The Mourning After

by Rochelle B. Weinstein

A tragic accident will forever change the Keller family. Fifteen-year-old Levon Keller survives, though his older brother David, star athlete and golden child, does not. As the fragile family mourns while trying to move on, guilt-ridden Levon finds himself lost between the memory of his brother and the constant attention his younger sister requires with a rare genetic affliction. When the beautiful and unpredictable teenager Lucy Bell moves in next door, Levon finds a trustworthy friend--one capable of providing salvation and true insight. Their friendship leads the reader on a journey that reveals family secrets and painful truths, culminating in an astonishingly suspenseful realization: when it comes to family, nothing is as it seems.

Compelling and rife with raw emotion The Mourning After captures the essence of a family in crisis and recovery. It sings with the power of the human spirit.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Novels

295 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2013

About the author

Rochelle B. Weinstein is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple contemporary fiction novels, most recently We Are Made of Stars. Her work has been featured in People, Deadline, Entertainment Weekly, Country Living, Woman’s Day, Woman’s World, First for Women, Kveller, Totally Booked with Zibby, BookBub, and more. Rochelle is the book columnist for AQUA Magazine and a frequent speaker and workshop instructor. A former entertainment industry executive and NBC-6 Miami book correspondent, Rochelle splits her time between South Florida and the mountains of North Carolina.

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about a heart wrencher! This was my first audiobook in a hot minute, but I needed something for a solo trip to Savannah this weekend and it was the perfect length (down to the minute!). While some parts were predictable, the characters were relatable and my heart truly went out to Levon. This one was just a bit over 8 hours which made it a great length for a newbie to Audiobooks and it was one you could zone in and out and not fall behind. Another great story from Rochelle!

*I received my copy from the author via a giveaway on Bethany Clark's blog!

[Elyse Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

update: 99 cent special today and tomorrow 7/26 and 7/27 out of 174 reviews on Amazon --the average rating is 4.5 stars. I like reading Rochelle's books --she explores challenging situations!



I enjoyed "The Morning After" (fast-easy-read) --but I didn't LOVE it --but I 'liked' it. Young Adults would enjoy this story.

I felt there were too many themes in this story ---yet none fully developed.

....We have a loss of a child (David Keller)
....We have a young teenager who was raped (Lucy Bell)
....We have a young girl with Glycogen Storage Disease (Chloe Keller),--An inherited disease that interferes with the way the body turns food into energy.
It was not until 1971 that this disease was almost fatal until the cornstarch therapy was discovered. .....

THIS disease, (Glycogen Storage Disease -GSD) could have been an ENTIRE novel...
Much like what Lisa Genova did with her novel about Alzheimer's disease in the book "Still Alice". --

Other side themes in Rochelle's Weinstein's book:
....Writing Passion (Levon Keller)--and entire book could have been just about Levon (Levvy) --his personal challenges and how writing gave him strength and courage.

....Pregnant girlfriend,(Rochelle-17 years old), has abortion --(and entire book could have been written on this theme. The Bell family and the Keller family were at odds ---(the father of the unborn child is dead)

Many other 'side' themes: yoga/spiritual Guru Manu/Moving Negative energy
Levon's weight (and weight loss), >>> no presence of Josh Duhamel (ha ha---that was funny). ----note: (I think Josh Duhamel is HOT myself).
....evolution of technology (another theme)
....Holocaust Memorial, Hurricanes/earthquakes/tornados...
Drugs and driving...

OMG: An entire book could have been written about Madaline Keller (the wicked witch of the west)...or as she was once referred to in this story: "Cruella de Ville".
Very interesting character. (not easy to like) --yet she was interesting! (in pain of course) --yet sure not a 'pleasant' person to be near)...lol Madaline's transformation 'started' towards the very end.

My final thoughts: I DID enjoy this book. ---but felt it had more potential and possibilities.

Personally: I would chosen have the theme "Glycogen Storage Disease" to be the main focus of the novel as it hasn't been done much. (I, too, had a cousin with this illness who is no longer alive)

Note: I knew the end of this story on page one (just from having read one too many books). What ya gona do??? lol

[Rossy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching, powerful, moving story. Honest, realistic book.
As the Kellers deal with grief (so so SO much grief), we learn about these flawed but real characters. Their pain is actually palpable and each page and revelation, specially the ending and every twist, will have you shedding more than a couple of tears.

I can't not mention that Lucy Bell is such a compelling creature, that will add freshness to the plot and get you thinking about pureness and forgiveness.

[Letty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very powerful and heart-wrenching book about a family dealing with loss. I loved Levon and adored Lucy Bell, who becomes a great friend to Levon. The writing of this book is beautifully done. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it while reading as it really is quite sad, but I ended up loving this book. So very well done!

[Judy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 2 days I could not put it down. I had to keep reading it to find out how it turned out. I was lucky enough to win this book from Goodreads in return for an honest review.
The author does a great job bringing attention to the middle childs condition. I don't want to mention spoilers here but there were 2 unexpected things in this story, one being a few pages from the very end. Makes you want to love the ones you love a little more. This book grabs you and doesn't let you go even after you're done. You will definately be thinking about it when you're done.

[Addicted to Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this highly emotional realistic book of a family dealing with grief and the secrets surrounding the circumstances of the grief!

Review coming up!

[Nenette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know of a mother who lost her child to a lingering illness. Though not unexpected, she was so grief-stricken she almost succumbed and lost herself. Nothing can ever prepare a parent when death takes away a child, unexpected or otherwise.

I like that the title, though very simple, is catchy, and so apt. The story examines all the facets of the storm that a family goes through after the tragic death of a child. It presents the casualties of relationships gone bad. It shows the divide in time, and how everything is referenced as "the before" and "the after".

But amidst the maelstrom of these sad realities, hope is offered through characters who have been on the same boat and have survived. It shines a light in a room with the curtains all drawn, offering a glimpse of a tomorrow that can still be bright, after all. It also raises awareness on GSD, a rare disease, though it wasn't really the focal point of the story, but more like a cause that got promoted as a result.

Again, this is one novel that immediately prompted me to look up the profile of the author; and even faster, to buy her other book.

[Leeanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This page turner is a must read. I think that everybody can relate to the characters in this book. Moms with teens, married couples and so many more but most importantly the family with a child who has GSD. The author has done an amazing job with the emotions and feelings of each character. I couldn't put this book down - reading it in 48 hours. It tugs at your heart strings and has left me with tears in my eyes. Dr. Weinstein is a brilliant doctor and Rochelle your beautifully written story facilitates the explanation of how GSD impacts not only those who have GSD but also their families. Hug your loved ones and help us find a cure for GSD. www.curegsd.org

[Lauryn Tardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I wasn't impressed with this book. Although the title CLEARLY says, 'The MOURNING After' for some reason I expected, the sadness to last a lot less than it did. With that being said, I couldn't put the book down, I was waiting for the moment to come when their sadness was no longer there and it didn't happen till the end. Rochelle Weinstein, did a great job capturing the grief of ALL the family members, while I myself have never lost a child, I believe the way the mother was portrayed to be spot on. This was definitely a page turning, in a sense that it wasn't a thriller but because it was so easy to feel their pain you couldn't wait for it to be done. GREAT book.

[Bonnie]

I am still reading this book but can say that I am thoroughly enjoying the story line and characters. I love the way the book slowly peels away the secrets within the characters' lives. I also like the way the story moves back and forth between the first day and the present. I have a hard time putting this book down. Now that I've finished this book, I'm wishing the story had not yet ended and that I could continue to read it today.

[Judy Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another wonderfully sensitive treatment of grief within the family unit. The family is forever changed when one member dies. What if it is the oldest child - the golden boy good in sports, academics and social interactions - and the driver of the car is his brother who describes himself as invisible to his parents. The family dynamics change, then change again when the younger son shares his secret of the night his brother died. It is an excellent story well told.

[Cindy Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great page turner! Forgiveness is the theme of this novel and let's face it, we can all benefit from forgiveness. The author did a great job developing the characters. Everyone was relatable. I would highly recommend this book.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad story

Grief effects everyone differently. Grief isn't just about death. Great story about family and friendship and how time can heal pain.

[Claudine Baranski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

I like a novel that teaches me something. This one did.
Interesting, believable characters in a storyline that actually led somewhere.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Another Phenomenal Contemporary Fiction by Rochelle B Weinstein!! Thank you to Rochelle for picking me to win this FREE Copy in a giveaway on her website a few years ago. I was suppose to read this last year but put it off when My Dad got sick in May 2021 and then when he passed away in November 2021 i pushed back even more so that's why this took me so long to get to.

The Character were very intriguing and enjoyable to read about. Levon Keller, Chloe Keller and Lucy Bell were definately my favorites, i could really relate to the grief Levon and Chloe were feeling over the loss of their brother David. I loved how Lucy was there for Levon as he went through his grieving process reminded me alot of how me and my cousin Nicola are and how we are always there for each other as i go through my grieving process of losing my dad.

The Setting was very well described which made me feel like i was actually in Miami Beach, Florida while i was reading especially when the scenery was described.

Overall a Phenomenal Gutwretching and heart tugging Novel about losing a loved one tragically!! Can't wait to read more by Rochelle in the future!!

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I chose a seemingly YA story but this really could apply to many family dynamics. Told from the point of view of Levon, the often overlooked middle child, he carries a heavy burden after a tragedy that tears his family apart.

In comes the new neighbor with her own secrets, which after building trust with Levon, she is able to share and really show him how to heal and stand up for himself. She is a breath of fresh air for him and challenges him on every level.

This was well written with an easy flow and I enjoyed the flow and character development and I liked it despite it not being my normal genre.

[Hanau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Not an easy read, but that is one thing I love about Rochelle B. Weinstein’s novels. This book has a lot of depth to it and is advocating for people with rare diseases. I had never heard of Glycogen Storage Disease although I have a medical background. So it is interesting on one level and heartbreaking on another. And I want to give Levon’s parents a good swift kick in the butt for being self-absorbed in their grief not taking care of their living children!
Highly recommended!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a diffiuclt book to rate. The book is so sad and the author does a good job creating the environment for the reader to feel the family and son's pain. A young girl helps the son and the family face and begin recovery after the loss. What would you do if your brother needed you and you would have to break some rules to help? There's a secret that sets the events into action. Difficult to read is not the same as a book being difficult to read. That's part of what mkes this book hard to read. See what you think.

[Carol Hatch · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, just no

What is it about Rochelle Weinstein and her 15 year old weird, troubled characters? I really liked her This Is Not How It Ends, and so I bought What We Leave Behind, which I thought deserved only a one star rating. I thought I would give Weinstein one more chance and bought The Morning After. And guess what...another dysfunctional family with a 15 year old and a 15 year old neighbor. Unless you want to read a depressing book about 15 year olds, avoid this.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two teenage boys are in a car crash and the older boy dies. This family has yet another tragedy since the youngest child, a girl, suffers from a rare incurable disease, GSD. This is the beginning of a sad but in the end, uplifting novel full of anger, grief, and secrets. This is a beautifully written novel with surprises and individual experiences that are cleverly tied together in the end. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

[Joli Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult read…

I loved the books I had read so far, so I decided to read all of Rochelle B. Weinstein’s books. This one just was not for me. I found it difficult to believe
Levon was a child given the vocabulary he was using in his narration. It was also obvious a grown woman wrote the voice of the young boy as the lead character…

This story had promise so I kept reading, It felt like the entire story just abruptly ended without really tying up the loose ends.

[Nancy D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book 5 starts because it was such a well executed emotionally torturous book. I laughed, I cried, I was elated and depressed. I loved the characters and they felt so real. It was very hard reading the raw emotions that I have lived through. I have a serious book hangover still but I loved it.

[Bonnie Coon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story line

The story drew me in quickly. I was a little put off by the adult dialogue between these two 15 yr olds. They were intelligent kids, but I can’t imagine that teenagers, even intelligent ones would talk like well versed adults. The story did keep my interest though, and although the ending left me wanting more, I’d still recommend this book.

[Kathy Walstead-plumb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept my attention

This book was different. Characters were well developed. Even sometimes it was predictable, I appreciated the honesty of the characters.
It kept me interested. I would recommend it.

[Sally Jo Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense yet calming

Having lost my husband, the title caught my attention. I have enjoyed Rochelle's other books, so I plunged into this one not knowing the story line. It's a powerful story filled with so many truths of how we all deal with loss.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good

I don't have high expectations for books that are on the Amazon sale rack so I was surprised that this one kept me interested. Would recommend of u are looking for something not super heavy but not chick lit either.

[Teresa Kuykendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This has been such a page turner. It has such a sweet story that came out of a tragedy, that shows strength and courage but still manages to explain GSD and how dangerous it can be if not taken care of correctly.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brotherly Love

I thought this was a very well written story. It seemed so real. I loved the characters especially Levon and Lucy. Lucy was so kind and passionate about recognizingLevons good traits and looking past his outer persona. She saved him from himself

[v.l.harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving tale

Based on a real condition, this book informs us of just one of the many orphan diseases many lives with daily. The author winds the story of a family of loss into a family of triumph.