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Aftermath: Love
Three Hearts. One Choice. For the first time since the world ended, Ellen feels at home. Arcadia Valley, a settlement carved out of the wreckage of the old world, offers safety, structure, and the promise of something better. But peace has a way of exposing what survival keeps buried. Ellen is caught between the brothers once more, drawn to the quiet safety Cole offers and the dangerous pull she cannot escape with Daryl. As the fragile balance between them begins to shift, survival is no longer the only question. What matters now is who she chooses… and what that choice will cost. Because in Arcadia, love isn’t a refuge. It’s a decision. And someone will pay the price for it. Praise for the Aftermath "Serenity Bea takes your heart on a journey, shattering it piece by piece and leaving you tearful in the most exquisite way. This second instalment in the Aftermath series is a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit—an achingly tragic tale that will leave you begging for more."
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Serenity Bea
12 books13 followersI write emotionally charged, psychologically rich stories about flawed people and their complicated relationships.
My characters are painfully human. They make mistakes, carry secrets, love imperfectly, and wrestle with identity, morality, grief, and the internal wounds that shape their choices.
Three of my books have been Page Turner Awards Finalists, and I was also longlisted in the New2theScene International Writing Competition.
With a degree in Applied Psychology, I bring compassionate insight to my stories, exploring the hidden fears, longings, and misbeliefs that drive people to hurt, heal, leave, and sometimes find their way home.
When I’m not torturing fictional characters in emotionally complex ways, I’m probably listening to Hans Zimmer, sipping a margarita, or being supervised by a cat who thinks he’s my co-writer and a dog who is convinced he should be.
My characters are painfully human. They make mistakes, carry secrets, love imperfectly, and wrestle with identity, morality, grief, and the internal wounds that shape their choices.
Three of my books have been Page Turner Awards Finalists, and I was also longlisted in the New2theScene International Writing Competition.
With a degree in Applied Psychology, I bring compassionate insight to my stories, exploring the hidden fears, longings, and misbeliefs that drive people to hurt, heal, leave, and sometimes find their way home.
When I’m not torturing fictional characters in emotionally complex ways, I’m probably listening to Hans Zimmer, sipping a margarita, or being supervised by a cat who thinks he’s my co-writer and a dog who is convinced he should be.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 30, 2026
Aftermath: Love is book two in the Aftermath series and is a continuation of Aftermath: Loyalty. The story picks up right at the compound Daryl, Cole, and Ellen arrived at. While there, they try to acclimate to the compounds rules and people. Despite this, there is manipulation by the townsfolk and secrets come to light which leads to the question, is this home? or is this just another stop on the journey to the coordinates that Daryl has tattooed on him?
While Ellen and Cole grew closer throughout the book, Daryl continued to be his usual self and avoided his feelings. Despite this, all three came together when it was necessary. I do look forward to reading the next book in this series, because that ending was not expected at all.
Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy literary fiction set in a post-apocalyptic world. The compound reminded me of Alexandria from the Walking Dead. Readers who enjoy romance with love triangles and military MMCs may also enjoy this book.
Favorite Quote:
“You don’t have to deserve me,” she said softly. “You just have to stay when things get tough.”
Thank you, Serenity, for allowing me to read this early. All opinions are my own.
While Ellen and Cole grew closer throughout the book, Daryl continued to be his usual self and avoided his feelings. Despite this, all three came together when it was necessary. I do look forward to reading the next book in this series, because that ending was not expected at all.
Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy literary fiction set in a post-apocalyptic world. The compound reminded me of Alexandria from the Walking Dead. Readers who enjoy romance with love triangles and military MMCs may also enjoy this book.
Favorite Quote:
“You don’t have to deserve me,” she said softly. “You just have to stay when things get tough.”
Thank you, Serenity, for allowing me to read this early. All opinions are my own.
July 2, 2026
After surviving the pandemic and the journey half way across the country, Ellen, Cole and Daryl find themselves in Arcadia. All three need healing, whether it is physical or emotion and they are able to find an other survivors, like themselves, to build community with and start fresh.
As the weeks and months pass we see their personalities rise and we see how their pasts have shaped their present and continue to influence their futures. Depth and emotion are so intense in this book! I found myself rooting for them, scolding them and yearning for them! I was invested from page one and am so incredibly eager for the next book to come out so I can see what happens next!!!
Start with the first book, Aftermath: Loyalty, to meet our trio of survivors. You’ll be hooked with the journey they have to endure through this dystopian world. Then engage your heart for this second book, Aftermath: Love, as you grow with each character and their personal stories. Then, like me, you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat waiting with complete eagerness to see what happens on book three!!
As the weeks and months pass we see their personalities rise and we see how their pasts have shaped their present and continue to influence their futures. Depth and emotion are so intense in this book! I found myself rooting for them, scolding them and yearning for them! I was invested from page one and am so incredibly eager for the next book to come out so I can see what happens next!!!
Start with the first book, Aftermath: Loyalty, to meet our trio of survivors. You’ll be hooked with the journey they have to endure through this dystopian world. Then engage your heart for this second book, Aftermath: Love, as you grow with each character and their personal stories. Then, like me, you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat waiting with complete eagerness to see what happens on book three!!
June 28, 2026
Rating: 5 ⭐
This is a riveting sequel that follows the characters from the first book and their lives in a dystopian world where a pandemic has wiped out most of humanity. Aftermath: Love picks up right where our previous story hung, leaving no gaps to be filled between the then and now. Due to this, we are immediately thrust back into the tense atmosphere that is packed full of anger, guilt, worry, and grief. Where the first book, Aftermath: Loyalty, was packed to the brim of action and focused on the survival of the external elements such as shelter or food, Love focuses more on the state of humanity within the post-apocalyptic world.
As the characters dive deeper into the inner turmoil that they are dealing with, such as remorse, grief, and secrets, we get to uncover more of their past and what has led up to the pandemic. So many new characters are introduced to us that I either fell in love with and cherished deeply, hated with a passion, or felt connected to. Each main character that we followed found wisdom and compassion, but each of them also faced a version of betrayal.
Serenity knows exactly how to evoke feelings of happiness, sadness, mourning, and frustration in her writing. While reading this I felt like I was on an emotional roller-coaster that I didn't want to leave. Many moments made me cry, smile, audibly gasp, and by the end I was hugging the book to me. We were left with another cliff-hanger that has me wanting the next installment ASAP.
The Aftermath series would definitely be one of my first recommendations as a series to anyone who loves post-apocalyptic settings where even the smallest communities struggle with hardships and control, who love the similar feeling of The Walking Dead or The 100, and stories that stay with you forever.
This is a riveting sequel that follows the characters from the first book and their lives in a dystopian world where a pandemic has wiped out most of humanity. Aftermath: Love picks up right where our previous story hung, leaving no gaps to be filled between the then and now. Due to this, we are immediately thrust back into the tense atmosphere that is packed full of anger, guilt, worry, and grief. Where the first book, Aftermath: Loyalty, was packed to the brim of action and focused on the survival of the external elements such as shelter or food, Love focuses more on the state of humanity within the post-apocalyptic world.
As the characters dive deeper into the inner turmoil that they are dealing with, such as remorse, grief, and secrets, we get to uncover more of their past and what has led up to the pandemic. So many new characters are introduced to us that I either fell in love with and cherished deeply, hated with a passion, or felt connected to. Each main character that we followed found wisdom and compassion, but each of them also faced a version of betrayal.
Serenity knows exactly how to evoke feelings of happiness, sadness, mourning, and frustration in her writing. While reading this I felt like I was on an emotional roller-coaster that I didn't want to leave. Many moments made me cry, smile, audibly gasp, and by the end I was hugging the book to me. We were left with another cliff-hanger that has me wanting the next installment ASAP.
The Aftermath series would definitely be one of my first recommendations as a series to anyone who loves post-apocalyptic settings where even the smallest communities struggle with hardships and control, who love the similar feeling of The Walking Dead or The 100, and stories that stay with you forever.
June 21, 2026
I enjoyed the first book enough in this series to check out the second one and the author continues with decent sequel here. I like the continuity of the covers as well, which tell a nice story about the emotional complexities that exist here. It is a different take on the apocalypse, but has echoes of The Walking Dead or Z Nation and similar stories, though this disaster is more about a virus and the effects on reproduction, etc. It would probably help to read the first book, so that you connect more with many of the characters and have a good foundation for the dystopian background. If you want to follow the gang and explore Arcadia, check out this heavy sequel.
June 27, 2026
This is book two of a fantastic, emotion-filled series. It is a roller coaster ride and I got very invested in the characters and cared deeply about their well-being. I was sad to see it end.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews