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What Happens After...
It was never supposed to happen. 'We' never should have happened.
He and I... Our constantly crossing paths changed the unthinkable to the inevitable.
It was magical, exhilarating, and life defining... despicable, and it ruined everything.
It destroyed me.
It destroyed us.
He and I is what happened before.
And everything else is what happened after…
He and I... Our constantly crossing paths changed the unthinkable to the inevitable.
It was magical, exhilarating, and life defining... despicable, and it ruined everything.
It destroyed me.
It destroyed us.
He and I is what happened before.
And everything else is what happened after…
300 pages, Unknown Binding
First published August 31, 2015
819 people are currently reading
2260 people want to read
About the author
Portia Moore
28 books1,454 followersPortia Moore is an Amazon and iBooks bestselling author of romantic suspense, including the popular If I Break series, the Her series, and the Collided series, which combined have sold over one million copies across all platforms. Located in the chilly Midwest, her favorite vacations are anywhere that's hot and sunny with a beach, reading the same kind of heart-pounding, twisty, edge-of-your seat romantic thrillers that she loves to write. When that's not possible, she loves drinking wine, cooking (also with wine) and spending time with her little family of one human child and two furbabies, one that barks and one that meows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews
February 10, 2017
Will was nasty,Lisa was a selfish bitch and Gwen was stupid for taking him back so easily! I felt so sorry for Gwen before but after this book no way she deserves Will if this is how much she respects herself oh and her suddenly being all ok with the lovechild made me gag with disgust because hell would I be ok with having to look at my husbands betrayal everyday and having to be be nice to the child's mother! Gwen deserved a better storyline than this I am so pissed off at this author for going down the route of forgiveness rather than having Gwen leave his cheating nasty arse!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2016
4 ”Adultery. Affair. Betrayal.” STARS
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I’m getting mixed reactions from friends as to whether or not I should have read the series If I Break prior to reading this book. It appears that one of characters (not a main player in this book - he is one of the heroine’s son and other heroine's best friend, Chris’s story) in this book drove that full series. This book is in fact a standalone. I didn’t struggle at any part with connecting the characters and can safely say this is a cheating book so one click according to your limits.
”I never thought that anything associated with love could be so painful, but love betrayed definitely is.”
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The story is told mainly in the two heroine’s POVs. Interestingly enough, the main portion takes place twenty plus years prior. It’s about young Gwen’s fall for her sister’s boyfriend, Will Scott. The second POV is Lisa’s and it’s her fall for her best friend Chris’ father (Gwen’s Will) eight or so years prior to the present.
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The two female POVS were well done and though the story is crazy angsty there’s practically no sex scenes in the book. It’s heavily driven by emotions of betrayal and love.
”There are moments when I can make her smile, when she forgets for a fragment of a second that she hates me, then she hates herself for it.”
Will Scott, is the man of the hour. I thought I would inhale his POV and sadly I disliked him even while reading his weak-man type POV (true blood child thing I could punch him in the nuts). I had a hard time with a hero who hides and lies to his supposed soulmate. As you can probably tell I’m not the most forgiving reader, hell person for that matter.
”I did it because for the first time in almost a year, I didn’t feel like a zombie slogging through life. I felt alive.”
This story is crazy addicting, page turning, and does ends well enough for all parties. I just wished it went differently if that makes sense. There’s also a few things that I wish would have happened in this story that didn’t. One of which would be Zach Riley being exposed as Lisa’s father, yet that didn’t happen. Gia… I adored this character and just wanted more in her big fall out with Will in dialogue. Will’s beg for forgiveness and love for his soulmate just wasn’t BIG enough for me.
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Overall this is a good read that is high on the angst and had several great quotes like this one that I adored:
”Animosity is a weapon, and it’s not used against the person you can’t forgive – it’s used against yourself. Your bitterness doesn’t hurt them. If they love you, it will hurt them for a while, but it doesn’t stop them from living their life. Your anger doesn’t make them carry their pain or their hurt any longer.
[image error]
I’m getting mixed reactions from friends as to whether or not I should have read the series If I Break prior to reading this book. It appears that one of characters (not a main player in this book - he is one of the heroine’s son and other heroine's best friend, Chris’s story) in this book drove that full series. This book is in fact a standalone. I didn’t struggle at any part with connecting the characters and can safely say this is a cheating book so one click according to your limits.
”I never thought that anything associated with love could be so painful, but love betrayed definitely is.”
[image error]
The story is told mainly in the two heroine’s POVs. Interestingly enough, the main portion takes place twenty plus years prior. It’s about young Gwen’s fall for her sister’s boyfriend, Will Scott. The second POV is Lisa’s and it’s her fall for her best friend Chris’ father (Gwen’s Will) eight or so years prior to the present.
[image error]
The two female POVS were well done and though the story is crazy angsty there’s practically no sex scenes in the book. It’s heavily driven by emotions of betrayal and love.
”There are moments when I can make her smile, when she forgets for a fragment of a second that she hates me, then she hates herself for it.”
Will Scott, is the man of the hour. I thought I would inhale his POV and sadly I disliked him even while reading his weak-man type POV (true blood child thing I could punch him in the nuts). I had a hard time with a hero who hides and lies to his supposed soulmate. As you can probably tell I’m not the most forgiving reader, hell person for that matter.
”I did it because for the first time in almost a year, I didn’t feel like a zombie slogging through life. I felt alive.”
This story is crazy addicting, page turning, and does ends well enough for all parties. I just wished it went differently if that makes sense. There’s also a few things that I wish would have happened in this story that didn’t. One of which would be Zach Riley being exposed as Lisa’s father, yet that didn’t happen. Gia… I adored this character and just wanted more in her big fall out with Will in dialogue. Will’s beg for forgiveness and love for his soulmate just wasn’t BIG enough for me.
[image error]
Overall this is a good read that is high on the angst and had several great quotes like this one that I adored:
”Animosity is a weapon, and it’s not used against the person you can’t forgive – it’s used against yourself. Your bitterness doesn’t hurt them. If they love you, it will hurt them for a while, but it doesn’t stop them from living their life. Your anger doesn’t make them carry their pain or their hurt any longer.
October 20, 2022
****SPOILERS****
Just when I think I've reached the bottom of the pit of revolting heroes, along comes this guy:
- cheats on his gf, (with her 18 year old younger sister) with whom he's in a committed relationship with; whom he's proposed to numerous times and who wears his promise ring (actually, he had a near-kiss experience with the younger sister before this)
- marries this younger sister, Gwen.
- cheats on her too (Karma at its best, I suppose)
- with his son's 18 year old BFF, Lisa (son has his own books: If I Break: The Complete Series and Lisa the ow has her own book as well The Trouble With Before
- impregnates her (unknown to him until years later)
- for +- 7 years, deliberately delays and sabotages the treatment of his son's medical condition to ensure that his affair isn't discovered.
- ruthlessly sets out to destroy his son's marriage for same reason as above
The cherries on top:
- Gwen, a really nice lady, couldnt have kids of her own... Karma again?
- before the affair, Lisa, who lived next door to them, had grown up in their household right along with their son
- after the secret affair, Lisa continues, for about another 6 years to the present, to be a main fixture within their household.
And because he deserves only the best kind of HEA's:
- his wife forgives him
- his love-child, who looks just like her mum, comes to live with them
...and they all live happily ever after...
Just when I think I've reached the bottom of the pit of revolting heroes, along comes this guy:
- cheats on his gf, (with her 18 year old younger sister) with whom he's in a committed relationship with; whom he's proposed to numerous times and who wears his promise ring (actually, he had a near-kiss experience with the younger sister before this)
- marries this younger sister, Gwen.
- cheats on her too (Karma at its best, I suppose)
- with his son's 18 year old BFF, Lisa (son has his own books: If I Break: The Complete Series and Lisa the ow has her own book as well The Trouble With Before
- impregnates her (unknown to him until years later)
- for +- 7 years, deliberately delays and sabotages the treatment of his son's medical condition to ensure that his affair isn't discovered.
- ruthlessly sets out to destroy his son's marriage for same reason as above
The cherries on top:
- Gwen, a really nice lady, couldnt have kids of her own... Karma again?
- before the affair, Lisa, who lived next door to them, had grown up in their household right along with their son
- after the secret affair, Lisa continues, for about another 6 years to the present, to be a main fixture within their household.
And because he deserves only the best kind of HEA's:
- his wife forgives him
- his love-child, who looks just like her mum, comes to live with them
...and they all live happily ever after...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2021
**TW: Cheating**
1✨
This was like a chain of cheating : Will (Hero aka THE CHEATER) was dating Gia (h's sister), cheats on her with Gwen (h) and cheats on Gwen with Lisa (her son's friend/ OW).
The story is told mostly from the POV'S of Gwen (h) and Lisa (OW) with some chapters from Will pov's in three moments Before, During and After, but it was really boring so I ended up skipping some pages.
I kinda liked Gwen and Lisa, BUT my biggest issue was that Will didn't redeem himself, he just said "I'm sorry, it was nothing"😜 Gwen FORGIVES HIM ☠️and accepts the daughter he had with Lisa as if nothing had happened.... ahhh i love romance 😍
I wanted to see him on his knees and not crying como pelOtudo.
and tbh, I didn't feel ANYTHING for these characters, i mean, I read the blurb and I was expecting angst, drama ??
so it's 1 star for just entertaining me.
1✨
This was like a chain of cheating : Will (Hero aka THE CHEATER) was dating Gia (h's sister), cheats on her with Gwen (h) and cheats on Gwen with Lisa (her son's friend/ OW).
The story is told mostly from the POV'S of Gwen (h) and Lisa (OW) with some chapters from Will pov's in three moments Before, During and After, but it was really boring so I ended up skipping some pages.
I kinda liked Gwen and Lisa, BUT my biggest issue was that Will didn't redeem himself, he just said "I'm sorry, it was nothing"😜 Gwen FORGIVES HIM ☠️and accepts the daughter he had with Lisa as if nothing had happened.... ahhh i love romance 😍
I wanted to see him on his knees and not crying como pelOtudo.
and tbh, I didn't feel ANYTHING for these characters, i mean, I read the blurb and I was expecting angst, drama ??
so it's 1 star for just entertaining me.
September 9, 2021
Horrific book with horrible storyline. The hero should have not been forgiven, and the ending was rushed. The likelihood of the heroine leaning toward divorce, to then taking on her husbands illegitimate child was ridiculous. Suddenly we have a happy family? As if! The infidelity was terrible as it was with a teenage girl who happen to be the married couples, sons best female friend! The affair went on for months, then they are caught in the act by the son, which cause so much trauma for him. Yet the two cheaters only think about themselves! I read on in this series to see if it gets better it doesn’t! The cheating girl who The heroine treats like a daughter! Gets a book deal, a boyfriend and everyone’s forgiveness! I am done with this author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
nope
September 23, 2018I met these characters in "If I Break" series and I would never want to read their love story.
It involves cheating & betraying of the worst kind.
P.S. If you want to read this book, it must be read after "If I Break" series.
It involves cheating & betraying of the worst kind.
P.S. If you want to read this book, it must be read after "If I Break" series.
March 1, 2024
I won’t waste more than a few lines on this garbage. The hero has an affair with his son’s girlfriend of 18 when he was 41. He feels alive. The lil s**t. Why instead of having sex with a teenager didn’t he went to do some ski diving? Some surfing in California? Some backpacking around the Andes? Some fight club? Nope he has sex and gets pregnant the teenager who btw is a complete wh..e because she seduces the forty something, aging hero who’s completely flattered by her attentions.
They get caught by his son that has such a shock that causes him amnesia.
Years later when his wife has cancer the whoe reveals she has a daughter and kindly dumps her to her father to keep because you know she’s young and doesn’t want to play mummy. The wife forgives and takes the daughter that she was unable to give since she’s sterile.
What a pile of incredibly smelly crap. Chauvinism and goody two shoes like no other.
Please avoid it if you don’t want to risk a stroke.
The husband is worthless. Ow is a selfish wh**e, I hope she has a shitty life and no one ever loves her.
I wished her husband was the one with the cancer not the heroine. She gets well in the end though.
They get caught by his son that has such a shock that causes him amnesia.
Years later when his wife has cancer the whoe reveals she has a daughter and kindly dumps her to her father to keep because you know she’s young and doesn’t want to play mummy. The wife forgives and takes the daughter that she was unable to give since she’s sterile.
What a pile of incredibly smelly crap. Chauvinism and goody two shoes like no other.
Please avoid it if you don’t want to risk a stroke.
The husband is worthless. Ow is a selfish wh**e, I hope she has a shitty life and no one ever loves her.
I wished her husband was the one with the cancer not the heroine. She gets well in the end though.
February 14, 2016
Cheater stories are extremely difficult to write. Most women hate them too much to even pick them up and give them a chance, but once in a while there are authors out there who are able to write an amazing story that involves cheating, but one that doesn't leave you all pissed off and hateful at the world when you've finished it. Portia Moore is that author. This was a crazy emotional story, but I loved every second of it.
September 29, 2016
4 ★'s
Ah yes...cheating books. I seem to be on a roll with them lately but it's such a good, angsty ride that I'm not sure I ever want to get off. ;)
The thing is, I don't really have much experience with cheating books but I felt that the way this was set up was very clever although a bit shocking. We get both the wife's and the mistress' POV!!
I was taken back when I got to Lisa's (the mistress) and I wasn't sure that I would want to read it however, slowly but surely, I came to like(?) her or at least "feel" for what she was going through.
Gwen (the wife) was much easier to read...and much sweeter till the big reveal that is. I really enjoyed reading about her and Will falling in love even though there's a twist to that as well.
And we even get a bit of Will's POV!! Unfortunately, I went from liking him (Gwen's POV) to not liking him (Lisa's). Ugh! And I really didn't buy his "reasons".
Also, the book is set up with Before, During and After sections and yes, some of it was hard to read but it was equally hard to put down!
We get to know Will and Gwen's son, Christopher, who just happens to be the Hero in the author's If I Break series. I just had to sneak a peek at the blurbs and oh my...it sounds really good. I'm definitely putting that series on my TBR list!
The story ends well...I'm just not sure I believe why Lisa did what she did.
Favorite quote:
♥ "I want to love you forever and never stop. It can be us, forever, against the world."
Ah yes...cheating books. I seem to be on a roll with them lately but it's such a good, angsty ride that I'm not sure I ever want to get off. ;)
The thing is, I don't really have much experience with cheating books but I felt that the way this was set up was very clever although a bit shocking. We get both the wife's and the mistress' POV!!
I was taken back when I got to Lisa's (the mistress) and I wasn't sure that I would want to read it however, slowly but surely, I came to like(?) her or at least "feel" for what she was going through.
Gwen (the wife) was much easier to read...and much sweeter till the big reveal that is. I really enjoyed reading about her and Will falling in love even though there's a twist to that as well.
And we even get a bit of Will's POV!! Unfortunately, I went from liking him (Gwen's POV) to not liking him (Lisa's). Ugh! And I really didn't buy his "reasons".
Also, the book is set up with Before, During and After sections and yes, some of it was hard to read but it was equally hard to put down!
We get to know Will and Gwen's son, Christopher, who just happens to be the Hero in the author's If I Break series. I just had to sneak a peek at the blurbs and oh my...it sounds really good. I'm definitely putting that series on my TBR list!
The story ends well...I'm just not sure I believe why Lisa did what she did.
Favorite quote:
♥ "I want to love you forever and never stop. It can be us, forever, against the world."
February 17, 2019
3 Stars
What a freaking rollercoaster. I was so excited to see the ARC on my kindle today, but let me tell you I am not sure I was prepared of this story. I seriously have been waiting on this release since I first found out about it! It was gut wrenching in parts, and I was spitting nails mad in others. It was very much a story focused on both Gwen and Lisa.
There were some specific things I realized that effected how I felt about this story. I thought the writing was great, and while the story is called "What Happens After," almost the entire story is what happened before the bombed that was dropped at the dinner table. It's told in "Before" and "After" and gives details of Gwen and William's history, as well as Lisa's and Williams affair.
At first, I was team Gwen, 100%. I was ride or die for her. And then... Portia and her writing... they made me think. Think really, really hard. I'm not saying I joined team Lisa, because let's face it she is still a selfish hoe-bag, but Gwen wasn't coming up roses in this story either. She too did really horrible things in her past. Things that I don't know if I ever could have forgiven if I were her sister. Gwen struggled with the idea of Karma, and I can't say the same thought didn't cross my mind too...
There were a few parts that made me queasy, like the brief sex scene descriptions between Lisa and William. It's one thing to know it happened, it another thing to read the details. Poor Gwen. I also struggled with reading the descriptions of Lisa and the affair from William's perspective. His words and actions lead the reader to believe it was more than sex for him, a thought that is heart breaking if you are team Gwen.
For me, the ending was rushed and The theme of this entire story is forgiveness. While the task is admirable, I am not really sure the feat was accomplished because I still hate William Scott. His character is so flawed that it is incredibly hard as a reader to forgive him. The ending was
I thought about this, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact the reader has insight into his inner monologue due to the chapters from his perspectives. Some of the things he thinks and says in his head are unforgivable. Because they were never said aloud, Gwen was not privy to his inner most thoughts, and perhaps her
- all of this because he wanted to feel "alive." What utter rubbish. I guess in the end I wanted to feel like William deserved redemption, but I don't think I felt that. In fact, I hate his character even more.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
What a freaking rollercoaster. I was so excited to see the ARC on my kindle today, but let me tell you I am not sure I was prepared of this story. I seriously have been waiting on this release since I first found out about it! It was gut wrenching in parts, and I was spitting nails mad in others. It was very much a story focused on both Gwen and Lisa.
There were some specific things I realized that effected how I felt about this story. I thought the writing was great, and while the story is called "What Happens After," almost the entire story is what happened before the bombed that was dropped at the dinner table. It's told in "Before" and "After" and gives details of Gwen and William's history, as well as Lisa's and Williams affair.
At first, I was team Gwen, 100%. I was ride or die for her. And then... Portia and her writing... they made me think. Think really, really hard. I'm not saying I joined team Lisa, because let's face it she is still a selfish hoe-bag, but Gwen wasn't coming up roses in this story either. She too did really horrible things in her past. Things that I don't know if I ever could have forgiven if I were her sister. Gwen struggled with the idea of Karma, and I can't say the same thought didn't cross my mind too...
There were a few parts that made me queasy, like the brief sex scene descriptions between Lisa and William. It's one thing to know it happened, it another thing to read the details. Poor Gwen. I also struggled with reading the descriptions of Lisa and the affair from William's perspective. His words and actions lead the reader to believe it was more than sex for him, a thought that is heart breaking if you are team Gwen.
For me, the ending was rushed and The theme of this entire story is forgiveness. While the task is admirable, I am not really sure the feat was accomplished because I still hate William Scott. His character is so flawed that it is incredibly hard as a reader to forgive him. The ending was
I thought about this, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact the reader has insight into his inner monologue due to the chapters from his perspectives. Some of the things he thinks and says in his head are unforgivable. Because they were never said aloud, Gwen was not privy to his inner most thoughts, and perhaps her
- all of this because he wanted to feel "alive." What utter rubbish. I guess in the end I wanted to feel like William deserved redemption, but I don't think I felt that. In fact, I hate his character even more.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
March 15, 2016
*****4.5 Stars*****
This book… this book….
I don’t know why I read this kind of book.
Liar. I knew exactly what was coming as anyone else who read the blurb.
So, allow me to poke this wound without any gloves: Infidelity.
Messy, right? And painful.
I have a few friends who would run miles away from this story and I understand, after all, cheating is a very sensitive matter and a hard limit for many.
I, for one, seem not to resist the magnetic pull of this mental whipping
*masochist much?* that makes me feel like crawling up a wall.
Infidelity is a matter that evokes loads of conflicted emotions on me when done well.
And very well indeed is Mrs Moore job here in my opinion.
I've read so many "cheating" stories where I thought:
Well done lady! Don’t be a doormat! Kick his ass you kickass heroine! You go girl!
This time? None of these sentences came across my mind, I am afraid
IT WAS THAT GOOD.
I was so into this! I could only think “WHAT WOULD I DO IN HER SHOES?”
So, they had 20 happy years together and One Mistake. Ok! A very big mistake.
Very long time Very long time Very long time…
The “very long time”and “miserable” got stuck on my head and weighed tons.
Forgive? Not forgive? They were soul bloody mates! We are not perfect, we all make mistakes. Right? I am trying to convince myself here. Hard.
We get POV’s from everyone.
You can’t imagine my reaction
when at 5%, totally engrossed in the heroine’s hate, I turned the page and found a new chapter with the homewrecker’s POV.
And as I started to read it I thought: WHAT THE HELL, MRS Moore?! NO, NO, NO!
Don’t you dare to make me like the homewrecker!
The half Star missing
I just need to add one more thing to my rumblings:
For those who already read the story it will make a lot of sense.
This book… this book….
I don’t know why I read this kind of book.
Liar. I knew exactly what was coming as anyone else who read the blurb.
So, allow me to poke this wound without any gloves: Infidelity.
Messy, right? And painful.
I have a few friends who would run miles away from this story and I understand, after all, cheating is a very sensitive matter and a hard limit for many.
I, for one, seem not to resist the magnetic pull of this mental whipping
*masochist much?* that makes me feel like crawling up a wall.
Infidelity is a matter that evokes loads of conflicted emotions on me when done well.
And very well indeed is Mrs Moore job here in my opinion.
I've read so many "cheating" stories where I thought:
Well done lady! Don’t be a doormat! Kick his ass you kickass heroine! You go girl!
This time? None of these sentences came across my mind, I am afraid
IT WAS THAT GOOD.
I was so into this! I could only think “WHAT WOULD I DO IN HER SHOES?”
So, they had 20 happy years together and One Mistake. Ok! A very big mistake.
Very long time Very long time Very long time…
The “very long time”and “miserable” got stuck on my head and weighed tons.
Forgive? Not forgive? They were soul bloody mates! We are not perfect, we all make mistakes. Right? I am trying to convince myself here. Hard.
We get POV’s from everyone.
You can’t imagine my reaction
when at 5%, totally engrossed in the heroine’s hate, I turned the page and found a new chapter with the homewrecker’s POV.
And as I started to read it I thought: WHAT THE HELL, MRS Moore?! NO, NO, NO!
Don’t you dare to make me like the homewrecker!
The half Star missing
I just need to add one more thing to my rumblings:
For those who already read the story it will make a lot of sense.
January 31, 2018
Jan 2017 rating and comments: 3.5 stars
I re-read this in the If I Break: Complete Series bundle. It really should be added to the series listing. It is the story of H's (Cal/Chris) jerk dad William and his mom Gwen and best friend Lisa. I upped my rating because of the context - talk about karmic retribution for all. For this one, context made all the difference. Upped 1.5 stars.
Feb 2016 rating and review: 2 stars
I re-read this in the If I Break: Complete Series bundle. It really should be added to the series listing. It is the story of H's (Cal/Chris) jerk dad William and his mom Gwen and best friend Lisa. I upped my rating because of the context - talk about karmic retribution for all. For this one, context made all the difference. Upped 1.5 stars.
Feb 2016 rating and review: 2 stars
December 26, 2017
I received an Arc for an honest option by the author.
There are spoilers here. Don't read if you haven't read the book already, it's something you have to read on your own to really grasp it. Trust me. I wish I could just give some generic review but I am going to be totally honest because writing a book is very hard work and I feel like it's something you put all of yourself into. Therefore, my review will reflect my honest opinion, out of respect for the author, and I'm so sorry, but if I don't add some spoilers I can't really review it properly.
3.5 stars and that's because I love this author's work in the series. If this was a stand alone it would be less, and that kills me to say, it really does. That's not due to the writing because there is so much talent, but It wasn't what I was expecting. There was not enough suffering on the parts of Will and Lisa. Not even close to enough. This story from the first book has had me in tears, throwing pillows, cheering...all over the place. I loved Gwen in the series, but in this book it's like we had to create something to bring her down a peg to soften the actions of Will. To encourage the idea of forgiveness. Will was a cheater, period. He did it more than once in this book, although it was on Gia the first time. The relationship with Gia was stagnant and they weren't physical. She rejected his proposal and they were growing distant. It wasn't going to work and they both knew it. It wasn't lust with Gwen and Will, it was love. For Gwen, they were soul mates. They should have waited though for Will to break it off with Gia. That part I will say I agree with. I hate Will, he had no excuse and he hurt the one person he was supposed to live for. I hate that I now have details of his and Lisa's sex scenes, and it was like 6 or 7 months of them screwing around. God I just hate her. She seduced him on purpose. She was worse than her mother, my God, and just dumping Willa?!?!?!? Why wasn't she killed off? Lol, that would have made 5 stars easily :) I was nervous when it got to like 94% and things were still all over the place. It was wrapped up in a few paragraphs in the epilogue. I wanted to see more of the groveling, honestly I was hoping she would rekindle her relationship with Zack. That would have been awesome. Anyway, Will is a cheating scumbag, Lisa, well, I can only hope she catches some mutated form of fatal crabs.
Lisa and Will were selfish and disgusting. Gwen, she gave everything she had to her family, loved with everything she was, her whole soul. Let's not forget what they did to Chris. I hate that Will gets everything he wants, Gwen and a child.
I love Portia's work and will read everything she writes in the future because she pulls these emotions out of the reader that make you want to jump in the book with the characters. (Sometimes to throat punch them).
Having said that, I don't know if we are supposed to feel forgiveness towards Will but his thoughts and actions only deepened my hate for him. I almost lose some respect for Gwen for staying, my God, what he did and with who! And in her home! I can't believe it! Who would stay with him? I just can't.... I don't think there was any way to write this that would have made Will look like less of an asshole and Lisa less of a home wrecking whore. But this was a complicated situation and the author gives us all the background so we know everything that went down. I think. It's okay if we still hate them. It's not to make you like what they did its to give us closure. Even though I wanted more in the end, I got the answers I wanted and I feel like I can move on from this now. I love that we get a snippet of what's going on with Chris and Lauren too. Honestly I've been waiting to know what happened for months lol!
Maybe we will get Aiden's story. I like him. Please Portia let this be the last we here of 'she who shall not be named' ;)
Okay, I feel like I've said it all, it's as honest as I can be as to how I liked the book. Portia Moore is an inspiring author and can't wait for more of her stories to get lost in.
There are spoilers here. Don't read if you haven't read the book already, it's something you have to read on your own to really grasp it. Trust me. I wish I could just give some generic review but I am going to be totally honest because writing a book is very hard work and I feel like it's something you put all of yourself into. Therefore, my review will reflect my honest opinion, out of respect for the author, and I'm so sorry, but if I don't add some spoilers I can't really review it properly.
3.5 stars and that's because I love this author's work in the series. If this was a stand alone it would be less, and that kills me to say, it really does. That's not due to the writing because there is so much talent, but It wasn't what I was expecting. There was not enough suffering on the parts of Will and Lisa. Not even close to enough. This story from the first book has had me in tears, throwing pillows, cheering...all over the place. I loved Gwen in the series, but in this book it's like we had to create something to bring her down a peg to soften the actions of Will. To encourage the idea of forgiveness. Will was a cheater, period. He did it more than once in this book, although it was on Gia the first time. The relationship with Gia was stagnant and they weren't physical. She rejected his proposal and they were growing distant. It wasn't going to work and they both knew it. It wasn't lust with Gwen and Will, it was love. For Gwen, they were soul mates. They should have waited though for Will to break it off with Gia. That part I will say I agree with. I hate Will, he had no excuse and he hurt the one person he was supposed to live for. I hate that I now have details of his and Lisa's sex scenes, and it was like 6 or 7 months of them screwing around. God I just hate her. She seduced him on purpose. She was worse than her mother, my God, and just dumping Willa?!?!?!? Why wasn't she killed off? Lol, that would have made 5 stars easily :) I was nervous when it got to like 94% and things were still all over the place. It was wrapped up in a few paragraphs in the epilogue. I wanted to see more of the groveling, honestly I was hoping she would rekindle her relationship with Zack. That would have been awesome. Anyway, Will is a cheating scumbag, Lisa, well, I can only hope she catches some mutated form of fatal crabs.
Lisa and Will were selfish and disgusting. Gwen, she gave everything she had to her family, loved with everything she was, her whole soul. Let's not forget what they did to Chris. I hate that Will gets everything he wants, Gwen and a child.
I love Portia's work and will read everything she writes in the future because she pulls these emotions out of the reader that make you want to jump in the book with the characters. (Sometimes to throat punch them).
Having said that, I don't know if we are supposed to feel forgiveness towards Will but his thoughts and actions only deepened my hate for him. I almost lose some respect for Gwen for staying, my God, what he did and with who! And in her home! I can't believe it! Who would stay with him? I just can't.... I don't think there was any way to write this that would have made Will look like less of an asshole and Lisa less of a home wrecking whore. But this was a complicated situation and the author gives us all the background so we know everything that went down. I think. It's okay if we still hate them. It's not to make you like what they did its to give us closure. Even though I wanted more in the end, I got the answers I wanted and I feel like I can move on from this now. I love that we get a snippet of what's going on with Chris and Lauren too. Honestly I've been waiting to know what happened for months lol!
Maybe we will get Aiden's story. I like him. Please Portia let this be the last we here of 'she who shall not be named' ;)
Okay, I feel like I've said it all, it's as honest as I can be as to how I liked the book. Portia Moore is an inspiring author and can't wait for more of her stories to get lost in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
no-way-jose
May 1, 2018Well, CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎊🎈🍾
This book deserves the award of worst plot ever.
A round of applause 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
This review and comments say it all
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This book deserves the award of worst plot ever.
A round of applause 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
This review and comments say it all
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 14, 2016
As much as these people pissed me off, I can't help but give this book 4 stars.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
November 25, 2020
I’m really torn over rating this. It had all my favorite tropes and, fuck, did I want to kill fictional characters left and right...but, I fear the H was irredeemable. He fucked over everybody, caused his son’s DID to manifest and he gets his HEA with the h, who is barren, and his OW’s lovechild. While everyone else falls apart because of him, he never fully apologizes or understands the ramifications of his actions. He spends an entire decade fucking up his son to hide his affair instead of being a man and a FATHER...and if you haven’t read the other series, you don’t even understand the devastation he caused. Right there I could never forgive him. Then he had the daughter move in before asking the h with whom he’s still estranged...he basically tells her I’m choosing the kid, I hope you can hang with us. He cares about nothing but himself. He’s a spoiled child. Even at 50.
I think this book spent too many pages telling me about both of his affairs without showing me his redemption. There is literally ONE convo between H/h about the affair and there is zero convo about the daughter. It’s fade to black, another paragraph and then The End :/
I feel let down by this author every time I read her books. She has fantastic cheaty and/or angsty plots but can execute zero of the denouement. I’m so angry at the end, not over what I read, but what I DIDN’T read.
I despise the fact the H had almost the identical beginnings with both h/OW. They fell for his voice and charm. Both fucking him behind someone else’s back that they respected/loved. They have nearly identical thoughts about him and the affair they’re in with the H. I also despise that the most graphic sex scenes are with the OW. They have 2 and the H/h have a fade to black scene.
The h thinks it’s universal payback that the H had an affair with the OW because she fucked him at 18 while he’s with her sister. Using Karma as an excuse for an excuse of a man almost enraged me. Give me a minute to center and clear my chakras ;)
I think the second affair he has while in a committed relationship shows he’s always been scum. The H cheated with the 17/18 year old h on his GF, her sister. What made the h think he wouldn’t do it again given the opportunity with another 17/18 year old...that’s not karma, that’s just a shit man.
Cuz he fucked the OW because she reminded him of the h when she was that age and he was having a midlife crisis and the OW gave him back his spark and that’s just wrong. I can’t forgive that. And, fuck, I can forgive a shit-ton of H/OW shenanigans.
I think this book spent too many pages telling me about both of his affairs without showing me his redemption. There is literally ONE convo between H/h about the affair and there is zero convo about the daughter. It’s fade to black, another paragraph and then The End :/
I feel let down by this author every time I read her books. She has fantastic cheaty and/or angsty plots but can execute zero of the denouement. I’m so angry at the end, not over what I read, but what I DIDN’T read.
I despise the fact the H had almost the identical beginnings with both h/OW. They fell for his voice and charm. Both fucking him behind someone else’s back that they respected/loved. They have nearly identical thoughts about him and the affair they’re in with the H. I also despise that the most graphic sex scenes are with the OW. They have 2 and the H/h have a fade to black scene.
The h thinks it’s universal payback that the H had an affair with the OW because she fucked him at 18 while he’s with her sister. Using Karma as an excuse for an excuse of a man almost enraged me. Give me a minute to center and clear my chakras ;)
I think the second affair he has while in a committed relationship shows he’s always been scum. The H cheated with the 17/18 year old h on his GF, her sister. What made the h think he wouldn’t do it again given the opportunity with another 17/18 year old...that’s not karma, that’s just a shit man.
Cuz he fucked the OW because she reminded him of the h when she was that age and he was having a midlife crisis and the OW gave him back his spark and that’s just wrong. I can’t forgive that. And, fuck, I can forgive a shit-ton of H/OW shenanigans.
December 11, 2015
What Happens After by Portia Moore
4 stars!!!
This will be a tough read for some and if you are not a fan of cheating then this is definitely not the book for you. However, for someone likes me that can read almost anything I dived in and was prepared for an angst fest.
The way that this story was delivered was not what I was expecting, from the synopsis I thought that we were going to be dealing with the fall out, however, the majority of this book is set in the past where we are treated to all the nasties in all their glory but also how Gwen and William met in the very beginning.
Some may say that this was karma but for me I truly believed that Gwen and William were soulmates. Sometimes you just know when you have met the love of your life and I truly believed in William and Gwen’s love in the very beginning. While how they met was not the best scenario and what they did I do not condone in any shape or form you cannot help when or who you fall in love with and with these two it was definitely mutual.
Gwen and William were so well suited, they complemented each other in every way and their relationship was perfect…maybe too perfect. Gwen had her insecurities but with the love that she and William shared they had moved past them and seemingly had the perfect little family. As their son had now moved away and had a family of his own it was now just William and Gwen, however William’s past was about to come and bite them on the bum. This is What Happens After…your indiscretions catch up with you…this is What Happens After…your world is completely destroyed…this is What Happens After.
I did have a few issues with this book, maybe this is just my personal preference but…I am all for forgiveness but for me, this all seemed a bit quick. I would have liked to have seen William have to fight a lot more, at the end of the day he got his cake and ate it all. I appreciate that it had happened way back in the past, but due to the parts of this story that we had in William’s point of view there were feelings involved and that did not sit well with me at all. I can understand the “mid-life crisis” that was alluded to but when it comes down to feelings and not just sex, it hurts…and William killed me in this book.
I loved William and Gwen together, I believed in them and I championed their relationship from the very beginning, so when he betrayed Gwen, I felt betrayed and having it spelled out in front of your eyes actually made me feel a bit sick. It is fine knowing that it happened but I would have preferred not to have been privy to the actual shenanigans. Some things are better left fade to black.
However, it is testament to Portia Moore’s writing that I did become so emotionally invested in this story. I went through a plethora of emotions and shed many tears and that is no mean feat. Yes, the majority of these tears were for Gwen in the shape of many guises but Portia Moore really brought these characters to life and you could not help but empathise.
I enjoyed this story and while I didn't agree with it, condone it or like the outcome of it, it played at my heart strings, tugged them and tugged them. Some say karma, but I say soul mates, but Gwen was strong and resilient and forgiving when she needed it most and at the end of the day for WHO needed it most. While a lot of people will have issues at the end of day I can see it happening and actually do know someone that has been through this exact same thing and their marriage is still going strong…it is life…it does happen.
www.theromancecover.com
4 stars!!!
“I don’t feel alive anymore. I’m dead.”
This will be a tough read for some and if you are not a fan of cheating then this is definitely not the book for you. However, for someone likes me that can read almost anything I dived in and was prepared for an angst fest.
“Animosity is a weapon, and it’s not used against the person you can’t forgive – it’s used against yourself.”
The way that this story was delivered was not what I was expecting, from the synopsis I thought that we were going to be dealing with the fall out, however, the majority of this book is set in the past where we are treated to all the nasties in all their glory but also how Gwen and William met in the very beginning.
Some may say that this was karma but for me I truly believed that Gwen and William were soulmates. Sometimes you just know when you have met the love of your life and I truly believed in William and Gwen’s love in the very beginning. While how they met was not the best scenario and what they did I do not condone in any shape or form you cannot help when or who you fall in love with and with these two it was definitely mutual.
Gwen and William were so well suited, they complemented each other in every way and their relationship was perfect…maybe too perfect. Gwen had her insecurities but with the love that she and William shared they had moved past them and seemingly had the perfect little family. As their son had now moved away and had a family of his own it was now just William and Gwen, however William’s past was about to come and bite them on the bum. This is What Happens After…your indiscretions catch up with you…this is What Happens After…your world is completely destroyed…this is What Happens After.
I did have a few issues with this book, maybe this is just my personal preference but…I am all for forgiveness but for me, this all seemed a bit quick. I would have liked to have seen William have to fight a lot more, at the end of the day he got his cake and ate it all. I appreciate that it had happened way back in the past, but due to the parts of this story that we had in William’s point of view there were feelings involved and that did not sit well with me at all. I can understand the “mid-life crisis” that was alluded to but when it comes down to feelings and not just sex, it hurts…and William killed me in this book.
“Last night I promised myself I’d stop loving him. Today I woke up and saw him and knew I’d lied. I’m tired of lying to myself.”
I loved William and Gwen together, I believed in them and I championed their relationship from the very beginning, so when he betrayed Gwen, I felt betrayed and having it spelled out in front of your eyes actually made me feel a bit sick. It is fine knowing that it happened but I would have preferred not to have been privy to the actual shenanigans. Some things are better left fade to black.
However, it is testament to Portia Moore’s writing that I did become so emotionally invested in this story. I went through a plethora of emotions and shed many tears and that is no mean feat. Yes, the majority of these tears were for Gwen in the shape of many guises but Portia Moore really brought these characters to life and you could not help but empathise.
“Because along with this hatred I have, as tangible as it is, I still feel love, and that hurts more than anything.”
I enjoyed this story and while I didn't agree with it, condone it or like the outcome of it, it played at my heart strings, tugged them and tugged them. Some say karma, but I say soul mates, but Gwen was strong and resilient and forgiving when she needed it most and at the end of the day for WHO needed it most. While a lot of people will have issues at the end of day I can see it happening and actually do know someone that has been through this exact same thing and their marriage is still going strong…it is life…it does happen.
“I forgive you.”
www.theromancecover.com
just-not-for-me-stay-away-hell-no
March 30, 2016self note: hell no! cheating, pregnancy(from ow),0w drama etc!!!
March 8, 2023
Full of betrayal and lies and cheating.
February 3, 2016
** THIS HAS SPOILERS !!!
After loving this series I couldn't wait to read the last book.. although I was disappointed but mostly because I don't agree with cheating and people having sex with people over half their age especially with those people are still in highschool ..
and Will not only does this once but twice ... Gwen was only 18 and so was Lisa when their relationships started .. I mean come one was a ass and not only for cheating but for wanting girls much younger than him .. I mean I could forgive the Gwen thing if he would have broken up with her sister before he cheated .. but The Lisa thing when she was 18 and he was in his 40s... just nasty!!
Lisa disgust me! I hate her character she is a selfish bitch who not only betrays her best friend by sleeping with his father but also messes with a married man that is happily married (just going through a midlife crisis if that's what you want to call it)
Gwen should have known better once a cheater always a cheater... He started their relationship wrong by cheating on his girlfriend with her sister Gwen.. so why not cheat on Gwen - He was supposedly in LOVE>.. with Gwens sister then cheats on her then cheats on Gwen after they are married.. surprise, surprise.. If I was Gwen I wouldn't have taken in back in fact I would have said FUCK YOU!
On a happy note I was glad to read that Lauren and Chris are happy together but that's about all I can report of happiness in this book.
After loving this series I couldn't wait to read the last book.. although I was disappointed but mostly because I don't agree with cheating and people having sex with people over half their age especially with those people are still in highschool ..
and Will not only does this once but twice ... Gwen was only 18 and so was Lisa when their relationships started .. I mean come one was a ass and not only for cheating but for wanting girls much younger than him .. I mean I could forgive the Gwen thing if he would have broken up with her sister before he cheated .. but The Lisa thing when she was 18 and he was in his 40s... just nasty!!
Lisa disgust me! I hate her character she is a selfish bitch who not only betrays her best friend by sleeping with his father but also messes with a married man that is happily married (just going through a midlife crisis if that's what you want to call it)
Gwen should have known better once a cheater always a cheater... He started their relationship wrong by cheating on his girlfriend with her sister Gwen.. so why not cheat on Gwen - He was supposedly in LOVE>.. with Gwens sister then cheats on her then cheats on Gwen after they are married.. surprise, surprise.. If I was Gwen I wouldn't have taken in back in fact I would have said FUCK YOU!
On a happy note I was glad to read that Lauren and Chris are happy together but that's about all I can report of happiness in this book.
January 1, 2018
I like angsty, cheating hero books if an author gets it right. They can show the worst, and more importantly, the best that a person can be. The worst is obvious, the best is much more subtle. We see the transformation of the H that starts to put the h first, we see his anger at himself. We see his confusion about why he cheated, his remorse. Finally we see how he plans to change himself and then we see the change, we see how that change then allows the heroine to forgive if not forget. How it allows her to decide if she is willing to try again with this man. It allows the h to see if maybe she contributed to the breakdown of their relationship, and if so, how she can then change. If there is a child involved we see how he tries to let the heroine know that while a child is totally innocent, he's not and he will always consider her feelings equally in this scenario. If the author gets it right, we can both hate and love (if not love, at least forgive) the H. But those are some really BIG ifs. This author did not get those ifs right.
January 3, 2016
Advance Readers Copy (ARC) provided for my blog for an honest review from the wonderful and lovely author Portia Moore
Loved it. It took me forever to get to it but over all Portia Moore knows how to write
Loved it. It took me forever to get to it but over all Portia Moore knows how to write
do-not-read
November 30, 2015H cheated on h with his son's barely-legal teenaged best friend (and then caused his kid psychological trauma after he caught them together). (And it should be noted that not only do they have unprotected sex, but also do so in the H and h's house.)
August 28, 2016
Betrayal, lying cheating... big no's for some, but for me it's an ADDICTION!!
This was my first Portia Moore book and it was great! The plot, the characters, just WOW! So much was unexpected.
What a ride! I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!
This was my first Portia Moore book and it was great! The plot, the characters, just WOW! So much was unexpected.
What a ride! I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!
April 25, 2017
I actually knew about the cheating considering i read the series of the H's son and loved it completely. I wanted to see how this would turn out. Honestly, read the other one star reviews. I knew this would end with their HEA, but what I didn't expect is how easily the author would pave the road to the H's HEA. I guess in essence, the author did not convince me of his remorse.
It made him feel alive, but in his POV it seemed like he had feelings. Then, she forgives toooooo easily and I HATED IT! the cheater got EVERYTHING he wanted and only stopped when his son caught them. So i ask, would he have stopped otherwise?
It maddens me that I feel like this author chose a cliche happily ever after, all flowers and sunshine ending. This is a touchy subject and should be dealt with in a realistic raw matter. Instead, I ended up thinking he would cheat again, that this isn't an incredible love story but a real depiction of sad marriages where woman stay with their cheating husbands (and I've read stories with cheating and have forgiven before, unfortunately this author chose to shove the idea of forgiveness on us).
He should have paid his riddance. For 7 months he cheated and had his sons best friend and wife in bed without condoms and he's forgiven so quickly it's crazy to me.
I'm not saying it's so bad it's unforgiveable, but be realistic! For her to be so happy and okay with the OW and for them to be so happy in the end ...
I expected the happiness but couldn't she have made him work for it? Cause he literally got every single thing he wanted.
Unfortunately the way the route the author took for their HEA ... I didn't respect it as a reader cause I ended up not respecting any of the characters at all.
She did nothing to redeem him. Nothing.
It made him feel alive, but in his POV it seemed like he had feelings. Then, she forgives toooooo easily and I HATED IT! the cheater got EVERYTHING he wanted and only stopped when his son caught them. So i ask, would he have stopped otherwise?
It maddens me that I feel like this author chose a cliche happily ever after, all flowers and sunshine ending. This is a touchy subject and should be dealt with in a realistic raw matter. Instead, I ended up thinking he would cheat again, that this isn't an incredible love story but a real depiction of sad marriages where woman stay with their cheating husbands (and I've read stories with cheating and have forgiven before, unfortunately this author chose to shove the idea of forgiveness on us).
He should have paid his riddance. For 7 months he cheated and had his sons best friend and wife in bed without condoms and he's forgiven so quickly it's crazy to me.
I'm not saying it's so bad it's unforgiveable, but be realistic! For her to be so happy and okay with the OW and for them to be so happy in the end ...
I expected the happiness but couldn't she have made him work for it? Cause he literally got every single thing he wanted.
Unfortunately the way the route the author took for their HEA ... I didn't respect it as a reader cause I ended up not respecting any of the characters at all.
She did nothing to redeem him. Nothing.
June 24, 2023
Will doesn’t deserved any happiness 🖕
December 13, 2015
Note: An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest book review.
A moment of silence for all my scattered feelings.
*silence*
...
F E E L I N G S. All these feelings .
I swear, What Happens After... was heartbreak and soul-feeder rolled into one. To get a better understanding of this book, then I recommend you read the If I Break series before this one. Also, if you want to read the If I Break series, then you better not read this first because MAJOR SPOILERS!
Anyway, can I just point out the fact that this book took me to an emotional toll, especially the moments when . I swear, my tears won't stop falling.
Hand on heart, I. lost. my. shit. during those parts.
I tried so hard to read through it, but I really couldn't. It was somehow too much for me to bear. It was like Gwen's pain felt parallel to what I was feeling when I was reading those parts.
I guess the one thing I appreciate about this book is that the readers get a better understanding on the sides of Gwen, Lisa, and William. As much as it hurts to read some parts, it helped me get a glimpse on what was going through their minds and eventually on the underlying reasons behind their actions. It was also nice that the story was also told back in forth between the past and present. This certainly made me have a good grip on the story as a whole.
Kudos to Portia Moore for the clever treatment!
Simply put, I love how this book enlightened me on how differently people deal with the people who have caused them great pain. Some choose to close out those people from their life, while others choose to side with forgiveness. Either way, what's important in the end is peace of mind.
5 stars for this book!
"There should be a defense mechanism embedded deep within you to stop your soul from allowing you to give your heart to someone who doesn’t deserve it, who doesn’t even want it, someone who couldn’t have it even if they did want it.
Unfortunately, there’s no fail-safe for love, no brake to stop you from throwing your life―and the lives of those around you―completely out of balance. There are no warning lights or flashing danger signs. There’s nothing to stop the planted seeds from growing and taking root. And once they grow, there’s nothing you can do about it. Your desire to water those wretched seeds only increases. Once you realize those seeds weren’t supposed to grow, it’s already too late."
A moment of silence for all my scattered feelings.
*silence*
...
F E E L I N G S. All these feelings .
I swear, What Happens After... was heartbreak and soul-feeder rolled into one. To get a better understanding of this book, then I recommend you read the If I Break series before this one. Also, if you want to read the If I Break series, then you better not read this first because MAJOR SPOILERS!
Anyway, can I just point out the fact that this book took me to an emotional toll, especially the moments when . I swear, my tears won't stop falling.
Hand on heart, I. lost. my. shit. during those parts.
I tried so hard to read through it, but I really couldn't. It was somehow too much for me to bear. It was like Gwen's pain felt parallel to what I was feeling when I was reading those parts.
"Animosity is a weapon, and it’s not used against the person you can’t forgive—it’s used against yourself. Your bitterness doesn’t hurt them. If they love you, it will hurt them for a while, but it doesn’t stop them from living their life. Your anger doesn’t make them carry their pain or their hurt any longer."
I guess the one thing I appreciate about this book is that the readers get a better understanding on the sides of Gwen, Lisa, and William. As much as it hurts to read some parts, it helped me get a glimpse on what was going through their minds and eventually on the underlying reasons behind their actions. It was also nice that the story was also told back in forth between the past and present. This certainly made me have a good grip on the story as a whole.
Kudos to Portia Moore for the clever treatment!
"Love is like a parasite rooting within you. It affects every part of you that matters, tainting it. A virus that spreads so quickly, by the time you realize you’ve caught it, there’s no stopping it from gaining ground. It’s a drug that changes how you feel, how much you eat, what you hear, and the decisions you make. A good day on love is better than any high imaginable; a bad day on love immobilizes you. Love unrequited is even worse than love unspoken. Love, something that you’ve tried to forget about, a door that had been shut, though not locked."
Simply put, I love how this book enlightened me on how differently people deal with the people who have caused them great pain. Some choose to close out those people from their life, while others choose to side with forgiveness. Either way, what's important in the end is peace of mind.
5 stars for this book!
"I don’t know what could have happened if I chose differently, but I realized you don’t get to choose what happens to you. You do get to choose what happens after though, and the best thing to choose is whatever makes you happy, and I never thought in my wildest dreams happiness would be this way, but life has a way of surprising us all."
November 23, 2015
4.5 Forbidden-Fruits-Stars!!
This book picks up where What Happens After... the horrible truth was revealed in the book 3 of If I Break series. I could high-five myself for saying YES when the author offered me the ARC. Because remembering how I felt toward Mr. Scott and Lisa did on Beautifully Broken I didn't think I could stomach to read their story.
Mr. Scott, forty-something hot male
Although, the title is What Happen After, what we get here is mostly flashback of young Gwen-Will story and seventeen-years-old Lisa. Which were interesting. We get to see how their feelings grow and how they loathe themselves for wanting what they don't supposed to want. And while I started this book with my feelings mostly on Gwen's side. I can't tell the same way after reading this story and knowing the horrible thing Gwen did on her youth life.
The story of Lisa and Mr. Scottkind of reflection of Gwen did. I'm not saying that what Lisa did is acceptable. However, what Gwen did on her youth was kind of forbidden too, IMHO. What was the saying? Life has a cruel sense of joke? Whatever. Anyway, I really enjoyed young Gwen-Will story. I feel sorry for Gia though. That was not fair for her. And I think I'm fond of the manwhore Zach!! LOL I honestly wish Gwen was with him. I loved their banter! And they are cute together!!
=========~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyway, I'm glad that I'm liking this book more than I thought. What a fucked up relationship. Yeah. I remember how bad I wanted to strangle Mr. Scott and Lisa bare-handed. Now after reading this I want to slap myself for thinking it kind of make sense that it happened that way. Ugghhh I can't believe I also fall for Will'sMr.Scott charm!
I can't believe that I love how this book ends.so many I-cant-believe . Please bear me :D This book has so many beautiful words. Here's one of my favorites:
*An ARC provided by the Author in exchange for honest review*
"She's just a girl, maybe not eighteen, nineteen, or twenty they think. She sits there, no longer a girl but a woman, the only woman notice in the room.
Still the girl with a past. Who is she, they wonder, what has she done, how many hearts has she broken?
..."
This book picks up where What Happens After... the horrible truth was revealed in the book 3 of If I Break series. I could high-five myself for saying YES when the author offered me the ARC. Because remembering how I felt toward Mr. Scott and Lisa did on Beautifully Broken I didn't think I could stomach to read their story.
Mr. Scott, forty-something hot male
Although, the title is What Happen After, what we get here is mostly flashback of young Gwen-Will story and seventeen-years-old Lisa. Which were interesting. We get to see how their feelings grow and how they loathe themselves for wanting what they don't supposed to want. And while I started this book with my feelings mostly on Gwen's side. I can't tell the same way after reading this story and knowing the horrible thing Gwen did on her youth life.
The story of Lisa and Mr. Scott
"I'm going to miss you, brat," he says as we lay on the empty football field.
"I'm going to miss you too." I lay my head on his chest as I look at the stars.
"You should come with," I say for the fifth time since I told him I got the okay to move to Chicago.
"And do what? Panhandle on the streets, live out of my van?" He laughs.
"I could always sneak you in the house when Gia's at work," I say semi-seriously as he rubs my back.
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Anyway, I'm glad that I'm liking this book more than I thought. What a fucked up relationship. Yeah. I remember how bad I wanted to strangle Mr. Scott and Lisa bare-handed. Now after reading this I want to slap myself for thinking it kind of make sense that it happened that way. Ugghhh I can't believe I also fall for Will's
I can't believe that I love how this book ends.
Animosity is a weapon, and it's not used against the person you can't forgive--it's used against yourself.
*An ARC provided by the Author in exchange for honest review*
September 25, 2016
1 estrella o 2 estrellas, tal vez 3 . Estoy indecisa
No tengo idea de que pensar sobre este libro. Me dejó con muchísimos sentimientos y ninguno de ellos es muy positivo que digamos.
Lo odio.
Odio la historia, odio a los personajes y odio ese estúpido final feliz. Ninguno de ellos merecía un final feliz. O si lo merecían, todo el mundo (menos Chávez, el merece estar quemándose en el infierno) merece un final feliz. Pero por separado, no juntos y viviendo la vida happy o la otra siendo egoísta y una total perra en la otra punta del país.
Pero lo que más odio es que se me hace imposible negar que es una buena historia.
Lo que si amé y solo por eso voy a regalarle una estrella más es la aparición de mi amado Cal. Amo a ese hombre!
Quizás sean 4 estrellas si contamos la extra.
No tengo idea de que pensar sobre este libro. Me dejó con muchísimos sentimientos y ninguno de ellos es muy positivo que digamos.
Lo odio.
Odio la historia, odio a los personajes y odio ese estúpido final feliz. Ninguno de ellos merecía un final feliz. O si lo merecían, todo el mundo (menos Chávez, el merece estar quemándose en el infierno) merece un final feliz. Pero por separado, no juntos y viviendo la vida happy o la otra siendo egoísta y una total perra en la otra punta del país.
Pero lo que más odio es que se me hace imposible negar que es una buena historia.
Lo que si amé y solo por eso voy a regalarle una estrella más es la aparición de mi amado Cal. Amo a ese hombre!
Quizás sean 4 estrellas si contamos la extra.
November 30, 2015
When reading this book you would need to suspend all moral outrage as the prevalent theme is of an older man going through a midlife crisis and having an affair with a teenage girl.
The entire story is mostly told in flashbacks which somehow manages to dull the impact of the betrayal itself.It lost a star for me as I felt Will the husband did not atone enough for the betrayal of his wife or that maybe the writer as brilliantly as she has written the book put a lot more emphasis on the past to explain Cal/Chris a character from her previous trilogy's dual personality rather than expanding on the present crisis.
The entire story is mostly told in flashbacks which somehow manages to dull the impact of the betrayal itself.It lost a star for me as I felt Will the husband did not atone enough for the betrayal of his wife or that maybe the writer as brilliantly as she has written the book put a lot more emphasis on the past to explain Cal/Chris a character from her previous trilogy's dual personality rather than expanding on the present crisis.
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