Idee im Visualisierungsunterricht nach ihren Eltern zu sehen. Ja ihr ist nicht einmal klar, dass sie gar nicht so leicht zurück kann, da ihr Körper ja bereits beerdigt wurde. Außerdem ist sie wie ein trotziges Kind was erst handelt und dann denkt. Abgesehen davon waren ein paar putzige Ideen dabei, wie der blutdürstige bissige Kürbis, eine Mikrowelle die alles ausspuckt, was man möchte und eine dämonische Küchenbedienung. Für die Fülle an Ideen war die Story aber eher zu kurz, da fehlt es der Autorin glaube ich noch ein bisschen an Übung. Und dass Ende fand ich feige, es hätte sonst Stoff für weitere hundert Seiten gegeben.
Als kurzes Leseintermezzo war die Story ganz in Ordnung, das Potential für mehr wäre dagewesen, nur leider hat es die Autorin nicht genutzt.
May 10, 2013
I signed up for the Blog Tour that will help promote this book in May (on the 10th). That's the only reason I have included the GIF in the Goodreads review below (there was a giveaway too- if you are reading this before June 2013 it's still going & it's international: ENTER).
REVIEW ON BLOG
It was enjoyable seeing Riley step inside (having not mastered the magically appearing thing after 5 minutes of death) a school identical to her old school- the contents of the school are much different & they are all in their afterlife and apparently understand her "adjustment issues". Yeah, well- it'd be easier if their was a thing to like underneath all the maths, redemption, haunting, visualisation and... well, therapy. It'd have been quiet cool to see Riley learn that but, perhaps, she learns some more valuable lessons (minus maths in this case). There are definitely paranormal aspects but they all seem to be described early on, there wasn't a lot of emphasis put on red-horned dinner ladies, vampire pumpkins and Art rooms devoid of colour. This is just the world which fades into the background (perhaps that's how Wade- the living boyfriend- you & I missed it?) "Death World" wasn't entirely likeable to me (it seemed more "parallel universey", they even called it "life") but this is a paranormal novel- not "Afterlife- the theology" so I suppose it would be original for the death theme.
It's comedy, it's paranormal & it's romance? With a death theme?... *fangirls*
Well, the characters were quite original too. Riley wasn't what she seemed. Sure, she was a bully (and she won't lie, but rightfully shares the blame) but she doesn't want to continue being a bully, especially when it seems like she wouldn't be getting a popularity as a reward. Now, I expected to sort of like Riley but to be honest she spent most of the book getting on my nerves. I don't know why but books that seem to focus on character's & have a plot facade annoy me... I was honestly thinking the reason she must be going in circles so much was so that she could wear a hole in the ground or something & go into a vortex.
However, in hindsight I realize how well it was executed- even with the snakes 'n' ladders I was engrossed, the story was embellished in that respect. I loved Adman's style, it didn't seem like Riley was just whining for the sake of it, it felt like... I don't know, real. Even though the book didn't span over much more than a few weeks it felt like it did. It felt like there was a reason she wasn't learning & if I felt at any point that it was like Riley was just turning to her "readers" to moan every minute I'd have put it down. Probably.
She didn't just get away with it- people do guide her (firmly) & Riley doesn't have her emotions spared (poor girl). I'd like to share one little quote with you that I loved in Afterlife Academy, it summarizes this: "Accepting that you weren’t always fair goes a long way to righting the wrong."
So, I accepted Riley's turmoil eventually- thanks to the goths/emos (and the above). Eeek, I love how there seemed to be a mix of cultures (stereotypes or not, they're up my street) that had to come together! They were the BOMB because they were so realistic. If you're wondering, it wasn't much of a romance (however the visualisations & flashbacks were umm... something like that)- she didn't create a romantic relationship with a goth either. Bonds and friendships seemed to mean more in the afterlife & I think that's something Riley struggled with- I know I would... I do know, I was concealed but I was THERE. Pretending to be the Haribo-eating- and apparently vampire- pumpkin of course... I felt like I was there though (:
Nice bit of scenery, me! Not. :P If I wasn't scenery in the book I'd have created more action... not the bad kind, readers of this know what I'm on about, there was some "action" but not a lot of real of edge-of-the-seat moments (I did read this in two places anyway, neither car: a) bed b) car on 3-4 hour journey) but there was tension. Tension has more beauty to it... Y'know?
I may have (actually or am I still talking about if I wasn't scenery?) visibly been laughing at Riley's humour. She'd probably appreciate (maybe not on second thoughts) the girl laughing at her & her comical (not clumsiness though) ways/words (yes, I didn't actually laugh out loud, I didn't want family getting grouchy every 5 minutes)... Ooh, it may have distracted her from moaning. I should've been in Afterlife Academy :P
Given that I actually wanted to be in the book (and sorry that I kept stating reasons I should've been like, umm... Caydi a character), I think it's better than the average star rating... That's about 3 and ¾ out of 5. However at the end I'm not sure if I'd have read it for more than 3 hours straight if the circumstances had been different. Admans did create a novel worth the read!
REVIEW ON BLOG
It was enjoyable seeing Riley step inside (having not mastered the magically appearing thing after 5 minutes of death) a school identical to her old school- the contents of the school are much different & they are all in their afterlife and apparently understand her "adjustment issues". Yeah, well- it'd be easier if their was a thing to like underneath all the maths, redemption, haunting, visualisation and... well, therapy. It'd have been quiet cool to see Riley learn that but, perhaps, she learns some more valuable lessons (minus maths in this case). There are definitely paranormal aspects but they all seem to be described early on, there wasn't a lot of emphasis put on red-horned dinner ladies, vampire pumpkins and Art rooms devoid of colour. This is just the world which fades into the background (perhaps that's how Wade- the living boyfriend- you & I missed it?) "Death World" wasn't entirely likeable to me (it seemed more "parallel universey", they even called it "life") but this is a paranormal novel- not "Afterlife- the theology" so I suppose it would be original for the death theme.
It's comedy, it's paranormal & it's romance? With a death theme?... *fangirls*
Well, the characters were quite original too. Riley wasn't what she seemed. Sure, she was a bully (and she won't lie, but rightfully shares the blame) but she doesn't want to continue being a bully, especially when it seems like she wouldn't be getting a popularity as a reward. Now, I expected to sort of like Riley but to be honest she spent most of the book getting on my nerves. I don't know why but books that seem to focus on character's & have a plot facade annoy me... I was honestly thinking the reason she must be going in circles so much was so that she could wear a hole in the ground or something & go into a vortex.
However, in hindsight I realize how well it was executed- even with the snakes 'n' ladders I was engrossed, the story was embellished in that respect. I loved Adman's style, it didn't seem like Riley was just whining for the sake of it, it felt like... I don't know, real. Even though the book didn't span over much more than a few weeks it felt like it did. It felt like there was a reason she wasn't learning & if I felt at any point that it was like Riley was just turning to her "readers" to moan every minute I'd have put it down. Probably.
She didn't just get away with it- people do guide her (firmly) & Riley doesn't have her emotions spared (poor girl). I'd like to share one little quote with you that I loved in Afterlife Academy, it summarizes this: "Accepting that you weren’t always fair goes a long way to righting the wrong."
So, I accepted Riley's turmoil eventually- thanks to the goths/emos (and the above). Eeek, I love how there seemed to be a mix of cultures (stereotypes or not, they're up my street) that had to come together! They were the BOMB because they were so realistic. If you're wondering, it wasn't much of a romance (however the visualisations & flashbacks were umm... something like that)- she didn't create a romantic relationship with a goth either. Bonds and friendships seemed to mean more in the afterlife & I think that's something Riley struggled with- I know I would... I do know, I was concealed but I was THERE. Pretending to be the Haribo-eating- and apparently vampire- pumpkin of course... I felt like I was there though (:
Nice bit of scenery, me! Not. :P If I wasn't scenery in the book I'd have created more action... not the bad kind, readers of this know what I'm on about, there was some "action" but not a lot of real of edge-of-the-seat moments (I did read this in two places anyway, neither car: a) bed b) car on 3-4 hour journey) but there was tension. Tension has more beauty to it... Y'know?
I may have (actually or am I still talking about if I wasn't scenery?) visibly been laughing at Riley's humour. She'd probably appreciate (maybe not on second thoughts) the girl laughing at her & her comical (not clumsiness though) ways/words (yes, I didn't actually laugh out loud, I didn't want family getting grouchy every 5 minutes)... Ooh, it may have distracted her from moaning. I should've been in Afterlife Academy :P
Given that I actually wanted to be in the book (and sorry that I kept stating reasons I should've been like, umm... Caydi a character), I think it's better than the average star rating... That's about 3 and ¾ out of 5. However at the end I'm not sure if I'd have read it for more than 3 hours straight if the circumstances had been different. Admans did create a novel worth the read!
January 6, 2019
To be honest, I liked Afterlife Academy by Jaimie Admans more than I thought I would when I first opened up the cover. The main character, Riley, was rather difficult to like at first. She was a bully, sarcastic, quick-tempered, and most definitely in denial. She was the kind of girl you love to hate – because we’ve all met Riley Richardson. She’s the popular girl that everyone looks up to and despises in equal parts. As the story wore on, however, I learned that there was a lot more to Riley. She was capable of introspection, she was fiercely protective of her friends and those she loves, and while she isn’t always the most down-to-earth, she is strong-willed and determined.
Technically speaking, the book was written decently well. There were a few words that I stumbled over and would normally consider as being used improperly, but because this book was set in Europe, and I am from the US, I will give it the benefit of the doubt—as I’m sure it’s most likely a cultural language difference. Other than that, the narrative was easy to follow, the plot was intriguing, and the shenanigans and colorful world built around the Afterlife Academy were geared perfectly towards the audience. I think for what it is, this worked well – and I had a fun time reading it. If you like YA romances with a paranormal twist, this was a fun one to get into, and I recommend it.
Technically speaking, the book was written decently well. There were a few words that I stumbled over and would normally consider as being used improperly, but because this book was set in Europe, and I am from the US, I will give it the benefit of the doubt—as I’m sure it’s most likely a cultural language difference. Other than that, the narrative was easy to follow, the plot was intriguing, and the shenanigans and colorful world built around the Afterlife Academy were geared perfectly towards the audience. I think for what it is, this worked well – and I had a fun time reading it. If you like YA romances with a paranormal twist, this was a fun one to get into, and I recommend it.
March 13, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Jaimie Admans.)
16-year-old Riley is seriously annoyed to find herself stood outside of a school that looks very similar to the one she attends, with quite possibly the geekiest boy in her year – Antony. Only moments ago she was skipping school and riding in her boyfriend’s brother’s car, that he had ‘borrowed’. How the hell did she get here?
Riley is about to get some bad news though, because not only is this not where she wants to be, but this isn’t even her school – it’s The Afterlife Academy, and both she and Antony were killed by Riley’s boyfriend Wade’s dangerous driving.
Riley is seriously not impressed. There is no way she should be dead! And she certainly shouldn’t be at Afterlife Academy. The only thing for it is to try and find some way to escape, back to her life, back to before the accident that killed her.
Does Riley really belong at Afterlife Academy? Is there any way to go back? And can she find the exit before it’s too late?
This was a great fun read, and Riley was just so adorably clueless!
This is the second book that I have read by this author, and the second that has made me laugh! Riley is a bit of a naïve, self-important sort of person, and the things she came out with were pretty funny! She refused to believe that she was dead, and insisted on believing that her good-for-nothing boyfriend Wade (who killed her!) was going to come and rescue her! She even managed to convince herself that she was still connected to Wade, and that if she concentrated hard enough she would be able to get a message through to him!
Riley was such a sweet girl, but she really needed a lesson in manners and selflessness, and it was fun to watch her learn these lessons, and change the sort of person she was. It was also funny to read about all the pranks she tried to pull, and the ways she searched for a way out of the Afterlife Academy.
Riley did grow during this book though, and it was nice how she got a taste of her own medicine when it came to bullying, and began to see the error of her ways. I also liked some of the other characters at Afterlife Academy, and the little quirks that made Afterlife Academy different to a regular school.
Antony was also a likeable character, although he was a lot more forgiving of Riley than he maybe should have been. I think he probably found her cluelessness a bit adorable as well.
There was a hint of romance in this book between Riley and Antony, but nothing major. Most of the storyline was concerned with Riley, what she learned at the Academy, and how she grew as a person. I’m not sure I’ve read about a school for ghosts before, but this was certainly an interesting idea that even though you are dead, you are not necessarily qualified to be a ghost! I found this story quite unique in this aspect, and it was fun reading all the plans that Riley came up with in her attempts to get out of Afterlife Academy!
Another thing I liked about this book was how ‘English’ it was! More books should include the insult ‘sod-off’, and ‘oh bugger’ instead of something with four letters.
Overall; this was a fun YA story about a girl learning that her actions have consequences, which would appeal to both younger and older readers.
7 out of 10.
16-year-old Riley is seriously annoyed to find herself stood outside of a school that looks very similar to the one she attends, with quite possibly the geekiest boy in her year – Antony. Only moments ago she was skipping school and riding in her boyfriend’s brother’s car, that he had ‘borrowed’. How the hell did she get here?
Riley is about to get some bad news though, because not only is this not where she wants to be, but this isn’t even her school – it’s The Afterlife Academy, and both she and Antony were killed by Riley’s boyfriend Wade’s dangerous driving.
Riley is seriously not impressed. There is no way she should be dead! And she certainly shouldn’t be at Afterlife Academy. The only thing for it is to try and find some way to escape, back to her life, back to before the accident that killed her.
Does Riley really belong at Afterlife Academy? Is there any way to go back? And can she find the exit before it’s too late?
This was a great fun read, and Riley was just so adorably clueless!
This is the second book that I have read by this author, and the second that has made me laugh! Riley is a bit of a naïve, self-important sort of person, and the things she came out with were pretty funny! She refused to believe that she was dead, and insisted on believing that her good-for-nothing boyfriend Wade (who killed her!) was going to come and rescue her! She even managed to convince herself that she was still connected to Wade, and that if she concentrated hard enough she would be able to get a message through to him!
Riley was such a sweet girl, but she really needed a lesson in manners and selflessness, and it was fun to watch her learn these lessons, and change the sort of person she was. It was also funny to read about all the pranks she tried to pull, and the ways she searched for a way out of the Afterlife Academy.
Riley did grow during this book though, and it was nice how she got a taste of her own medicine when it came to bullying, and began to see the error of her ways. I also liked some of the other characters at Afterlife Academy, and the little quirks that made Afterlife Academy different to a regular school.
Antony was also a likeable character, although he was a lot more forgiving of Riley than he maybe should have been. I think he probably found her cluelessness a bit adorable as well.
There was a hint of romance in this book between Riley and Antony, but nothing major. Most of the storyline was concerned with Riley, what she learned at the Academy, and how she grew as a person. I’m not sure I’ve read about a school for ghosts before, but this was certainly an interesting idea that even though you are dead, you are not necessarily qualified to be a ghost! I found this story quite unique in this aspect, and it was fun reading all the plans that Riley came up with in her attempts to get out of Afterlife Academy!
Another thing I liked about this book was how ‘English’ it was! More books should include the insult ‘sod-off’, and ‘oh bugger’ instead of something with four letters.
Overall; this was a fun YA story about a girl learning that her actions have consequences, which would appeal to both younger and older readers.
7 out of 10.
May 4, 2013
Originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
Note: Formatting is lost due to copy and paste.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. My review is not influenced in any way.
I honestly thought I was going to silently scream and run in terror from the first few chapters of reading. Not that it was bad, because it wasn't bad, but because I recently finished Dreamland a few weeks before I started and I didn't think I could deal with any romance components added in (er, I don't think I need to tell why either... because it would be long and this review spotlight is shining on Afterlife Academy, not a required reading from centuries ago *innocent face*).
I think I should now warn of a tad bit of comparing and contrasting between Dreamland and Afterlife Academy throughout. No venn diagrams were created in the process (though I probably did behind the scenes... mentally).
Despite my having to “run and hide” with other good books to relieve myself of the terror, Afterlife Academy was better than I had actually expected. To be brutally honest, I thought it was going to be just as bad and I'd have to permanently stick with mysteries/thrillers (hmm, maybe Stephen King :p) or maybe even other genres for the rest of my life. Or maybe, really hide in an actual closed cubicle. Eep.
Also, despite the fact that the main character Riley is basically complaining throughout the book that she didn't belong at the academy and about her love life with her former live boyfriend, there was just something there that made me not hide in a closed cubicle: Admans' style of writing and the main character's tone.
The tone and style of writing sounded almost like a monologue and it felt like I was more in Riley's shoes (or maybe even right next to her) than just standing in the background the entire watching everything in the book (and time) fly by. Generally, you'll probably feel as though you're lurking around. And then afterwards, you end up asking:
I would also never have thought that Riley would actually be a humorous person. She didn't really seem that type of person - it seemed more of Narissa's style than Riley's. If anything, Afterlife Academy is a nice change in the Paranormal genre of YA. Because really, where do you usually find a school just for dead teenagers in books? Hogwarts doesn't really accept them (it's sad if you ask me...) and they're hardly mentioned.
Note: Formatting is lost due to copy and paste.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. My review is not influenced in any way.
I honestly thought I was going to silently scream and run in terror from the first few chapters of reading. Not that it was bad, because it wasn't bad, but because I recently finished Dreamland a few weeks before I started and I didn't think I could deal with any romance components added in (er, I don't think I need to tell why either... because it would be long and this review spotlight is shining on Afterlife Academy, not a required reading from centuries ago *innocent face*).
I think I should now warn of a tad bit of comparing and contrasting between Dreamland and Afterlife Academy throughout. No venn diagrams were created in the process (though I probably did behind the scenes... mentally).
Despite my having to “run and hide” with other good books to relieve myself of the terror, Afterlife Academy was better than I had actually expected. To be brutally honest, I thought it was going to be just as bad and I'd have to permanently stick with mysteries/thrillers (hmm, maybe Stephen King :p) or maybe even other genres for the rest of my life. Or maybe, really hide in an actual closed cubicle. Eep.
Also, despite the fact that the main character Riley is basically complaining throughout the book that she didn't belong at the academy and about her love life with her former live boyfriend, there was just something there that made me not hide in a closed cubicle: Admans' style of writing and the main character's tone.
The tone and style of writing sounded almost like a monologue and it felt like I was more in Riley's shoes (or maybe even right next to her) than just standing in the background the entire watching everything in the book (and time) fly by. Generally, you'll probably feel as though you're lurking around. And then afterwards, you end up asking:
I would also never have thought that Riley would actually be a humorous person. She didn't really seem that type of person - it seemed more of Narissa's style than Riley's. If anything, Afterlife Academy is a nice change in the Paranormal genre of YA. Because really, where do you usually find a school just for dead teenagers in books? Hogwarts doesn't really accept them (it's sad if you ask me...) and they're hardly mentioned.
June 28, 2015
Just bloody awful. That's what I'd like to say, but maybe that is a bit harsh. I loved the concept. A school for the dead is definitely something different. But what was cool about the idea wasn't what was concentrated on. Instead the novel was 250 pages of whining. Riley, a self absorbed prissy mean girl dies in a car accident caused by her boyfriend Wade (who deliberately hits Anthony the boy who joins her at afterlife academy). And the whole book is of her whining about how she needs to get back home to Wade. Who by the way is seriously a prick. At the end of the novel she realizes that she needs to change, but by this point I was too far gone to care. I think the novel could use more substance. Maybe less stereotypes and clichés too. Not dreadful enough for one star but pretty darn close.
December 22, 2013
This was okay, not thrilling or anything. The characters were quite one dimensional and the world building wasn't very inventive. The main character Riley, just moaned constantly about not fitting in, shouldn't be her time yet, she missed her boyfriend yada, yada, yada, but very little mention of her poor parents. She never tried to visualise them, just the boyfriend, who was obviously a total douch but it took her being dead to realise it. But yet, I was intrigued. I wanted to see where the author was taking this. But I didn't really need to. It ended exactly the way I thought it would. I wouldn't have missed much if I'd given up at say, 30%.
May 15, 2013
The cover on this is gorgeous!
This really was a fun story that took me by surprise. The plot was engaging and unique enough that it kept me interesting in the storyline and the underlining messages that author was trying to portray.
Unfortunately I never felt any connection to the two main characters but the author's subtle messages about forgiveness, right past wrongs and learning that it is okay to be different more than made up for my lack of connection to the characters.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
This really was a fun story that took me by surprise. The plot was engaging and unique enough that it kept me interesting in the storyline and the underlining messages that author was trying to portray.
Unfortunately I never felt any connection to the two main characters but the author's subtle messages about forgiveness, right past wrongs and learning that it is okay to be different more than made up for my lack of connection to the characters.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
May 25, 2013
I still don't know why I gave it two stars when I really didn't like this book. I guess it's because the plot seemed quite interesting beforehand. The girl is the typical stubborn whiny thing who is willing to spend her time trying to go against what everybody tells her to be true just to prove them wrong but giving up on the moment of truth. Hello waste of time!
September 6, 2015
Oh well...
How do I start...
How do I start...
April 30, 2019
**This book was a free Kindle download in 2013, so it has been sitting on my TBR for about six years.
In my opinion, there are books that adults read because they transcend the YA label (the Harry Potter series) and then there are books that so simplistic that, while a 13-year-old might enjoy them, might cause an adult eyestrain from all the eye-rolling she will be doing. This book falls into the second camp. It is rather obvious from the beginning what lesson our heroine Riley was supposed to be learning and I was ready for her to get on with it already. Actually, a 13-year-old might find it simplistic, as well. I would recommend it for a younger child, except for the cursing and references to sex.
In my opinion, there are books that adults read because they transcend the YA label (the Harry Potter series) and then there are books that so simplistic that, while a 13-year-old might enjoy them, might cause an adult eyestrain from all the eye-rolling she will be doing. This book falls into the second camp. It is rather obvious from the beginning what lesson our heroine Riley was supposed to be learning and I was ready for her to get on with it already. Actually, a 13-year-old might find it simplistic, as well. I would recommend it for a younger child, except for the cursing and references to sex.
June 17, 2013
Read more reviews on my blog, Words and Tea Bottles.
A free copy was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Well, what can I say about Afterlife Academy? Unfortunately, not a lot of good things. I was part of the cover reveal tour, and I will give it credit and say that I still think it’s a rather nice cover. The premise for the book itself is interesting, too, making the afterlife seem like just another life, rather than the popular perception of the afterlife that Christianity has given us.
Unfortunately, the book itself falls apart almost immediately. Its biggest fault is the main character, Riley. She’s utterly unlikable. She’s a Mean Girl all the way through the novel, and she’s the worst kind, too, because she’s both unaware she’s one and thinks that what she does to other people is justified. Her excuse for relentlessly picking on Anthony is literally just “Well he enjoys math and science so obviously he’s brought it on himself.” She’s like this through the entire novel, so much so that it makes me wonder why Anthony forgives her for the horrible things she’s done, and why the headmistress, her roommate, and the half-demon lunch lady all say they “really like her,” with the lunch lady saying it right after they meet. What’s there to like?
As a side note, I will never understand why British English says “maths” instead of “math.” I understand it’s short for “mathematics” but it just sounds awkward to me. It might be a case of “say a word enough and it stops sounding like a word,” though. The word “maths” comes up so very much in this book because Riley spends so much time thinking about Anthony, mostly justifying her actions towards him in life.
The book is also inconsistent, which doesn’t help Riley’s case for being a good character. It starts right in the first sentence, in fact, with Riley saying she’s always been a good girl, and that of course the first time she does something bad, she dies. However, it’s clear she’s done a lot of bad things in her life, and even she’s aware of it; she says more than once that she cut class more than attended in life. So while she’s never gotten in a car with someone without a license and run someone over before the start of the book, she’s skipped class, given her parents more grief than most girls her age, and spent her free time doing things like stealing Anthony’s glasses and pasting the heads of people she and her friends don’t like on the bodies of porn stars and posting them online.
Another inconsistency is that Riley seems to make a major character development almost every chapter, but the thing is, it’s the same one. She’ll realize what a horrible person she was in life, either to Anthony or in general, and vow that she’ll be a better person, or at least try. But by the next chapter, or in extreme cases the very next paragraph, she’s right back to calling Anthony a geek and worrying what her friends would think if they could see her now. At some point she starts worrying that she’s in love with Anthony rather than her old boyfriend Wade, but it comes right out of left field amidst her still calling him a geek and failing to see why he even qualifies as a human being.
Tied in with this point is her wanting to escape Afterlife Academy. She spends the whole novel on it, first thinking that she and Wade are so connected that he just knows she’s there and will somehow break in despite everyone saying that no one alive knows about the place. When that doesn’t pan out, she tries to get expelled, despite being told that no one has ever been expelled because there’s no place for them to go- and there’s certainly no hint that if someone were to be expelled, they’d be brought back to life rather than being sent into limbo or something. I say this ties in with the previous point because, again, she makes realization after realization that she enjoys being at Afterlife Academy and thinks she wants to stay, and then in the next chapter, scene or paragraph, she’s right back to thinking Wade is going to save her or she’ll be able to find the rumored exit portal and go back to Earth.
The lesson she learns is pretty weak, too. Everything and everyone in the afterlife is grey (with a few exceptions like Narcissa’s horns and Caydi’s vampiric pumpkin) but parts of Riley are still colored and it supposedly makes her stand out. It’s mentioned in the context of wondering why she still has color and that’s about it, though. Riley’s bullied a grand total of once, but the only indication that she can’t make friends is that she’s still judgmental and, for instance, won’t even try asking someone else if she can sit with them in the dining hall. She says she learns what it’s like for someone she bullied in life and it makes her regret her actions, but again, the lesson never seems to stick and there’s little shown for why she actually knows this because barring the one mentioned instance, she’s pretty much brought the loneliness on herself.
All-in-all, the novel just doesn’t work. The author can’t seem to decide when things are supposed to happen, or even if Afterlife Academy is a good place or if this was supposed to be a dystopian-type novel. Combine this with a horrible main character, and it was just hard for me to care whether Riley adapts to (after)life there or gets out and reverses the accident that got her and Anthony there in the first place. Speaking of that, though, the ending is just as weak, rushed and unbelievable as every other plot point. It makes me sad that such an interesting concept wasn’t used in the kind of better, more effective way it deserves.
A free copy was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Well, what can I say about Afterlife Academy? Unfortunately, not a lot of good things. I was part of the cover reveal tour, and I will give it credit and say that I still think it’s a rather nice cover. The premise for the book itself is interesting, too, making the afterlife seem like just another life, rather than the popular perception of the afterlife that Christianity has given us.
Unfortunately, the book itself falls apart almost immediately. Its biggest fault is the main character, Riley. She’s utterly unlikable. She’s a Mean Girl all the way through the novel, and she’s the worst kind, too, because she’s both unaware she’s one and thinks that what she does to other people is justified. Her excuse for relentlessly picking on Anthony is literally just “Well he enjoys math and science so obviously he’s brought it on himself.” She’s like this through the entire novel, so much so that it makes me wonder why Anthony forgives her for the horrible things she’s done, and why the headmistress, her roommate, and the half-demon lunch lady all say they “really like her,” with the lunch lady saying it right after they meet. What’s there to like?
As a side note, I will never understand why British English says “maths” instead of “math.” I understand it’s short for “mathematics” but it just sounds awkward to me. It might be a case of “say a word enough and it stops sounding like a word,” though. The word “maths” comes up so very much in this book because Riley spends so much time thinking about Anthony, mostly justifying her actions towards him in life.
The book is also inconsistent, which doesn’t help Riley’s case for being a good character. It starts right in the first sentence, in fact, with Riley saying she’s always been a good girl, and that of course the first time she does something bad, she dies. However, it’s clear she’s done a lot of bad things in her life, and even she’s aware of it; she says more than once that she cut class more than attended in life. So while she’s never gotten in a car with someone without a license and run someone over before the start of the book, she’s skipped class, given her parents more grief than most girls her age, and spent her free time doing things like stealing Anthony’s glasses and pasting the heads of people she and her friends don’t like on the bodies of porn stars and posting them online.
Another inconsistency is that Riley seems to make a major character development almost every chapter, but the thing is, it’s the same one. She’ll realize what a horrible person she was in life, either to Anthony or in general, and vow that she’ll be a better person, or at least try. But by the next chapter, or in extreme cases the very next paragraph, she’s right back to calling Anthony a geek and worrying what her friends would think if they could see her now. At some point she starts worrying that she’s in love with Anthony rather than her old boyfriend Wade, but it comes right out of left field amidst her still calling him a geek and failing to see why he even qualifies as a human being.
Tied in with this point is her wanting to escape Afterlife Academy. She spends the whole novel on it, first thinking that she and Wade are so connected that he just knows she’s there and will somehow break in despite everyone saying that no one alive knows about the place. When that doesn’t pan out, she tries to get expelled, despite being told that no one has ever been expelled because there’s no place for them to go- and there’s certainly no hint that if someone were to be expelled, they’d be brought back to life rather than being sent into limbo or something. I say this ties in with the previous point because, again, she makes realization after realization that she enjoys being at Afterlife Academy and thinks she wants to stay, and then in the next chapter, scene or paragraph, she’s right back to thinking Wade is going to save her or she’ll be able to find the rumored exit portal and go back to Earth.
The lesson she learns is pretty weak, too. Everything and everyone in the afterlife is grey (with a few exceptions like Narcissa’s horns and Caydi’s vampiric pumpkin) but parts of Riley are still colored and it supposedly makes her stand out. It’s mentioned in the context of wondering why she still has color and that’s about it, though. Riley’s bullied a grand total of once, but the only indication that she can’t make friends is that she’s still judgmental and, for instance, won’t even try asking someone else if she can sit with them in the dining hall. She says she learns what it’s like for someone she bullied in life and it makes her regret her actions, but again, the lesson never seems to stick and there’s little shown for why she actually knows this because barring the one mentioned instance, she’s pretty much brought the loneliness on herself.
All-in-all, the novel just doesn’t work. The author can’t seem to decide when things are supposed to happen, or even if Afterlife Academy is a good place or if this was supposed to be a dystopian-type novel. Combine this with a horrible main character, and it was just hard for me to care whether Riley adapts to (after)life there or gets out and reverses the accident that got her and Anthony there in the first place. Speaking of that, though, the ending is just as weak, rushed and unbelievable as every other plot point. It makes me sad that such an interesting concept wasn’t used in the kind of better, more effective way it deserves.
October 9, 2021
So when you die you go straight back to school? This is the premise of the Afterlife Academy and sees a young girl called Riley have to start at the Afterlife Academy as she had not finished her education before she died, however, much like changing school in the real world you have to face challenges and having been the most popular girl in her school while alive doesn't hold sway in her new school now she is dead.
This is a brilliantly written book that flowed well throughout and has such a unique idea behind it that you go in not really knowing what to expect but I was delighted to once again find another gem from Jaimie Admans. Well worth checking out.
This is a brilliantly written book that flowed well throughout and has such a unique idea behind it that you go in not really knowing what to expect but I was delighted to once again find another gem from Jaimie Admans. Well worth checking out.
September 28, 2019
Bit different than I was expecting
This is a cute little story about a self-absorbed teen who, after dying, actually starts learning to live. She also learns some lessons she never learned while alive.
This is a cute little story about a self-absorbed teen who, after dying, actually starts learning to live. She also learns some lessons she never learned while alive.
August 14, 2021
Cute YA
Typical YA about karma, death, facing your mistakes and realizing you can't fix or change things once it's too late. Light romance. Surprisingly not heavy considering topics include death, sex, cheating, and more.
Typical YA about karma, death, facing your mistakes and realizing you can't fix or change things once it's too late. Light romance. Surprisingly not heavy considering topics include death, sex, cheating, and more.
August 5, 2018
80% of the book, "WAAADE!!! I just miss him, I'm an outright bully but it's ok because people liked me and, WADE! "
Honestly, there was nothing redeeming about this MC.
Honestly, there was nothing redeeming about this MC.
Read
May 22, 2021DNF at this time... I am finding that trying to clear out boos from 2013 have been difficult for me to get into... I was into way different things back then lol
September 15, 2013
(Originally posted at www.keepersbookreviews.blogspot.com)
**Actual Rating**: 2.5 stars
**Book Format**: eBook
This is one of the biggest disappointments I've ever had in my life. After reading the synopsis, you expect there to be something actually paranormal within the covers of this gorgeous-looking book. Unfortunately though, as soon as you open it up to the first page, all you get is a selfish brat of a girl (Riley) arguing with the cute, nerdy geek (Anthony) as soon as they die and turn up at the dead version of their school, Afterlife Academy. The nagging and fighting goes on for a few pages at least, and you quickly get bored of it.
I was actually surprised when I started this book, because no one expects the heroine to be a selfish brat. Sure, sometimes she's popular and and has a jock boyfriend, but a brat?! Not usually. Well, Riley puts the two words - selfish and brat - to good use, since she utilizes all of them in her everyday actions. Back at home, she was the popular girl, the one who always made fun of the people who didn't fit in. She had a jock boyfriend and another popular BFF. And worse, when she died, she was so self-centered, always thinking about how her parents and friends probably can't get on without her, always saying that she wasn't supposed to die. I knew from the very beginning that I couldn't like such a girl; she's even worse than me, which is saying something.
Another think I really hated about the main character as well as the novel was Riley's obsession over her boyfriend Wade. This would have been annoying enough in normal circumstances, but add to that the fact that he was a jerk and was the person who caused both Anthony's and Riley's deaths . . . well, he really doesn't have a lot going for him. Apparently, that's just my opinion though, since Riley seems to be head over heels for him. I guess it made sense when they were both alive though: Riley and Wade both enjoyed making fun of Anthony and the others. But will Riley feel the same way about him when she finds out in Visualization class about Wade has been doing behind her back?
This novel is basically a modern coming-of-age novel centered around Riley. She has to keep going to high school - yes, even after death - 'till she is deemed ready to graduate, but has many steps to conquer before she can get that far. For one, she has to tell everyone about everything she did wrong in her life to her Redemption class, and what's worse is that the guy she hurt the most, Anthony, has been by her side (and is literally by her side in this class) and helping her through her death. Turns out, he's actually a really sweet guy once you get to know him. It bugged me that it took Riley that long to figure it out, but I guess that's why it's called coming-of-age.
I had two major problems with this book: redundancy and predictability. Almost every event up 'till the end of the novel was straight-forward and predictable. Even a person who's never picked up a book in their life could probably figure out where the plot was going. It was the normal bad-girl-turns-good-and realizes-her-mistakes plot, with the easy-to-predict-future-couple. This would have been okay though, if it hadn't been for all the things being told to us at least 3 times. If the author's goal was to have us memorize all the information in the book, she did a pretty good job of helping us along. I don't mean to be mean or anything, but this book was a total waste of the 1.5 hours it took me to read the book. For example:
"'Clare usually sits there,' Caydi says. 'But you can squash on the end, if you like.'
So I do. Me. People are usually begging me to sit by them. If I was somehow without a seat in English class there would be five people standing up to offer me theirs.
I stalk to the back of the room and grab an extra chair, then I squish onto the end of Caydi's desk while Clare glares at me.
This is not fun."
See, Riley's just plain old petty. In fact, I doubt you can find even a single person in real life this petty; I certainly don't know any. So I guess that I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about unrealistic people facing karma and having to learn how to make up for there sins. Yes, there's a bit of romance, but it's more like a friendship throughout the novel, and a quickie romantic kiss at the end. It's obvious right from the first page who Riley eventually kisses though, so I wouldn't get my hopes up. I know that I'll sound petty when I say this, but I'm so glad very there isn't a second book.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Author - Jaimie Admans
Title - Afterlife Academy
Publisher - -------------
Released March 15, 2013
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Ebook, 206 pages
**Actual Rating**: 2.5 stars
**Book Format**: eBook
This is one of the biggest disappointments I've ever had in my life. After reading the synopsis, you expect there to be something actually paranormal within the covers of this gorgeous-looking book. Unfortunately though, as soon as you open it up to the first page, all you get is a selfish brat of a girl (Riley) arguing with the cute, nerdy geek (Anthony) as soon as they die and turn up at the dead version of their school, Afterlife Academy. The nagging and fighting goes on for a few pages at least, and you quickly get bored of it.
I was actually surprised when I started this book, because no one expects the heroine to be a selfish brat. Sure, sometimes she's popular and and has a jock boyfriend, but a brat?! Not usually. Well, Riley puts the two words - selfish and brat - to good use, since she utilizes all of them in her everyday actions. Back at home, she was the popular girl, the one who always made fun of the people who didn't fit in. She had a jock boyfriend and another popular BFF. And worse, when she died, she was so self-centered, always thinking about how her parents and friends probably can't get on without her, always saying that she wasn't supposed to die. I knew from the very beginning that I couldn't like such a girl; she's even worse than me, which is saying something.
Another think I really hated about the main character as well as the novel was Riley's obsession over her boyfriend Wade. This would have been annoying enough in normal circumstances, but add to that the fact that he was a jerk and was the person who caused both Anthony's and Riley's deaths . . . well, he really doesn't have a lot going for him. Apparently, that's just my opinion though, since Riley seems to be head over heels for him. I guess it made sense when they were both alive though: Riley and Wade both enjoyed making fun of Anthony and the others. But will Riley feel the same way about him when she finds out in Visualization class about Wade has been doing behind her back?
This novel is basically a modern coming-of-age novel centered around Riley. She has to keep going to high school - yes, even after death - 'till she is deemed ready to graduate, but has many steps to conquer before she can get that far. For one, she has to tell everyone about everything she did wrong in her life to her Redemption class, and what's worse is that the guy she hurt the most, Anthony, has been by her side (and is literally by her side in this class) and helping her through her death. Turns out, he's actually a really sweet guy once you get to know him. It bugged me that it took Riley that long to figure it out, but I guess that's why it's called coming-of-age.
I had two major problems with this book: redundancy and predictability. Almost every event up 'till the end of the novel was straight-forward and predictable. Even a person who's never picked up a book in their life could probably figure out where the plot was going. It was the normal bad-girl-turns-good-and realizes-her-mistakes plot, with the easy-to-predict-future-couple. This would have been okay though, if it hadn't been for all the things being told to us at least 3 times. If the author's goal was to have us memorize all the information in the book, she did a pretty good job of helping us along. I don't mean to be mean or anything, but this book was a total waste of the 1.5 hours it took me to read the book. For example:
"'Clare usually sits there,' Caydi says. 'But you can squash on the end, if you like.'
So I do. Me. People are usually begging me to sit by them. If I was somehow without a seat in English class there would be five people standing up to offer me theirs.
I stalk to the back of the room and grab an extra chair, then I squish onto the end of Caydi's desk while Clare glares at me.
This is not fun."
See, Riley's just plain old petty. In fact, I doubt you can find even a single person in real life this petty; I certainly don't know any. So I guess that I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about unrealistic people facing karma and having to learn how to make up for there sins. Yes, there's a bit of romance, but it's more like a friendship throughout the novel, and a quickie romantic kiss at the end. It's obvious right from the first page who Riley eventually kisses though, so I wouldn't get my hopes up. I know that I'll sound petty when I say this, but I'm so glad very there isn't a second book.
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Author - Jaimie Admans
Title - Afterlife Academy
Publisher - -------------
Released March 15, 2013
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Ebook, 206 pages
July 8, 2014
Read the full review at Ihoardbooks.
What first got my attention is the tile of this book. Here’s the thing. I would read almost every book with the words ‘Academy’ or ‘High’ in its title. I dig those books which start the story with a new school or new home or everything with the concept of new. I’m really into those kinds of books so it won’t be possible for me to pass on Afterlife Academy to read.
I didn’t set my expectations high for this book. The cover was a giveaway for me. The book cover was cheaply done. It is plain and boring and all over the place. The girl’s makeup, her lipstick color in particular, doesn’t somehow seem suitable for the grayscale cover. They could have matched both the colors of the flower and the lips or something that reminds me to question, why the flower is added in the cover that way? It was so out place and also, I thought it was a pink flower necklace. Well, guess what, the flower in the book cover was neither a necklace nor pink in color.
The book was a disappointment. I was looking for something. It has this amazing concept but it was poorly executed. Somehow, I feel like the afterlife concept was just a tactic for this book to sell. The character, plot and resolution just don’t click for me. The whole story was kind of shallow. It was all about a girl trying to escape the academy so she can come back to her old life which exclusively includes her boyfriend alone to the point that I feel that the other people in her life, her family and best friend, are just plain extras or fillers. She is so hung up to her life because she feels so out of place and she’s not used to it because she used to be really popular and she got this boyfriend she’s super obsessed with. Can I just remind her that that boyfriend killed her and more?
The thing is that I was so caught up with my annoyance with Riley that I almost forgot that there are other characters like Anthony. The thing with him though is I can’t feel him. I can’t feel the character in him. It was like; he was just there because Riley has got to have someone to end up with because it’s somewhat impossible for her to be back with Wade. I feel like he’s just a second choice, just an option.
There’s also this knick knacks in this book that I can’t get over with. This book was first published in 2013. Just last year, but I feel the author was so outdated with what she’s writing. Riley was using a Nokia phone. Seriously? Where’s her iPhone or any android phone? And it was stated she’s popular and a teenager. Most phones now run on Android or Ios. I know Nokia runs on Windows now but still, you get my point? Moreover, the prank Riley tried to pull was not a funny prank. It wasn’t. The prank is something that I could have watched in a 1990s kind of movie with a country theme with the farm, barn and animals and all. Why do I feel like the author somehow ran out of ideas or something? There are tons of funny pranks in Youtube that could have inspired her.
Riley, the main character, is plain dumb for me. She is one of the most irritating characters I’ve ever read. Why? This book is on her POV and I’m bothered on how her mind really works. So, she was able to observe on the principal’s desk a phone and a computer the first time she got to the office, but how come she ended up thinking that maybe she and Anthony ended up in 1949. Hello? That’s just messed up. A phone and a computer like a laptop or desktop in 1949? That would have been impossible. She is beyond annoying. I can barely contain my annoyance while reading this entire book. One moment, she’s about to understand something and the next, she still won’t and will be back to her old, foolish self in just a matter of seconds. She’s full of excuses. In fact, she lives and breathes it. This is just bad. It’s no fun and full of nonsense for me. She makes mistake after mistake nonstop and she never learns. She’s a selfish brat, mind you. There was no character development in her aside from the sudden surge of love she felt at the end book. Talk about sarcasm.
Overall, the book has a big NO mark for me. I just felt compelled to finish reading it even though it was just a waste of time.
What first got my attention is the tile of this book. Here’s the thing. I would read almost every book with the words ‘Academy’ or ‘High’ in its title. I dig those books which start the story with a new school or new home or everything with the concept of new. I’m really into those kinds of books so it won’t be possible for me to pass on Afterlife Academy to read.
I didn’t set my expectations high for this book. The cover was a giveaway for me. The book cover was cheaply done. It is plain and boring and all over the place. The girl’s makeup, her lipstick color in particular, doesn’t somehow seem suitable for the grayscale cover. They could have matched both the colors of the flower and the lips or something that reminds me to question, why the flower is added in the cover that way? It was so out place and also, I thought it was a pink flower necklace. Well, guess what, the flower in the book cover was neither a necklace nor pink in color.
The book was a disappointment. I was looking for something. It has this amazing concept but it was poorly executed. Somehow, I feel like the afterlife concept was just a tactic for this book to sell. The character, plot and resolution just don’t click for me. The whole story was kind of shallow. It was all about a girl trying to escape the academy so she can come back to her old life which exclusively includes her boyfriend alone to the point that I feel that the other people in her life, her family and best friend, are just plain extras or fillers. She is so hung up to her life because she feels so out of place and she’s not used to it because she used to be really popular and she got this boyfriend she’s super obsessed with. Can I just remind her that that boyfriend killed her and more?
The thing is that I was so caught up with my annoyance with Riley that I almost forgot that there are other characters like Anthony. The thing with him though is I can’t feel him. I can’t feel the character in him. It was like; he was just there because Riley has got to have someone to end up with because it’s somewhat impossible for her to be back with Wade. I feel like he’s just a second choice, just an option.
There’s also this knick knacks in this book that I can’t get over with. This book was first published in 2013. Just last year, but I feel the author was so outdated with what she’s writing. Riley was using a Nokia phone. Seriously? Where’s her iPhone or any android phone? And it was stated she’s popular and a teenager. Most phones now run on Android or Ios. I know Nokia runs on Windows now but still, you get my point? Moreover, the prank Riley tried to pull was not a funny prank. It wasn’t. The prank is something that I could have watched in a 1990s kind of movie with a country theme with the farm, barn and animals and all. Why do I feel like the author somehow ran out of ideas or something? There are tons of funny pranks in Youtube that could have inspired her.
Riley, the main character, is plain dumb for me. She is one of the most irritating characters I’ve ever read. Why? This book is on her POV and I’m bothered on how her mind really works. So, she was able to observe on the principal’s desk a phone and a computer the first time she got to the office, but how come she ended up thinking that maybe she and Anthony ended up in 1949. Hello? That’s just messed up. A phone and a computer like a laptop or desktop in 1949? That would have been impossible. She is beyond annoying. I can barely contain my annoyance while reading this entire book. One moment, she’s about to understand something and the next, she still won’t and will be back to her old, foolish self in just a matter of seconds. She’s full of excuses. In fact, she lives and breathes it. This is just bad. It’s no fun and full of nonsense for me. She makes mistake after mistake nonstop and she never learns. She’s a selfish brat, mind you. There was no character development in her aside from the sudden surge of love she felt at the end book. Talk about sarcasm.
Overall, the book has a big NO mark for me. I just felt compelled to finish reading it even though it was just a waste of time.
June 5, 2013
“You can't go back to where you came from. You just have to keep moving forward.”
When the Jaimie asked me if I want to review her book, I immediately said yes because of two things. One, the unique afterlife school plot; two, the beautiful cover. Then I started reading this book without any expectation and not knowing how things would play out. I didn't not expect this to be fun to read or that I'd be annoyed to death (no pun intended) with Riley.
Yays
The plot. At first, I expected it to be sort of like The Ghost and the Goth since that's the only book I've read that has ghost but Afterlife Academy was different. The idea of going to school after dying is totally new to me and I was instantly curious about this book.
Funny and enjoyable to read. Riley's humor and remarks got me snickering while reading. Not to mention some scenes with her classmates and Narcissa, the cook.
Anthony. Though he might not shined much in this book, him being a sort of underdog appealed to me. He was a good guy, obviously but he's really enjoyable to read and interesting. I wish he was given more emphasis and made his character more well-rounded.
The way it was written. I might have complained on some parts but the way this book was written made it easier to carry on and read till the end. The scenes felt tangible at some parts and made it feel like you're actually observing these characters nearer than usual.
Nyays
Riley. She managed to annoy me half of the time and the other half makes me wish she doesn't annoy me on her next move. All she kept talking about was her boyfriend, who is actually a jerk and the reason why she's dead. But instead of feeling bad against him, she actually felt bad for him, for going through it alone and for the pain that was caused by her death. All she thought was the pain her friends and boyfriend felt when she died and actually puts his parents on the bottom of the list. Could she be more self-centered? I was expecting her character development but there were parts when I thought that she'd finally change, she'll mention Wade again. I was thinking that maybe at the first few parts of the character development process, she'll have to wallow over this guy and the pace was actually good, except that she kept on wanting to get out of the Academy for Wade until the last few pages.
Nonexistent antagonist. With the rumor of the vortex and how it was hushed, I expected someone working in the school to be really sketchy at have reasons as to why they're keeping these quiet. Maybe there's something in that vortex. Too bad, there wasn't a bad guy or a proper explanation about the vortex.
Rushed ending. The ending felt super rushed that made me go back a few pages and read it again. I wasn't able to process it yet and now it's over. There was something lacking in the part where Riley changed her mind and I wasn't just convinced. The last scene with her and Anthony was common to other books, but the buildup towards that scene didn't worked for me. I was looking for something else. Something that would suck me into the scene itself like the other parts prior to that.
This would be another book on my list of 2-star reviews that are not bad books at all. It's just that, as what Sab said, the cons outweighted the pros. As what 2 stars mean, literally it was okay.
This copy was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*This and other reviews can also be found on my blog*
August 1, 2014
I received an ARC eBook copy of this book for a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.
Riley didn't think her boyfriend 'borrowing' his brother’s car and joy riding around town was a bad thing. That is until her boyfriend, Wade, runs over their high school nerd and bullying target; Anthony. After trying to swerve, a few seconds later everything is dark and Riley finds herself at Afterlife Academy; a high school for the dead - along with Anthony, who she was pretty sure Wade just killed. Afterlife Academy is a duplicate of their old high school and suddenly, Riley finds herself an outcast, pretty much friendless – and getting a taste of what life is like to those she tormented. Riley doesn’t want to stay at Afterlife Academy, she wants to go home to her friends and family, and there are rumours of an escape vortex. So Riley and Anthony decide to search the school to try and find their way home.
I loved this book so much; it was a lively and fantastic read. Even though it was a little tame and predictable at times, I found myself laughing with and at the characters and almost tearing up at one point. I’d recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humour, who loves example setting novels with a paranormal plot and anyone who just wants a light read.
Riley's character started off rude, mean and overly popular; pretty much all the characteristics that I hate. However, her character really grew on me as the book went on and I found that her character was funny, sort of sweet and was doing what basically like every girl in the world wants to do. She was trying to fit in. Riley is immature, even for her age of sixteen - she thinks the world revolves around her and her boyfriend. I know this is typical teenage behaviour at times, but you would think dying at your boyfriends hands would sombre you a bit - but apparently not. As the book goes on, Riley does mature a bit and finds out firsthand how horrible it is to be picked on and what it’s like to be an outcast. Because of this, her character blossoms and she realizes what she's been doing to people is wrong and wishes she could redeem herself.
Anthony's character was lovely. Even after all Riley did to him in the past, he was still willing to put it behind him and let bygones be bygones. Anthony continues to prove how much of a sweet guy he is throughout the book, being friends with Riley and being there for her all the time. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't be all too willing to befriend someone that had tormented me so much - so props to Anthony for being a mature adult about the situation. Along with being smart and a bit of a geek, Anthony is also funny, kind and generous - he's definitely a character I'd like as a friend!
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, there were a few things that bugged me. I found it increasingly annoying how Riley kept saying about Anthony having a calculator in his front pocket. I know she keeps trying to remind herself that he's a geek, but the repetition of that phrase really, really irked me. I thought that the book was a little rushed in places and I believe that it could have been slightly longer and more detailed. Also, I was a little disappointed about the way the romance was played out, I thought it could have been a little more in-depth – but that might just be me being a romance fanatic.
Overall, I really loved this book. Afterlife Academy wasn’t a perfect book, but very few are. I believe the 4/5 star rating fits it perfectly, it would have been given a 5/5 star rating if it weren’t for the few things that bugged me – but every book has its faults. Jaimie Adman’s writing is fantastic, fresh and funny – I honestly can’t wait to read more by her in the future.
Riley didn't think her boyfriend 'borrowing' his brother’s car and joy riding around town was a bad thing. That is until her boyfriend, Wade, runs over their high school nerd and bullying target; Anthony. After trying to swerve, a few seconds later everything is dark and Riley finds herself at Afterlife Academy; a high school for the dead - along with Anthony, who she was pretty sure Wade just killed. Afterlife Academy is a duplicate of their old high school and suddenly, Riley finds herself an outcast, pretty much friendless – and getting a taste of what life is like to those she tormented. Riley doesn’t want to stay at Afterlife Academy, she wants to go home to her friends and family, and there are rumours of an escape vortex. So Riley and Anthony decide to search the school to try and find their way home.
I loved this book so much; it was a lively and fantastic read. Even though it was a little tame and predictable at times, I found myself laughing with and at the characters and almost tearing up at one point. I’d recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humour, who loves example setting novels with a paranormal plot and anyone who just wants a light read.
Riley's character started off rude, mean and overly popular; pretty much all the characteristics that I hate. However, her character really grew on me as the book went on and I found that her character was funny, sort of sweet and was doing what basically like every girl in the world wants to do. She was trying to fit in. Riley is immature, even for her age of sixteen - she thinks the world revolves around her and her boyfriend. I know this is typical teenage behaviour at times, but you would think dying at your boyfriends hands would sombre you a bit - but apparently not. As the book goes on, Riley does mature a bit and finds out firsthand how horrible it is to be picked on and what it’s like to be an outcast. Because of this, her character blossoms and she realizes what she's been doing to people is wrong and wishes she could redeem herself.
Anthony's character was lovely. Even after all Riley did to him in the past, he was still willing to put it behind him and let bygones be bygones. Anthony continues to prove how much of a sweet guy he is throughout the book, being friends with Riley and being there for her all the time. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't be all too willing to befriend someone that had tormented me so much - so props to Anthony for being a mature adult about the situation. Along with being smart and a bit of a geek, Anthony is also funny, kind and generous - he's definitely a character I'd like as a friend!
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, there were a few things that bugged me. I found it increasingly annoying how Riley kept saying about Anthony having a calculator in his front pocket. I know she keeps trying to remind herself that he's a geek, but the repetition of that phrase really, really irked me. I thought that the book was a little rushed in places and I believe that it could have been slightly longer and more detailed. Also, I was a little disappointed about the way the romance was played out, I thought it could have been a little more in-depth – but that might just be me being a romance fanatic.
Overall, I really loved this book. Afterlife Academy wasn’t a perfect book, but very few are. I believe the 4/5 star rating fits it perfectly, it would have been given a 5/5 star rating if it weren’t for the few things that bugged me – but every book has its faults. Jaimie Adman’s writing is fantastic, fresh and funny – I honestly can’t wait to read more by her in the future.
May 17, 2013
Afterlife Academy is told from the perspective of Riley Richardson, who is, in fact, a very different kind of girl (the popular kind). Instead of being the popular girl with the perfect life like she's used to, she is ridiculed at the academy because of the fact that she looks a lot different than everyone else. And to be honest, I think that Riley deserves it for the awful things she did to everyone while she was alive. Afterlife Academy is that kind of book that's sort of funny but also sort of annoying. Although I like the story, I think that it's lacking in a lot of areas.
For the most part, the writing in this is really awkward. It sort of stops and goes, with very short three word sentences ending when they should not have ended. Another thing I don't like about this is that there is so much repetition In almost every chapter, Riley explains to us how everything is either grey or very, very wrong. An example of the repetition is:
"The canteen looks exactly the same as it always has. Apart from the greyness, obviously. Grey lino flooring, grey tables and black chairs, grey counters."
In the example above, it shows that saying everything is grey ins't enough, but telling us everything in the room that is grey is the best way to get the image across. Because of this, it makes the story harder to read since I'm being constantly reminded just how grey everything is and just how colourful Riley is. A very hard thing for authors to accomplish is to make their readers hate their main character and then quickly fall in love with them. This is very tough to do because it requires the right amount of emotions. Unfortunately, Afterlife Academy doesn't his its mark. I can see where Jaimie Admans is trying to go with Riley, making her seem like the mean girl who finds her way and stuff like that. But throughout the whole story I felt very little sympathy for her. Instead of falling in love with her and rooting for Riley to have her 'happy ending' I felt more annoyed with her then anything. She keeps whining about how everyone is mean to her when she actually deserves it. The relationship between Riley and Anthony feels very forced and a bit on the random side as well. I couldn't relate to it because I didn't understand how anyone would like Riley after all the crap they put them through.
With that being said, there actually are a few things that I like about the book. The character of Anthony is so amazing and sweet. He's a very caring person who I honestly think makes the story rather than Riley. He's still kind to those (Riley) who have made fun of him and made his life a living hell for several years when he has every reason to be rude and hate them for it. For as far as humour goes, my favourite part has to be the group therapy session. This part made me laugh because it's so realistic when you put a bunch of teenagers together. They snap at each other and defend one another and tease them.I also like all the sneaking around. It creates a somewhat mysterious setting.
Overall, not a bad read. I like the second half a lot more than the first because that's mostly where all the action is. Most of the characters are lacking emotion and a personality and feel like ink on a page but I did enjoy the karmatic things that the author put in the novel. They made me smile. I recommend this to anyone who likes after-world novels. Especially if you love romances that just randomly happen.
For the most part, the writing in this is really awkward. It sort of stops and goes, with very short three word sentences ending when they should not have ended. Another thing I don't like about this is that there is so much repetition In almost every chapter, Riley explains to us how everything is either grey or very, very wrong. An example of the repetition is:
"The canteen looks exactly the same as it always has. Apart from the greyness, obviously. Grey lino flooring, grey tables and black chairs, grey counters."
In the example above, it shows that saying everything is grey ins't enough, but telling us everything in the room that is grey is the best way to get the image across. Because of this, it makes the story harder to read since I'm being constantly reminded just how grey everything is and just how colourful Riley is. A very hard thing for authors to accomplish is to make their readers hate their main character and then quickly fall in love with them. This is very tough to do because it requires the right amount of emotions. Unfortunately, Afterlife Academy doesn't his its mark. I can see where Jaimie Admans is trying to go with Riley, making her seem like the mean girl who finds her way and stuff like that. But throughout the whole story I felt very little sympathy for her. Instead of falling in love with her and rooting for Riley to have her 'happy ending' I felt more annoyed with her then anything. She keeps whining about how everyone is mean to her when she actually deserves it. The relationship between Riley and Anthony feels very forced and a bit on the random side as well. I couldn't relate to it because I didn't understand how anyone would like Riley after all the crap they put them through.
With that being said, there actually are a few things that I like about the book. The character of Anthony is so amazing and sweet. He's a very caring person who I honestly think makes the story rather than Riley. He's still kind to those (Riley) who have made fun of him and made his life a living hell for several years when he has every reason to be rude and hate them for it. For as far as humour goes, my favourite part has to be the group therapy session. This part made me laugh because it's so realistic when you put a bunch of teenagers together. They snap at each other and defend one another and tease them.I also like all the sneaking around. It creates a somewhat mysterious setting.
Overall, not a bad read. I like the second half a lot more than the first because that's mostly where all the action is. Most of the characters are lacking emotion and a personality and feel like ink on a page but I did enjoy the karmatic things that the author put in the novel. They made me smile. I recommend this to anyone who likes after-world novels. Especially if you love romances that just randomly happen.
May 17, 2013
** I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **
First of all, I really love the cover! It's so pretty and honestly speaking, the cover was the first thing that drew me into reading this book. ^_^
Okay, time for the review. I enjoyed Afterlife Academy a lot. This was the first book of Jaimie Admans that I read so I really did not know what to expect from this author. Turns out that Ms. Admans is a talented writer and Afterlife Academy is a proof of that.
It was brilliant and funny and smart. I was easily hooked into the story. I liked the concept, the characters, the pace of the story. It was light but not boring. The ending of each chapter actually made me eager to read more. The setting is also great. I think it was a good idea that what made the main characters different from the rest of the school is that they are already familiar with the place. A vampire pumpkin and a microwave that gives you any food you want? Very creative.
The characters are also cute. Riley can be frustrating a lot of times because of her obsession to her pathetic excuse of a boyfriend, but for the most part, she's okay. I really enjoyed being in her head because you can't tell what she's going to think of next. She has this wild and exaggerated imagination that always makes me laugh. It was easy to dislike Riley because of the things she did when she was alive but following her journey through Afterlife Academy made me understand her.
On the other hand, I think Anthony is cool. Not just because he's a geek but because he treated Riley nicely even though they're practically enemies in life. He could have easily ignored Riley or treated her the way she did to him before, but instead he tried to be friends with her. And I admired him for that. A lot of times I felt bad for Anthony especially when he or Riley relives how he was bullied in high school. I couldn't imagine being bullied like that and when I was reading those parts, I hated Riley. Good thing she was able to realize her mistakes and somehow managed to redeem herself.
I also liked the other characters Caydi and Narcissa. Narcissa is awesome. She's understanding and trustworthy. It was a good thing that Riley found a friend in her. And I soooo want to have a microwave like hers! Caydi is also nice for not shunning Riley just because she's different.
I love the ending! Up until the end, this book will still keep you guessing what will happen next. For a moment there, I was afraid Riley would push through her original plan. But all's well that ends well. I'm just glad that Riley found something new to be happy about even though she's dead.
All in all, Afterlife Academy is amazing. Equal parts funny and serious, this book is really an enjoyable paranormal read. I definitely recommend it to fans of Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley.
This review is also posted on Books and Insomnia. :)
First of all, I really love the cover! It's so pretty and honestly speaking, the cover was the first thing that drew me into reading this book. ^_^
Okay, time for the review. I enjoyed Afterlife Academy a lot. This was the first book of Jaimie Admans that I read so I really did not know what to expect from this author. Turns out that Ms. Admans is a talented writer and Afterlife Academy is a proof of that.
It was brilliant and funny and smart. I was easily hooked into the story. I liked the concept, the characters, the pace of the story. It was light but not boring. The ending of each chapter actually made me eager to read more. The setting is also great. I think it was a good idea that what made the main characters different from the rest of the school is that they are already familiar with the place. A vampire pumpkin and a microwave that gives you any food you want? Very creative.
The characters are also cute. Riley can be frustrating a lot of times because of her obsession to her pathetic excuse of a boyfriend, but for the most part, she's okay. I really enjoyed being in her head because you can't tell what she's going to think of next. She has this wild and exaggerated imagination that always makes me laugh. It was easy to dislike Riley because of the things she did when she was alive but following her journey through Afterlife Academy made me understand her.
On the other hand, I think Anthony is cool. Not just because he's a geek but because he treated Riley nicely even though they're practically enemies in life. He could have easily ignored Riley or treated her the way she did to him before, but instead he tried to be friends with her. And I admired him for that. A lot of times I felt bad for Anthony especially when he or Riley relives how he was bullied in high school. I couldn't imagine being bullied like that and when I was reading those parts, I hated Riley. Good thing she was able to realize her mistakes and somehow managed to redeem herself.
"You might not be able to make up to all the people you've hurt, but just accepting that you weren't always fair goes a long way to righting the wrong."
I also liked the other characters Caydi and Narcissa. Narcissa is awesome. She's understanding and trustworthy. It was a good thing that Riley found a friend in her. And I soooo want to have a microwave like hers! Caydi is also nice for not shunning Riley just because she's different.
I love the ending! Up until the end, this book will still keep you guessing what will happen next. For a moment there, I was afraid Riley would push through her original plan. But all's well that ends well. I'm just glad that Riley found something new to be happy about even though she's dead.
All in all, Afterlife Academy is amazing. Equal parts funny and serious, this book is really an enjoyable paranormal read. I definitely recommend it to fans of Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley.
This review is also posted on Books and Insomnia. :)
November 6, 2013
Riley thought she had it all. She was the most popular girl in school, dated the most popular boy in school, and everyone wanted to be her. One car accident resulting in her death and Anthony’s, a guy she has relentlessly bullied, changes everything. Riley quickly finds herself being on the reciprocal end of things as she starts her new “life” at Afterlife Academy. Anthony quickly becomes the popular guy, but he wholeheartedly forgives her. Now Riley has to come to grips with who she was versus who she wants to be.
I really enjoyed this one. When I first started reading, I thought it might get a bit cheesy. However, it never really felt that way to me. Now I would firmly seat this one in the YA section, so if you’re looking for a more adult novel, then this probably isn’t for you. There’s a little bit of sexual content (not much), but no actual sex. As a matter of fact, it seemed obvious that Riley not only starts out a virgin but stays that way. There is a little bit of cursing. I think the F Bomb is dropped twice, but other than that there’s not a lot of it in the book. If you have a YA at home and are wondering if this is for them, I would HIGHLY recommend it if the cursing and sexual content (it’s really not much) can be overlooked. This book has an amazing lesson for teens and bullying! Not just that, but it’s a great influence on their relationships with their parents, too. You really get to see the struggles and regrets Riley goes through as a result of her selfish and often cruel ways. It truly has an amazing message! Plus there’s an absolutely adorable romance to go with it. You could not find two more opposite characters from Riley and Anthony, but Anthony’s character is so amazingly forgiving and understanding. He’s not perfect either, though, and that helps make his character believable.
When I started seeing where the story was going, I really thought it was going to be very predictable. That turned out not to be the case, though. The ending did fit one of the scenarios I came up with, but there was also a surprise that I didn’t see coming.
I also want to point out that I found myself laughing often. Overall, it was a bit on the heavy side, but it was lightened up with some of the hilarious things Riley tried to do to get sent back home. Or at least, she hoped it’d get her sent back home.
The story needed a little bit more editing. It wasn’t so bad that it distracted from the story, though. And, considering I picked it up for FREE from Amazon (I think it’s priced at only $0.99 now – so worth it), I really won’t complain! There were also a couple times I didn’t understand some of the terminology – the English wasn’t American English, or rather something wasn’t said the way we say it in America. Again, though, it take away from the story for me.
I give this a strong 4 stars and recommend it to anyone that enjoys sweet YA romances or real-life struggles of teens and bullying. I also recommend it for those moms out there looking for books for their teen daughters that have a good message. This was my first Jaimie Admans book, so I’m really looking forward to reading more from her!!
I really enjoyed this one. When I first started reading, I thought it might get a bit cheesy. However, it never really felt that way to me. Now I would firmly seat this one in the YA section, so if you’re looking for a more adult novel, then this probably isn’t for you. There’s a little bit of sexual content (not much), but no actual sex. As a matter of fact, it seemed obvious that Riley not only starts out a virgin but stays that way. There is a little bit of cursing. I think the F Bomb is dropped twice, but other than that there’s not a lot of it in the book. If you have a YA at home and are wondering if this is for them, I would HIGHLY recommend it if the cursing and sexual content (it’s really not much) can be overlooked. This book has an amazing lesson for teens and bullying! Not just that, but it’s a great influence on their relationships with their parents, too. You really get to see the struggles and regrets Riley goes through as a result of her selfish and often cruel ways. It truly has an amazing message! Plus there’s an absolutely adorable romance to go with it. You could not find two more opposite characters from Riley and Anthony, but Anthony’s character is so amazingly forgiving and understanding. He’s not perfect either, though, and that helps make his character believable.
When I started seeing where the story was going, I really thought it was going to be very predictable. That turned out not to be the case, though. The ending did fit one of the scenarios I came up with, but there was also a surprise that I didn’t see coming.
I also want to point out that I found myself laughing often. Overall, it was a bit on the heavy side, but it was lightened up with some of the hilarious things Riley tried to do to get sent back home. Or at least, she hoped it’d get her sent back home.
The story needed a little bit more editing. It wasn’t so bad that it distracted from the story, though. And, considering I picked it up for FREE from Amazon (I think it’s priced at only $0.99 now – so worth it), I really won’t complain! There were also a couple times I didn’t understand some of the terminology – the English wasn’t American English, or rather something wasn’t said the way we say it in America. Again, though, it take away from the story for me.
I give this a strong 4 stars and recommend it to anyone that enjoys sweet YA romances or real-life struggles of teens and bullying. I also recommend it for those moms out there looking for books for their teen daughters that have a good message. This was my first Jaimie Admans book, so I’m really looking forward to reading more from her!!
May 16, 2013
Afterlife Academy follows Riley, Riley was just killed in a car accident that her boyfriend Wade caused. Not only was Riley killed, but so was Anthony the school nerd who she always picks on. They both find themselves at the 'Afterlife Academy' which is basically school for the dead. Riley won't accept it, she had a perfect life before, and can't believe it was all taken from her over a car accident. She wants to find a way back home and will stop at nothing to get back, but as days go by Riley is slowly realizing how not perfect her life was...and once she finds the way back home, will she choose to go back home to her popularity, or will she choose to stay with her new friends and Anthony at the Afterlife Academy.
This was such a nice read! I liked the different paranormal that Afterlife Academy brings in, I mean, come on...a school for the dead?! Awesome concept! I really loved reading about the different classes the Afterlife Academy had, and all the weird things in it like a microwave that can give you anything, and a growling pumpkin. I would really have liked for this to be a series, which I still think it easily could be made into an awesome series, but even just as a standalone it was a good read!
Onto the bad (dun dun dunnnnn), while I did like Afterlife Academy there was a few things I felt could have been changed that would've made it an awesome read. First off I would've liked to have seen more going on between Anthony and Riley, there is a slight romance between them, but not nearly enough to satisfy my romance loving needs. Also, Riley as a character was very repetitive, she kept bringing up how Anthony was a nerd and loved maths and carried a calculator in his pocket and OH DEAR GOD she could NOT like a guy that kept a calculator in his pocket. It got annoying very fast. Last thing was the ending, it felt a little rushed, but I did like how it ended, so that didn't bother me too much.
Since I like to end on good notes, the things I did like about the Afterlife Academy was first off the concept of the Afterlife Acaedmy, all the cool classes it offers and the awesome cafeteria lady that has horns.I loved seeing Riley grow as a character too, in the beginning she was very shallow and stubborn, but in the end she was a nice, open minded person. My favorite part of Afterlife Academy though was easily Anthony though, he was SUCH a sweet guy. Even though he had every right to hate Riley, he didn't, and instead of shunning her for what she had done to him, he ended up being her friend when she had no one else. He was such a sweet heart and I believe he is a nerd that plenty of girls will swoon over while reading this novel.
Overall, I enjoyed Afterlife Academy, while there was a few things I would change in the end I really liked it. If you are someone looking for something that is light and has something different to offer in the YA genre, then I suggest you pick up Afterlife Academy (:
This was such a nice read! I liked the different paranormal that Afterlife Academy brings in, I mean, come on...a school for the dead?! Awesome concept! I really loved reading about the different classes the Afterlife Academy had, and all the weird things in it like a microwave that can give you anything, and a growling pumpkin. I would really have liked for this to be a series, which I still think it easily could be made into an awesome series, but even just as a standalone it was a good read!
Onto the bad (dun dun dunnnnn), while I did like Afterlife Academy there was a few things I felt could have been changed that would've made it an awesome read. First off I would've liked to have seen more going on between Anthony and Riley, there is a slight romance between them, but not nearly enough to satisfy my romance loving needs. Also, Riley as a character was very repetitive, she kept bringing up how Anthony was a nerd and loved maths and carried a calculator in his pocket and OH DEAR GOD she could NOT like a guy that kept a calculator in his pocket. It got annoying very fast. Last thing was the ending, it felt a little rushed, but I did like how it ended, so that didn't bother me too much.
Since I like to end on good notes, the things I did like about the Afterlife Academy was first off the concept of the Afterlife Acaedmy, all the cool classes it offers and the awesome cafeteria lady that has horns.I loved seeing Riley grow as a character too, in the beginning she was very shallow and stubborn, but in the end she was a nice, open minded person. My favorite part of Afterlife Academy though was easily Anthony though, he was SUCH a sweet guy. Even though he had every right to hate Riley, he didn't, and instead of shunning her for what she had done to him, he ended up being her friend when she had no one else. He was such a sweet heart and I believe he is a nerd that plenty of girls will swoon over while reading this novel.
Overall, I enjoyed Afterlife Academy, while there was a few things I would change in the end I really liked it. If you are someone looking for something that is light and has something different to offer in the YA genre, then I suggest you pick up Afterlife Academy (:
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