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Before & After #2
After Us
Melissa smiles, flirts, jokes. But she never shows her scars. Eight months after tragedy ripped her from her closest friend, Melissa is struggling. And for some reason, she can't stop thinking about a certain guy and the memory of a single forbidden kiss.
Javier has scars of his own. Life in the States was supposed to be a new beginning, but a guy obsessed by vengeance has no time for the American dream. To honor his family, Javier does something extremely dangerous. Seeking out the people who can destroy his life is not just risky for him, but for Melissa, too. Because now that Javier has found her again, he doesn't want to let her go.
Javier has scars of his own. Life in the States was supposed to be a new beginning, but a guy obsessed by vengeance has no time for the American dream. To honor his family, Javier does something extremely dangerous. Seeking out the people who can destroy his life is not just risky for him, but for Melissa, too. Because now that Javier has found her again, he doesn't want to let her go.
278 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2014
28 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
About the author
Amber Hart
7 books211 followersAmber Hart is the author of several romance novels for teens and adults. She lives on the Florida coast with her husband and sons. For more, you can find her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
January 13, 2015
BLOG TOUR: http://melissa-reads-books.blogspot.b...
*ARC received in exchange of an honest review*
I could give this book a MILLION stars!! I loved it so much!!
This is my first book by Amber Hart and it certainly won’t be the last. Her writing is so good and it reads very smoothly. The dual POV is amazingly done. And the plot twists! Oh my god! I just can’t. This. Is. So. Perfect.
“What then?” I ask.
“Then,’ May says, a glint in her eye, “you make that boy remember what your lips feel like.”
This book was a roller coaster of feelings. It’s so intense, it grips you from the beginning and leaves you breathless in the end. All the characters are flawed and complex. You fall in love with them so quickly. Especially Javier. Hot body, tattoo and an Spanish accent and I’m completely in love. Also, I have the same name as the main character so whenever he said things like “Some things aren’t worth the trouble. But Melissa? She does something to me. ” Or “I feel it in my bones. I know it like I know the curves of Melissa’s body. ”, well then I’m basically melting in my chair…
“What I want is for you to want me like I want you!”
Melissa is such an amazing character. And so strong! An insane amount of things happened to her in such a short time and yet, she keeps her head up and goes on with her life. I love her so much and Javier is the perfect match for her.
“His lips, so full, so perfect, press into mine. I’m sitting on what I imagine to be the top of the world because nothing is better than this.”
The story is so complex and it never (ever!) bores you. There’s a lot of Spanish, but I didn’t mind at all because it gave the book a special touch. Also, everything that was said in Spanish was either explained or easy enough for you to understand on your own, so you are never clueless about what something means.
“Life gives you things you never asked for and takes away things you always dreamed of. I wonder where life gets the nerve.”
This book includes so many themes: cultural differences, health, family, revenge, death and so on. Add a hot romance in it and you have the perfect combination. Even with the serious subjects, you are never bored, because Amber combined it with an amazing romance.
“Is happiness what your mama says it it? Maybe it is for her. But what is happiness to you?”
Happiness is Melissa’s laugh. Finding Wink. Knowing that Diego is in a better place, though I miss him. Melissa’s touch and soccer and Cuban food.
Oh man, I just love this book so much!! I really really recommend this book.
This is the second book in the After & Before series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I haven’t read the first book yet, but now I certainly will! I’m very curious to find out more about Diego and Faith!
*ARC received in exchange of an honest review*
I could give this book a MILLION stars!! I loved it so much!!
This is my first book by Amber Hart and it certainly won’t be the last. Her writing is so good and it reads very smoothly. The dual POV is amazingly done. And the plot twists! Oh my god! I just can’t. This. Is. So. Perfect.
“What then?” I ask.
“Then,’ May says, a glint in her eye, “you make that boy remember what your lips feel like.”
This book was a roller coaster of feelings. It’s so intense, it grips you from the beginning and leaves you breathless in the end. All the characters are flawed and complex. You fall in love with them so quickly. Especially Javier. Hot body, tattoo and an Spanish accent and I’m completely in love. Also, I have the same name as the main character so whenever he said things like “Some things aren’t worth the trouble. But Melissa? She does something to me. ” Or “I feel it in my bones. I know it like I know the curves of Melissa’s body. ”, well then I’m basically melting in my chair…
“What I want is for you to want me like I want you!”
Melissa is such an amazing character. And so strong! An insane amount of things happened to her in such a short time and yet, she keeps her head up and goes on with her life. I love her so much and Javier is the perfect match for her.
“His lips, so full, so perfect, press into mine. I’m sitting on what I imagine to be the top of the world because nothing is better than this.”
The story is so complex and it never (ever!) bores you. There’s a lot of Spanish, but I didn’t mind at all because it gave the book a special touch. Also, everything that was said in Spanish was either explained or easy enough for you to understand on your own, so you are never clueless about what something means.
“Life gives you things you never asked for and takes away things you always dreamed of. I wonder where life gets the nerve.”
This book includes so many themes: cultural differences, health, family, revenge, death and so on. Add a hot romance in it and you have the perfect combination. Even with the serious subjects, you are never bored, because Amber combined it with an amazing romance.
“Is happiness what your mama says it it? Maybe it is for her. But what is happiness to you?”
Happiness is Melissa’s laugh. Finding Wink. Knowing that Diego is in a better place, though I miss him. Melissa’s touch and soccer and Cuban food.
Oh man, I just love this book so much!! I really really recommend this book.
This is the second book in the After & Before series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I haven’t read the first book yet, but now I certainly will! I’m very curious to find out more about Diego and Faith!
December 30, 2014
It's all about secrets. It's all about revenge. It's all about differences. It's all about friendship. It's all about life. It's all about love.
My heart goes out for the girl who has experienced so many bad things in life in such a short time. She had lost her best friend - Faith (as we remembered), had to go away to grieve her broken heart, and there was her secret which made me ache. Aw. She was young, and she had to suffer this. Although it makes me wonder what Javier thinks of the effects of her secret. Because it will affect him too, as much as it affected her.
As for Javier, this smooth-speaking hot guy might not have my vote at first. I knew family is important to him, but to do that to Melissa almost twice?! OMG. You need to grovel hard if you wanted to convey your apology. On the other hand, he made up for it big time, and I loved him triple for it. I didn't think he was capable of it. As for his secret - there is danger lurking in there, and although I didn't think it was necessary or important, Javier thought otherwise. He needed to do it, needed to get his revenge. I was just seriously hoping he knew what he was doing...
Amber Hart once again proved to us that love can surpass diversity, secrets, dangers, and even betrayals.
Oh, don't worry, you'll know what they're keeping - I was glad I knew, but it was killing me that the other doesn't know about it. They were perfect for each other, despite the circumstances, and the cultural differences. The chemistry was there, it was sizzling, the page was steaming, and yet, before it gets any hotter, Melissa will diffuse it - because of her secret.
I fell in love with the first book, and fell harder with her second book. I have been looking forward for Melissa's story ever since I have finished reading Faith's, and it was worth waiting - every freaking page of it. It will give you all the highs, the lows, the swoons, the heartaches that you need. I love how the story progressed, the development of the characters, and even how each secret was spilled. This is something so worth reading.
Review originally posted on my blog
AMAZON US ➙ http://amzn.to/1xpltCB
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iTunes ➙ http://bit.ly/1wsutmH
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•Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.•
More of my reviews at http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com
My heart goes out for the girl who has experienced so many bad things in life in such a short time. She had lost her best friend - Faith (as we remembered), had to go away to grieve her broken heart, and there was her secret which made me ache. Aw. She was young, and she had to suffer this. Although it makes me wonder what Javier thinks of the effects of her secret. Because it will affect him too, as much as it affected her.
As for Javier, this smooth-speaking hot guy might not have my vote at first. I knew family is important to him, but to do that to Melissa almost twice?! OMG. You need to grovel hard if you wanted to convey your apology. On the other hand, he made up for it big time, and I loved him triple for it. I didn't think he was capable of it. As for his secret - there is danger lurking in there, and although I didn't think it was necessary or important, Javier thought otherwise. He needed to do it, needed to get his revenge. I was just seriously hoping he knew what he was doing...
Amber Hart once again proved to us that love can surpass diversity, secrets, dangers, and even betrayals.
Oh, don't worry, you'll know what they're keeping - I was glad I knew, but it was killing me that the other doesn't know about it. They were perfect for each other, despite the circumstances, and the cultural differences. The chemistry was there, it was sizzling, the page was steaming, and yet, before it gets any hotter, Melissa will diffuse it - because of her secret.
I fell in love with the first book, and fell harder with her second book. I have been looking forward for Melissa's story ever since I have finished reading Faith's, and it was worth waiting - every freaking page of it. It will give you all the highs, the lows, the swoons, the heartaches that you need. I love how the story progressed, the development of the characters, and even how each secret was spilled. This is something so worth reading.
Review originally posted on my blog
AMAZON US ➙ http://amzn.to/1xpltCB
B&N ➙ http://bit.ly/1xntfNv
iTunes ➙ http://bit.ly/1wsutmH
Kobo ➙ http://bit.ly/1Etjmo2
Follow me on: Twitter | Facebook | tsu | Instagram
•Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.•
More of my reviews at http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com
December 19, 2014
I requested this because Amber Hart's Until you Find me book WAS AMAZING!!!
3.5 The big C Stars
As anyone knows I love titles. That's what draws me to a book.. I don't read blurbs/reviews prior to reading because I like to dive into things I read because you never really know what you like until you do it =].
After us... I just love that title.
This story is about two minor characters from the first book trying to cope with life after each losing their best friend to death and depression. This is a story about finding eachother in the mayhem of the aftermath of gang violence.
Javier If I tell you about cuba will you tell me the truth about faith ?
My demons for yours
Javier America is kind of like Cuba. Only America is dressed in prettier clothes. Its robed in a promise of freedom, but tell me, someone please tell me, how being locked in a coffin six feet under equals freedom. America is a liar
Javier: He lets go of Melissa; crumples in a bloody heap, his nose broken. I know because ive been training in the art of breaking bones.
Melissa lives in fear of being judged for her cancer scars and Javier lives in fear of loss of life and liking someone who is not latino and neither will fess up their fears. And Melissa is seriously hard on herself about these scars. She is quick to make sure Javier doesn't call her a full package, makes sure he doenst think she looks that good, makes sure he doesn't see her scars or touch them
Five. Guys that I know of. Theirs and mine
Four. Guys circling. A slowing pace
Three. Taps on my steering wheel. Im almost ready
Two. Steady breaths. In and Out
One. Person's revenge. Almost served
Zero. Time Remaining
Hello Gang Initiation Countdown!
Javier: Were left with no words. Motor Running. Water Lapping. Gulls screeching. This isn't how I was expecting things to go. Life doesn't give a shit about what I want.
Overall the forced Spanglish is utterly annoying to me. It may have something to do with me speaking and understanding the language because speaking Spanglish is something me and my friends commonly do typically in fun. or we forget how to say words. I am entering this book as a Bi-Lingual but English being my primary language.. I can also speak Hebrew but Chanukah or not there usually aren't any books out there where I need too bust that knowledge out.. anyways I digress. I think this would be better with full Spanish sentences (at least a few times) or none at all. Only Javier speaks the Spanglish. sentences like
Within hours his mama, mi tia, was murdered
mi mama would kill me if I dated a gringa
im at the beach with mi familia
I answer bien almost done.
what are you hiding mi hijo ?
and many more like this
This book is constant fighting feelings between the two characters and the entire book you are just like hurry and do this!
Revenge is a dangerous thing...because...Diego
Four letters. One word. The smallest percentage of a change. Coma. Javier is in a coma.
Maybe one day hopefully I wont see them as ugly reminders but beautiful souvenirs .. one day I can even wear them proudly.
I wanted to love this book as you can see this book touches on so many lovely moments. But I couldn't stay connected to this characters. To me I would connect then lose it. I couldn't get over the Spanglish aspect. I did love the underlying stories as they played out and Amber Hart has an amazing way with descriptions. I think this series of hers is not for me but I have a series by her that I cherish and love. I would still recommend this book to a lot of people it just wasn't for me
August 26, 2024
Todos los detalles culturales (mal abordados y retratados) y el drama eclipsaron por mucho cualquier "romance" real. Lamentablemente, fue una lectura muy aburrida y mediocre.
January 20, 2015
I am not lying when I say that After Us was probably one of my most anticipated reads last year. If you are into books that deal with culture clashes (which are rarities in the literature world, but there has been a promising trend in the last few months/last year) you definitely do not want to miss this one. I think I almost experienced a meltdown, anxious to be rejected when I hit "request review book" on NetGalley and basically...nothing happened for the next few hours.
What if I'm not good enough to be approved for this book? What if the peeps of the publicity team are mean sadists? These were the questions running through my head during those...I don't know, 12 never-ending hours? Fortunately, I must have been a good girl last year since Santa decided to give me an early present -- my request was mysteriously approved!
Anyway, I jumped right into reading this book and the first word that popped up in my mind was hot. And I do not only mean Javier's physical attraction (don't worry, Javier has plenty of it), but more importantly, the relationship between Javier and Melissa. Because what they basically do throughout the book, is playing with fire. Decisions have to be made, but to what extend are they willing to hurt each other? Secrets overshadow their relationship, and in the end it is all about not getting burned(that fire metaphor sounds smart, right?)
The story of After Us picks up a few months after Before You. Whilst the book does not star Faith and Diego - the two main characters in the first book - the story is directly connected to the previous book. Also, it of course does not mean that the read was less intense.
We meet Melissa and Javier as two broken characters -- Javier cannot get over the fact that Diego - his cousin, his best friend, his brother - was killed by a gang, and Melissa -- well, that was definitely an interesting story: While she was introduced to us readers as a cheerful and always-caring character in Book 1, it quickly becomes clear at the beginning of Book 2 that she has changed throughout the last few months. We can still see lots of her happiness in the story, especially when she spends her time together with Javier, but her character is also so full of sadness this time. She is hiding a secret which runs much deeper than you would expect it, so the story also has got that emotional twist.
Javier, on the other hand, was so much more than that flirtatious guy I initially thought of. Whilst there were lots of moments in the book where he almost crossed my tolerance limit on head-over-heels-actions (I mean seriously. It can only go wrong when you join a gang in order to take revenge. It is a matter of fact that we have learned from many films and books. Decisions fuelled by anger are always doomed to failure), you simply cannot look over the fact that he is a character with a big heart. There were many obstacles in Javier and Melissa's relationship that I definitely did not expect which mostly reflected the conflicts Latino families are facing in America. For example Javiers's mom disapproval of "white girls". Javier always stayed true to his character, standing by his opinion and defending his love to Melissa. Melissa and Javier complement each other, and the story was not about why they are broken but how they make each other whole again. It is not about playing with fire but taking risks by opening up to people that truly love you.
That being said, I do have to say that there were some bits and pieces in the plot that were a little bit too oversimplified for my liking, especially Melissa and Faith's friendship. Whilst I did understand Faith's motives for her disappearance, Melissa was sometimes a bit too forgiving and patient. Moreover, her secret could have been further explored because the pain she was going through was a little bit too predictable, if that makes any sense? But this really is just a first world problem on my behalf.
Nonetheless, Hart does not hold back in this book. Instead, she goes to full extremes - each sentence is more emotional, deeper, more powerful. The plot becomes more and more fast-paced throughout the book, and by the end, I was literally gasping from the emotional roller coaster. If you nearly got a heart attack in the first book, this time your heart will drop into your gut. With all the action scenes in this book (Javier is seriously badass), coupled with all those twists and turns of events, the book was unputdownable.
Guys, I may have fallen in love with this series. Diversity in literature is shown at its best in Hart's books, defying norms in our society with three-dimensionality created by words. This book is different from any YA book in the YA universe, so if you want to read something new (as in unusual or extraordinary) I can only recommend it to you.
What if I'm not good enough to be approved for this book? What if the peeps of the publicity team are mean sadists? These were the questions running through my head during those...I don't know, 12 never-ending hours? Fortunately, I must have been a good girl last year since Santa decided to give me an early present -- my request was mysteriously approved!
This review might contain some spoilers if you haven't read the previous book yet
Anyway, I jumped right into reading this book and the first word that popped up in my mind was hot. And I do not only mean Javier's physical attraction (don't worry, Javier has plenty of it), but more importantly, the relationship between Javier and Melissa. Because what they basically do throughout the book, is playing with fire. Decisions have to be made, but to what extend are they willing to hurt each other? Secrets overshadow their relationship, and in the end it is all about not getting burned
The story of After Us picks up a few months after Before You. Whilst the book does not star Faith and Diego - the two main characters in the first book - the story is directly connected to the previous book. Also, it of course does not mean that the read was less intense.
We meet Melissa and Javier as two broken characters -- Javier cannot get over the fact that Diego - his cousin, his best friend, his brother - was killed by a gang, and Melissa -- well, that was definitely an interesting story: While she was introduced to us readers as a cheerful and always-caring character in Book 1, it quickly becomes clear at the beginning of Book 2 that she has changed throughout the last few months. We can still see lots of her happiness in the story, especially when she spends her time together with Javier, but her character is also so full of sadness this time. She is hiding a secret which runs much deeper than you would expect it, so the story also has got that emotional twist.
Javier, on the other hand, was so much more than that flirtatious guy I initially thought of. Whilst there were lots of moments in the book where he almost crossed my tolerance limit on head-over-heels-actions (I mean seriously. It can only go wrong when you join a gang in order to take revenge. It is a matter of fact that we have learned from many films and books. Decisions fuelled by anger are always doomed to failure), you simply cannot look over the fact that he is a character with a big heart. There were many obstacles in Javier and Melissa's relationship that I definitely did not expect which mostly reflected the conflicts Latino families are facing in America. For example Javiers's mom disapproval of "white girls". Javier always stayed true to his character, standing by his opinion and defending his love to Melissa. Melissa and Javier complement each other, and the story was not about why they are broken but how they make each other whole again. It is not about playing with fire but taking risks by opening up to people that truly love you.
That being said, I do have to say that there were some bits and pieces in the plot that were a little bit too oversimplified for my liking, especially Melissa and Faith's friendship. Whilst I did understand Faith's motives for her disappearance, Melissa was sometimes a bit too forgiving and patient. Moreover, her secret could have been further explored because the pain she was going through was a little bit too predictable, if that makes any sense? But this really is just a first world problem on my behalf.
Nonetheless, Hart does not hold back in this book. Instead, she goes to full extremes - each sentence is more emotional, deeper, more powerful. The plot becomes more and more fast-paced throughout the book, and by the end, I was literally gasping from the emotional roller coaster. If you nearly got a heart attack in the first book, this time your heart will drop into your gut. With all the action scenes in this book (Javier is seriously badass), coupled with all those twists and turns of events, the book was unputdownable.
Guys, I may have fallen in love with this series. Diversity in literature is shown at its best in Hart's books, defying norms in our society with three-dimensionality created by words. This book is different from any YA book in the YA universe, so if you want to read something new (as in unusual or extraordinary) I can only recommend it to you.
March 5, 2025
Sadly this was no for me was excited when I read that the Male main character was a Latino but overall the storyline was not my cup of tea, as a Latina Myself every time the MC opened his mouth and said something in Spanish it gave me the ick and I felt it was forced. The storyline didn't mesh well for me.
ARC was Provided by Wildfire Marketing all opinions are my own.
ARC was Provided by Wildfire Marketing all opinions are my own.
February 12, 2025
“Watch the game or I’m going to sit between your friends,” I tease.
“The hell you will,” one of them says. “I don’t have a death wish.”
ARC Review
After Us by Amber Hart is a new adult romance and the second book in the Before & After series.
After Diego's death and Faith's departure, Melissa and Javier were left feeling lonely and angry at how life had unfolded. Six months have passed since that fateful night, and much has changed. Melissa endured something traumatic and was trying to plan for her future when, one day, she unexpectedly saw Javier again. Memories of their time on the beach resurfaced, along with emotions they thought had been buried. But those feelings had never truly disappeared. Life had proven to be short and unpredictable, and this time, they were determined to be together—despite their differences. Unfortunately, Javier's choice to seek revenge nearly cost them their chance at happiness.
This is a beautifully emotional story filled with romance, pain, and hope. The plot is engaging and easy to follow, seamlessly balancing heartfelt moments with lighthearted ones. Half of the book focuses on the romance between Melissa and Javier, while the other half explores their struggles and daily survival. Their chemistry is undeniable, and both characters are deeply likable. My favorite moments were when Melissa felt completely at ease with Javier and Diego’s unexpected return.
If you love deep, emotional romances, this book is for you.
“The hell you will,” one of them says. “I don’t have a death wish.”
ARC Review
After Us by Amber Hart is a new adult romance and the second book in the Before & After series.
After Diego's death and Faith's departure, Melissa and Javier were left feeling lonely and angry at how life had unfolded. Six months have passed since that fateful night, and much has changed. Melissa endured something traumatic and was trying to plan for her future when, one day, she unexpectedly saw Javier again. Memories of their time on the beach resurfaced, along with emotions they thought had been buried. But those feelings had never truly disappeared. Life had proven to be short and unpredictable, and this time, they were determined to be together—despite their differences. Unfortunately, Javier's choice to seek revenge nearly cost them their chance at happiness.
This is a beautifully emotional story filled with romance, pain, and hope. The plot is engaging and easy to follow, seamlessly balancing heartfelt moments with lighthearted ones. Half of the book focuses on the romance between Melissa and Javier, while the other half explores their struggles and daily survival. Their chemistry is undeniable, and both characters are deeply likable. My favorite moments were when Melissa felt completely at ease with Javier and Diego’s unexpected return.
If you love deep, emotional romances, this book is for you.
February 25, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ (.5)
🩷Summer Romance
💙Hispanic MMC
🩷Second Chance Romance
💙Damaged Hero
🩷Secret Past
💙Morally Grey Hero
🩷After Us in the second installment in the Before & After series. I was fortunate enough to be an ARC reader for After Us. This book pulled me in from the start. It had a little bit of everything. From love, romance, revenge, grief, to dealing with family issues.
🩷I loved the writing style. It kept my attention the entire time. I loved the witty banter between the characters.
🩷I would definitely recommend this book to my fellow readers.
Spice: 🌶️ (.5)
🩷Summer Romance
💙Hispanic MMC
🩷Second Chance Romance
💙Damaged Hero
🩷Secret Past
💙Morally Grey Hero
🩷After Us in the second installment in the Before & After series. I was fortunate enough to be an ARC reader for After Us. This book pulled me in from the start. It had a little bit of everything. From love, romance, revenge, grief, to dealing with family issues.
🩷I loved the writing style. It kept my attention the entire time. I loved the witty banter between the characters.
🩷I would definitely recommend this book to my fellow readers.
April 28, 2016
This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews
Melissa is a flirt. The entire world is aware of this. What the entire world is not aware of is what she hides behind that flirty persona. They don't know how broken and scarred she is. They don't know the pain she's suffered and what it'll take to recover from the blow the world has dealt her. Javier is also scarred. He escaped from a life in Cuba without being forced into a gang, but that is exactly what he'll do now. It's been 8 months since MS-13 ratted Diego out and got him killed. In that time, Javier has made a decision. He'll do whatever is necessary to find Wink, the asshole who is responsible for Diego's death and take him out. Nothing else matters. To do this, he'll need to talk to Diego's girl, Faith, who witnessed his death. To get to Faith, he'll need to befriend Melissa. What he doesn't expect is his attraction to flair up so quickly and with such force. Can they make it work?
Melissa was a character I loved in Before You. She was always watching out for Faith and supporting her when she needed it. That made this so much harder because Faith has ran off. She left because she couldn't take Diego's death and now she's not answering Melissa's calls. Right when Melissa needs her, Faith has shut her off. Leaving Melissa to deal with her problems alone. It's not that she blames Faith, but she needs her best friend. Those of us who read Before You, we know why Faith is avoiding Melissa. We know the truth Faith is hiding, but that doesn't make this any less heartbreaking. Melissa is hard not to sympathize with. What she is going through is traumatizing and she just carries on like nothing is wrong. She gets up and goes to work and tries to take care of her debts.
Javier was a character I was on the fence about. On one hand, he has lost his best friend and that is hard to take. On the other, he is a damned moron. How is taking out Wink going to solve anything? Diego will still be dead. It won't bring him back and it won't bring you closure. It'll just get you enlisted in a gang with the naive assumption you can get out with no consequences. His one shining point is his loyalty to his family.
His family, by the way, astounded me. The idea that any one woman would willing submit herself to the trauma of giving birth to 12 children is just crazy. Not to mention how much it costs to raise that many children. 12 mouths to feed plus Mom and Dad? How do you do that? The thought of the extra expense of a single child sends me into a mini-panic attack, much less 12. Beyond that, the pure racism and sexist nature of the household infuriated me. Javier's mom flat out refuses to allow any of her children to date anyone who is not Latina. She will not accept a white girl or a black girl or a Native American or anyone but a Hispanic girl for her sons. Period. That is appalling. People have the right to love who they love, period. Love doesn't know age (though relationships with a big age gap do kinda weird me out) or race or gender. The other thing is the fact that the girls are all pushed into the role of care-giver. It is the daughters responsibility to take care of the boys. Excuse me? Do we not live in the 21st century? Javier's mom needs a serious reality check. Though the girls don't seem to complain, I was floored by the role they were pushed into. What if the girls don't want to cook and clean and serve the food? What if the girls want to play soccer instead? What if one of the boys wants to learn to cook? What is wrong with that?!?!?
This novel a great sequel to the first, though it doesn't quite live up to the awesomeness that was Faith and Diego. I think that may have been because I wasn't as big of a Javier fan as I was a Diego fan. It might also be because I know that everything Javier was doing was in vain. There is no reason to do these things. Plus, I think it's incredibly stupid to believe there will be no consequences for joining a gang. To truly believe that you can join a gang and expect to get out without putting your family and friends at risk is fucking idiotic.
Besides being appalled with his family and not loving Javier quiet as much as I did Diego, this was a wonderful novel. Melissa and Javier have just enough tension to keep you begging for more. It's a novel that is hard to put down, even when you are disagreeing with what the characters are doing. I recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary YA or fans of Simon Elkekes Perfect Chemistry series.
****Thank you to K Teen for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review****
Melissa is a flirt. The entire world is aware of this. What the entire world is not aware of is what she hides behind that flirty persona. They don't know how broken and scarred she is. They don't know the pain she's suffered and what it'll take to recover from the blow the world has dealt her. Javier is also scarred. He escaped from a life in Cuba without being forced into a gang, but that is exactly what he'll do now. It's been 8 months since MS-13 ratted Diego out and got him killed. In that time, Javier has made a decision. He'll do whatever is necessary to find Wink, the asshole who is responsible for Diego's death and take him out. Nothing else matters. To do this, he'll need to talk to Diego's girl, Faith, who witnessed his death. To get to Faith, he'll need to befriend Melissa. What he doesn't expect is his attraction to flair up so quickly and with such force. Can they make it work?
Melissa was a character I loved in Before You. She was always watching out for Faith and supporting her when she needed it. That made this so much harder because Faith has ran off. She left because she couldn't take Diego's death and now she's not answering Melissa's calls. Right when Melissa needs her, Faith has shut her off. Leaving Melissa to deal with her problems alone. It's not that she blames Faith, but she needs her best friend. Those of us who read Before You, we know why Faith is avoiding Melissa. We know the truth Faith is hiding, but that doesn't make this any less heartbreaking. Melissa is hard not to sympathize with. What she is going through is traumatizing and she just carries on like nothing is wrong. She gets up and goes to work and tries to take care of her debts.
Javier was a character I was on the fence about. On one hand, he has lost his best friend and that is hard to take. On the other, he is a damned moron. How is taking out Wink going to solve anything? Diego will still be dead. It won't bring him back and it won't bring you closure. It'll just get you enlisted in a gang with the naive assumption you can get out with no consequences. His one shining point is his loyalty to his family.
His family, by the way, astounded me. The idea that any one woman would willing submit herself to the trauma of giving birth to 12 children is just crazy. Not to mention how much it costs to raise that many children. 12 mouths to feed plus Mom and Dad? How do you do that? The thought of the extra expense of a single child sends me into a mini-panic attack, much less 12. Beyond that, the pure racism and sexist nature of the household infuriated me. Javier's mom flat out refuses to allow any of her children to date anyone who is not Latina. She will not accept a white girl or a black girl or a Native American or anyone but a Hispanic girl for her sons. Period. That is appalling. People have the right to love who they love, period. Love doesn't know age (though relationships with a big age gap do kinda weird me out) or race or gender. The other thing is the fact that the girls are all pushed into the role of care-giver. It is the daughters responsibility to take care of the boys. Excuse me? Do we not live in the 21st century? Javier's mom needs a serious reality check. Though the girls don't seem to complain, I was floored by the role they were pushed into. What if the girls don't want to cook and clean and serve the food? What if the girls want to play soccer instead? What if one of the boys wants to learn to cook? What is wrong with that?!?!?
This novel a great sequel to the first, though it doesn't quite live up to the awesomeness that was Faith and Diego. I think that may have been because I wasn't as big of a Javier fan as I was a Diego fan. It might also be because I know that everything Javier was doing was in vain. There is no reason to do these things. Plus, I think it's incredibly stupid to believe there will be no consequences for joining a gang. To truly believe that you can join a gang and expect to get out without putting your family and friends at risk is fucking idiotic.
Besides being appalled with his family and not loving Javier quiet as much as I did Diego, this was a wonderful novel. Melissa and Javier have just enough tension to keep you begging for more. It's a novel that is hard to put down, even when you are disagreeing with what the characters are doing. I recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary YA or fans of Simon Elkekes Perfect Chemistry series.
****Thank you to K Teen for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review****
January 5, 2015
After Us by Amber Hart
The Before and After Series Book 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: December 30th 2014
Print Length: 369 pages
Format: Kindle eARC
Via tour host
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
This is the second book in the Before and After series by Amber Hart, and though it can be read as a stand alone I would highly recommend reading Before You first. Melissa and Javier were amazingly written secondary characters from the first book and they are the main characters in this book. The author does give the reader enough background in the second book where you might not feel completely lost if you jump in at After Us. Yet believe me you don’t want to miss out on Diego and Faith’s story in Before You. This book follows Javier and Melissa, two people dealing with the aftermath of the loved ones they lost.
Javier has had one thing on his mind since his cousin and best friend Diego lost his life at the hands of a gang member. Revenge. Diego’s death changed Javier and no matter how hard his family tries to tell him to let go of the past, to move on, he just can’t. It’s like he somehow feels responsible for Diego’s death, like he should have been able to protect him. That’s a heavy burden for someone to carry and the need to avenge his cousin’s death almost consumes him.
“I am a broken piece of human”
Melissa lost her best friend Faith when she escaped to try and find solace halfway around the world after her boyfriend Diego was killed. They were as close as two people could possibly ever be and now part of Melissa feels lost without her. There is so much she needs to share with Faith, so many things left unsaid. There isn’t a day that goes by that Melissa’s heart doesn’t ache for her friend. Javier and Melissa haven’t seen one another since the night a bullet from a gang member changed their lives. So when their paths cross many months later memories of a kiss they shared one day come rushing back to the surface along with the painful memories of a night that ripped their worlds apart.
“His face reminds me that I don’t have Faith anymore because loving Diego broke her”
Javier needs answers about the gang member who killed his cousin and he knows Melissa can lead him to the one person who may be able to help him. The two start spending more time together and though Javier’s mission remains, things start to change and a bond forms between these two broken people.
“Javier is my start. These moments are my something new”
I really liked Javier’s character in the first book but I can in all honesty say I fell totally in love with him in this book. He really is such a genuine character and has nothing but good intentions at heart. It also doesn’t hurt that he is a complete hottie and every time he spoke to Melissa I swooned. I loved Melissa’s character as well, she was Faith’s rock in Before You. She is such a strong character and I loved watching how she grew during this book. I am glad she finally embraced who she was and didn’t let the scars she bared define her. The author really writes characters that are easy to connect with and that you just can’t help falling in love with.
“Javier looks at me like I’m the sun and the moon and the stars”
Will Javier get the revenge he so desperately needs or was joining the gang the wrong choice? Will he end up paying the ultimate price? This is my third book by Amber Hart and I loved it. I have loved everything I have read from her so far. She is a brilliant storyteller and I love that her books give us characters that are diverse. You don’t see that in to many books and it’s refreshing that she brings something different to the table. We also get a sneak peak into the next book in the series at the end of this one and I can’t wait to read it!
“Does she see it in my face? Can she tell that I’ll move the world for her? Before Melissa? Pain. Suffering. Destruction.
This is what change looks like. I’ve found a life worth living. Love worth having.
This is the face of redemption”
Reviewed by Stephanie The Book Hooker
The Before and After Series Book 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: December 30th 2014
Print Length: 369 pages
Format: Kindle eARC
Via tour host
Overall Rating: 4 Stars
This is the second book in the Before and After series by Amber Hart, and though it can be read as a stand alone I would highly recommend reading Before You first. Melissa and Javier were amazingly written secondary characters from the first book and they are the main characters in this book. The author does give the reader enough background in the second book where you might not feel completely lost if you jump in at After Us. Yet believe me you don’t want to miss out on Diego and Faith’s story in Before You. This book follows Javier and Melissa, two people dealing with the aftermath of the loved ones they lost.
Javier has had one thing on his mind since his cousin and best friend Diego lost his life at the hands of a gang member. Revenge. Diego’s death changed Javier and no matter how hard his family tries to tell him to let go of the past, to move on, he just can’t. It’s like he somehow feels responsible for Diego’s death, like he should have been able to protect him. That’s a heavy burden for someone to carry and the need to avenge his cousin’s death almost consumes him.
“I am a broken piece of human”
Melissa lost her best friend Faith when she escaped to try and find solace halfway around the world after her boyfriend Diego was killed. They were as close as two people could possibly ever be and now part of Melissa feels lost without her. There is so much she needs to share with Faith, so many things left unsaid. There isn’t a day that goes by that Melissa’s heart doesn’t ache for her friend. Javier and Melissa haven’t seen one another since the night a bullet from a gang member changed their lives. So when their paths cross many months later memories of a kiss they shared one day come rushing back to the surface along with the painful memories of a night that ripped their worlds apart.
“His face reminds me that I don’t have Faith anymore because loving Diego broke her”
Javier needs answers about the gang member who killed his cousin and he knows Melissa can lead him to the one person who may be able to help him. The two start spending more time together and though Javier’s mission remains, things start to change and a bond forms between these two broken people.
“Javier is my start. These moments are my something new”
I really liked Javier’s character in the first book but I can in all honesty say I fell totally in love with him in this book. He really is such a genuine character and has nothing but good intentions at heart. It also doesn’t hurt that he is a complete hottie and every time he spoke to Melissa I swooned. I loved Melissa’s character as well, she was Faith’s rock in Before You. She is such a strong character and I loved watching how she grew during this book. I am glad she finally embraced who she was and didn’t let the scars she bared define her. The author really writes characters that are easy to connect with and that you just can’t help falling in love with.
“Javier looks at me like I’m the sun and the moon and the stars”
Will Javier get the revenge he so desperately needs or was joining the gang the wrong choice? Will he end up paying the ultimate price? This is my third book by Amber Hart and I loved it. I have loved everything I have read from her so far. She is a brilliant storyteller and I love that her books give us characters that are diverse. You don’t see that in to many books and it’s refreshing that she brings something different to the table. We also get a sneak peak into the next book in the series at the end of this one and I can’t wait to read it!
“Does she see it in my face? Can she tell that I’ll move the world for her? Before Melissa? Pain. Suffering. Destruction.
This is what change looks like. I’ve found a life worth living. Love worth having.
This is the face of redemption”
Reviewed by Stephanie The Book Hooker
December 30, 2014
I have a knack for starting books in the middle of a series and then cribbing about not having read the first book first. (Because I’m a total failure, btw)
After Us is the second book in the Before & After series and after reading it…dayum. I totally want to read Before Us.
On first glance, Melisa looks like just another teenager at the beach; she’s a waitress so she smiles and she flirts and she laughs and she looks normal. But she’s far from it. Along the course of After Us, Amber Hart skillfully dodges and jumps over details about Melissa, giving just the right amount of information and then when you think you have it all, she withdraws and you’re left wondering again. I loved the whole push and pull territory that came with Melissa. As a character too, she was smart and capable of standing up for herself. She didn’t take any shit from anyone and even in the face of danger, she made the right decisions for herself. She misses her best friend, Faith, like hell and she doesn’t once give up. Not once.
On the other hand, playing Melissa’s love interest is Javier. Now, Javier is on what I’d like to call “self-destruct mode.” He’s understandably angry about the murder of his cousin, Diego, and decides to do something about the murderers who seem to be roaming about unpunished. His plan for revenge includes joining the same gang that killed his brother and rupturing them from within.
Melissa and Javier together were beautiful. They understood where the other came from, having gone through a lot of pain themselves. Javier lost his brother and Melissa’s friend Faith won’t talk to anyone, preferring to grieve alone. So where it came to kind of, you know, “getting” each other…they did.
As far as their chemistry goes, there were times I really wanted to shake these two and show them how good they could be for each other. But of course, with Javier and Melissa both keeping secrets, it was close to impossible for them to really give themselves to each other. There was a lot of angst, with them both wanting so bad to just tell each other but they couldn’t. It was disheartening to read but it was so well-written that I just kept on going.
Without the deeper understanding that would have no doubt come had I read Before You, I’d like to still say that Miss Hart did a great job providing enough information about Diego and Faith’s story too. I didn’t know anything about them in the beginning AT ALL, but by the end of After Us, I knew enough about them to know that had I read their story, I’d have loved them as much as I do Melissa and Javier :)
Reading After Us has made me a fan of a completely different style of writing than I’m usually used to. In the first chapters of the book, I thought of Amber Hart’s writing as maybe stilted and slow. But it really suited the pace of the story itself and she deserves a big, big thumbs up for her writing in After Us.
I’d recommend After Us to everyone who likes secrets and angst and protective, alpha-male heroes!
*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*
After Us is the second book in the Before & After series and after reading it…dayum. I totally want to read Before Us.
On first glance, Melisa looks like just another teenager at the beach; she’s a waitress so she smiles and she flirts and she laughs and she looks normal. But she’s far from it. Along the course of After Us, Amber Hart skillfully dodges and jumps over details about Melissa, giving just the right amount of information and then when you think you have it all, she withdraws and you’re left wondering again. I loved the whole push and pull territory that came with Melissa. As a character too, she was smart and capable of standing up for herself. She didn’t take any shit from anyone and even in the face of danger, she made the right decisions for herself. She misses her best friend, Faith, like hell and she doesn’t once give up. Not once.
On the other hand, playing Melissa’s love interest is Javier. Now, Javier is on what I’d like to call “self-destruct mode.” He’s understandably angry about the murder of his cousin, Diego, and decides to do something about the murderers who seem to be roaming about unpunished. His plan for revenge includes joining the same gang that killed his brother and rupturing them from within.
Melissa and Javier together were beautiful. They understood where the other came from, having gone through a lot of pain themselves. Javier lost his brother and Melissa’s friend Faith won’t talk to anyone, preferring to grieve alone. So where it came to kind of, you know, “getting” each other…they did.
As far as their chemistry goes, there were times I really wanted to shake these two and show them how good they could be for each other. But of course, with Javier and Melissa both keeping secrets, it was close to impossible for them to really give themselves to each other. There was a lot of angst, with them both wanting so bad to just tell each other but they couldn’t. It was disheartening to read but it was so well-written that I just kept on going.
Without the deeper understanding that would have no doubt come had I read Before You, I’d like to still say that Miss Hart did a great job providing enough information about Diego and Faith’s story too. I didn’t know anything about them in the beginning AT ALL, but by the end of After Us, I knew enough about them to know that had I read their story, I’d have loved them as much as I do Melissa and Javier :)
Reading After Us has made me a fan of a completely different style of writing than I’m usually used to. In the first chapters of the book, I thought of Amber Hart’s writing as maybe stilted and slow. But it really suited the pace of the story itself and she deserves a big, big thumbs up for her writing in After Us.
I’d recommend After Us to everyone who likes secrets and angst and protective, alpha-male heroes!
*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*
December 22, 2014
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
3.5 stars
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! The expected publication date is December 30th 2014.
I did not realize that this was the second book in a series when I requested it. Although I was able to read this as a stand alone there were many unanswered questions I had throughout the story. Luckily they were answered as the story progressed. That being said I recommend reading the first book Before You first as I think it would assist with the flow of this story.
This is the type of story you are looking for when a want a YA love story about two people who can not be whole without each other. Although there appeared to be no lead up to the attraction I believe some of the ground work may have been laid out in the first book. Two broken souls who come together to heal each other.
There is no other way to describe this other than a love story. Both Melissa and Javier had their own issues to deal with however they were unable to keep their walls up with each other. Those who enjoy reading about young love will enjoy the fact that the air literally changed when the two of them were together. The chemistry was evident and again would have been more evident if I had read the first book. It is the type of attraction that every teenage girl dreams of having...well except maybe for the baggage that comes with it.
At the risk of sounding overly critical there are a couple of points that did not add up for me. This could be the part of me that can no longer check off the YA demographic when filling out surveys. The first is the geographical setting of the story. This confused me a little bit. Melissa worked at a club on the beach and it was noted that it was 20 minutes from her home. It then went on to note that the gang Javier was mixed up with was located in Orlando. The last time I checked it took more than 20 minutes to get to the beach from Orlando. Perhaps I missed something in the location.
The second point is the way Javier spoke. I understand that it was emphasizing the fact that he was from Cuba but did he always have to make comments like "mi mama"? I got old rather quickly and seemed like a little bit of overkill. I think the backstory about his mother not allowing him to date "gringo's" was enough to establish his heritage.
Overall this story was exactly as advertised. I want a YA read that had a lot of romance with a story to go along with it. That is what I got. I feel this will resonate the most with teenaged girls due to the love story between Melissa and Javier. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this. I only recommend that you start with the first book and then pick this one up
3.5 stars
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! The expected publication date is December 30th 2014.
I did not realize that this was the second book in a series when I requested it. Although I was able to read this as a stand alone there were many unanswered questions I had throughout the story. Luckily they were answered as the story progressed. That being said I recommend reading the first book Before You first as I think it would assist with the flow of this story.
This is the type of story you are looking for when a want a YA love story about two people who can not be whole without each other. Although there appeared to be no lead up to the attraction I believe some of the ground work may have been laid out in the first book. Two broken souls who come together to heal each other.
There is no other way to describe this other than a love story. Both Melissa and Javier had their own issues to deal with however they were unable to keep their walls up with each other. Those who enjoy reading about young love will enjoy the fact that the air literally changed when the two of them were together. The chemistry was evident and again would have been more evident if I had read the first book. It is the type of attraction that every teenage girl dreams of having...well except maybe for the baggage that comes with it.
At the risk of sounding overly critical there are a couple of points that did not add up for me. This could be the part of me that can no longer check off the YA demographic when filling out surveys. The first is the geographical setting of the story. This confused me a little bit. Melissa worked at a club on the beach and it was noted that it was 20 minutes from her home. It then went on to note that the gang Javier was mixed up with was located in Orlando. The last time I checked it took more than 20 minutes to get to the beach from Orlando. Perhaps I missed something in the location.
The second point is the way Javier spoke. I understand that it was emphasizing the fact that he was from Cuba but did he always have to make comments like "mi mama"? I got old rather quickly and seemed like a little bit of overkill. I think the backstory about his mother not allowing him to date "gringo's" was enough to establish his heritage.
Overall this story was exactly as advertised. I want a YA read that had a lot of romance with a story to go along with it. That is what I got. I feel this will resonate the most with teenaged girls due to the love story between Melissa and Javier. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this. I only recommend that you start with the first book and then pick this one up
January 3, 2015
** ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
After us is an amazing tale between two different people, connected by one tragic event and by a painful, strongly, forbidden kiss.
This book totally wrecked me; the story of Melissa and Javier was still present on my mind and i can’t get out of it.
Both sharing a common pain, sorrow, they reconnected again when Javier met Melissa at her work.
And then, everything clicked, and the story continue quite quickly, through this sea of violence, pain, hate, loss, destruction.
Melissa was devastated after her best friend’s departure. She was left here alone, with news, and a friend more acting like a shadow. All of this made her so flustered, agitated. When wasn’t there to help her friend, and when she needed her she wasn’t there.
Her scars reminded her everyday all the fear, darkness inside her and how alone she felt.
All her anger, fear was well hidden behind her flirtatious attitude. As a bartender, she had to act like this if she wanted saving money.
Javier was also devastated by his best friend’s murder. And he had one goal : revenge, and wouldn’t stop until the death of the murderer. When he met Melissa again, he couldn’t lose the opportunity to ask her about the murder of his best friend.
In his family he couldn’t date a girl who wasn’t latino, but he couldn’t denied this powerful, intense connection they shared since the kiss. But he tried to hide their relationship to his family, because her mother wouldn’t understand.
At the same time he wanted to respect his family, but his feelings were so strong that he couldn’t stay away from her.
In this story of revenge at any price, Javier would do anything to make his plan work, and would definitely being an outlaw, being a bad guy, everything leading to kill his target. And for a young man, seeing how precise his plan is, was giving me chills. He was sharp, evil, violent to get noticed by the bad guys.
Life isn’t easy and in his world he had to be tough to survive. But with Melissa, he was kind, caring, aware of her presence every time he was near. When they were together, everything seemed so right, giving a meaning to his life.
Their love was so powerful, intense. It was the light in his world surrounding by the shadows. All those events make them grow together; Melissa was showing him that he could have a better future with choices on his own; Javier was helping her to get through the scars, that she was beautiful.
I can say how much i love this beautiful, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching love story of those two young people sharing both pain and trying to survive into the reality of this world, finding hope again. It was just magnificent, lyrical, a story you won't forget!
Full review here : http://aalyandthebooks.canalblog.com/...
After us is an amazing tale between two different people, connected by one tragic event and by a painful, strongly, forbidden kiss.
This book totally wrecked me; the story of Melissa and Javier was still present on my mind and i can’t get out of it.
Both sharing a common pain, sorrow, they reconnected again when Javier met Melissa at her work.
And then, everything clicked, and the story continue quite quickly, through this sea of violence, pain, hate, loss, destruction.
Melissa was devastated after her best friend’s departure. She was left here alone, with news, and a friend more acting like a shadow. All of this made her so flustered, agitated. When wasn’t there to help her friend, and when she needed her she wasn’t there.
Her scars reminded her everyday all the fear, darkness inside her and how alone she felt.
All her anger, fear was well hidden behind her flirtatious attitude. As a bartender, she had to act like this if she wanted saving money.
Javier was also devastated by his best friend’s murder. And he had one goal : revenge, and wouldn’t stop until the death of the murderer. When he met Melissa again, he couldn’t lose the opportunity to ask her about the murder of his best friend.
In his family he couldn’t date a girl who wasn’t latino, but he couldn’t denied this powerful, intense connection they shared since the kiss. But he tried to hide their relationship to his family, because her mother wouldn’t understand.
At the same time he wanted to respect his family, but his feelings were so strong that he couldn’t stay away from her.
In this story of revenge at any price, Javier would do anything to make his plan work, and would definitely being an outlaw, being a bad guy, everything leading to kill his target. And for a young man, seeing how precise his plan is, was giving me chills. He was sharp, evil, violent to get noticed by the bad guys.
Life isn’t easy and in his world he had to be tough to survive. But with Melissa, he was kind, caring, aware of her presence every time he was near. When they were together, everything seemed so right, giving a meaning to his life.
Their love was so powerful, intense. It was the light in his world surrounding by the shadows. All those events make them grow together; Melissa was showing him that he could have a better future with choices on his own; Javier was helping her to get through the scars, that she was beautiful.
I can say how much i love this beautiful, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching love story of those two young people sharing both pain and trying to survive into the reality of this world, finding hope again. It was just magnificent, lyrical, a story you won't forget!
Full review here : http://aalyandthebooks.canalblog.com/...
December 25, 2015
Read FULL review at GenGen's Book Blog
After Us features two character that I know readers wanted more of from Before You. I believe After Us is more on the emotional level than Before You (not like the ending of Before You…that’s a whole other level of emotions I won’t get into now or I will start crying).
Melissa is dealing with her own scars, visible scars. She hides them away from the world so no one but her family knows what has happened. She is trying to keep on living without her best friend Faith. It’s really hard for her because they were the best of friends and then Faith leaves to another country because she can’t deal with her boyfriend’s death.
Javier is Diego’s cousin. They treated each other as if they were brothers. When Diego died, all Javier wanted was revenge and the only way to do that is to look for the gang that killed Diego.
When these two character’s life crosses again, their feelings are still there and stronger than ever.
Melissa used to be such a free-spirited girl but tragedy happened and she changed. It hit me hard to see that change because I read about her in Before You and she used to be so much fun. Then in After Us, the readers find out something that shakes their world—it shook my world. I couldn’t believe it. It pains me to read that she doesn’t have anyone she can talk to about it. Faith is gone and she’s alone. She wants to share with Javier why she has scars but it is so difficult for her and that was hard to read. I missed my Melissa. But don’t get me wrong, she still jokes in this book and she still has fun.
Javier is mad sexy. Every time he calls Melissa “mami“, I melt. I hate that he made a bad choice and is now endangering his life but he really loved Diego as a brother and when he lost him, he was devastated. But obviously there are good times in this story. Most of the story was actually on a happy note and I enjoyed that because these two characters are very fun.
While reading a certain part of the book—almost at the end—I got so many emotions and once again, I was in class and I needed to let out my frustration so I went outside. I came back to class after a while and my friend asks me, “Why did you yell when you got out of the classroom?” So apparently I yelled and the professor heard…yeah…
I have to be honest and say I enjoyed Faith and Diego’s story more. You can read my review HERE. And if you don’t like deaths, I will only say there is more than meets the eye ;)
After Us features two character that I know readers wanted more of from Before You. I believe After Us is more on the emotional level than Before You (not like the ending of Before You…that’s a whole other level of emotions I won’t get into now or I will start crying).
Melissa is dealing with her own scars, visible scars. She hides them away from the world so no one but her family knows what has happened. She is trying to keep on living without her best friend Faith. It’s really hard for her because they were the best of friends and then Faith leaves to another country because she can’t deal with her boyfriend’s death.
Javier is Diego’s cousin. They treated each other as if they were brothers. When Diego died, all Javier wanted was revenge and the only way to do that is to look for the gang that killed Diego.
When these two character’s life crosses again, their feelings are still there and stronger than ever.
Melissa used to be such a free-spirited girl but tragedy happened and she changed. It hit me hard to see that change because I read about her in Before You and she used to be so much fun. Then in After Us, the readers find out something that shakes their world—it shook my world. I couldn’t believe it. It pains me to read that she doesn’t have anyone she can talk to about it. Faith is gone and she’s alone. She wants to share with Javier why she has scars but it is so difficult for her and that was hard to read. I missed my Melissa. But don’t get me wrong, she still jokes in this book and she still has fun.
Javier is mad sexy. Every time he calls Melissa “mami“, I melt. I hate that he made a bad choice and is now endangering his life but he really loved Diego as a brother and when he lost him, he was devastated. But obviously there are good times in this story. Most of the story was actually on a happy note and I enjoyed that because these two characters are very fun.
While reading a certain part of the book—almost at the end—I got so many emotions and once again, I was in class and I needed to let out my frustration so I went outside. I came back to class after a while and my friend asks me, “Why did you yell when you got out of the classroom?” So apparently I yelled and the professor heard…yeah…
I have to be honest and say I enjoyed Faith and Diego’s story more. You can read my review HERE. And if you don’t like deaths, I will only say there is more than meets the eye ;)
February 2, 2015
After Us is the second book in the Before & After series. It features Melissa and Javier, two secondary characters from the first book, Before You. I liked that After Us was told in dual POV in alternating chapters from Melissa and Javier. It made it easier to get to know both characters better and really helped me to understand their struggles. It was easy to see how Melissa suffered by holding her secrets in and trying to deal with things on her own. And Javier's need for revenge played a big part in the story. I found myself really interested in the trouble Javier found himself in, and I couldn't wait to see how it was resolved.
I didn't like the love story as much as I did in the first book. It felt a little forced and unrealistic to me. I could totally understand why they needed each other so much. But with the lack of honesty between them, I don't see how they could have true commitment and a trusting relationship.
My main problem with this story was that both protagonists were whiny and bitter - which made it so darn difficult to like them. I wanted to feel more for them, and I wanted them to bring out my compassion (which I have a LOT of!) but it just wasn't happening.
Overall, this isn't a bad story by any means, and I did find it enjoyable enough. I so badly wanted them both to have some sort of resolution and be able to move on with their lives, and I think that was accomplished by the end. Although I felt that the ending came about too quick and neat to leave me completely satisfied.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Maybe Me, which features Javier's younger sister Maria. I can't wait to find out how Javier and Maria's mother will react when another one of her children gets into a relationship with an American.
3.5 Stars
I didn't like the love story as much as I did in the first book. It felt a little forced and unrealistic to me. I could totally understand why they needed each other so much. But with the lack of honesty between them, I don't see how they could have true commitment and a trusting relationship.
My main problem with this story was that both protagonists were whiny and bitter - which made it so darn difficult to like them. I wanted to feel more for them, and I wanted them to bring out my compassion (which I have a LOT of!) but it just wasn't happening.
Overall, this isn't a bad story by any means, and I did find it enjoyable enough. I so badly wanted them both to have some sort of resolution and be able to move on with their lives, and I think that was accomplished by the end. Although I felt that the ending came about too quick and neat to leave me completely satisfied.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Maybe Me, which features Javier's younger sister Maria. I can't wait to find out how Javier and Maria's mother will react when another one of her children gets into a relationship with an American.
3.5 Stars
December 19, 2014
*I received an ARC copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
After Us is the second instalment in the Before & After series, and after reading this one before reading the first, I'm definitely motivated to now read about Faith and Diego!
I really loved the characters, you got so much raw emotion from them which is where the dual POV really added to the story. Melissa and Javier are both trying to move on in life, yet are still both somewhat stuck in the past. It's amazing seeing them grow individually as well as together as a couple in order to help each other continue on with their lives. Additionally, you can definitely see the culture differences that are imbedded in Melissa and Javier, which is nice because we're finally getting some diversity in books now!
Another thing that I really liked was Hart's writing style - it was so descriptive and I felt it was just really unique overall. It flowed perfectly and allowed the reader to grasp the emotion behind it.
Overall, I really enjoyed After Us. It's a story about love, revenge, family and friendship, and the idea that you have the power to dictate and run your own life.
After Us is the second instalment in the Before & After series, and after reading this one before reading the first, I'm definitely motivated to now read about Faith and Diego!
I really loved the characters, you got so much raw emotion from them which is where the dual POV really added to the story. Melissa and Javier are both trying to move on in life, yet are still both somewhat stuck in the past. It's amazing seeing them grow individually as well as together as a couple in order to help each other continue on with their lives. Additionally, you can definitely see the culture differences that are imbedded in Melissa and Javier, which is nice because we're finally getting some diversity in books now!
Another thing that I really liked was Hart's writing style - it was so descriptive and I felt it was just really unique overall. It flowed perfectly and allowed the reader to grasp the emotion behind it.
Overall, I really enjoyed After Us. It's a story about love, revenge, family and friendship, and the idea that you have the power to dictate and run your own life.
February 14, 2017
I received this book from NetGalley for review
I really liked the first book, and knowing that this book was focused on Melissa and Javier I was fairly excited to read this book. Both Melissa and Javier were big parts of the first book.
I think part of me liked these characters slightly more, than Diego and Faith. Even though Deigo and Faith didn't really have the same issues to deal with as far as acceptance, where Melissa and Javier did.
But that was hardly their biggest problem. Javier is dead set on avenging the death of his cousin, and his aunt. Willing to do whatever it takes to do so. Melissa is trying to get over the fact that she could possibly never go to college because she has to work non-stop to pay off her medical bills, and also something she feels she has to keep a secret. Both are also struggling with the fact that they are attracted to each other but don't know if they should get involved because of their individual situations.
There were some parts that I skimmed because they kind of slowed the story down for me, but I really enjoyed this book. I hope to see more in this series and from this author in the future.
I really liked the first book, and knowing that this book was focused on Melissa and Javier I was fairly excited to read this book. Both Melissa and Javier were big parts of the first book.
I think part of me liked these characters slightly more, than Diego and Faith. Even though Deigo and Faith didn't really have the same issues to deal with as far as acceptance, where Melissa and Javier did.
But that was hardly their biggest problem. Javier is dead set on avenging the death of his cousin, and his aunt. Willing to do whatever it takes to do so. Melissa is trying to get over the fact that she could possibly never go to college because she has to work non-stop to pay off her medical bills, and also something she feels she has to keep a secret. Both are also struggling with the fact that they are attracted to each other but don't know if they should get involved because of their individual situations.
There were some parts that I skimmed because they kind of slowed the story down for me, but I really enjoyed this book. I hope to see more in this series and from this author in the future.
August 31, 2016
Love Melissa and Javier's story, which takes place about 5 months after the end of Before You. Both of them are in rough places given the event that happened at the end of that book and in between these stories.
This series is compelling, swoony, and has a Latino hero with a very different family life from her cousin Diego as the brother to 11 siblings and a mother who is steadfast against any of her children being with gringas. Before Javier lived a very different life from Diego, who was part of a cartel in Cuba, but since Diego's death, Javier is determined on getting revenge. And that means getting close to people in the gang, especially the member Wink, who was responsible for Diego's death.
This story was less about the friendships for obvious reasons to those who've read the series, but it was also interesting to see Melissa's siblings more and get to know who she was with them and how they felt about Javier.
If you pick this up, then get ready to swoon.
This series is compelling, swoony, and has a Latino hero with a very different family life from her cousin Diego as the brother to 11 siblings and a mother who is steadfast against any of her children being with gringas. Before Javier lived a very different life from Diego, who was part of a cartel in Cuba, but since Diego's death, Javier is determined on getting revenge. And that means getting close to people in the gang, especially the member Wink, who was responsible for Diego's death.
This story was less about the friendships for obvious reasons to those who've read the series, but it was also interesting to see Melissa's siblings more and get to know who she was with them and how they felt about Javier.
If you pick this up, then get ready to swoon.
January 2, 2015
Before You took me on an emotional roller coaster that I didn't think could be replicated or topped but Amber Hart did it again! Another story of two broken teens but this time they aren't just trying to overcome their past,they're trying to recover from the lost of their best friends and the damage left in their wake.Both have scars from the past,some emotional some physical,that have left them with walls a mile high and thick enough to keep any and everything out.But one encounter from their past has left each with a memory that has started to crack their defenses,now they will have to decide if the fight for each other's heart and love is worth the obstacles thrown at them.And one wrong choice could not only cost them their hearts but a life.Two cultures,hearts,and lives will collide in hopes of intertwining into something beautiful from something broken.I'm totally in love with this series and it is definitely a MUST READ!
January 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and feel that it offers young readers something out of the ordinary. It is not the typical romantic book and I really appreciate this difference. The author has an expressive way of writing and allows her readers to embrace it easily. This book is definitely one to share with others. If you get a chance to put your hands on it you will not want to put it down. I read all sorts of fiction and by far this is my favorite genre. This book offered a peek into the lives of Cuban Americans and even offers the reader a chance to understand racial tensions and perspectives from a Latino viewpoint. I am always happy to see characters that are based upon people of color. It offers diversity within the world of books.
November 15, 2014
The Before & After series will be great for fans of Perfect Chemistry. In this installment readers catch up with Melissa and Javier six to seven months after Diego and Faith have left town. Melissa and Javier believe that Diego is dead and Javier is planning revenge. Melissa has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, had surgery but is still emotionally scarred. Into this set of circumstances Melissa and Javier re-kindle their romance hinted at in Hart's previous book Before Us. Readers will be hooked by the book and will be glad to know a third book is planned for the series.
January 8, 2015
This is the second book in the Before and After series. It was well written, but the plotline just lacked something for me. You can understand what drove Javier to join the enemies gang seeking vengeance, but I just didn't find him inspiring enough as a character. I think this book would normally rate as a 3.5 stars for me but I am guilty of not reading book one first so I wonder if that is a big part of the disconnected feeling I get from the characters so have decided to rate it as a 4. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
December 9, 2014I'm the author of AFTER US, so I am probably biased, but here are some things you will find in AU:
-Diversity
-Central FL setting
-Cuban MC
-American MC
-Duel points of view
-Love
-Scars
-Revenge
-Passion
Happy reading!
http://www.pinterest.com/AmbersShelf
http://www.amberhartbooks.com
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberHart
http://www.twitter.com/AmberHartBooks
-Diversity
-Central FL setting
-Cuban MC
-American MC
-Duel points of view
-Love
-Scars
-Revenge
-Passion
Happy reading!
http://www.pinterest.com/AmbersShelf
http://www.amberhartbooks.com
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberHart
http://www.twitter.com/AmberHartBooks
January 14, 2015
Okay, where to even start with this review!! ... Emotionally triggering. Keeps yous guessing as you keep turning the pages, not an easy book to put down. Don't do like I did, and try reading this book in a dr's office, hear your name called and tell the nurse one more page. I'm telling you, once you start this book you will not want to do another thing till you finish it!
*Received for an honest review*
*Received for an honest review*
did-not-finish
December 26, 2014Meh!
I got really tired of the random Spanish words in the middle of English sentences. And these kids are way too depressed and have too many issues for me. The author can certainly write, but her writing gets lost in the endless drama.
I got really tired of the random Spanish words in the middle of English sentences. And these kids are way too depressed and have too many issues for me. The author can certainly write, but her writing gets lost in the endless drama.
February 24, 2015
LOVED it! I at first wasn't sure what to expect but then I was like omg I have to get through this. I'm so glad and proud of Javier and Melissa hope to see more of them later on!
August 23, 2015
A good story, but would have been much better if I had read the first book beforehand. Still, I'm interested enough to now go back and read that book!
Read
January 13, 2023My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.
An Overview of the Novel: Melissa's broken. Learning she had cancer six months broke her, losing her best friend Faith broke her. She's drowning in grief.
And then Javier comes back. Javier, the guy she kissed and hasn't forgotten. Not too mention, he's the the cousin of Faith's dead boyfriend. Despite all their issues, they are drawn together.
But Javier has plans to avenge Diego's death. He's going to find the man who killed Diego and make sure he gets what's coming to him.
But with both of their broken pasts do they have any hope for a future?
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I loved this novel. It had a depth to it that left me stunned. It covered a whole gamut of issues. Racial issues, family issues, gangs, grief, facing death, and daring to let yourself be vulnerable--this novel had it all and more.
The writing wasn't the best I've seen. There were points that really bugged me in fact, but the plot and the characters won me over. I loved Melissa and Javier. I wished I had read the first in the series but I wasn't lost without having read it.
This novel is gripping and real. I loved this novel. I can guarantee I'm going to go back and read the first in the series and I'll be looking for more from this author.
Definitely a recommended read. So why 4 stars? I would have given it a 5, but there were just some minor errors that knocked it down to a 4. (Writing errors, not grammar, but stylistically)
Can I read the series out of order? Not recommended. You should read the first one first. However, I didn't feel lost reading them out of order.
Warnings/Side-notes: Some violence after all it's about gangs. But it's not all that violent. It's a ya book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to 15+.
The Wrap-up: A read that will consume you. This book was pure awesomeness. It was epic. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster, but now that I've finished the novel, I just want to get back on and ride it again. That's something only the best of books can make you feel.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.
An Overview of the Novel: Melissa's broken. Learning she had cancer six months broke her, losing her best friend Faith broke her. She's drowning in grief.
And then Javier comes back. Javier, the guy she kissed and hasn't forgotten. Not too mention, he's the the cousin of Faith's dead boyfriend. Despite all their issues, they are drawn together.
But Javier has plans to avenge Diego's death. He's going to find the man who killed Diego and make sure he gets what's coming to him.
But with both of their broken pasts do they have any hope for a future?
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I loved this novel. It had a depth to it that left me stunned. It covered a whole gamut of issues. Racial issues, family issues, gangs, grief, facing death, and daring to let yourself be vulnerable--this novel had it all and more.
The writing wasn't the best I've seen. There were points that really bugged me in fact, but the plot and the characters won me over. I loved Melissa and Javier. I wished I had read the first in the series but I wasn't lost without having read it.
This novel is gripping and real. I loved this novel. I can guarantee I'm going to go back and read the first in the series and I'll be looking for more from this author.
Definitely a recommended read. So why 4 stars? I would have given it a 5, but there were just some minor errors that knocked it down to a 4. (Writing errors, not grammar, but stylistically)
Can I read the series out of order? Not recommended. You should read the first one first. However, I didn't feel lost reading them out of order.
Warnings/Side-notes: Some violence after all it's about gangs. But it's not all that violent. It's a ya book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to 15+.
The Wrap-up: A read that will consume you. This book was pure awesomeness. It was epic. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster, but now that I've finished the novel, I just want to get back on and ride it again. That's something only the best of books can make you feel.
February 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this dark young adult romance that kept me hooked from the start. The well written storyline is emotional, has revenge, forbidden love and cultural disparity tropes, and tackles some heavy topics like illness, racism and gang activity.
I already knew Javier and Melissa from the previous book and found them both very likable back then. They both lost a loved one and I loved the way they got back together and stood by each other.
Readers who have already read the previous book in the series will know that there is more to this story, so I would advise anyone who hasn't read it to start the series from the beginning as the story takes on a whole different dynamic.
Ever since his cousin Diego was murdered by the cartel, Javier Reyes has been driven by revenge against the man who betrayed Diego to the cartel. In order to get his revenge, Javier decides to embark on a dangerous mission and join his gang to track down the man in hiding.
Melissa Reynolds has had a difficult time. After Diego's murder, her best friend and confidante Faith left the country to start a new life abroad, leaving Melissa alone. On top of that, she had to cope with serious personal problems that affect her life and make her feel insecure.
Javier and Melissa have known each other for some time and there was a spark at the time, but they went their separate ways when fate struck. When they meet again by chance on the beach where they once kissed, old feelings are rekindled. But they both have secrets they don't want to share...
If you like young adult romance novels with troubled protagonists that are a rollercoaster of emotion and full of danger, suspense and action, you are sure to enjoy this book!
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
I already knew Javier and Melissa from the previous book and found them both very likable back then. They both lost a loved one and I loved the way they got back together and stood by each other.
Readers who have already read the previous book in the series will know that there is more to this story, so I would advise anyone who hasn't read it to start the series from the beginning as the story takes on a whole different dynamic.
Ever since his cousin Diego was murdered by the cartel, Javier Reyes has been driven by revenge against the man who betrayed Diego to the cartel. In order to get his revenge, Javier decides to embark on a dangerous mission and join his gang to track down the man in hiding.
Melissa Reynolds has had a difficult time. After Diego's murder, her best friend and confidante Faith left the country to start a new life abroad, leaving Melissa alone. On top of that, she had to cope with serious personal problems that affect her life and make her feel insecure.
Javier and Melissa have known each other for some time and there was a spark at the time, but they went their separate ways when fate struck. When they meet again by chance on the beach where they once kissed, old feelings are rekindled. But they both have secrets they don't want to share...
If you like young adult romance novels with troubled protagonists that are a rollercoaster of emotion and full of danger, suspense and action, you are sure to enjoy this book!
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
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