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The Summer After The Night Before
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2026
About the author
Lisa Williamson
161 books29 followersA writer since an early age, I have been fasinated by stories where the characters go through changes and develop strength from great trials. I prefer the genre fields of fantasy, science fiction and horror over the general fiction. By placing my characters in fantastical settings I can let them grow and develop in ways that you just can't in a real world setting.
Published in the early days of the ebook movement in a CDRom book that saw little movement I have now taken to the digital age with style. I will continue to set my words free and hope that these children of my heart find homes with caring readers who are willing to look beyond the normal to the fantastical.
I can be found writing fantasy, science fiction, light horror and fanfiction.
Published in the early days of the ebook movement in a CDRom book that saw little movement I have now taken to the digital age with style. I will continue to set my words free and hope that these children of my heart find homes with caring readers who are willing to look beyond the normal to the fantastical.
I can be found writing fantasy, science fiction, light horror and fanfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 26, 2026
I hate to use the phrase this should be on every High school's curriculum because it annoyed me when I was teaching but ...
This book should be compulsory reading on every High School KS4 SRE curriculum to teach young people about consent, what it means, how it looks and the implications for when boundaries are respected in a healthy relationships and where they are crossed in less than ideal circumstances.
I love Lisa's books so was so excited to get another YA title from her. The whole cast of characters are brilliant. The story grips you and it is so relevant. The story looks at consent from both angles and I like the contrast between Rhiannon's relationship and the situation Molly finds herself in. It isn't sex shaming or victim shaming and the issues it raises helps teen readers to explore what consent looks like in a healthy relationship whilst exploring the implications of being blind drunk means for the ability for that person to give consent.
Brilliant UKYA
This book should be compulsory reading on every High School KS4 SRE curriculum to teach young people about consent, what it means, how it looks and the implications for when boundaries are respected in a healthy relationships and where they are crossed in less than ideal circumstances.
I love Lisa's books so was so excited to get another YA title from her. The whole cast of characters are brilliant. The story grips you and it is so relevant. The story looks at consent from both angles and I like the contrast between Rhiannon's relationship and the situation Molly finds herself in. It isn't sex shaming or victim shaming and the issues it raises helps teen readers to explore what consent looks like in a healthy relationship whilst exploring the implications of being blind drunk means for the ability for that person to give consent.
Brilliant UKYA
May 25, 2026
From the cover design and the blurb, I thought this would be a BFF to lovers romance. This is NOT the case so be wary.
Molly thinks she's been sexually assaulted by the "boy next door". Boy next door is madly in love with her and seems to think she consented (they were both drunk). Molly's best girl friend is his twin sister so doesn't know what (or who) to believe.
This was good, to a point. Sadly there was no resolution for any of the three main characters which is pretty unforgiveable for a book which deals with topics as serious as rape and consent. What have these characters learned (apparently nothing)? How have their views changed (apparently not at all)? What message are you actually trying to pass to your YA audience (apparently a poor one)? This needed serious work.
Molly thinks she's been sexually assaulted by the "boy next door". Boy next door is madly in love with her and seems to think she consented (they were both drunk). Molly's best girl friend is his twin sister so doesn't know what (or who) to believe.
This was good, to a point. Sadly there was no resolution for any of the three main characters which is pretty unforgiveable for a book which deals with topics as serious as rape and consent. What have these characters learned (apparently nothing)? How have their views changed (apparently not at all)? What message are you actually trying to pass to your YA audience (apparently a poor one)? This needed serious work.
May 5, 2026
Great exploration of the aftermath of violence but I did not love the ending to this. None of the other characters got a resolution apart from molly. I kinda felt like some chapters had been ripped out the back of the book.
June 30, 2026
I received a review copy from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight guest post. It has not affected my opinions.
THE SUMMER AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE is an example of why there need to be so many discussions about consent - and that it cannot just come from schools (because it's rarely done in an engaging way that will make it top of your brain.) Teenagers (and adults!) can be idiots and drink too much and when that happens, if they're thinking at all, they will only remember to think about consent if it's something they've talked about with peers and people they respect. Otherwise, they will just go with what society tells them is permissible. And then all this happens.
The questions about whether Ben did anything wrong are kept open until the end and it definitely feels like the book is letting the reader decide how much of that night was anyone's exact fault - though it is very clear on the lies and everything afterward being Ben absolutely being in the wrong. The book does help you understand why he does it, without excusing him, which helps highlights the societal issues at play when it comes to relationships and consent.
I did appreciate that Cal is there as a positive example of a relationship, where consent is always sought and they have the tough conversations - including not just agreeing. Rhiannon is definitely the one who strains their relationship though a desire not to tell others. That relationship is left open and you're not sure what happened to them, other than hoping it's alright.
The overall ending of the book is very abrupt. You're missing a key confrontation and instead go straight to the ending and have to infer what happened. It feels very unsatisfying. I know that life can be like that, but I did want to see Molly and Rhiannon talk/confront what had happened as their friendship is so key to the book and goes through all sorts of ups and down. Instead, the book just skips to "everything is a mess, but she's at least getting therapy."
This is a book that I think would be really, really necessary - if it was written with a male audience as it's primary readership. Conversations about consent are so necessary for everyone, but particularly for boys at this age (because the burden is still on girls). However, because reading has been made a gendered thing (which it shouldn't be), this book is not one aimed primarily at boys. (Yes, they can pick this up, yes, some will, but it's not going to be picked up by them as much as something by, say, Luke Palmer or Josh Silver.) Which is a pity as it could be a great way to have those conversations for boys, but ultimately will not generate enough.
THE SUMMER AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE is an example of why there need to be so many discussions about consent - and that it cannot just come from schools (because it's rarely done in an engaging way that will make it top of your brain.) Teenagers (and adults!) can be idiots and drink too much and when that happens, if they're thinking at all, they will only remember to think about consent if it's something they've talked about with peers and people they respect. Otherwise, they will just go with what society tells them is permissible. And then all this happens.
The questions about whether Ben did anything wrong are kept open until the end and it definitely feels like the book is letting the reader decide how much of that night was anyone's exact fault - though it is very clear on the lies and everything afterward being Ben absolutely being in the wrong. The book does help you understand why he does it, without excusing him, which helps highlights the societal issues at play when it comes to relationships and consent.
I did appreciate that Cal is there as a positive example of a relationship, where consent is always sought and they have the tough conversations - including not just agreeing. Rhiannon is definitely the one who strains their relationship though a desire not to tell others. That relationship is left open and you're not sure what happened to them, other than hoping it's alright.
The overall ending of the book is very abrupt. You're missing a key confrontation and instead go straight to the ending and have to infer what happened. It feels very unsatisfying. I know that life can be like that, but I did want to see Molly and Rhiannon talk/confront what had happened as their friendship is so key to the book and goes through all sorts of ups and down. Instead, the book just skips to "everything is a mess, but she's at least getting therapy."
This is a book that I think would be really, really necessary - if it was written with a male audience as it's primary readership. Conversations about consent are so necessary for everyone, but particularly for boys at this age (because the burden is still on girls). However, because reading has been made a gendered thing (which it shouldn't be), this book is not one aimed primarily at boys. (Yes, they can pick this up, yes, some will, but it's not going to be picked up by them as much as something by, say, Luke Palmer or Josh Silver.) Which is a pity as it could be a great way to have those conversations for boys, but ultimately will not generate enough.
May 30, 2026
overall, i loved this book. i couldn't stop reading, i felt for molly and honestly the topic it covers is so so important.
sexual assult isn't always violent. it doesn't even have to be deliberate, and the lines of consent need to be taught in school. over and over again.
clearly i didn't like ben. he was a typical "nice guy". everyone knows one. "i'm such a good person why doesn't she love me why does she always go for the shitty guys when i am right here being a creep she owes me sex for all the staring at her boobs and pretending to be her friend i have done".
i also HATED rhiannon by the end of the book. she was not a good friend. she was a judgemental, holier than thou douchecanoe. she slut shamed molly constantly, in her inner monologue and to her face. i kept hoping she would grow and learn but no. she got worse.
at the end of the book she discovers that her brother did, in fact, rape her best friend. and instead of telling molly, she decides she's going to hide it. now i understand this an an initial reaction. i did not expect her to immediately go to her house and then the police station. however, she vocalises her intentions to never tell molly the truth to her boyfriend and then gets mad when he tells her that's a shitty thing to do.
none of the above is a negative. you don't have to like every narrator in a book, and the ben and rhiannon chapters did manage to at least get me to consider their pov and emphathis TO A DEGREE. but ultimatley, they are both shitty people and need to seriously work on themselves.
my one complaint is it feels like the book wasn't finished. i didn't want a happy shiny ending and i don't necessarily hate that ben and rhiannon did not get resolution. i think they both deserve to wallow in their shit. and i do understand that in real life nothing is tied up with a neat little bow.
however, there's a point right at the end where everything converges and you're on the very verge of it all blowing up and then...nothing. it does not end. molly gets a couple of pages with some resolution and i am happy for her, and the book didn't Exactly end on a cliffhanger but it kind of felt like the author realised the final draft was past due and just hit submit without finishing. or maybe accidentally deleted a few pages and didn't notice.
overall though, a very solid and important read.
sexual assult isn't always violent. it doesn't even have to be deliberate, and the lines of consent need to be taught in school. over and over again.
clearly i didn't like ben. he was a typical "nice guy". everyone knows one. "i'm such a good person why doesn't she love me why does she always go for the shitty guys when i am right here being a creep she owes me sex for all the staring at her boobs and pretending to be her friend i have done".
i also HATED rhiannon by the end of the book. she was not a good friend. she was a judgemental, holier than thou douchecanoe. she slut shamed molly constantly, in her inner monologue and to her face. i kept hoping she would grow and learn but no. she got worse.
at the end of the book she discovers that her brother did, in fact, rape her best friend. and instead of telling molly, she decides she's going to hide it. now i understand this an an initial reaction. i did not expect her to immediately go to her house and then the police station. however, she vocalises her intentions to never tell molly the truth to her boyfriend and then gets mad when he tells her that's a shitty thing to do.
none of the above is a negative. you don't have to like every narrator in a book, and the ben and rhiannon chapters did manage to at least get me to consider their pov and emphathis TO A DEGREE. but ultimatley, they are both shitty people and need to seriously work on themselves.
my one complaint is it feels like the book wasn't finished. i didn't want a happy shiny ending and i don't necessarily hate that ben and rhiannon did not get resolution. i think they both deserve to wallow in their shit. and i do understand that in real life nothing is tied up with a neat little bow.
however, there's a point right at the end where everything converges and you're on the very verge of it all blowing up and then...nothing. it does not end. molly gets a couple of pages with some resolution and i am happy for her, and the book didn't Exactly end on a cliffhanger but it kind of felt like the author realised the final draft was past due and just hit submit without finishing. or maybe accidentally deleted a few pages and didn't notice.
overall though, a very solid and important read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2026
Lisa Williamson has a knack of getting to the heart of issues that are important for young people and writing about them in a sympathetic but no holds barred way that is extremely powerful. The Summer After the Night Before explores consent from both sides , a young male and a female , and clearly shows the perils of getting blind drunk and therefore not being in control of your actions. Of course there are some sexual scenes included , I really appreciated that there was one extremely positive new relationship/loss of virginity portrayed and I think reading this would encourage young people to realise their own autonomy and to feel empowered to explore their sexuality without feeling that 'everyone else is doing it so I should'. Great exploration of what being a friend really means too and the need to provide support always, even if we don't fully understand a friend's actions. An important, engaging read.
June 2, 2026
When three teenagers go to a party to celebrate the end of term, they are excited about the long summer holiday ahead of them. But when Molly has a horrible experience with a sexist guy, she gets drunk to try to forget it, and Ben takes her home.
The next morning, Molly can't quite remember what happened, but something doesn't feel right. The story of how she, Ben and Rhiannon - Molly's best friend and Ben's twin sister - put the pieces together is gripping, nuanced and essential reading in a world that is nowhere near as post #MeToo as we wish it was.
This is the third book I've read by Lisa Williamson and despite being far too old to be in her target audience, I'm such a huge fan. Can't wait to read more.
The next morning, Molly can't quite remember what happened, but something doesn't feel right. The story of how she, Ben and Rhiannon - Molly's best friend and Ben's twin sister - put the pieces together is gripping, nuanced and essential reading in a world that is nowhere near as post #MeToo as we wish it was.
This is the third book I've read by Lisa Williamson and despite being far too old to be in her target audience, I'm such a huge fan. Can't wait to read more.
June 21, 2026
comprei este livro na minha viagem a londres porque estava em promoção, gostei da capa e tinha sprayed edges cor de rosa :) tendo dito isto, não foi nada o que estava à espera ahahahah
pensei que ia ser um romance fofo, talvez com um pouco de mistério… nope, este livro conta a história de 3 jovens que se vêm no meio de algo (?) e que apenas um deles sabe o que realmente aconteceu naquela noite
não é o melhor livro de sempre, mas leu-se super bem e aborda temas muito importantes :’)
- molly, soube desde o primeiro capítulo que ia ficar do teu lado, e mereces muuuuito muito melhor que a tua “melhor amiga”
pensei que ia ser um romance fofo, talvez com um pouco de mistério… nope, este livro conta a história de 3 jovens que se vêm no meio de algo (?) e que apenas um deles sabe o que realmente aconteceu naquela noite
não é o melhor livro de sempre, mas leu-se super bem e aborda temas muito importantes :’)
- molly, soube desde o primeiro capítulo que ia ficar do teu lado, e mereces muuuuito muito melhor que a tua “melhor amiga”
July 9, 2026
Well…. I was not sure about this book at all to start with but after finishing it I found it’s one of those I wish I could read again for the first time! Now I can’t wait to read more by this author.
I love when books are written from different characters perspectives and especially when this one kept everything in order, it wasn’t overly complicated and everything made sense!
In regards to the actual book - the message it conveys is VERY important and I didn’t expect this book to be that deep, but I’m VERY glad I read it - I don’t want to give too much away. But it’s not the romance book I thought it would be
I love when books are written from different characters perspectives and especially when this one kept everything in order, it wasn’t overly complicated and everything made sense!
In regards to the actual book - the message it conveys is VERY important and I didn’t expect this book to be that deep, but I’m VERY glad I read it - I don’t want to give too much away. But it’s not the romance book I thought it would be
May 31, 2026
The idea is good but it’s not developed deep enough. The only person who seemed to actually be looking out for Molly was Liv, and I would’ve loved to see that friendship develop more. Instead I got the worst best friend ever who just complains about Molly
The whole time. Plus I feel like the book is trying to make me feel sorry for Ben and that he made a mistake. But his actions are inexcusable in anyway and realistically if this was a real life he’ll do it again to another girl. Stalker energy, hate the guy.
The whole time. Plus I feel like the book is trying to make me feel sorry for Ben and that he made a mistake. But his actions are inexcusable in anyway and realistically if this was a real life he’ll do it again to another girl. Stalker energy, hate the guy.
July 19, 2026
I did enjoy this book but it was very tough going in places. Ben has been in love with molly for years she finally kisses him at a party and he thinks it could be a start of somthing. Molly trusted ben and loved him as a brother than a boyfriend it wasent untill Molly got drunk at a party and molly kissed ben then she cant remember what happened next. It was ment to be the best summer of their lives but doughts, lies and mixed up memories from the night refuse to go away
There's only one version of the truth isnt there?
There's only one version of the truth isnt there?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2026
Powerful & well written Young Adult novel which explores the concept of consent. You can read my full review here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...
Did Not Finish
April 24, 2026Please be aware that this book deals with themes of sexual assault.
It's all about the importance of consent and communication but be aware of the subject matter. I struggled with this due to my own trauma. What I managed was very good and really well written.
It's all about the importance of consent and communication but be aware of the subject matter. I struggled with this due to my own trauma. What I managed was very good and really well written.
May 30, 2026
I loved the book but didn't love the ending, I expected it to feel more finished, but I'm still left with a lot of unanswered questions. Great book though, interesting as it's told from 3 different perspectives of 3 emotionally engaging characters
June 6, 2026
I was mad that Ben just got to go back to his girlfriend and his original life where as Molly has to go to therapy and change multiple aspects of her life. Also we didn’t see if Cal and Rhiannon made up after she hung up on him?
July 14, 2026
Really important book which looks at the topic of consent in a thought provoking way. I thought it was such an interesting decision to have the characters be connected in that Ben was the twin brother of Molly's best friend and I was waiting to see how Rhiannon would react when the news was finally revealed. The ending was a little abrupt but overall a gripping story.
February 8, 2026
I was sent an early copy of this by the publisher.
It’s a (sadly) believable story about teenagers who get very drunk and then can’t really remember what happened after they kiss…
It addresses issues of the different expectations for boys and girls, of consent and more.
Reading it with my ‘work hat’ on, I can see that it could be a valuable tool in helping young people think through some of these issues but I’m wary of introducing books where sexual relationships are treated as so normal and accepted.
I also think that this book, despite having both male and female narrators, will appeal more to girls… yet needs to be read by boys just as much.
“Good guys can do bad stuff” is as message they all need to hear… though it’s certainly not the only message or truth in this story.
It’s a (sadly) believable story about teenagers who get very drunk and then can’t really remember what happened after they kiss…
It addresses issues of the different expectations for boys and girls, of consent and more.
Reading it with my ‘work hat’ on, I can see that it could be a valuable tool in helping young people think through some of these issues but I’m wary of introducing books where sexual relationships are treated as so normal and accepted.
I also think that this book, despite having both male and female narrators, will appeal more to girls… yet needs to be read by boys just as much.
“Good guys can do bad stuff” is as message they all need to hear… though it’s certainly not the only message or truth in this story.
June 18, 2026
Heartbreaking + eventful 🍦💖
May 22, 2026
A fantastic beliveable story about consent. Lisa Williamson's books are pretty much all brilliant and even though i was expecting it to be good, it surpassed my expectations. Dealing with consent, it is an even handed book and doesnt seek to blame, victimise or target any of the three character in fact it shows what a massive grey area things become after drink is involved when it examines both sides of the story. The story concerns 3 main characters an m/f set of twinas and the F twin's best friend. in the final summer of y11 and about to leave school. In each chapter you hear from all three. Sucjh is the excellent charactisation of everyone in the book, you will know or remember people like the characters from your school or college. My only complaint is that due to the graphicness of some of the sex scenes it could be a bit of a hard sell to whoever is buying teh books for the teenage audience who i feel this is aimed at. One of the books of the year for me so far. Netgalley ARC.
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