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After Hours
Scandals and hook-ups abound in a summertime restaurant drama where four teens are all willing to do whatever it takes to make it through the workday…and hopefully to win the money in the after-hours dare-based game of Tips.
Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn know that a job at the high-end Waterside Café isn’t just about waiting tables. It’s about the gossip, the hook-ups, the after-hours parties, and, most of all, it’s about Tips.
Tips—the high-stakes game based on dares. Whoever completes the most dares wins the collected money. A sum that could change a wasted summer into a Summer to Remember.
Isa is the new girl with an embarrassing secret, and as long as she stays on top of her game, she sees no reason why anyone could ever find out.
Xavi will do anything for the money…absolutely anything.
Peter, Xavi’s stepbrother, has been in love with her for years, and he thinks the game is the perfect time to confess his feelings.
Finn is in the game just for the thrill. He has enough tips coming in to keep him happy…even if those tips come with some conditions.
From seduction to stealing to threats, the dares are a complete free-for-all, and only the best can win.
Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn know that a job at the high-end Waterside Café isn’t just about waiting tables. It’s about the gossip, the hook-ups, the after-hours parties, and, most of all, it’s about Tips.
Tips—the high-stakes game based on dares. Whoever completes the most dares wins the collected money. A sum that could change a wasted summer into a Summer to Remember.
Isa is the new girl with an embarrassing secret, and as long as she stays on top of her game, she sees no reason why anyone could ever find out.
Xavi will do anything for the money…absolutely anything.
Peter, Xavi’s stepbrother, has been in love with her for years, and he thinks the game is the perfect time to confess his feelings.
Finn is in the game just for the thrill. He has enough tips coming in to keep him happy…even if those tips come with some conditions.
From seduction to stealing to threats, the dares are a complete free-for-all, and only the best can win.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2015
13 people are currently reading
2619 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
August 31, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss.)
“Tips is a game that’s been running for about thirty years. Every two weeks, the staff contributes about 20 percent of their tips into a pot for a chance to take an unknown dare. A task or stunt, if you will, that isn’t revealed until the night of the game.”
This was a really enjoyable YA contemporary story, and I really liked it!
There were 4 main characters in this story, with parts told from the point of view of each character. Sometimes this confuses me, but I didn’t find it confusing in this book at all.
I really liked the characters in this book, Peter made me laugh with his crazy plans to kiss his step-sister, Finn was obviously hiding something big, Isa seemed to take to blackmail very well, and I felt really sorry for poor Xavi! Everything just seemed to go wrong for the poor girl!
“I spread the delicate fabric out over the table… and see a huge snag, running up and down the length of the material. “Are you kidding me?” I groan.”
The storyline in this was pretty good, with the employees of the restaurant all playing a game called ‘Tips’, where they would put a percentage of their wage into the kitty, and then whoever completed the given dare won the money. Some of the dares were a little tame, but some of them did get interesting, and even downright illegal.
“Trust me. People who play Tips can be a bit… maniacal. Tonight was tame, Isa. You got off easy. You wouldn’t want to see how we’d tear apart someone who didn’t honor the rules.”
There was some romance in this story, even if it did take place between step-sister and step-brother. This pair were really cute together though, and it seemed so unfair that they couldn’t be together because they were step-siblings.
“Xavi tosses her hair, and it tangles. The wind is stronger up here on the roof. She meets my eyes for a second and notices me watching.
And then she smiles. And her eyes move away.
She smiled. At me.
Tonight – tonight is going to be perfect.”
The ending to this was pretty good, and I was happy with the way things turned out. I would definitely read more books from this author in the future.
8 out of 10
“Tips is a game that’s been running for about thirty years. Every two weeks, the staff contributes about 20 percent of their tips into a pot for a chance to take an unknown dare. A task or stunt, if you will, that isn’t revealed until the night of the game.”
This was a really enjoyable YA contemporary story, and I really liked it!
There were 4 main characters in this story, with parts told from the point of view of each character. Sometimes this confuses me, but I didn’t find it confusing in this book at all.
I really liked the characters in this book, Peter made me laugh with his crazy plans to kiss his step-sister, Finn was obviously hiding something big, Isa seemed to take to blackmail very well, and I felt really sorry for poor Xavi! Everything just seemed to go wrong for the poor girl!
“I spread the delicate fabric out over the table… and see a huge snag, running up and down the length of the material. “Are you kidding me?” I groan.”
The storyline in this was pretty good, with the employees of the restaurant all playing a game called ‘Tips’, where they would put a percentage of their wage into the kitty, and then whoever completed the given dare won the money. Some of the dares were a little tame, but some of them did get interesting, and even downright illegal.
“Trust me. People who play Tips can be a bit… maniacal. Tonight was tame, Isa. You got off easy. You wouldn’t want to see how we’d tear apart someone who didn’t honor the rules.”
There was some romance in this story, even if it did take place between step-sister and step-brother. This pair were really cute together though, and it seemed so unfair that they couldn’t be together because they were step-siblings.
“Xavi tosses her hair, and it tangles. The wind is stronger up here on the roof. She meets my eyes for a second and notices me watching.
And then she smiles. And her eyes move away.
She smiled. At me.
Tonight – tonight is going to be perfect.”
The ending to this was pretty good, and I was happy with the way things turned out. I would definitely read more books from this author in the future.
8 out of 10
June 17, 2015
So that was pretty new. After Hours really caught my attention because of the cover alone but when I read that blurb, I was so sure that I NEED to read it. The cover is a little.. misleading, imo. Not in a bad way though! I didn't expect four POV'S from that cover is what I'm saying. Four well written point of views. You can really say that After Hours is a character driven book.
I love that every single one of them deals with pretty heavy issue and it was tacked in a very easy yet accordingly manner. Isa may not be my favorite but I like her backstory and surprisingly, she gets my sympathy. Xavi is a hardworking young lady that I've been rooting for right from the start. Out of everyone, I think she have the hardest life and I am so into underdogs. Peter was such a lady's man. Right from the start I already know what kind of a guy Peter is but he did some things towards the end that surprised me. For me, he's the most matured one. And of course, my favorite, Finn. Adorable and perfectly flawed Finn. I just love him. Love the way he thinks, he acts, the mistakes he committed (yes even that) and how he learned from it. Each of them has a unique characteristic that makes their voice different and original. Every one of them got the character development they deserve and I really like how Claire Kennedy ended everything.
I really have no comments with the romance because sadly, I didn't swoon that much. Its not that the romance was MEH or annoying so this is more of a personal reason. It just really came out as Icky to me. I do know that this isn't a reason for you to not read the book. Trust me, Peter can really melt your heart.
After Hours really have a bit of everything. Just by reading, you can feel the adrenaline and feel like you're one of the players in TIPS. Drama is served and romance is included. It was fun and easy and perfect for YA readers who wants to be invested in a story full of secrets and dares!
I love that every single one of them deals with pretty heavy issue and it was tacked in a very easy yet accordingly manner. Isa may not be my favorite but I like her backstory and surprisingly, she gets my sympathy. Xavi is a hardworking young lady that I've been rooting for right from the start. Out of everyone, I think she have the hardest life and I am so into underdogs. Peter was such a lady's man. Right from the start I already know what kind of a guy Peter is but he did some things towards the end that surprised me. For me, he's the most matured one. And of course, my favorite, Finn. Adorable and perfectly flawed Finn. I just love him. Love the way he thinks, he acts, the mistakes he committed (yes even that) and how he learned from it. Each of them has a unique characteristic that makes their voice different and original. Every one of them got the character development they deserve and I really like how Claire Kennedy ended everything.
I really have no comments with the romance because sadly, I didn't swoon that much. Its not that the romance was MEH or annoying so this is more of a personal reason. It just really came out as Icky to me. I do know that this isn't a reason for you to not read the book. Trust me, Peter can really melt your heart.
After Hours really have a bit of everything. Just by reading, you can feel the adrenaline and feel like you're one of the players in TIPS. Drama is served and romance is included. It was fun and easy and perfect for YA readers who wants to be invested in a story full of secrets and dares!
October 23, 2019
The premise of this book sounded intriguing, but I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. It turned out to be a fun, quick, entertaining read. Chock full of secrets, drama, scandals, sketchy characters, and good old fashion dares, After Hours is a really easy book to get into, and to finish in one sitting. I found myself tearing through, trying to figure out everyone's secrets. And boy are there some good ones, a bit of criminal activity, a bit of forbidden love, a bit more criminal activity. If you're in the mood for some drama, this is definitely a good pick.
It's not hard to tell from the start that the owner of the restaurant is a bit of a sleaze. He hosts a game called Tips which is basically where the employees buy in and then one of them is dared to do something, and if they do, they win the pot. The dares could range from more innocent and fun, to dangerous, to down right illegal. All the employees are teenagers, and the boss always provides the alcohol, and a lot of times the dares are sexual, or have sexual undertones. So from the start, he kind of skeeved me out.
Isa seemed like a good girl at first, and I felt for her, but she ends of doing some really crappy things and she lost all my sympathy. Finn's got a big secret, and out of all of them, he has the most to lose if it got out. I really liked Finn, he was sweet, and easygoing, and I felt bad for the situation he was in. I also really liked Peter, who was also sweet and funny, and I was really rooting for him. Our last main character, Xavi, was probably my favorite. She was determined and spunky and sweet, and she persevered even as things continued to go downhill for her.
I really enjoyed the fact that while this was an easy read, the characters all dealt with some serious issues. I actually cared about what happened to the characters, and I really wanted everything to work out.
It's not hard to tell from the start that the owner of the restaurant is a bit of a sleaze. He hosts a game called Tips which is basically where the employees buy in and then one of them is dared to do something, and if they do, they win the pot. The dares could range from more innocent and fun, to dangerous, to down right illegal. All the employees are teenagers, and the boss always provides the alcohol, and a lot of times the dares are sexual, or have sexual undertones. So from the start, he kind of skeeved me out.
Isa seemed like a good girl at first, and I felt for her, but she ends of doing some really crappy things and she lost all my sympathy. Finn's got a big secret, and out of all of them, he has the most to lose if it got out. I really liked Finn, he was sweet, and easygoing, and I felt bad for the situation he was in. I also really liked Peter, who was also sweet and funny, and I was really rooting for him. Our last main character, Xavi, was probably my favorite. She was determined and spunky and sweet, and she persevered even as things continued to go downhill for her.
I really enjoyed the fact that while this was an easy read, the characters all dealt with some serious issues. I actually cared about what happened to the characters, and I really wanted everything to work out.
June 13, 2015
I loved the concept of this book. From the game "Tips" to the idea of all the characters working at a diner, it was just such a fun book. And while I'm not a big fan of multiple perspectives in books, I really didn't mind the four perspectives of After Hours. I felt like each perspective was relevant to the story. I really enjoyed the restaurant setting of this book. It was really original.
I really liked the pace of the of the story, I wasn't ever really bored. If I had time, I could have read it in one sitting. I kind of wish I had because this is just one of those books that basically demand to be read all at once.
There was a lot of things really took me by surprise and I had a hard time trying to recover. It reminded me a lot of Pretty Little Liars in some ways. Maybe some younger readers might not enjoy certain aspects and at times I felt like After Hours was an upper YA book, meant for older readers.
The end was kinda terrible. The story just stopped. Maybe my ARC copy was missing the last few chapters but I'm going to assume it wasn't so I really didn't like how the book just ended. I wish there was an epilogue.
Overall, I thought After Hours was a really fast paced read that got me out my almost-reading-slump. It may not be the right book for younger readers but who knows, maybe that's just me. I can definitely see myself buying a copy of this book and rereading it in a year or two.
I really liked the pace of the of the story, I wasn't ever really bored. If I had time, I could have read it in one sitting. I kind of wish I had because this is just one of those books that basically demand to be read all at once.
There was a lot of things really took me by surprise and I had a hard time trying to recover. It reminded me a lot of Pretty Little Liars in some ways. Maybe some younger readers might not enjoy certain aspects and at times I felt like After Hours was an upper YA book, meant for older readers.
The end was kinda terrible. The story just stopped. Maybe my ARC copy was missing the last few chapters but I'm going to assume it wasn't so I really didn't like how the book just ended. I wish there was an epilogue.
Overall, I thought After Hours was a really fast paced read that got me out my almost-reading-slump. It may not be the right book for younger readers but who knows, maybe that's just me. I can definitely see myself buying a copy of this book and rereading it in a year or two.
August 19, 2015
What a strange book! It was a very quick read, but I thought there would be more dares, more fun and less cray cray.
Major spoilers ahead, but if you don't plan on reading the book then I encourage the reading of the spoilers.
After writing my review I am changing this to one star, because I am more upset by things than I thought.
Major spoilers ahead, but if you don't plan on reading the book then I encourage the reading of the spoilers.
After writing my review I am changing this to one star, because I am more upset by things than I thought.
July 14, 2017
This book was great! But felt incomplete for me and I feel the story could have been taken further and maybe be made into a series.
Isa deserves happiness and she didn't really get it. I felt so sorry for her.
The story was fast paced and adventurous and unique but unfulfilled like other contemporary novels I've read!
Characters-8.5/10
Romance-7/10
Plot-9.5/10
Speed-8/10 (quite fast paced)
Isa deserves happiness and she didn't really get it. I felt so sorry for her.
The story was fast paced and adventurous and unique but unfulfilled like other contemporary novels I've read!
Characters-8.5/10
Romance-7/10
Plot-9.5/10
Speed-8/10 (quite fast paced)
June 15, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
After Hours is a salacious book that is as fun as it is crazy. And trust me, it is very crazy. It kind of reminded me of Gossip Girl mixed with The Bling Ring- that movie based on a true story of the teenage girls that broke into celebrity houses in California. And I don't mean in the sense that After Hours was about rich kids on the upper east side or that they broke into celebrity houses, I just mean that the teens had the same totally insane jaded, I am going to do things that normal teenagers wouldn't even dream of at my age. Or maybe more kids do these things than I thought. What do I know? (I just know, that I didn't know anyone doing some of this stuff when I was Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn's age.)
After Hours takes place at a nice restuarant during summer. But afterhours in the restaurant is when things really heat up. The waiters, and boss, play this game called TIPS. The book describes tips as “...a game that’s been running for about thirty years. Every two weeks, the staff contributes about 20 percent of their tips into a pot for a chance to take an unknown dare." Winner takes all. The idea of tips made for a very interesting premise for the book. I enjoyed this book, but I couldn't take it too seriously, otherwise I just wanted to get help for every one of these teens. But taking it as a fun summer read, I really enjoyed it. There are hints of romance, but not between the couple I wanted right from the start of the book. Darn you Claire! You know I wanted to see
You should pick up After Hours when you are looking for a wild crazy ride. If you like scandal and reality tv, even better. This is a book that you should read with some popcorn at hand. I think they would make a great CW tv show. I thought the tips game was the extent of the crazy that Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn would get into, but boy oh boy was I wrong. This book just kept building right until the very end! It is told in alternating points of view between the four main characters. I liked Finn the best followed closely by Peter and Isa. I don't know what was wrong with me when it came to Xavi, but there was always a slight disconnect when it came to her. I also felt like Isa's story was kind of incomplete. I wish we got to see more of her. Maybe in another book? hint hint.
Bottom Line: After Hours is a fun and crazy ride. Teens gone wild. I acknowledge that this will probably not be a book that is loved by everyone. It deals with some insane issues and is not always PC. It should not be read by people that dislike scandal or teens engaging in adult and maybe slightly illegal behavior. But it should be read by people that don't mind that and like a little crazy in their books. I had a lot of fun with After Hours. Just let go and go with it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
After Hours is a salacious book that is as fun as it is crazy. And trust me, it is very crazy. It kind of reminded me of Gossip Girl mixed with The Bling Ring- that movie based on a true story of the teenage girls that broke into celebrity houses in California. And I don't mean in the sense that After Hours was about rich kids on the upper east side or that they broke into celebrity houses, I just mean that the teens had the same totally insane jaded, I am going to do things that normal teenagers wouldn't even dream of at my age. Or maybe more kids do these things than I thought. What do I know? (I just know, that I didn't know anyone doing some of this stuff when I was Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn's age.)
After Hours takes place at a nice restuarant during summer. But afterhours in the restaurant is when things really heat up. The waiters, and boss, play this game called TIPS. The book describes tips as “...a game that’s been running for about thirty years. Every two weeks, the staff contributes about 20 percent of their tips into a pot for a chance to take an unknown dare." Winner takes all. The idea of tips made for a very interesting premise for the book. I enjoyed this book, but I couldn't take it too seriously, otherwise I just wanted to get help for every one of these teens. But taking it as a fun summer read, I really enjoyed it. There are hints of romance, but not between the couple I wanted right from the start of the book. Darn you Claire! You know I wanted to see
You should pick up After Hours when you are looking for a wild crazy ride. If you like scandal and reality tv, even better. This is a book that you should read with some popcorn at hand. I think they would make a great CW tv show. I thought the tips game was the extent of the crazy that Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn would get into, but boy oh boy was I wrong. This book just kept building right until the very end! It is told in alternating points of view between the four main characters. I liked Finn the best followed closely by Peter and Isa. I don't know what was wrong with me when it came to Xavi, but there was always a slight disconnect when it came to her. I also felt like Isa's story was kind of incomplete. I wish we got to see more of her. Maybe in another book? hint hint.
Bottom Line: After Hours is a fun and crazy ride. Teens gone wild. I acknowledge that this will probably not be a book that is loved by everyone. It deals with some insane issues and is not always PC. It should not be read by people that dislike scandal or teens engaging in adult and maybe slightly illegal behavior. But it should be read by people that don't mind that and like a little crazy in their books. I had a lot of fun with After Hours. Just let go and go with it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
August 22, 2015
(I was sent a review copy of this book from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.)
Well, that was weird…
Reading this book was entertaining, but there was just so many boring parts, leaving me undecided if I should like it or not. This book has a lot of point-of-views, namely Isa’s, Xavi’s, Peter’s and Finn’s. I enjoyed their perspectives, and it was well-written on that part.
My problem on this book is that the premise of this book was really good, but the execution was a total failure. I love how four of the main characters were given enough point-of-view which helped me understand this book better.
Isa is the new waitress in the critically-acclaimed restaurant, Waterside Cafe. She starts the job without any knowledge about the Tips, a dangerous game to earn money. Having been invited by her boss to the game, it completely changes her life. And the game completely changed her as well at the end.
Xavi, being constantly teased by money, does everything that will ruin her life. She falls in love with a man who she doesn’t expect to love. Money and love change her life.
Peter, Xavi’s stepbrother, does everything for her stepsister who he fell in love with. And Finn falls in love with the new waitress and wins most of the games in the Tips history. Both of the guys sound like hunky jocks in this book, but as you get to know them, you’ll like them.
Rico, their boss, isn’t really what they think who he is. He’s the complete opposite. He’s a pedophile and a thief, and almost ruins the life of her workers. I just hope that he be given a point-of-view in this book to understand what he is doing and why he is doing things.
I don’t have a lot to say in this book because it was just a quick read. But the romance, the dares (the thrill of doing the dare) and the story are what made me enjoy this book. The characters? Not so much.
Not to mention that I almost wanted to DNF this book.
Well, that was weird…
Reading this book was entertaining, but there was just so many boring parts, leaving me undecided if I should like it or not. This book has a lot of point-of-views, namely Isa’s, Xavi’s, Peter’s and Finn’s. I enjoyed their perspectives, and it was well-written on that part.
My problem on this book is that the premise of this book was really good, but the execution was a total failure. I love how four of the main characters were given enough point-of-view which helped me understand this book better.
“No one should be judged on who they love. Unless they love Hitler. Then maybe we can judge a little.”
Isa is the new waitress in the critically-acclaimed restaurant, Waterside Cafe. She starts the job without any knowledge about the Tips, a dangerous game to earn money. Having been invited by her boss to the game, it completely changes her life. And the game completely changed her as well at the end.
Xavi, being constantly teased by money, does everything that will ruin her life. She falls in love with a man who she doesn’t expect to love. Money and love change her life.
Peter, Xavi’s stepbrother, does everything for her stepsister who he fell in love with. And Finn falls in love with the new waitress and wins most of the games in the Tips history. Both of the guys sound like hunky jocks in this book, but as you get to know them, you’ll like them.
Rico, their boss, isn’t really what they think who he is. He’s the complete opposite. He’s a pedophile and a thief, and almost ruins the life of her workers. I just hope that he be given a point-of-view in this book to understand what he is doing and why he is doing things.
I don’t have a lot to say in this book because it was just a quick read. But the romance, the dares (the thrill of doing the dare) and the story are what made me enjoy this book. The characters? Not so much.
Not to mention that I almost wanted to DNF this book.
August 6, 2022
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.
Kinda fluffy but also kinda dramatic and exactly the type of story I was eager to fly through in one sitting. The perfect escapist read, light enough and dramatic enough to appeal to my mood.
Kinda fluffy but also kinda dramatic and exactly the type of story I was eager to fly through in one sitting. The perfect escapist read, light enough and dramatic enough to appeal to my mood.
February 6, 2017
This book just came out of the blue. At first I thought it was a mystery thriller but sadly it wasn't. However it was pretty good. The writing was smooth and a tad bit humorous. It is taken from 4 povs 2 males and 2 females around 17 years who work at a diner and all the workers play Tips which is a game based on dares and winning cash. Readers get a chance to learn about the characters and the lengths they go to save their reputations and their asses. It has a lot of blackmailing involved reminding me of Gossip Girls. Peter was my favourite character to read about but don't go into this book with high expectations...
July 12, 2018
2.5 stars
Expectations are a bitch.
I'm glad I didn't buy a physical copy of this book since I was just about to do it. The blurb sounded so cool.
It is a fast read and I was never bored, but I wasn't a big fan of the way some real problems of society were included and, above all, dealt with. There's also insta-love, something that I really don't enjoy.
The characters were just so plain and stupid that I couldn't care less about them. Also, everything was just too fast. Half of the time I was thinking that maybe my copy missed some chapters.
So, yes, I'm disappointed.
Expectations are a bitch.
I'm glad I didn't buy a physical copy of this book since I was just about to do it. The blurb sounded so cool.
It is a fast read and I was never bored, but I wasn't a big fan of the way some real problems of society were included and, above all, dealt with. There's also insta-love, something that I really don't enjoy.
The characters were just so plain and stupid that I couldn't care less about them. Also, everything was just too fast. Half of the time I was thinking that maybe my copy missed some chapters.
So, yes, I'm disappointed.
June 3, 2015
Thank you to SIMON PULSE and Edelweiss for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
I have to admit – going into this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What did I end up with? Gossip Girl meets the summer episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 meets Melrose Place. Lucky for me, I love all three!
This book really worked for me. It was told from four points of view: Isa, Finn, Xavi, and Peter. And they all had something heavy going on. Their circumstances made it easy to fall into ‘Tips,’ a high stakes game at the restaurant where they all work. But the buy-in is high, and for some of them, the cost is their dignity. Once you buy into Tips, a name is drawn, and one of the contestants will be given a dare and a certain amount of time to carry it out. Once they do, the money in the ‘Tips’ pot is theirs.
There was a fun array of characters in After Hours. Isa (the girl you just love to hate) was a former beauty queen who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted, and Finn was the high school quarterback whose future looked bleak, but like Isa, he was determined to make his way at any price. Xavi and Peter were step-siblings struggling with feelings they’d had for each other long before their parents met. And then there’s Rick, the sleazy boss who no one can quite figure out.
Finn knows that I have a thing for my stepsister? “How did you know?”
Finn sort of smirks. “I’ve known forever, Peter. But it’s gotten worse since your dad married her mom and you guys moved in together. You watch her all the time, when you think no one is looking. You make extra of her favorite dishes and put them aside, just in case she might walk in. One day, she said she liked light blue, and suddenly you had eight light-blue shirts.”
Because of the constant POV change in this book, it flew right by. As I mentioned before, all of the characters were in the midst of something huge. Because of that, this book never slowed down. What I thought was very interesting was seeing characters being thrown into such tempting situations. There were times when their morals were put to the test, and they often fell short. True colors were shown, and it wasn’t very flattering for some of the characters, but I do think it was a realistic portrayal. And I like that the struggle was shown.
Is the stuff in this book going to happen? Probably not. I mean, I can’t see the mayor going at it on the beach and putting her career in jeopardy, but in the end, I was too entertained to care about reality. This book was just plain fun! The only place it fell short for me was the length. Because of all the POVs, we only got snippets of everyone’s lives. You could have easily tacked on another 75-100 pages, and it wouldn’t have been too much. But – I’d rather be left wanting more than wondering when a book is going to end.
Overall, this was a quick, fun read, and I think it would be a perfect book to bring to the beach!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
3.5 stars
I have to admit – going into this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What did I end up with? Gossip Girl meets the summer episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 meets Melrose Place. Lucky for me, I love all three!
This book really worked for me. It was told from four points of view: Isa, Finn, Xavi, and Peter. And they all had something heavy going on. Their circumstances made it easy to fall into ‘Tips,’ a high stakes game at the restaurant where they all work. But the buy-in is high, and for some of them, the cost is their dignity. Once you buy into Tips, a name is drawn, and one of the contestants will be given a dare and a certain amount of time to carry it out. Once they do, the money in the ‘Tips’ pot is theirs.
There was a fun array of characters in After Hours. Isa (the girl you just love to hate) was a former beauty queen who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted, and Finn was the high school quarterback whose future looked bleak, but like Isa, he was determined to make his way at any price. Xavi and Peter were step-siblings struggling with feelings they’d had for each other long before their parents met. And then there’s Rick, the sleazy boss who no one can quite figure out.
Finn knows that I have a thing for my stepsister? “How did you know?”
Finn sort of smirks. “I’ve known forever, Peter. But it’s gotten worse since your dad married her mom and you guys moved in together. You watch her all the time, when you think no one is looking. You make extra of her favorite dishes and put them aside, just in case she might walk in. One day, she said she liked light blue, and suddenly you had eight light-blue shirts.”
Because of the constant POV change in this book, it flew right by. As I mentioned before, all of the characters were in the midst of something huge. Because of that, this book never slowed down. What I thought was very interesting was seeing characters being thrown into such tempting situations. There were times when their morals were put to the test, and they often fell short. True colors were shown, and it wasn’t very flattering for some of the characters, but I do think it was a realistic portrayal. And I like that the struggle was shown.
Is the stuff in this book going to happen? Probably not. I mean, I can’t see the mayor going at it on the beach and putting her career in jeopardy, but in the end, I was too entertained to care about reality. This book was just plain fun! The only place it fell short for me was the length. Because of all the POVs, we only got snippets of everyone’s lives. You could have easily tacked on another 75-100 pages, and it wouldn’t have been too much. But – I’d rather be left wanting more than wondering when a book is going to end.
Overall, this was a quick, fun read, and I think it would be a perfect book to bring to the beach!
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
June 15, 2016
This book was definitely one that I recommend to those who are in a slump. I was in one and I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting and it was entertaining to read.
This book takes place in a cafe where the employees have to be a part of a game of dares, 'Tips', that seems to be a form of passage in the town it's in. Employees have to participate or they will find themselves without a job. This story was full of humor, drama, betrayal, and everything in between.
When I found out that this book was told in 4 different point of views, I was a little intimidated. I thought I wouldn't get the characters straight in my head but the story soon proved me wrong. I was looking forward to each of their stories and I loved how everybody got what they deserved in the end. Be it a punishment or a happy ending.
I would have given this book more stars if I had actually connected on an emotional level to any of the characters. I enjoyed reading their backstories and how they overcame the secrets they each had but I didn't fall in love with any of them. I would definitely read other books Claire comes out with in the future though!
3 stars!
This book takes place in a cafe where the employees have to be a part of a game of dares, 'Tips', that seems to be a form of passage in the town it's in. Employees have to participate or they will find themselves without a job. This story was full of humor, drama, betrayal, and everything in between.
When I found out that this book was told in 4 different point of views, I was a little intimidated. I thought I wouldn't get the characters straight in my head but the story soon proved me wrong. I was looking forward to each of their stories and I loved how everybody got what they deserved in the end. Be it a punishment or a happy ending.
I would have given this book more stars if I had actually connected on an emotional level to any of the characters. I enjoyed reading their backstories and how they overcame the secrets they each had but I didn't fall in love with any of them. I would definitely read other books Claire comes out with in the future though!
3 stars!
June 9, 2015
I received an advanced copy of After Hours By Claire Kennedy from Simon Pulse in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Simon Pulse!
After Hours By Claire Kennedy had exceedingly passed my expectations for such a YA contemporary novel. I found myself intrigued by the premise of this novel when I had first found out about it on Goodreads a few months ago. However, my expectations for this wasn't so high. As you can tell, I was far from disappointed.
After Hours is a debut novel that centers around four main characters, Isa, Xavi, Peter and Finn, working in a rather high- end dining establishment, called the Waterside Cafe. Every other Saturday, all the qualified employees gather on the rooftop to play a game called TIPS. In this game, every willing participant pays the buy in amount and one employee (nominated by the manager of the Waterside cafe) will announce a dare. Those who choose to accept the dare shall remain standing, and those who don't, back out. Those participants who remain standing will perform the dare and if they successfully complete it, they will win the big pot of cash. This isn't your regular $100- $200 wager, it's a large sum that could positively alter one's mundane summer, to a summer that they could never forget- and for the employees of the Waterside Cafe, everyone has a reason to play.
As I was reading the book, I found the plot to be really simple- too simple. However, I did find myself enjoying the simplicity of it all. I enjoyed the introduction of each character in the beginning of the book, the explanation of what TIPS was about was simple enough to follow and the unraveling of serious of consequences based on the decisions made by each character was just so satisfying to read!!! Honestly, who doesn't want to read a bit of scandal?!
I'd say that this book is mostly character driven because without them being who they are, this books wouldn't live up to much. You have Isa, Xavi , Peter and Finn- each with a very interesting background, some of them seriously crazy things to hide. I don't want to spoil anything but there were parts of this book that made my jaw drop to the floor!!! These characters were intriguing on a YA contemporary level. However, I did find it hard to connect with any of these characters because there were times when I felt that they were so shallow, superficial and pretty transparent, which made parts of the plot somewhat predictable.
Overall, I have not read anything even close to this book which involves a high- stakes game and characters with nothing else to lose and everything to gain if they do win. Definitely a summer read!
August 10, 2021
4 Restaurant Employees all have their reasons to participate in the TIPS pot. They complete the dare or they forfeit the pot. If they can't afford to contribute to the pot, they can't play. Most of the rest of the staff participate while their slightly-off manager, Rico, coordinates.
Whether it be money, career, or education, they all have their reasons.
Meet...
-Isa, the seemingly picture-perfect waitress. However, she has more than one reason to want in on the TIPS game. She is also definitely not a fan of...
-Finn, the sexiest guy in YA lit "Is it possible to have a chiseled ass" (favorite line from the book), who doesn't need the Tips pot due to his return clientele and charm as the best and most-requested server.
-Xavi, the dishwasher desperate to be a server so she can afford to go to design school, who will do LITERALLY anything to get in on the TIPS pot.
-Peter, the creative cook cook and underage bartender, who has multiple secrets, not least his attraction to Xavi, who...well you'll have to read and find out.
The dares become more high-risk as the story goes on.
Ultimately, friendships, relationships, family drama, social standing, jobs, politicians, sex, drinking, and other tough topics for teens are brought to light.
I will say, this was one of the first YA I'd read (and I do read a lot of them) that addresses some very tough topics that aren't often addressed: I can't reveal any of them without giving things away but...they are eye-openers.
I will say that the relationships/bonds that working in a close-knit environment like these teens do in a very high-end restaurant are factual in that weird work-family bond.
Now that is the good of the book. The not-so-good is
1) The story is told from each of the four characters' perspectives, but there were several times when I would have to go back to the start of the chapter to remember who was narrating that sequence. Some are better written than others. So the character development could have used some work in the narrative.
2) While the dares are mostly sexualized or funny, even with the suspension of disbelief, there is no way that anyone could get away with certain things the way these teens do ON THE CLOCK.
3) The secrets of each teen are the driving force behind their characters, and while the author does a pretty good job of facing each of these issues, some of their issues just seem...petty to feel any sympathy for their plight.
4) The ending ties up the plots in a pretty bow for the principal players, but again, the suspension of disbelief is VERY challenging to even go for.
Whether it be money, career, or education, they all have their reasons.
Meet...
-Isa, the seemingly picture-perfect waitress. However, she has more than one reason to want in on the TIPS game. She is also definitely not a fan of...
-Finn, the sexiest guy in YA lit "Is it possible to have a chiseled ass" (favorite line from the book), who doesn't need the Tips pot due to his return clientele and charm as the best and most-requested server.
-Xavi, the dishwasher desperate to be a server so she can afford to go to design school, who will do LITERALLY anything to get in on the TIPS pot.
-Peter, the creative cook cook and underage bartender, who has multiple secrets, not least his attraction to Xavi, who...well you'll have to read and find out.
The dares become more high-risk as the story goes on.
Ultimately, friendships, relationships, family drama, social standing, jobs, politicians, sex, drinking, and other tough topics for teens are brought to light.
I will say, this was one of the first YA I'd read (and I do read a lot of them) that addresses some very tough topics that aren't often addressed: I can't reveal any of them without giving things away but...they are eye-openers.
I will say that the relationships/bonds that working in a close-knit environment like these teens do in a very high-end restaurant are factual in that weird work-family bond.
Now that is the good of the book. The not-so-good is
1) The story is told from each of the four characters' perspectives, but there were several times when I would have to go back to the start of the chapter to remember who was narrating that sequence. Some are better written than others. So the character development could have used some work in the narrative.
2) While the dares are mostly sexualized or funny, even with the suspension of disbelief, there is no way that anyone could get away with certain things the way these teens do ON THE CLOCK.
3) The secrets of each teen are the driving force behind their characters, and while the author does a pretty good job of facing each of these issues, some of their issues just seem...petty to feel any sympathy for their plight.
4) The ending ties up the plots in a pretty bow for the principal players, but again, the suspension of disbelief is VERY challenging to even go for.
July 29, 2015
This book was awesome! I did not expect it to be this good! The main characters were fantastic and very likable. Their secrets were so unexpected. I would think that i had the story figured out and then something new would happen and i would have to guess all over again. This book kept me intrigued the whole entire time. The romance and the drama was well balanced and had just the right amount. Some of the dares were down right hilarious and other were like oh gosh are they really going to do that and are they going to get away with it? I do wish that the ending had a bit more of a closure rather then just ending so suddenly, but i still got a pretty good picture at what happened from then on. I recommend that everyone read this book because it was such a fun read and it keeps you guessing. I am so happy that i read this because it is definitey worth 5 stars.
August 26, 2018
Omg!! I loved this book so much. I liked all the characters and how each one had there there own goals and personalities, especially Peter he was so cute the entire story. But gosh, I couldn't put this book down. There was all kinds of action and drama that kept me reading. And I absolutely need more to this story and more by this author sooo bad!!! And yes, I will totally be playing Tips in the future 😂😂
June 5, 2015
Do you remember the 2005 movie Waiting...? A grossout comedy about a bunch of 22-year olds in a diner, playing pranks, sleeping together, and never actually working? Remember that it was terrible and you were sad because Ryan Reynolds can’t make good life choices? Switch that to 17-year olds in a cafe and you have After Hours.
The book features four POVs from the full-time staff at Waterside Cafe, a high end French restaurant that apparently has no health inspectors, middle management, or basis in reality. Teenagers tend bar, drink on the line, hook up on the floor in front of customers, steal, lie, and set fires on the roof, all under the skeevily watchful eye of the owner, Rico.
Finn, Xavi, Isa, and Peter all have problems and secrets that necessitate their entry in Waterside’s famous game, Tips. Staff buys in at an unreasonably high rate and whoever’s name is drawn completes a dare for the pot. It could be a cute premise, but in addition to being gross, (statutory rape, blackmail and naked pictures....) there are plot holes, loose threads, and flat out bad writing to explain the “motivations”.
Finn is a prostitute. I don’t know why. He needs the money because his grades are bad and he’s afraid he won’t get into college, but he makes the most of all the waiters. Plenty of people live off less. He caters to rich old women, like the mayor. How did he get such a clientele? His abusive football coach dad certainly didn’t hook him up. He can’t quit, until he suddenly gets blackmailed. Then he could quit, if only the blackmailer would back off.
Isa’s a former pageant girl, but switches to waitressing because she needs more immediate cash flow. This revelation is treated with the same degree of seriousness as Finn’s job, because doing pageants is just like being an underage prostitute. More than halfway through the book, we find out she needs the money so her great-aunt can open a competing restaurant. It’s never been mentioned that her family cooks.
Xavi’s the youngest staffer. She’s 16, and Rico won’t let her waitress until her birthday. But she dreams of fashion school in New York and needs to start saving now, so when Rico offers to promote her in exchange for a X-rated polaroid, Xavi doesn’t even stick to her guns for two weeks.
Peter, Xavi’s step-brother, is the best of the lot. He’s promised his dad he’ll pursue a career in IT, but his real passion is cooking. He’s in love with Xavi and has been for “years” since before their parents hooked up. Again, she’s 16. Even being the best person, he sleeps with Xavi without protection, under the bar, with customers at it. They spend the rest of the book freaking out that she’s pregnant and they’ll end up on Jerry Springer.
Their storylines all converge when someone (Rico) arranges for Isa’s dare (Rico) to go wrong, and a prominent surgeon’s house is robbed (by Rico). Xavi finds out by accident, since Rico decides to sell the hot stereo equipment in broad daylight to her neighbor. Instead of going to their parents, (well we didn’t go to them with sexual harassment, assault, or blackmail, why start now?,) she tells Peter. Peter tells Isa, who’s already working with Finn so they don’t both go to jail in this prostitution blackmail scheme. They plant evidence in Rico’s office and call the cops, who show up with a warrant. WhY? Oh, probably because the mayor knows he’s committing tax fraud and serving underage and never bothered to do anything. He’s arrested, someone gets stabbed, Peter and Xavi aren’t pregnant and kiss.
Every single character is a horrible person, even Peter, so it’s not much of a happy ending. Xavi is written incredibly shallow and stupid, acting far younger than the other three, so her repeated sexualization is disgusting. Isa receives no comeuppance for blackmailing Finn, nor does he for blackmailing her. Shame his client came between their date; they’re perfect for each other. Even the side characters are jealous, lazy, drunks, when the author remembers that more than three people work at a restaurant.
The book features four POVs from the full-time staff at Waterside Cafe, a high end French restaurant that apparently has no health inspectors, middle management, or basis in reality. Teenagers tend bar, drink on the line, hook up on the floor in front of customers, steal, lie, and set fires on the roof, all under the skeevily watchful eye of the owner, Rico.
Finn, Xavi, Isa, and Peter all have problems and secrets that necessitate their entry in Waterside’s famous game, Tips. Staff buys in at an unreasonably high rate and whoever’s name is drawn completes a dare for the pot. It could be a cute premise, but in addition to being gross, (statutory rape, blackmail and naked pictures....) there are plot holes, loose threads, and flat out bad writing to explain the “motivations”.
Finn is a prostitute. I don’t know why. He needs the money because his grades are bad and he’s afraid he won’t get into college, but he makes the most of all the waiters. Plenty of people live off less. He caters to rich old women, like the mayor. How did he get such a clientele? His abusive football coach dad certainly didn’t hook him up. He can’t quit, until he suddenly gets blackmailed. Then he could quit, if only the blackmailer would back off.
Isa’s a former pageant girl, but switches to waitressing because she needs more immediate cash flow. This revelation is treated with the same degree of seriousness as Finn’s job, because doing pageants is just like being an underage prostitute. More than halfway through the book, we find out she needs the money so her great-aunt can open a competing restaurant. It’s never been mentioned that her family cooks.
Xavi’s the youngest staffer. She’s 16, and Rico won’t let her waitress until her birthday. But she dreams of fashion school in New York and needs to start saving now, so when Rico offers to promote her in exchange for a X-rated polaroid, Xavi doesn’t even stick to her guns for two weeks.
Peter, Xavi’s step-brother, is the best of the lot. He’s promised his dad he’ll pursue a career in IT, but his real passion is cooking. He’s in love with Xavi and has been for “years” since before their parents hooked up. Again, she’s 16. Even being the best person, he sleeps with Xavi without protection, under the bar, with customers at it. They spend the rest of the book freaking out that she’s pregnant and they’ll end up on Jerry Springer.
Their storylines all converge when someone (Rico) arranges for Isa’s dare (Rico) to go wrong, and a prominent surgeon’s house is robbed (by Rico). Xavi finds out by accident, since Rico decides to sell the hot stereo equipment in broad daylight to her neighbor. Instead of going to their parents, (well we didn’t go to them with sexual harassment, assault, or blackmail, why start now?,) she tells Peter. Peter tells Isa, who’s already working with Finn so they don’t both go to jail in this prostitution blackmail scheme. They plant evidence in Rico’s office and call the cops, who show up with a warrant. WhY? Oh, probably because the mayor knows he’s committing tax fraud and serving underage and never bothered to do anything. He’s arrested, someone gets stabbed, Peter and Xavi aren’t pregnant and kiss.
Every single character is a horrible person, even Peter, so it’s not much of a happy ending. Xavi is written incredibly shallow and stupid, acting far younger than the other three, so her repeated sexualization is disgusting. Isa receives no comeuppance for blackmailing Finn, nor does he for blackmailing her. Shame his client came between their date; they’re perfect for each other. Even the side characters are jealous, lazy, drunks, when the author remembers that more than three people work at a restaurant.
June 27, 2017
Spoilers because I can't rant and keep this shit general.
You know, when I bought this book I was under the impression it would be a light, fluffy romp set against the backdrop of a restaurant whose employees gamble on a game of dare or dare (known as "Tips"), with hook-ups and stuff. What I got was not light or fluffy at all; it was a god damn fucking nightmare.
We have four main characters, two boys (Finn and Peter) and two girls (Xavi and Isa). There are a lot of other named characters who serve as the other employees, and they're a bit harder to keep track of because they disappear and reappear at random. The only character who remains prominent but doesn't have their own perspective is the manager and Tips co-ordinator, Rico.
Now, Rico clearly serves as the villain of this story. He's shady and a creeper; he solicits naked photos from his female employees (including the underage ones, such as Xavi-- which is like 80% of her conflict for the novel) for his own use, and also maybe sells them to fat guys? The book is unclear as shit.
--the main issue I had was Rico's villainy was completely overshadowed by the actions of our second leading lady, Isa. Isa has issues with her parents being irresponsible indie music artists and lives in a trailer park with her aunt. She used to do the pageant circuit but she's not about that life anymore. She wants to move out of the trailer park with her aunt. Isa thus needs money and that's why she plays Tips. No problems so far right?
Well, Finn, one of our leading dudes, is prostituting himself. Why? Er, I think college money? I think? It's constantly talked about how he's on the football team and his father's a coach, so I thought there was a scholarship mentioned, but it's vague. But he's a seventeen year old hooker. He's not super happy about it. This is a really dark character plot choice, but I was following it.
--cue Isa becoming literal human garbage. Events happen, Isa sours on Finn, and she discovers he's a hooker. He tells her he's going to quit. She tells him no, he's not quitting-- she's fucking extorting him into giving her 40% of his earnings. She laughs to herself about the easy money and Finn fucking breaks as a human being and it's heartbreaking as hell.
Well, when the climax of the book arrives in the form of Rico framing Isa for a robbery that he committed because apparently he's low on funds (which doesn't make a lot of sense because the restaurant is doing really well? And he has some kind of shady amateur porn thing on the side? Maybe?) Finn and Isa reconcile like she didn't just pimp the poor boy out for her own benefit. Just, 'poof', all good now! Let's get Rico! What the fuck?
Oh, but we have another male character to talk about. His name is Peter. What's his deal? He's in love with Xavi, who is his new step-sister. His character arc is entirely him getting a boner over her and angsting about it.
Now, I said that 80% of Xavi's character arc is her giving Rico a nude photo of herself in exchange for being made waitress. The other 20%? Well, 10% is her somewhat reciprocating Peter's feelings (somewhat because she angsts about it too) and the other 10% is a false pregnancy scare at the end of the book where she thinks Peter has gotten her pregnant.
It was cheap drama and it made my eyelid twitch because, really? When the end of the book rolls around and Xavi goes, "oh, turns out I'm not pregnant! It really WAS a stomach flu! LOL!" I couldn't help but go, "Fucking really? REALLY?"
This book was short as hell, and it still took me almost a week to finish it. By the end of it the only character I still liked was Finn, and a lot of it was pity because of how goddamned fucking awful Isa was to him.
One star for the gambling premise. One star for Finn. That's it, bar's fucking closed.
You know, when I bought this book I was under the impression it would be a light, fluffy romp set against the backdrop of a restaurant whose employees gamble on a game of dare or dare (known as "Tips"), with hook-ups and stuff. What I got was not light or fluffy at all; it was a god damn fucking nightmare.
We have four main characters, two boys (Finn and Peter) and two girls (Xavi and Isa). There are a lot of other named characters who serve as the other employees, and they're a bit harder to keep track of because they disappear and reappear at random. The only character who remains prominent but doesn't have their own perspective is the manager and Tips co-ordinator, Rico.
Now, Rico clearly serves as the villain of this story. He's shady and a creeper; he solicits naked photos from his female employees (including the underage ones, such as Xavi-- which is like 80% of her conflict for the novel) for his own use, and also maybe sells them to fat guys? The book is unclear as shit.
--the main issue I had was Rico's villainy was completely overshadowed by the actions of our second leading lady, Isa. Isa has issues with her parents being irresponsible indie music artists and lives in a trailer park with her aunt. She used to do the pageant circuit but she's not about that life anymore. She wants to move out of the trailer park with her aunt. Isa thus needs money and that's why she plays Tips. No problems so far right?
Well, Finn, one of our leading dudes, is prostituting himself. Why? Er, I think college money? I think? It's constantly talked about how he's on the football team and his father's a coach, so I thought there was a scholarship mentioned, but it's vague. But he's a seventeen year old hooker. He's not super happy about it. This is a really dark character plot choice, but I was following it.
--cue Isa becoming literal human garbage. Events happen, Isa sours on Finn, and she discovers he's a hooker. He tells her he's going to quit. She tells him no, he's not quitting-- she's fucking extorting him into giving her 40% of his earnings. She laughs to herself about the easy money and Finn fucking breaks as a human being and it's heartbreaking as hell.
Well, when the climax of the book arrives in the form of Rico framing Isa for a robbery that he committed because apparently he's low on funds (which doesn't make a lot of sense because the restaurant is doing really well? And he has some kind of shady amateur porn thing on the side? Maybe?) Finn and Isa reconcile like she didn't just pimp the poor boy out for her own benefit. Just, 'poof', all good now! Let's get Rico! What the fuck?
Oh, but we have another male character to talk about. His name is Peter. What's his deal? He's in love with Xavi, who is his new step-sister. His character arc is entirely him getting a boner over her and angsting about it.
Now, I said that 80% of Xavi's character arc is her giving Rico a nude photo of herself in exchange for being made waitress. The other 20%? Well, 10% is her somewhat reciprocating Peter's feelings (somewhat because she angsts about it too) and the other 10% is a false pregnancy scare at the end of the book where she thinks Peter has gotten her pregnant.
It was cheap drama and it made my eyelid twitch because, really? When the end of the book rolls around and Xavi goes, "oh, turns out I'm not pregnant! It really WAS a stomach flu! LOL!" I couldn't help but go, "Fucking really? REALLY?"
This book was short as hell, and it still took me almost a week to finish it. By the end of it the only character I still liked was Finn, and a lot of it was pity because of how goddamned fucking awful Isa was to him.
One star for the gambling premise. One star for Finn. That's it, bar's fucking closed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2016
This review was first published on Latte Nights Reviews.
After Hours was a quick and fun read that I really enjoyed. It wasn't the best things I have read but I really liked it and I loved the concept of it. After Hours is about some teenagers that work at a cafe and late at night, at 3:00 AM, they play Tips, a game where they have to put a certain percent of their tips/check for a dare. If they accept and fulfill it, they get the whole money. This game had me thinking the dares would be amazing! Some were fun to read about for sure, especially the one that Finn did. I was smiling so big when I read that dare. The rest were okay. I think the story could have been a whole lot better if the game had been more fun.
This is a story that has multiple points of views but it is not overwhelming. I loved reading about each character and their hidden lives that they don't share about with their coworkers. It gets to a point where the story becomes suspenseful and I really wanted to keep on reading and then all of a sudden...it stops...it just ends. It left me hanging because I don't know if something was supposed to happen, if a second book is going to come out, if it really is the end... I don't know.
The characters: The story didn't wow nor the characters. Yes, their life and secrets were interesting to read about for sure but it didn't fully have an element of surprise. I kept waiting for something big to happen. There's Isa, the girl that has a secret that no one knows about until Finn finds out and uses it to blackmail her. Finn had his motives for using blackmail against her seeing as she blackmailed him first, threatening to expose his secret if she didn't get some money out of it. I really liked Isa in the beginning and then I just despised her a lot. Finn was the one that I loved. He was funny and kind of crazy. There's Peter who has been "in love" with his stepsister for a long time and Xavi who believes that falling for her stepbrother is beyond wrong. These two, I was waiting for something to happen and when it did... It was the usual cliche story that happens with these and I kept rolling my eyes. There are two other characters that pretty much were used to fill in since they didn't give much to the story. Then there's Rico, the guy who owns the cafe. From the beginning I didn't like him. There was something off about him and later on we find out why something feels different with this character. You guys know I love when I can relate to a character. With this story, it was rather difficult to do so. I really tried but couldn't feel a connection to the characters at all. I only liked Finn because he was funny for the most part.
Overall, each character was unique, each one with their own secret that slowly came to light and it is not pretty for them, but very interesting. I do recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, light-suspenseful story about teenagers with secrets and having a game of light dares.
After Hours was a quick and fun read that I really enjoyed. It wasn't the best things I have read but I really liked it and I loved the concept of it. After Hours is about some teenagers that work at a cafe and late at night, at 3:00 AM, they play Tips, a game where they have to put a certain percent of their tips/check for a dare. If they accept and fulfill it, they get the whole money. This game had me thinking the dares would be amazing! Some were fun to read about for sure, especially the one that Finn did. I was smiling so big when I read that dare. The rest were okay. I think the story could have been a whole lot better if the game had been more fun.
This is a story that has multiple points of views but it is not overwhelming. I loved reading about each character and their hidden lives that they don't share about with their coworkers. It gets to a point where the story becomes suspenseful and I really wanted to keep on reading and then all of a sudden...it stops...it just ends. It left me hanging because I don't know if something was supposed to happen, if a second book is going to come out, if it really is the end... I don't know.
The characters: The story didn't wow nor the characters. Yes, their life and secrets were interesting to read about for sure but it didn't fully have an element of surprise. I kept waiting for something big to happen. There's Isa, the girl that has a secret that no one knows about until Finn finds out and uses it to blackmail her. Finn had his motives for using blackmail against her seeing as she blackmailed him first, threatening to expose his secret if she didn't get some money out of it. I really liked Isa in the beginning and then I just despised her a lot. Finn was the one that I loved. He was funny and kind of crazy. There's Peter who has been "in love" with his stepsister for a long time and Xavi who believes that falling for her stepbrother is beyond wrong. These two, I was waiting for something to happen and when it did... It was the usual cliche story that happens with these and I kept rolling my eyes. There are two other characters that pretty much were used to fill in since they didn't give much to the story. Then there's Rico, the guy who owns the cafe. From the beginning I didn't like him. There was something off about him and later on we find out why something feels different with this character. You guys know I love when I can relate to a character. With this story, it was rather difficult to do so. I really tried but couldn't feel a connection to the characters at all. I only liked Finn because he was funny for the most part.
Overall, each character was unique, each one with their own secret that slowly came to light and it is not pretty for them, but very interesting. I do recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, light-suspenseful story about teenagers with secrets and having a game of light dares.
March 28, 2018
3.5 stars
This was such an easy and enjoyable read. I loved that it didn’t follow any of the usual YA tropes. It was just a strong story about a group of teenagers dealing with their shit. It was realistic, relatable, and surprisingly addictive. The multiple POVs worked wonders! I was thrilled at the way that each of the character’s voices was so uniquely written that you didn’t really need the chapter headings to know who was speaking. I enjoyed all of the character’s POVs equally. They all had their perks and their secrets and I loved getting in their heads and slowly uncovering more about them.
The taboo romance subplot also worked for – yes, I know, surprising. I rarely enjoy those sorts of romances but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. The writing was fluid and clear. The plot didn’t have a clear direction, but that’s really all that I can complain about. It was more of a character-driven story, and if it wasn’t for the abrupt ending and slightly plodding beginning, this would have easily won its way into my favourites list.
Overall? A decent, fun story that surprised me. It wasn’t intense but it was gripping, and I read it in a single sitting. I would definitely recommend it to contemporary fans.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
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This was such an easy and enjoyable read. I loved that it didn’t follow any of the usual YA tropes. It was just a strong story about a group of teenagers dealing with their shit. It was realistic, relatable, and surprisingly addictive. The multiple POVs worked wonders! I was thrilled at the way that each of the character’s voices was so uniquely written that you didn’t really need the chapter headings to know who was speaking. I enjoyed all of the character’s POVs equally. They all had their perks and their secrets and I loved getting in their heads and slowly uncovering more about them.
The taboo romance subplot also worked for – yes, I know, surprising. I rarely enjoy those sorts of romances but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. The writing was fluid and clear. The plot didn’t have a clear direction, but that’s really all that I can complain about. It was more of a character-driven story, and if it wasn’t for the abrupt ending and slightly plodding beginning, this would have easily won its way into my favourites list.
Overall? A decent, fun story that surprised me. It wasn’t intense but it was gripping, and I read it in a single sitting. I would definitely recommend it to contemporary fans.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
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July 4, 2015
I may have read the weirdest novel ever in my entire reader lifetime. Or at least this year. And I absolutely meant that in a weird-but-surprisingly-good way.
After Hours is a documentation of what happens behind the scenes of a local cafe. You'd think it's all business and satisfaction, but that's not the case with this one. Every two weeks the staff plays a game called Tips, wherein they contribute twenty percent of their tips into a pot for a chance to take an unknown dare and win the entire pot. Exciting isn't it?
Once the game begins, there's no turning back. We observe through the eyes of our protagonists: Isa, a struggling pageant queen, Finn, a misunderstood jock, Xavi, a determined fashion designer, and Peter, a hopeless romantic. I thought each character was excellently fleshed-out and given enough screen-time for their respective story arcs. No question they were the highlight of this novel.
What makes this book work so well is how it's written. It's very lighthearted; you don't have to take everything seriously. And that's what I constantly try to find in YA: that keen sense of being a teen and enjoying the Now. Already I can see this book being adapted into a fun, summery coming-of-age TV series (come on, MTV, make it happen!).
If you like character-driven novels, I suggest you head straight for this one. You'll have so much fun reading them, I promise.
More awesome and sass at The Quirky Reader.
After Hours is a documentation of what happens behind the scenes of a local cafe. You'd think it's all business and satisfaction, but that's not the case with this one. Every two weeks the staff plays a game called Tips, wherein they contribute twenty percent of their tips into a pot for a chance to take an unknown dare and win the entire pot. Exciting isn't it?
Once the game begins, there's no turning back. We observe through the eyes of our protagonists: Isa, a struggling pageant queen, Finn, a misunderstood jock, Xavi, a determined fashion designer, and Peter, a hopeless romantic. I thought each character was excellently fleshed-out and given enough screen-time for their respective story arcs. No question they were the highlight of this novel.
What makes this book work so well is how it's written. It's very lighthearted; you don't have to take everything seriously. And that's what I constantly try to find in YA: that keen sense of being a teen and enjoying the Now. Already I can see this book being adapted into a fun, summery coming-of-age TV series (come on, MTV, make it happen!).
If you like character-driven novels, I suggest you head straight for this one. You'll have so much fun reading them, I promise.
More awesome and sass at The Quirky Reader.
July 6, 2015
Quick, fun summer read.
It's exactly what it promises: a waitstaff at a classy restaurant participates in a game of high-stakes Dare or Dare for a percentage of everyone's tips. Each character has reasons for wanting to win the Big Money, and it causes a slew of bad choices and some general nastiness to each other. There's also a bit of mystery, so there you have it.
I loved each of the characters and their different motivations, but Xavi was my favorite (and I suspect the author's, too). Her choices were gut-wrenching and I just wanted her to win so badly.
Wonderful contemporary YA.
It's exactly what it promises: a waitstaff at a classy restaurant participates in a game of high-stakes Dare or Dare for a percentage of everyone's tips. Each character has reasons for wanting to win the Big Money, and it causes a slew of bad choices and some general nastiness to each other. There's also a bit of mystery, so there you have it.
I loved each of the characters and their different motivations, but Xavi was my favorite (and I suspect the author's, too). Her choices were gut-wrenching and I just wanted her to win so badly.
Wonderful contemporary YA.
April 27, 2016
at first I was like how can I keep up with this many character and I am only ever used to reading from one or two characters. but it isn't as overwhelming as I thought. everything flows together so nicely so far. I actually like seeing it from every characters point of view and getting the inside scoop from them all. it's a new process than what I am used to but I am happy that I am keeping up with everything without feeling like I'm going through characters.
July 6, 2015
Uninteresting bunch involved in a work-related truth or dare. There was romance hook-ups too but I didn’t care all that much. Next book, please!
April 8, 2017
Not the best book I've ever read, but it sure was a fun and easy read. A lot of intrigues and schandals, just how I like to spend my spare time.
October 8, 2021
dnf @ 12%
not my style
not my style
May 15, 2015
More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.
WHAT I LIKED: Before I begin, I have to mention that I think my ARC may have been missing a couple of chapters at the end. The story just STOPPED, and at least two major story threads were left unresolved. If my ARC was missing an epilogue, then fine. It's not the first time I've had e-ARC issues. But if that really was it, then that really should be fixed. There absolutely needs to be an Epilogue or a TWO MONTHS LATER chapter or something else to draw the story to a close.
Okay, now on to what I liked. The pacing is excellent. I read almost the entire thing in one sitting.
I was a waitress for five years in high school and college, so I LOVED the restaurant setting in After Hours. For people reading the book without a restaurant background, it may seem like the illegal activities and smarmy behavior depicted in After Hours are unrealistic. I can tell you, I worked in several restaurants in my five years of waitress-hood. The activities in the story are really not all that exaggerated. Every restaurant I worked in had at least one sleazy manager. There were drugs. There were late parties after work almost every night. There was lots of underage drinking, and yes, that sometimes happened at work. There were manager-staff relationships, some involving high school students or married managers. Customers hit on staff and vice-versa, and while I never heard of this situation personally, it's certainly possible that some people I worked with were getting paid for "extra services" on the side.
So, as unbelievable as it may sound, I could see a dare game like Tips being a hit in most of the restaurants I worked in. If you've been there, you know I'm speaking the truth. Some restaurants were better about this than others, but they all had this stuff to some degree. Plenty of restaurant employees work there and stay clean, but the stories in this book are an absolute reality. I love my restaurant background and wouldn't trade it for anything, but I could tell some shocking stories about my work in the food-service industry. I wouldn't be at all surprised if author Claire Kennedy worked as a waitress in high school or college and had seen this stuff first-hand.
I liked the morally-imperfect main characters. They all make bad decisions and are manipulated by a sleazeball adult, but they are still young and ultimately make the right decisions anyway.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Well, the characters are doing some pretty morally-bankrupt things. There are a few "icky" moments that may make some readers uncomfortable. Again, they turn it around by the end, but the fact that they get so easily swayed will ruffle some feathers.
The character voices. They all sounded the same. There were several times I was in the middle of a chapter and forgot who was speaking.
The ending. There should be one, and I am hoping my ARC is just missing a chapter. I'm writing this review a full six months before publication, so I'm hoping the publisher and author will address that before the pub date in June.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A fast-paced story of restaurant shenanigans. It may seem unbelievable, but trust me, it's not.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: I probably won't get this one, despite the fact that I enjoyed it. My enjoyment comes from my own experiences as a restaurant employee, not because it's such a great story for teens.
READALIKES: Hope Was Here (Bauer); Top Ten Clues You're Clueless (Czukas)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 4/5
Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Engrossing: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Appeal to teens: 3/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: medium-high--contains multiple F-bombs, sh**, damn, ass, bitch
Sexuality: medium-high--kissing, intercourse, sexual photography, male prostitution, teen pregnancy--none of this is described in detail
Violence: mild--some punches thrown; a fork stabbing
Drugs/Alcohol: high--teens drink alcohol at work, at home, and at social gatherings; brief mention of parents doing cocaine; one character keeps unlit cigarette behind her ear
Other: sexual relationship between step-siblings
June 18, 2015
For more reviews, visit my blog at Bittersweet Reads.
I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You know when you hear of a new book and it sounds super, super interesting? And so you wait, and you hope that it's going to be amazing? Then you read it. And while you're reading, you start asking yourself, what the hell is happening? But not in a good way. *sigh* That, folks, is what happened with this book.
Honestly, I can't even tell you what this book is really about, because after skimming through it, I don't even know. I like different POVs in books.. but you need to know how to work it. Everyone should have an individual voice in order for everything to tie in together. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here.
There was Isa, Xavi, Finn and Peter, and all of their voices blended into one another. Or, at least, that was the case for me. Isa is supposed to be the new girl with a secret, and while I could maybe (and that's a stretch) see her reasons for keeping quiet such a secret, I couldn't see any reasons for her actions later on in the book. Like, really, girl?
Xavi is supposed to be the girl who's willing to do whatever to get her way, and honestly, that description makes her sound like a slut. And that's very misleading. She does do something stupid, and while I wanted to see her actions as the actions of someone desperate, I couldn't look past her own stubbornness to justify it.
Finn is supposed to be the not-so-smart football player who's always after a thrill. And he is. But I feel like the author went out of her way to make Finn a dumb cliché, as well as dispensable, and if that was the case, then what was the point? Also, his side business? Even more of a cliché.
The only character I liked was Peter. He was the only one I felt like had a lot of potential---especially with the storyline he got. Ms. Kennedy, you could have struck gold if you'd only focused on Peter and his predicament. Seriously. After all, what's better than a taboo romance?
I'm sad to say I was really disappointed with After Hours. You win some. You lose some. And unfortunately, After Hours falls in the later category.
I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You know when you hear of a new book and it sounds super, super interesting? And so you wait, and you hope that it's going to be amazing? Then you read it. And while you're reading, you start asking yourself, what the hell is happening? But not in a good way. *sigh* That, folks, is what happened with this book.
Honestly, I can't even tell you what this book is really about, because after skimming through it, I don't even know. I like different POVs in books.. but you need to know how to work it. Everyone should have an individual voice in order for everything to tie in together. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here.
There was Isa, Xavi, Finn and Peter, and all of their voices blended into one another. Or, at least, that was the case for me. Isa is supposed to be the new girl with a secret, and while I could maybe (and that's a stretch) see her reasons for keeping quiet such a secret, I couldn't see any reasons for her actions later on in the book. Like, really, girl?
Xavi is supposed to be the girl who's willing to do whatever to get her way, and honestly, that description makes her sound like a slut. And that's very misleading. She does do something stupid, and while I wanted to see her actions as the actions of someone desperate, I couldn't look past her own stubbornness to justify it.
Finn is supposed to be the not-so-smart football player who's always after a thrill. And he is. But I feel like the author went out of her way to make Finn a dumb cliché, as well as dispensable, and if that was the case, then what was the point? Also, his side business? Even more of a cliché.
The only character I liked was Peter. He was the only one I felt like had a lot of potential---especially with the storyline he got. Ms. Kennedy, you could have struck gold if you'd only focused on Peter and his predicament. Seriously. After all, what's better than a taboo romance?
I'm sad to say I was really disappointed with After Hours. You win some. You lose some. And unfortunately, After Hours falls in the later category.
July 21, 2015
Maybe like 3.25 stars...
Well... That ending was abrupt?
Not really sure how I feel about this one overall, it was decent enough but was never slipping into 'great' territory, or even 'very good'. You wouldn't be missing out on anything by not reading it, would be the bottom line. But since it's not too long, you're not wasting much time by giving it a go, either, especially if you've plenty of time to kill with reading and want something uncomplicated and quick to read.
The book's premise sounds really interesting and promising, like it's going to be exciting. I never really got that 'exciting' vibe from it, though. I feel as if there was a lot more potential for this concept, but it never really fulfilled it. I thought that the dares would be more badass considering that there was so much cash involved, but there was barely anything challenging or groundbreaking.
Character-wise, it is possible to get kind of invested in these four voices that tell the story. The story is told from those 4 POVs, which can get confusing, but it is necessary as the characters tend not to share their personal feelings and secrets with each other, making it essential for the reader to learn about these from the individual characters themselves. Each of them has a fairly intriguing background and all have their own secrets. Again, though, potential was a bit wasted here, as there could have been a bigger deal with relationships and tension, and so on.
After Hours, despite the shortcomings imo, has a bit of an addictive quality to it. I read on, sensing that it might grow exciting, and to an extent it did get better. But it felt like the climax of the book only came a few pages before the end, so it didn't feel conclusive at all. It was like the writer had gotten to that point, reached a deadline and decided, well, that'll do. After all the talk of the characters' ambitions, do we find out what they actually do with their lives after this? No, not that I can see. That was disappointing.
In summary: on paper, it sounds like a good idea, this book. There are good elements in it, but they just don't click together and run smoothly. The structure of the book doesn't feel right and the storyline isn't executed as well as it could be. But this is just my feeling about it.
Well... That ending was abrupt?
Not really sure how I feel about this one overall, it was decent enough but was never slipping into 'great' territory, or even 'very good'. You wouldn't be missing out on anything by not reading it, would be the bottom line. But since it's not too long, you're not wasting much time by giving it a go, either, especially if you've plenty of time to kill with reading and want something uncomplicated and quick to read.
The book's premise sounds really interesting and promising, like it's going to be exciting. I never really got that 'exciting' vibe from it, though. I feel as if there was a lot more potential for this concept, but it never really fulfilled it. I thought that the dares would be more badass considering that there was so much cash involved, but there was barely anything challenging or groundbreaking.
Character-wise, it is possible to get kind of invested in these four voices that tell the story. The story is told from those 4 POVs, which can get confusing, but it is necessary as the characters tend not to share their personal feelings and secrets with each other, making it essential for the reader to learn about these from the individual characters themselves. Each of them has a fairly intriguing background and all have their own secrets. Again, though, potential was a bit wasted here, as there could have been a bigger deal with relationships and tension, and so on.
After Hours, despite the shortcomings imo, has a bit of an addictive quality to it. I read on, sensing that it might grow exciting, and to an extent it did get better. But it felt like the climax of the book only came a few pages before the end, so it didn't feel conclusive at all. It was like the writer had gotten to that point, reached a deadline and decided, well, that'll do. After all the talk of the characters' ambitions, do we find out what they actually do with their lives after this? No, not that I can see. That was disappointing.
In summary: on paper, it sounds like a good idea, this book. There are good elements in it, but they just don't click together and run smoothly. The structure of the book doesn't feel right and the storyline isn't executed as well as it could be. But this is just my feeling about it.
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