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Life After Juliet
Becca Hanson was never able to make sense of the real world. When her best friend Charlotte died, she gave up on it altogether. Fortunately, Becca can count on her books to escape—to other times, other places, other people…
Until she meets Max Herrera. He’s experienced loss, too, and his gorgeous, dark eyes see Becca the way no one else in school can.
As it turns out, kissing is a lot better in real life than on a page. But love and life are a lot more complicated in the real world…and happy endings aren’t always guaranteed.
Until she meets Max Herrera. He’s experienced loss, too, and his gorgeous, dark eyes see Becca the way no one else in school can.
As it turns out, kissing is a lot better in real life than on a page. But love and life are a lot more complicated in the real world…and happy endings aren’t always guaranteed.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2016
22 people are currently reading
1414 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Lee Alexander
2 books221 followersShannon Lee Alexander is a wife and mother (of two kids and one yellow terrier named Harriet Potter). She is passionate about coffee, books, and cancer research. Math makes her break out in a sweat. She is the author of Love and Other Unknown Variables and Life after Juliet. She currently lives in Indianapolis with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 4, 2016
First I have to tell you all that this is a companion book! The first book Love & Other Unknown Variables should be read before you pick this one up! Spoiler on my thoughts for that one – it was amazing and you should definitely have already read it!
So that disclaimer out of the way, you’ve been warned!
Life After Juliet is Becca’s story… if you read L&OUV then you know Becca is Charlie’s sister. When I finished that book, I couldn’t help wondering what the future held for her, so I was incredibly excited to learn Alexander was writing this book. Becca was/is my favorite! She uses her books to escape to worlds that aren’t her own so she doesn't have to deal with the things going on. Her brother Charlie has always known where he belonged and what his life and future hold for him, but Becca has never really fit in anywhere and so her books allow her to forget about that for a bit.
The bond that formed between her and Charlotte in L&OUV was lovely, but when Charlotte is no longer here, Becca isn’t sure how to cope and she certainly doesn’t want to deal with the pain of losing someone again, so she chooses not to put herself out there. Then Max Herrera appears in her life and it turns out they have something in common… grief, and he can understand her pain and sadness.
We sort of already know Becca a bit when diving into this story so that was nice to have some of her backstory ahead of time. It was such fun getting to know her more though. Her insecurities were completely relatable and I actually really enjoyed watching her come into her own in this story… and not just because of some boy! It was really great to see her figure out what she wanted to do and just go for it!
Once again, Alexander writes spectacular characters and stories that go with them. I think my favorite part was the bond that you recognize between Charlie and Becca and the best parts were her calling him to get advice on anything and everything. I love that he was so kind and wonderful to her even though he’s away at college he made time for her and was still a big part of her life.
Max Herrera will definitely make it to your new book boyfriend list. I promise. I mentioned above that he has had to deal with loss in his life, and I loved how Alexander weaved his story into Becca’s, how they were able to bond over this shared grief, but also how Max was still trying to get past it and not let it halt his life. He’s sweet, kind, encouraging and just a wonderful boy and one I totally have a crush on!
Ultimately this book looks a lot of different things, but it really explores how we deal with grief and loss and how that affects our lives. But there are other elements to this story that will have you laughing and smiling and realizing that while we all handle that grief in different ways, we learn to push through and enjoy the lives we have ahead of us.
Plus there’s kissing!
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
So that disclaimer out of the way, you’ve been warned!
Life After Juliet is Becca’s story… if you read L&OUV then you know Becca is Charlie’s sister. When I finished that book, I couldn’t help wondering what the future held for her, so I was incredibly excited to learn Alexander was writing this book. Becca was/is my favorite! She uses her books to escape to worlds that aren’t her own so she doesn't have to deal with the things going on. Her brother Charlie has always known where he belonged and what his life and future hold for him, but Becca has never really fit in anywhere and so her books allow her to forget about that for a bit.
The bond that formed between her and Charlotte in L&OUV was lovely, but when Charlotte is no longer here, Becca isn’t sure how to cope and she certainly doesn’t want to deal with the pain of losing someone again, so she chooses not to put herself out there. Then Max Herrera appears in her life and it turns out they have something in common… grief, and he can understand her pain and sadness.
We sort of already know Becca a bit when diving into this story so that was nice to have some of her backstory ahead of time. It was such fun getting to know her more though. Her insecurities were completely relatable and I actually really enjoyed watching her come into her own in this story… and not just because of some boy! It was really great to see her figure out what she wanted to do and just go for it!
Once again, Alexander writes spectacular characters and stories that go with them. I think my favorite part was the bond that you recognize between Charlie and Becca and the best parts were her calling him to get advice on anything and everything. I love that he was so kind and wonderful to her even though he’s away at college he made time for her and was still a big part of her life.
Max Herrera will definitely make it to your new book boyfriend list. I promise. I mentioned above that he has had to deal with loss in his life, and I loved how Alexander weaved his story into Becca’s, how they were able to bond over this shared grief, but also how Max was still trying to get past it and not let it halt his life. He’s sweet, kind, encouraging and just a wonderful boy and one I totally have a crush on!
Ultimately this book looks a lot of different things, but it really explores how we deal with grief and loss and how that affects our lives. But there are other elements to this story that will have you laughing and smiling and realizing that while we all handle that grief in different ways, we learn to push through and enjoy the lives we have ahead of us.
Plus there’s kissing!
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
June 26, 2016
Becca Hanson was always pretty much a loner burying herself in her books and living through what she read. That is until she became best friends with her one and only real life friend Charlotte. But now Becca finds herself broken after her only friend has passed away. She's back to burying herself in her books to escape her heartache and loneliness.
As Becca's junior year at Sandstone High begins she finds herself with a class project that ends up with her in drama club. Becca begins to make new friends as she finds herself unexpectedly cast as Juliet in the school play. She also finds that she has a lot in common with Max who works behind the scenes in the play.
Life After Juliet is a companion book to Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander. The first book was told from Becca's brother's POV and this one now tells Becca's story after the end of the first book. I haven't read Love and Other Unknown Variables myself but I do believe this one worked fine as a standalone novel and reading the first wasn't needed to truly understand this one.
This book starts off with a rather somber beginning with Becca dealing with the loss of her best friend. It's highly emotional all the way through as she learns how to deal with her heartache and learn to make new friends and go on with life without Charlotte.
The book is set around Becca becoming involved in the play and as a little bit of a twist in the style the author has separated the chapters with different Acts and Scenes as if the whole story is a play. The characters in here were all enjoyable with their personalities feeling real with each being so different but coming together in this book.
Overall, a YA contemporary romance that will tug at your heart strings as the main character tries to find herself after a huge loss in her life.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
As Becca's junior year at Sandstone High begins she finds herself with a class project that ends up with her in drama club. Becca begins to make new friends as she finds herself unexpectedly cast as Juliet in the school play. She also finds that she has a lot in common with Max who works behind the scenes in the play.
Life After Juliet is a companion book to Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander. The first book was told from Becca's brother's POV and this one now tells Becca's story after the end of the first book. I haven't read Love and Other Unknown Variables myself but I do believe this one worked fine as a standalone novel and reading the first wasn't needed to truly understand this one.
This book starts off with a rather somber beginning with Becca dealing with the loss of her best friend. It's highly emotional all the way through as she learns how to deal with her heartache and learn to make new friends and go on with life without Charlotte.
The book is set around Becca becoming involved in the play and as a little bit of a twist in the style the author has separated the chapters with different Acts and Scenes as if the whole story is a play. The characters in here were all enjoyable with their personalities feeling real with each being so different but coming together in this book.
Overall, a YA contemporary romance that will tug at your heart strings as the main character tries to find herself after a huge loss in her life.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 5, 2016
I cried a lot. When I say a lot, I mean a lot for me. I don't cry much while reading but wow. I cried a ton while reading this because it felt like I was the main character. I related to this book way too much.
July 12, 2016
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I interview Shannon Lee Alexander about LIFE AFTER JULIET on Books Are My Fandom! Read what she had to say here!
This was so good. I haven't read LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES but now I want to. I loved seeing Becca grieve and watching as she became more than just her grief. And her relationship with Max was pretty awesome too.
I liked that there were strong illusions to Shakespeare and to the Romeo and Juliet play. I liked seeing how the high school students interacted, especially the Techies and the Drammies. I thought their relationship and how they came together was super interesting and I really enjoyed reading about it. I also liked how our two Juliets came to be friends.
All the characters were wonderfully written. I loved being in Becca's mind and seeing how she counted time with page numbers (me too haha) and that she lost herself so much in books. It was great to see how she was trying to deal with her grief and (sometimes) drowning in it. I also liked seeing how it would paralyze her when she realized she was okay without Charlotte and moving on because she felt guilty. It was a really moving book.
This one has some moments that will make you laugh and cry. It looks at how we all deal with grief and what it means to keep someone in your heart but still move forward. I really enjoyed this and will be picking up anything else Shannon Lee Alexander writes.
Books and Ladders | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I interview Shannon Lee Alexander about LIFE AFTER JULIET on Books Are My Fandom! Read what she had to say here!
This was so good. I haven't read LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES but now I want to. I loved seeing Becca grieve and watching as she became more than just her grief. And her relationship with Max was pretty awesome too.
I liked that there were strong illusions to Shakespeare and to the Romeo and Juliet play. I liked seeing how the high school students interacted, especially the Techies and the Drammies. I thought their relationship and how they came together was super interesting and I really enjoyed reading about it. I also liked how our two Juliets came to be friends.
All the characters were wonderfully written. I loved being in Becca's mind and seeing how she counted time with page numbers (me too haha) and that she lost herself so much in books. It was great to see how she was trying to deal with her grief and (sometimes) drowning in it. I also liked seeing how it would paralyze her when she realized she was okay without Charlotte and moving on because she felt guilty. It was a really moving book.
This one has some moments that will make you laugh and cry. It looks at how we all deal with grief and what it means to keep someone in your heart but still move forward. I really enjoyed this and will be picking up anything else Shannon Lee Alexander writes.
Books and Ladders | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
July 22, 2016
Giveaway! Check out the Necklace and swag giveaway and interview with the author on my blog: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/20...
*I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was so good! In Love and Other Unknown Variables Charlie was easy to relate to because he's a mathematician and so am I. Here, his little sister Becca is equally easy to relate to because she's a reader and at times reading is the only thing that dulls her pain. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this, after having enjoyed Charlie's story so much, but this one was equally as touching and important.
Full review can be found on my blog: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/20...
*I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was so good! In Love and Other Unknown Variables Charlie was easy to relate to because he's a mathematician and so am I. Here, his little sister Becca is equally easy to relate to because she's a reader and at times reading is the only thing that dulls her pain. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this, after having enjoyed Charlie's story so much, but this one was equally as touching and important.
Full review can be found on my blog: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/20...
June 7, 2016
*I received a free copy of this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
There are just some books that are in a class of their own. I've been trying to work out what makes them different. Its not necessarily the story, the plot or the characters.. because there are many great stories with great characters and plot twists that leave you pondering after the book is long closed. It's not necessarily the writing, though the author having a way with words surely leaves a good impression. No i didnt realise what made this a great read until I read at the end "thank you, Em".
Every word meant something. Every tear they cried was real. Every action, every thought. This book didn't feel like it was just written for the sake of it, it felt like it was written because the author had to write it. She had to get it out, her words had to be heard.
I greedily soaked up every page. I hung on every word and i'll think about it for a long time to come. Becca was brilliant, and I get her. Darcy, she was special, Victor was a great crazy friend. Of course Max, there just couldn't be anyone better suited for her than Max. Listen to me... Im talkong as if they are real! Now that's the sign of a great book.
There are just some books that are in a class of their own. I've been trying to work out what makes them different. Its not necessarily the story, the plot or the characters.. because there are many great stories with great characters and plot twists that leave you pondering after the book is long closed. It's not necessarily the writing, though the author having a way with words surely leaves a good impression. No i didnt realise what made this a great read until I read at the end "thank you, Em".
Every word meant something. Every tear they cried was real. Every action, every thought. This book didn't feel like it was just written for the sake of it, it felt like it was written because the author had to write it. She had to get it out, her words had to be heard.
I greedily soaked up every page. I hung on every word and i'll think about it for a long time to come. Becca was brilliant, and I get her. Darcy, she was special, Victor was a great crazy friend. Of course Max, there just couldn't be anyone better suited for her than Max. Listen to me... Im talkong as if they are real! Now that's the sign of a great book.
August 29, 2016
Careful for spoilers if you didn't read
Love and Other Unknown Variables
. You can read this one on its own (but I highly highly recommend LaOUV), but you will find out the outcome of that book if you read this one first. I guess that's already a spoiler right there, huh?
When I found out that Shannon Lee Alexander was writing this book, I was torn. Torn because I loved the first book and didn't think she could possibly come close to the depth of emotion of that book. And because I was worried that she was revisiting a story that should be left alone. Not because I didn't want more. I did, always. But because I was scared she'd screw it up. I know, I'm crazy. I'm happy to report that Alexander not only didn't mess up the characters I've come to love (and want to protect), but she made me love them even more.
Six months after losing her BFF, Becca is not sure where she fits in. She fills her days in the pages of books, where it's safe. In an unexpected twist, Becca finds herself cast as Juliet in the school play. She meets and falls for Max, who has more in common with her than she ever would have dreamed.
Just like with Alexander's first book, I loved everything about this, too. The Harry Potter references, the way the story is told, the pacing, the angst over a first kiss, the dedication, the end. Just all of it.
Becca was relatable and realistic in a way that I find truly refreshing. Her insecurities and ways of dealing with grief are so spot on. The walls she puts up totally make sense, and I'm so proud of her for the progress and growth she made, standing up when she really didn't know if she wanted to.
Now onto Max. How do I even begin to explain how much I loved this boy? He was swoony and sweet and just delightful.
"That wasn't a first kiss," he says, "and I can prove it to you."
My fingers, even the numb one, are suddenly electric. "How?"
"When you kissed him, did your heart race?"
"It was racing before I kissed him, but mostly because Darby was looking kind of pissed and there were twenty sets of eyes watching me humiliate myself."
Max nods. "Okay, but when you kissed him, did your stomach feel swoopy? Were you consumed by it, by the kiss?"
I shake my head. I didn't do any of that. I thought of Max.
"Then that wasn't a real first kiss."
*sigh* He is so swoony. He uses words like swoopy and wears Fahrenheit 451 shirts and uses HP references. I ♥ him. I also want to point out that I love how involved the parents are. They don't just leave their kids to deal with their grief on their own. Kudos to Alexander for that!
Life After Juliet will tug at your heartstrings for sure, but it will also remind you what it's like to fall in love and will redeem your faith in girlpower and redemption.
--
When I found out that Shannon Lee Alexander was writing this book, I was torn. Torn because I loved the first book and didn't think she could possibly come close to the depth of emotion of that book. And because I was worried that she was revisiting a story that should be left alone. Not because I didn't want more. I did, always. But because I was scared she'd screw it up. I know, I'm crazy. I'm happy to report that Alexander not only didn't mess up the characters I've come to love (and want to protect), but she made me love them even more.
Six months after losing her BFF, Becca is not sure where she fits in. She fills her days in the pages of books, where it's safe. In an unexpected twist, Becca finds herself cast as Juliet in the school play. She meets and falls for Max, who has more in common with her than she ever would have dreamed.
Just like with Alexander's first book, I loved everything about this, too. The Harry Potter references, the way the story is told, the pacing, the angst over a first kiss, the dedication, the end. Just all of it.
Becca was relatable and realistic in a way that I find truly refreshing. Her insecurities and ways of dealing with grief are so spot on. The walls she puts up totally make sense, and I'm so proud of her for the progress and growth she made, standing up when she really didn't know if she wanted to.
Now onto Max. How do I even begin to explain how much I loved this boy? He was swoony and sweet and just delightful.
"That wasn't a first kiss," he says, "and I can prove it to you."
My fingers, even the numb one, are suddenly electric. "How?"
"When you kissed him, did your heart race?"
"It was racing before I kissed him, but mostly because Darby was looking kind of pissed and there were twenty sets of eyes watching me humiliate myself."
Max nods. "Okay, but when you kissed him, did your stomach feel swoopy? Were you consumed by it, by the kiss?"
I shake my head. I didn't do any of that. I thought of Max.
"Then that wasn't a real first kiss."
*sigh* He is so swoony. He uses words like swoopy and wears Fahrenheit 451 shirts and uses HP references. I ♥ him. I also want to point out that I love how involved the parents are. They don't just leave their kids to deal with their grief on their own. Kudos to Alexander for that!
Life After Juliet will tug at your heartstrings for sure, but it will also remind you what it's like to fall in love and will redeem your faith in girlpower and redemption.
--
July 11, 2016
Read full review HERE
We only realized that this book is a companion novel after we were approved for it, but even though we now both want to read Love and Other Unknown Variables, I didn’t feel like it was necessary to read that book in order to understand everything in this one.
The writing of this book was brilliant! Honestly, I’m in love with this book. Totally and completely in love with it. Shannon Lee Alexander wrote this in a way that Becca’s pain is real, her fears and insecurities are real. She’s also funny and sarcastic and shy. Have I said how in love with this book I am?
I love Becca. Becca is me, I am Becca, minus the dead best friend and depression thing going on there. Becca doesn’t count the time… she counts the pages she has read. She doesn’t pay attention to anyone or anything, she’s afraid to let people in, because she’s still grieving so much about the one time she did let someone in. Max was a breath of fresh air when it comes to love interests, he was so cool and fun and shy and nice. And these two together: ADORBS!!!
But what made this book and this overall story more than amazing, it was that it wasn’t the romance that “changed” Becca’s life. She started to look at life differently become she made friends, she realized that not letting people in was the same thing as giving up living, she had great support from her family and teachers. She tried new things. She GREW! Meeting Max encouraged her to broaden her horizons, but it was a combination of a lot of amazing things that made this book beyond amazing.
Needless to say that I really liked the plot. I loved the incorporation of the school theatre and the production of Romeo and Juliet into this story, and the parallelisms taken from it. All the cast of characters was diverse and multidimensional, and I really really loved that Becca had a different and unique relationship with each one of those characters. I loved Charlie, Becca’s brother, and although I need to read the first book, I’m also scared to see him hurting.
This was definitly one of the best YA contemporary romances I read, and it was cute and sad and I cried a lot (and let me tell you, crying while having lunch is not very practical). It was beyond amazing, so READ IT!!!
We only realized that this book is a companion novel after we were approved for it, but even though we now both want to read Love and Other Unknown Variables, I didn’t feel like it was necessary to read that book in order to understand everything in this one.
The writing of this book was brilliant! Honestly, I’m in love with this book. Totally and completely in love with it. Shannon Lee Alexander wrote this in a way that Becca’s pain is real, her fears and insecurities are real. She’s also funny and sarcastic and shy. Have I said how in love with this book I am?
I love Becca. Becca is me, I am Becca, minus the dead best friend and depression thing going on there. Becca doesn’t count the time… she counts the pages she has read. She doesn’t pay attention to anyone or anything, she’s afraid to let people in, because she’s still grieving so much about the one time she did let someone in. Max was a breath of fresh air when it comes to love interests, he was so cool and fun and shy and nice. And these two together: ADORBS!!!
But what made this book and this overall story more than amazing, it was that it wasn’t the romance that “changed” Becca’s life. She started to look at life differently become she made friends, she realized that not letting people in was the same thing as giving up living, she had great support from her family and teachers. She tried new things. She GREW! Meeting Max encouraged her to broaden her horizons, but it was a combination of a lot of amazing things that made this book beyond amazing.
Needless to say that I really liked the plot. I loved the incorporation of the school theatre and the production of Romeo and Juliet into this story, and the parallelisms taken from it. All the cast of characters was diverse and multidimensional, and I really really loved that Becca had a different and unique relationship with each one of those characters. I loved Charlie, Becca’s brother, and although I need to read the first book, I’m also scared to see him hurting.
This was definitly one of the best YA contemporary romances I read, and it was cute and sad and I cried a lot (and let me tell you, crying while having lunch is not very practical). It was beyond amazing, so READ IT!!!
July 7, 2016
Becca is struggling to come to terms with the death of her best friend, Charlotte. One fateful day changes all of that: Mrs Jonah partners her with the dreadlocked Darby in English literature class; Becca has a run-in with cute Max Herrera; and a red flyer for Romeo and Juliet, Charlotte's favorite play, is the catalyst that brings them all together. Becca finds herself slowly working through a bucket list - though more by accident than by design. And, along the way, she might just find herself.
This is the story of a young girl struggling to cope with the grief of living without her best friend. There are poignant flashbacks of Becca's conversations with Charlotte, but there are also plenty of light-hearted moments. The book features a cast of memorable characters, including the absolutely adorable Becca and Max, Max's best friend Vincent, drama queen Darby, Romeo Thomas, and theater director Mr Owens. The story is told from the point-of-view of Becca the bookworm, who measures time by the number pages she reads. Her narrative is full of gorgeous similes and metaphors relating to reading and the pages of books. Becca even describes people by trying to find the words an author would use to describe them in a book. There are plenty of fun references to books like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and Becca's favorite, The Velveteen Rabbit. Another nice touch is the chapters labeled as acts and scenes in a play. This is a treat for real book lovers like Becca.
Another winner by author Shannon Lee Alexander. She sure does have a way with words. Your heart will melt.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (8 July): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
This is the story of a young girl struggling to cope with the grief of living without her best friend. There are poignant flashbacks of Becca's conversations with Charlotte, but there are also plenty of light-hearted moments. The book features a cast of memorable characters, including the absolutely adorable Becca and Max, Max's best friend Vincent, drama queen Darby, Romeo Thomas, and theater director Mr Owens. The story is told from the point-of-view of Becca the bookworm, who measures time by the number pages she reads. Her narrative is full of gorgeous similes and metaphors relating to reading and the pages of books. Becca even describes people by trying to find the words an author would use to describe them in a book. There are plenty of fun references to books like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and Becca's favorite, The Velveteen Rabbit. Another nice touch is the chapters labeled as acts and scenes in a play. This is a treat for real book lovers like Becca.
Another winner by author Shannon Lee Alexander. She sure does have a way with words. Your heart will melt.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (8 July): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
July 5, 2016
Rating 4.4
The Why: A look into a girl who hides herself from life by reading books and keeps the grief from her best friend's death. It was beautifully done as we see her progress as she takes those steps to start living life by participating into the school's play of Romeo and Juliet
Characters:
Becca: She doesn't know what to do since her best friend Charlotte died. But reading is the only thing keeping her sane. When a guy-Max- in her drama class is the only one who talks to her after Charlotte's death slips her a flyer to help backstage with the school play, she's afraid. She's afraid that if she keeps busy, she'll lose the memory of Charlotte and she doesn't want to do that. Max helps her unexpectedly get the starring role as Juliet and it helps her start to realize that she can keep Charlotte in her memories. She would want Becca to live life. I love her group of drama friends and she also makes an unexpected friend.
Final Thoughts: I love when characters grow such as Becca, to see them realize that they can't stop living life, but to keep her best friend-Charlotte in her memories. I loved the quote-able book quotes and one lines that will make you laugh and just root for Becca and the drama crew.
The Why: A look into a girl who hides herself from life by reading books and keeps the grief from her best friend's death. It was beautifully done as we see her progress as she takes those steps to start living life by participating into the school's play of Romeo and Juliet
Characters:
Becca: She doesn't know what to do since her best friend Charlotte died. But reading is the only thing keeping her sane. When a guy-Max- in her drama class is the only one who talks to her after Charlotte's death slips her a flyer to help backstage with the school play, she's afraid. She's afraid that if she keeps busy, she'll lose the memory of Charlotte and she doesn't want to do that. Max helps her unexpectedly get the starring role as Juliet and it helps her start to realize that she can keep Charlotte in her memories. She would want Becca to live life. I love her group of drama friends and she also makes an unexpected friend.
Final Thoughts: I love when characters grow such as Becca, to see them realize that they can't stop living life, but to keep her best friend-Charlotte in her memories. I loved the quote-able book quotes and one lines that will make you laugh and just root for Becca and the drama crew.
June 1, 2016
I really enjoyed Love and Other Unknown Variables when I read it a few months ago, but I loved Life After Juliet even more. Getting to see the same world through Becca's eyes was perfect for this bookworm, but more than that, it was easy to identify with the fear she has of moving on after the death of her BFF Charlotte.
So many great references to books and Shakespearean plays, right down to the Capulet vs. Montague-esque, Drammies vs. Techies, feud and the five acts and scenes rather than chapters. There's also a cute list vibe that reminded me of Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone, but without as big of a focus (I mean, not every chapter is titled a specific item on the list.)
Highly recommend this book about learning to live with grief and learning how to live, rather than close yourself off from the world.
So many great references to books and Shakespearean plays, right down to the Capulet vs. Montague-esque, Drammies vs. Techies, feud and the five acts and scenes rather than chapters. There's also a cute list vibe that reminded me of Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone, but without as big of a focus (I mean, not every chapter is titled a specific item on the list.)
Highly recommend this book about learning to live with grief and learning how to live, rather than close yourself off from the world.
July 11, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Life After Juliet is about Becca. Not Juliet. It’s been six months since Becca’s best friend passed away, and Becca has withdrawn into her books again, counting time in pages.
Others have learned to let her be, and she considers herself invisible. That is, until Max sees her (after she literally falls into his lap). And Drama Queen Darby is forced to work with her. In an attempt to start living a little bit again outside of her books, she signs up as a “techie” for the school’s play of Romeo and Juliet, but one mic test later and she’s more involved than she intended. With Max coaxing her out of her shell and Darby challenging her to step up, Becca slowly learns that it’s possible to care about other things, even if it’s the scariest thing you can do.
I’ve never had a book play with my heart so quickly and successfully before. I was initially worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect with the characters and stories that well because of all the references to Charlotte and her relationships with Becca and Charlie. But I shouldn’t have worried, as I was crying within 6%, and the tears came several times, including once from laughing ridiculously loudly. The grief was so palpable and real, and while I haven’t lost anyone that close to me before, I could still find similar experiences that connected me to what Becca was feeling.
While I do think I would have gotten more from the story if I had read Love and Other Unknown Variables, the standalone that precedes this one. (They’re not necessarily a series but more “companion” novels.) With that, I say that, yes, try to read Love and Other Unknown Variables first, but also know that it isn’t mandatory.
Becca was incredibly relatable in her bookishness, choosing the safety of books to the uncertainties of real life. Sometimes, I feel like doing the same. I loved how she was able to step out of herself through the play. I especially loved how Darby helped her to do that. Can I just say that Darby was brilliant? She was the Mean Girl, but there was so much more to her and how she fit into Becca’s life. Max was also a dear, secure where he was in his box at the top, talented with his hands, but also real in his insecurities and jealousy. The slow burn and tension between him and Becca really kept me going, it was so delicious.
Where the story didn’t quite get me was the twist towards the end about Max. It was definitely unexpected, but it wasn’t the kind that makes me go “wow!” Instead, I was confused for a second, it was just that unexpected. I didn’t think the story would go that way at all, and while I appreciate why it did, my astonishment kept me really feeling the moment the way it should have been felt. From that point on, I felt a bit disconnected from the events.
The ending was great, the final prank a funny touch. Everything wrapped up quite nicely, with different parts of Becca’s life coming together. I finished the whole thing in one sitting, and it made me feel inspired to step outside of books myself. I also had an urge to try acting again!
Overall, a lovely story about moving on after losing someone without leaving them behind, equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming.
In a sentence
Life After Juliet made me cry from grief and anger and laughter, taking me on an incredible journey with Becca to come to terms with the loss of her best friend and learn how to let her heart encompass another person.
Life After Juliet is about Becca. Not Juliet. It’s been six months since Becca’s best friend passed away, and Becca has withdrawn into her books again, counting time in pages.
I don’t really do days anymore. Time is measured in pages. I’ve read 3,718 pages since Dad dropped me off on the first day. It’s been 108,023 pages since Charlotte died. I’ve read 150 pages since I stepped on the bus this morning. It’s been ten pages since I thought of Charlotte.
Others have learned to let her be, and she considers herself invisible. That is, until Max sees her (after she literally falls into his lap). And Drama Queen Darby is forced to work with her. In an attempt to start living a little bit again outside of her books, she signs up as a “techie” for the school’s play of Romeo and Juliet, but one mic test later and she’s more involved than she intended. With Max coaxing her out of her shell and Darby challenging her to step up, Becca slowly learns that it’s possible to care about other things, even if it’s the scariest thing you can do.
I’ve never had a book play with my heart so quickly and successfully before. I was initially worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect with the characters and stories that well because of all the references to Charlotte and her relationships with Becca and Charlie. But I shouldn’t have worried, as I was crying within 6%, and the tears came several times, including once from laughing ridiculously loudly. The grief was so palpable and real, and while I haven’t lost anyone that close to me before, I could still find similar experiences that connected me to what Becca was feeling.
While I do think I would have gotten more from the story if I had read Love and Other Unknown Variables, the standalone that precedes this one. (They’re not necessarily a series but more “companion” novels.) With that, I say that, yes, try to read Love and Other Unknown Variables first, but also know that it isn’t mandatory.
Becca was incredibly relatable in her bookishness, choosing the safety of books to the uncertainties of real life. Sometimes, I feel like doing the same. I loved how she was able to step out of herself through the play. I especially loved how Darby helped her to do that. Can I just say that Darby was brilliant? She was the Mean Girl, but there was so much more to her and how she fit into Becca’s life. Max was also a dear, secure where he was in his box at the top, talented with his hands, but also real in his insecurities and jealousy. The slow burn and tension between him and Becca really kept me going, it was so delicious.
His smile feels like spring.
Where the story didn’t quite get me was the twist towards the end about Max. It was definitely unexpected, but it wasn’t the kind that makes me go “wow!” Instead, I was confused for a second, it was just that unexpected. I didn’t think the story would go that way at all, and while I appreciate why it did, my astonishment kept me really feeling the moment the way it should have been felt. From that point on, I felt a bit disconnected from the events.
The ending was great, the final prank a funny touch. Everything wrapped up quite nicely, with different parts of Becca’s life coming together. I finished the whole thing in one sitting, and it made me feel inspired to step outside of books myself. I also had an urge to try acting again!
Overall, a lovely story about moving on after losing someone without leaving them behind, equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming.
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
July 5, 2016
4.5 stars!
** This is a companion novel. Love and Other Unknown Variables should be read prior to Life After Juliet.**
I ADORED Love and Other Unknown Variables when I read it back in 2014. It hit me right in the feels. HARD! I wasn’t expecting to love that book as much as I did, so it was such a wonderful surprise. I’ve been patiently waiting for Life After Juliet’s release ever since. Though this isn’t categorized as a series and this can be read as a stand-alone, I HIGHLY suggest reading Love and Other Unknown Variables first. Actually, don’t even read this synopsis. Go right into LAOUV with zero idea what to expect. Then let me know what you think. I have a feeling you guys will enjoy it as much as I did.
Becca is grieving the loss of her best friend, Charlotte. With Charlotte’s passing, Becca dove straight into books as a way to escape the real world. She hasn’t made any new friends or done much of anything, other than read, and she’s completely happy with it that way. It’s easier to close down than try to deal with the grief. That is, until she meets Max.
I adored Becca and Max’s friendship-plus-more relationship. They were both struggling with grief, learning how to deal with loss. Losing someone you love is something you really never fully get over. Yes, it may get easier to deal with, but the grieving process itself never ends. For Becca, this was a difficult concept to accept. She wanted to be “normal” again, which was pretty much impossible. Since Max had also experienced loss of a loved one, he could completely relate. I loved how much they fed off each other, learned from each other, and really grew quite a bit in the process.
I’m so happy with how Shannon Lee Alexander brought this all together. I was so curious about Becca and how her life would go after Charlotte’s death, so having this story bring it to conclusion for me is so important. I also loved how broken, lost, and suffering Becca was in the beginning, compared to how much she grew at the end. Character growth is so important to me in a story like this, and Shannon pulled it all together perfectly.
Another book that I’m recommending you guys read!! I must stress that you really should read Love and Other Unknown Variables first. We get to meet Becca in the first book, and seeing her in this second one will mean so much more if you already know her a bit. Add this one to your TBR’s, guys. It’s a wonderful look at depression, grief, familial support, and learning to have fun in life again after a tragic event. Plus there’s TONS of swoons and silly, laughable moments. It’s the total package!
(Thanks to Entangled Teen for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
** This is a companion novel. Love and Other Unknown Variables should be read prior to Life After Juliet.**
I ADORED Love and Other Unknown Variables when I read it back in 2014. It hit me right in the feels. HARD! I wasn’t expecting to love that book as much as I did, so it was such a wonderful surprise. I’ve been patiently waiting for Life After Juliet’s release ever since. Though this isn’t categorized as a series and this can be read as a stand-alone, I HIGHLY suggest reading Love and Other Unknown Variables first. Actually, don’t even read this synopsis. Go right into LAOUV with zero idea what to expect. Then let me know what you think. I have a feeling you guys will enjoy it as much as I did.
Becca is grieving the loss of her best friend, Charlotte. With Charlotte’s passing, Becca dove straight into books as a way to escape the real world. She hasn’t made any new friends or done much of anything, other than read, and she’s completely happy with it that way. It’s easier to close down than try to deal with the grief. That is, until she meets Max.
I adored Becca and Max’s friendship-plus-more relationship. They were both struggling with grief, learning how to deal with loss. Losing someone you love is something you really never fully get over. Yes, it may get easier to deal with, but the grieving process itself never ends. For Becca, this was a difficult concept to accept. She wanted to be “normal” again, which was pretty much impossible. Since Max had also experienced loss of a loved one, he could completely relate. I loved how much they fed off each other, learned from each other, and really grew quite a bit in the process.
I’m so happy with how Shannon Lee Alexander brought this all together. I was so curious about Becca and how her life would go after Charlotte’s death, so having this story bring it to conclusion for me is so important. I also loved how broken, lost, and suffering Becca was in the beginning, compared to how much she grew at the end. Character growth is so important to me in a story like this, and Shannon pulled it all together perfectly.
Another book that I’m recommending you guys read!! I must stress that you really should read Love and Other Unknown Variables first. We get to meet Becca in the first book, and seeing her in this second one will mean so much more if you already know her a bit. Add this one to your TBR’s, guys. It’s a wonderful look at depression, grief, familial support, and learning to have fun in life again after a tragic event. Plus there’s TONS of swoons and silly, laughable moments. It’s the total package!
(Thanks to Entangled Teen for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
May 14, 2020
Gosh! I hate myself for putting this book off for so long, because it was exquisite!
I had met Becca, when I read Love and Other Unknown Variables. I can't even express how much I adored that book, but I think I loved this one even more. Though both books feature friendship and first love, this book was about healing, and it was a beautiful journey. Don't get me wrong. I cried a whole bunch, I am crying now, because I "knew" Charlotte, and I felt like I lost her too, but I also wanted to see Becca return to being part of the world.
Becca was painfully shy, and liked to live her life among the pages of her books. It was Charlotte, who became one of her first real friends, and therefore, I loved that it was memories and mementos of Charlotte, which encouraged Becca to resume living. She backslid often, and wow! I cried rivers during those parts, because they were so heartbreaking, but she kept trying to move forward.
Becca was lucky to have such a great support system. Her parents were very sweet and understanding, but I think her brother, Charlie, was one of her greatest sources of strength. You see, Charlotte was Charlie's first love, so he could easily relate to Becca's loss. There were some stupendous moments shared between these two. They were pained and heart wrenching, but very lovely and heartwarming too.
She was also lucky to fall in with a wonderful bunch of kids, the "techies', at school. They were her tribe, and embraced her as one of their own. It was easy to see how alive Becca was with them, and it brought me great joy to her integrated into their group.
But, my favorite connection she made, was with Max. Dear, sweet, Max. He was one of the first people, who attempted to connect with Becca, when she returned to school following Charlotte's death. While others tried to avoid the girl-with-the-dead-best-friend, he offered friendship. He didn't come empty handed either, he sort of understood her pain. It hadn't been very long since Max had lost his own cousin, and he therefore, easily connected with her, and could relate to suffering such a personal causality. She found great solace in their shared pain, and in Max's company, as well. Their friendship grew, and it blossomed into a rather adorable romance, which I was so there for.
I must further comment on Alexander's exploration of grief and loss. She really captured the emotions associated with a profound loss. The emptiness, the desolation, the desperation -- it all emanated from the page. I could totally feel how Becca struggled with the guilt and agony of having to be in a world without Charlotte. It was beautifully done.
I absolutely adored this book! It had me laughing and crying, filled me with sadness and joy, and I loved every second of it.
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I had met Becca, when I read Love and Other Unknown Variables. I can't even express how much I adored that book, but I think I loved this one even more. Though both books feature friendship and first love, this book was about healing, and it was a beautiful journey. Don't get me wrong. I cried a whole bunch, I am crying now, because I "knew" Charlotte, and I felt like I lost her too, but I also wanted to see Becca return to being part of the world.
Becca was painfully shy, and liked to live her life among the pages of her books. It was Charlotte, who became one of her first real friends, and therefore, I loved that it was memories and mementos of Charlotte, which encouraged Becca to resume living. She backslid often, and wow! I cried rivers during those parts, because they were so heartbreaking, but she kept trying to move forward.
Becca was lucky to have such a great support system. Her parents were very sweet and understanding, but I think her brother, Charlie, was one of her greatest sources of strength. You see, Charlotte was Charlie's first love, so he could easily relate to Becca's loss. There were some stupendous moments shared between these two. They were pained and heart wrenching, but very lovely and heartwarming too.
She was also lucky to fall in with a wonderful bunch of kids, the "techies', at school. They were her tribe, and embraced her as one of their own. It was easy to see how alive Becca was with them, and it brought me great joy to her integrated into their group.
But, my favorite connection she made, was with Max. Dear, sweet, Max. He was one of the first people, who attempted to connect with Becca, when she returned to school following Charlotte's death. While others tried to avoid the girl-with-the-dead-best-friend, he offered friendship. He didn't come empty handed either, he sort of understood her pain. It hadn't been very long since Max had lost his own cousin, and he therefore, easily connected with her, and could relate to suffering such a personal causality. She found great solace in their shared pain, and in Max's company, as well. Their friendship grew, and it blossomed into a rather adorable romance, which I was so there for.
I must further comment on Alexander's exploration of grief and loss. She really captured the emotions associated with a profound loss. The emptiness, the desolation, the desperation -- it all emanated from the page. I could totally feel how Becca struggled with the guilt and agony of having to be in a world without Charlotte. It was beautifully done.
I absolutely adored this book! It had me laughing and crying, filled me with sadness and joy, and I loved every second of it.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 15, 2017
Que c'est triste! J'espère que Charlie retrouvera le bonheur.
March 21, 2017
“She’s not coming back, and I don’t know what else to do, so I keep turning the pages.”
Becca Hanson is still reeling from the loss of her best friend. For a girl who never really connected well with others, losing the one person who understood her has Becca retreating back into the safe world of books and fictional characters. Then she meets Max, and Max doesn’t necessarily save her, but he helps her realize that maybe the real world has still has some good in it.
OMG I loved this book.
When I requested this from Entangled Teen, I didn’t realize that it was a companion novel to Love and Other Unknown Variables. I still have not read that one (but it is now high on my to-read list) so this was my first time meeting these characters. Becca’s pain was palpable. I felt for her immediately. And while I wanted her to get out and experience life again, I could also understand the safety in books. I absolutely loved the way Alexander measured time by how many pages were read in a book. For a girl whose life was consumed by books, measuring time by page count made sense. Then the unthinkable happens. Becca finds herself mixed in with the Drama Club and is forced to reach outside of her safety net. Thankfully, she has Max.
Can I just say how perfect this boy is?
“So I can see you. And just like you, I can see Thestrals, too.”
I mean, come on. Thestrals!! He references Harry Potter for Pete’s sakes. He pretty much had me from the beginning. But what Alexander did, and I love her more for it, is construct a boy whose understanding is mirrored by his own pain, yet his view on life is the complete opposite of Becca. While she hides, he faces it head on. Max was encouraging not forceful, understanding not pushy. He took his time with Becca understanding that she wasn’t ready for friendship but he never wavered.
Aside from Becca and Max there were many other side characters who made this book what it is. No one was a throwaway and everyone served a purpose to make this world colorful and real. I couldn’t stop reading once I started and wanted more once it ended. I will definitely read more from Alexander and will recommend Life After Juliet until my last breath. Just a beautiful story about loss, hope, and learning to live again.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Becca Hanson is still reeling from the loss of her best friend. For a girl who never really connected well with others, losing the one person who understood her has Becca retreating back into the safe world of books and fictional characters. Then she meets Max, and Max doesn’t necessarily save her, but he helps her realize that maybe the real world has still has some good in it.
OMG I loved this book.
When I requested this from Entangled Teen, I didn’t realize that it was a companion novel to Love and Other Unknown Variables. I still have not read that one (but it is now high on my to-read list) so this was my first time meeting these characters. Becca’s pain was palpable. I felt for her immediately. And while I wanted her to get out and experience life again, I could also understand the safety in books. I absolutely loved the way Alexander measured time by how many pages were read in a book. For a girl whose life was consumed by books, measuring time by page count made sense. Then the unthinkable happens. Becca finds herself mixed in with the Drama Club and is forced to reach outside of her safety net. Thankfully, she has Max.
Can I just say how perfect this boy is?
“So I can see you. And just like you, I can see Thestrals, too.”
I mean, come on. Thestrals!! He references Harry Potter for Pete’s sakes. He pretty much had me from the beginning. But what Alexander did, and I love her more for it, is construct a boy whose understanding is mirrored by his own pain, yet his view on life is the complete opposite of Becca. While she hides, he faces it head on. Max was encouraging not forceful, understanding not pushy. He took his time with Becca understanding that she wasn’t ready for friendship but he never wavered.
Aside from Becca and Max there were many other side characters who made this book what it is. No one was a throwaway and everyone served a purpose to make this world colorful and real. I couldn’t stop reading once I started and wanted more once it ended. I will definitely read more from Alexander and will recommend Life After Juliet until my last breath. Just a beautiful story about loss, hope, and learning to live again.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2016
Becca doesn't know how to live without her friend Charlotte. She feels like she misses a vital part of herself. Charlotte was her best friend and her brother's girlfriend. Becca is shy and awkward when it comes to dealing with others. She rather reads and she prefers her safe fictional world over the real one. She used to be a loner and that is what she's trying to be again, but Charlotte changed her. Becca wants to have a different life, she needs more now that she knows what it's like to be around others.
Becca joins the Drama Club. She wants to work backstage, but is being given a part in the play as well. She doesn't want to choose between the actors and the techies. Making new friends is hard though. Especially since one of them looks like she wants to eat Becca alive. The last thing Becca can handle is to have her heart broken again, but that means she doesn't have anything to give. Working with Max, the guy who is always nice to her and who seems to get her, is difficult. Becca wants to show him more of herself, but she isn't ready to open her heart to anyone yet. Will that moment ever come again?
Life After Juliet is a compelling story about moving on after heartbreak. Shannon Lee Alexander describes that in a beautiful sensitive way. Becca has her ups and downs and she slowly struggles towards better control of her feelings. She will always miss Charlotte, who was the one who made her come out of her shell. Becca's learned a lot from her friend and she tries to make her proud. She doesn't always make progress and sometimes it's two steps back after she's managed to take one step forward, but she keeps on trying. She runs away sometimes, she gets mad, she learns to stand up for herself and she learns to talk to people. I loved to see her grow. Max is a wonderful kind guy who understands Becca, he always gives her the space she needs. They are exactly right for one another and they are really sweet together.
Love and Other Unknown Variables and Life After Juliet can best be read together. Becca and Charlie have a great bond. Charlotte walked into their lives and she's changed them forever. I loved how special Shannon Lee Alexander made Charlotte. She leaves a lasting impression on both siblings and their stories are equally interesting. The first book is moving towards something emotional and the second one starts with that part and is about the process of healing. I liked that approach. These books are both fantastic and I highly recommend them.
Becca joins the Drama Club. She wants to work backstage, but is being given a part in the play as well. She doesn't want to choose between the actors and the techies. Making new friends is hard though. Especially since one of them looks like she wants to eat Becca alive. The last thing Becca can handle is to have her heart broken again, but that means she doesn't have anything to give. Working with Max, the guy who is always nice to her and who seems to get her, is difficult. Becca wants to show him more of herself, but she isn't ready to open her heart to anyone yet. Will that moment ever come again?
Life After Juliet is a compelling story about moving on after heartbreak. Shannon Lee Alexander describes that in a beautiful sensitive way. Becca has her ups and downs and she slowly struggles towards better control of her feelings. She will always miss Charlotte, who was the one who made her come out of her shell. Becca's learned a lot from her friend and she tries to make her proud. She doesn't always make progress and sometimes it's two steps back after she's managed to take one step forward, but she keeps on trying. She runs away sometimes, she gets mad, she learns to stand up for herself and she learns to talk to people. I loved to see her grow. Max is a wonderful kind guy who understands Becca, he always gives her the space she needs. They are exactly right for one another and they are really sweet together.
Love and Other Unknown Variables and Life After Juliet can best be read together. Becca and Charlie have a great bond. Charlotte walked into their lives and she's changed them forever. I loved how special Shannon Lee Alexander made Charlotte. She leaves a lasting impression on both siblings and their stories are equally interesting. The first book is moving towards something emotional and the second one starts with that part and is about the process of healing. I liked that approach. These books are both fantastic and I highly recommend them.
July 8, 2016
I want to thank Netgalley, Entangled Publishing, and Shannon Alexander for giving me the chance to read this for an honest review:
This book made me laugh, cry and throw my hands in the air. :) To me this book was about a girl who lived in books because it was safer than getting attached to real life....even though real life was determined to make her participate.
Becca finally lets someone in (her brother's girlfriend) she ends up with cancer and dies...an in this book Becca not only is struggling with grieving her friend but life is making her participate an she is struggling with that. On a whim she decides to sign up as a "techie" for Romeo and Juliet....gets cast in the play as none other than...wait for it...You guessed it Juliet! an in all of this she is not only learning how to grieve the loss of her friend but she is learning how to participate in life...
It is a day to day struggle for her an anyone who has lost someone close to them can relate. If I could give this more than 5 stars I so would.
This book made me laugh, cry and throw my hands in the air. :) To me this book was about a girl who lived in books because it was safer than getting attached to real life....even though real life was determined to make her participate.
Becca finally lets someone in (her brother's girlfriend) she ends up with cancer and dies...an in this book Becca not only is struggling with grieving her friend but life is making her participate an she is struggling with that. On a whim she decides to sign up as a "techie" for Romeo and Juliet....gets cast in the play as none other than...wait for it...You guessed it Juliet! an in all of this she is not only learning how to grieve the loss of her friend but she is learning how to participate in life...
It is a day to day struggle for her an anyone who has lost someone close to them can relate. If I could give this more than 5 stars I so would.
March 18, 2020
Une ode à la vie. Tout simplement.
Je pensais lire une romance jeunesse. J’ai lu un roman d’amitié, de loyauté, de deuil, de reconstruction.
Des larmes se sont insinuées dans le creux de mes joues sans prévenir.
Lisez ce livre.
Je pensais lire une romance jeunesse. J’ai lu un roman d’amitié, de loyauté, de deuil, de reconstruction.
Des larmes se sont insinuées dans le creux de mes joues sans prévenir.
Lisez ce livre.
August 8, 2017
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
18/20 - Davantage de sourires que de pleurs dans ce second opus, j'ai tout simplement adoré Max et Becca <3
18/20 - Davantage de sourires que de pleurs dans ce second opus, j'ai tout simplement adoré Max et Becca <3
August 23, 2024
***This is a companion novel to the book Love and Other Unknown Variables. Reading even the synopsis of this book will have major spoilers for L&OUV.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
June 25, 2016
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I really loved this book, at first I felt a little bored but as I went on with the story I was deeper sucked into the life of the characters and everything felt so real which made this book a pretty interesting read.
Becca is devastated after the loss of her best and only friend Charlotte, she doesn't know what to do anymore. Max is the only person who puts up an effort to talk to her, then a weird twist lands her up in the spotlight. Despite not wanting to move on, Becca begins to experience life for the first time which isn't devoid of surprising twists and turns.
I loved the whole story! The beginning was a bit slow and sad. Maybe I couldn't feel the full impact because I haven't read Life and Other Unknown Variables but as the story moves forward it definitely makes up for it. Becca doesn't have a clue about how she's supposed to move on after her best friends's death. She never had many friends and her brother's in another town after he got into college, she's feels all alone except when she's with her books and fictional characters. I loved the friendship that was depicted in this book! It was so beautiful. It was the main focus than the romance which I definitely didn't mind. The last part of this book was absolutely mind blowing and fantastic, I enjoyed so much how everything turned out!
Becca was a unique yet a normal character and on the other hand absolutey someone with whom I could related to. She was going through so much, she was simply afraid but in the end the effort counts if you want to face your fears or not and she did it! Max was such a sweetheart. He never pushed her and just supported her and in his own way he helped her. I loved Darby! She had a twisted mind, at first I thought I hated her, then as the story proceeded I didn't know what to think of her but then I could finally see that she was such an amazing person although Becca and her made an unlikely team but I loved their friendship anyway! All the other characters were pretty great and I also loved the family aspect of this book, especially the sibling love, it was so realistic, made me wish I had a big brother like Charlie!
Overall, Life After Juliet was a great read! I enjoyed the plot and the characters kept me interested throughout the story. The plot twists were pretty awesome as well! The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. I would definitely love to read more from this author.
Recommend it?
Yes!
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I really loved this book, at first I felt a little bored but as I went on with the story I was deeper sucked into the life of the characters and everything felt so real which made this book a pretty interesting read.
Becca is devastated after the loss of her best and only friend Charlotte, she doesn't know what to do anymore. Max is the only person who puts up an effort to talk to her, then a weird twist lands her up in the spotlight. Despite not wanting to move on, Becca begins to experience life for the first time which isn't devoid of surprising twists and turns.
I loved the whole story! The beginning was a bit slow and sad. Maybe I couldn't feel the full impact because I haven't read Life and Other Unknown Variables but as the story moves forward it definitely makes up for it. Becca doesn't have a clue about how she's supposed to move on after her best friends's death. She never had many friends and her brother's in another town after he got into college, she's feels all alone except when she's with her books and fictional characters. I loved the friendship that was depicted in this book! It was so beautiful. It was the main focus than the romance which I definitely didn't mind. The last part of this book was absolutely mind blowing and fantastic, I enjoyed so much how everything turned out!
Becca was a unique yet a normal character and on the other hand absolutey someone with whom I could related to. She was going through so much, she was simply afraid but in the end the effort counts if you want to face your fears or not and she did it! Max was such a sweetheart. He never pushed her and just supported her and in his own way he helped her. I loved Darby! She had a twisted mind, at first I thought I hated her, then as the story proceeded I didn't know what to think of her but then I could finally see that she was such an amazing person although Becca and her made an unlikely team but I loved their friendship anyway! All the other characters were pretty great and I also loved the family aspect of this book, especially the sibling love, it was so realistic, made me wish I had a big brother like Charlie!
Overall, Life After Juliet was a great read! I enjoyed the plot and the characters kept me interested throughout the story. The plot twists were pretty awesome as well! The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. I would definitely love to read more from this author.
Recommend it?
Yes!
July 7, 2016
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*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book!! I don’t know how to explain how good this book was. First of all, I would like to say that this book is a companion to Love and Other Unknown Variables. I didn’t know about this until recently but I think it’s not necessary for you to read it and not having read it didn’t change my love for this book at all. But don’t worry, I already got an e-copy of Love and Other Unknown Variables and I plan to read it soon (even if I know that it will break my heart to a million of tiny little pieces).
I loved all the characters in this book. First of all, Becca is my spirit animal (if we take all the grief over her best-friend’s death and the depression). She was so relatable and I loved her for that. In the beginning Becca is scared of letting people in her life because she’s afraid to lose the people she loves again but she had such an amazing growth throughout the book that made her understand that the important is to have people to love and that love her in her life. It was just amazing. Max was just the cutest thing ever. I loved him and I loved that he never tried to change Becca. He knows how difficult it is to grieve over a loved one and he just let Becca be herself. He did have a great group of friends that accepted Becca right away and that showed her that friendships are important. However, one of my favorite characters had to be Charlie, Becca’s older brother. Charlie was such an amazing big brother and even if he was also grieving he still help Becca a lot and I loved it. Their relationship was just amazing and so was their relationship with their parents. It was so well done and I loved it.
This was my first Shannon Lee Alexander so I didn’t know a lot about her writing but I loved it. I loved the writing, I loved the characters, I loved the plot… look I loved everything about this book. I can’t think about one thing I didn’t like. It was just perfect. I really liked how friendship was an important thing in this book and how it was friendship that helped Becca by the end and not love (even if Max helped a little bit).
Overall, this was an amazing book. It deals with a lot of stuff like grieving, family, friendship and more and it was so well done. I can’t wait to finally read Love and Other Unknown Variables and also everything that Shannon Lee Alexander comes up with next. I definitely recommend this one to everyone
*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book!! I don’t know how to explain how good this book was. First of all, I would like to say that this book is a companion to Love and Other Unknown Variables. I didn’t know about this until recently but I think it’s not necessary for you to read it and not having read it didn’t change my love for this book at all. But don’t worry, I already got an e-copy of Love and Other Unknown Variables and I plan to read it soon (even if I know that it will break my heart to a million of tiny little pieces).
I loved all the characters in this book. First of all, Becca is my spirit animal (if we take all the grief over her best-friend’s death and the depression). She was so relatable and I loved her for that. In the beginning Becca is scared of letting people in her life because she’s afraid to lose the people she loves again but she had such an amazing growth throughout the book that made her understand that the important is to have people to love and that love her in her life. It was just amazing. Max was just the cutest thing ever. I loved him and I loved that he never tried to change Becca. He knows how difficult it is to grieve over a loved one and he just let Becca be herself. He did have a great group of friends that accepted Becca right away and that showed her that friendships are important. However, one of my favorite characters had to be Charlie, Becca’s older brother. Charlie was such an amazing big brother and even if he was also grieving he still help Becca a lot and I loved it. Their relationship was just amazing and so was their relationship with their parents. It was so well done and I loved it.
This was my first Shannon Lee Alexander so I didn’t know a lot about her writing but I loved it. I loved the writing, I loved the characters, I loved the plot… look I loved everything about this book. I can’t think about one thing I didn’t like. It was just perfect. I really liked how friendship was an important thing in this book and how it was friendship that helped Becca by the end and not love (even if Max helped a little bit).
Overall, this was an amazing book. It deals with a lot of stuff like grieving, family, friendship and more and it was so well done. I can’t wait to finally read Love and Other Unknown Variables and also everything that Shannon Lee Alexander comes up with next. I definitely recommend this one to everyone
July 14, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Life After Juliet is a young adult novel by Shannon Lee Alexander. It is a companion novel to Love and Other Unknown Variables. I have Love and Other Unknown Variables on my to be read list since before its' release, but I never got around to reading it. However, as soon as I read the summary for Life After Juliet I knew I had to read this book. It deals with subject matter that is really speaking to me at the moment. So I figured I would be fine reading it alone. But after looking at some reviews and starting the book, I realized that wasn't really the case. Could I have read Life After Juliet without first having read Love and Other Unknown Variables? Yes, I think I could have. And I think I would have been fine. However, after reading about 20 pages of Life After Juliet, I decided not to chance it and to read Love and Other Unknown Variables first. And I am very, very glad that I did. It really enhanced my experience with Life After Juliet.
Life After Juliet is a very emotional read. I think you need to be prepared for it. I flat out ugly cried while reading this book. But I also laughed, and smiled. It is such a real and raw, and heart-warmingly emotional read. And yes, it is sad sometimes too. It has to be. Death is sad. Losing someone you love is sad. And hard to deal with and it affects everyone differently. I really loved that all of these things were explored with the characters in Life After Juliet.
Becca and Max are the main characters and they are both reeling from different losses. I appreciated the different perspectives we got with Becca and Max. if you are looking for a book that accurately portrays the stages of grief, Life After Juliet is am amazing book for you. I think anyone who has ever lost someone they care about will relate to what Becca goes through in her story. I think this book is a worthy while read for everyone. This book touched my heart. It meant something to me. If you love books that make you feel the whole range of emotions from happy to utter despair, Life After Juliet is going to be a favorite of yours.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Life After Juliet is a very emotional read. I think you need to be prepared for it. I flat out ugly cried while reading this book. But I also laughed, and smiled. It is such a real and raw, and heart-warmingly emotional read. And yes, it is sad sometimes too. It has to be. Death is sad. Losing someone you love is sad. And hard to deal with and it affects everyone differently. I really loved that all of these things were explored with the characters in Life After Juliet.
Becca and Max are the main characters and they are both reeling from different losses. I appreciated the different perspectives we got with Becca and Max. if you are looking for a book that accurately portrays the stages of grief, Life After Juliet is am amazing book for you. I think anyone who has ever lost someone they care about will relate to what Becca goes through in her story. I think this book is a worthy while read for everyone. This book touched my heart. It meant something to me. If you love books that make you feel the whole range of emotions from happy to utter despair, Life After Juliet is going to be a favorite of yours.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
August 15, 2016
I must admit that I've never read Love and Other Unknown Variables, despite much love being heaped upon it by many a reader that I trust. When Life After Juliet was offered to me for review, and I realized that Shannon Lee Alexander had written this as a companion novel, I couldn't wait to dive in! I figured it would be a great way to get to know these characters, and to see if I'd be interested in learning more about Charlotte. The outcome? Someone get me Alexander's other book, stat. I'm hooked, and I don't care who knows it.
One of the things that I love most about Contemporary novels is that the characters have to deal with real world problems. I feel like it makes it that much easier to sink into their lives as I'm reading. In the case of Becca, I fell hard for her character the moment I met her. Watching her hide behind her books, favoring the people and places in books instead of the outside world, I totally understood where she was coming from. In books, people are always there. You can flip a few pages back, and make everything better again. You can skip the sad endings. In life, that's unfortunately not the case. Becca's anxiety over losing what's left of her best friend, her unwillingness to deal with the unknown, I felt it all and it broke me.
What's beautiful about Life After Juliet though is the message. Becca learns, through a ton of lessons she'd never expected to face, that moving forward is the only thing you can do. Sure, she stumbles a lot. She wavers. She even tries to give up. Except she doesn't, and her growth is just a wonderful thing. I laughed with her. Cried with her. Felt my heart rip out of my chest when she confessed to being afraid to let anyone else in. By far, my favorite part of this whole book though was her relationship with Max. No spoilers here, but this was the most honest relationship I've seen in a book in a long time. Be still, my heart.
I don't hand out five star ratings easily, but Life After Juliet can't be rated any other way. This book was gorgeous! It was raw, gritty, and the perfect glimpse into the life of someone who is just trying to make the pieces fit together after a big part of them was ripped away. I can't wait to get a copy of Alexander's first book, and meet Charlotte. With how much Becca loves her, I know that I will too.
One of the things that I love most about Contemporary novels is that the characters have to deal with real world problems. I feel like it makes it that much easier to sink into their lives as I'm reading. In the case of Becca, I fell hard for her character the moment I met her. Watching her hide behind her books, favoring the people and places in books instead of the outside world, I totally understood where she was coming from. In books, people are always there. You can flip a few pages back, and make everything better again. You can skip the sad endings. In life, that's unfortunately not the case. Becca's anxiety over losing what's left of her best friend, her unwillingness to deal with the unknown, I felt it all and it broke me.
What's beautiful about Life After Juliet though is the message. Becca learns, through a ton of lessons she'd never expected to face, that moving forward is the only thing you can do. Sure, she stumbles a lot. She wavers. She even tries to give up. Except she doesn't, and her growth is just a wonderful thing. I laughed with her. Cried with her. Felt my heart rip out of my chest when she confessed to being afraid to let anyone else in. By far, my favorite part of this whole book though was her relationship with Max. No spoilers here, but this was the most honest relationship I've seen in a book in a long time. Be still, my heart.
I don't hand out five star ratings easily, but Life After Juliet can't be rated any other way. This book was gorgeous! It was raw, gritty, and the perfect glimpse into the life of someone who is just trying to make the pieces fit together after a big part of them was ripped away. I can't wait to get a copy of Alexander's first book, and meet Charlotte. With how much Becca loves her, I know that I will too.
July 9, 2016
Life After Juliet is the companion novel to Shannon Lee Alexander’s Love and Other Unknown Variables. It’s a heartfelt young adult story about first love, stepping out of one’s comfort zone and learning to live with loss.
Ever since Charlotte passed away from cancer, Becca Hanson has been measuring time in pages. It’s been 3,718 pages since her Dad dropped her off for her first day of school. It’s been 150 pages since she stepped on the bus this morning. And it’s been 108,023 pages since Charlotte died. Grieving the death of her best and only friend, Becca spends every minute she can with her head in a book, living through fictional characters whose stories and endings have already been written. People don’t bother her and she prefers it that way. But after accidentally face-planting in her classmate Max Herrera’s lap one day, things take a turn for the better.
Suddenly, Becca finds herself doing things she’s always wanted to do, but was too afraid. She attends callbacks for the school play, "Romeo and Juliet." She finally dances on a table. She even builds a catwalk with power tools. As Becca gets to know Max better, she starts connecting with other people from school, as well. She befriends the Techies who help produce and create the set for the play, and makes a pact with the school’s drama queen and star actress, Darby. Max, the Drammies and the Techies show Becca that perhaps the real world isn’t so bad. Although life is uncontrollable, maybe certain things are worth living for. Perhaps letting people in can heal.
Alexander’s novel is a touching and delightful exploration of friendship, loss and hope. It’s about acknowledging that the grief never really goes away, but forgiving oneself for moving on. It’s about remembering how to laugh again, and that letting go is not the same as forgetting. Becca’s healing process was a journey I thoroughly enjoyed taking and reading about. With witty references and homages to major literary works such as Shakespeare, The Velveteen Rabbit and A Wrinkle in Time, this book makes for a wonderful and unforgettable read, perfect for book lovers and drama fanatics alike.
*This review was originally posted on Teenreads.com*
Ever since Charlotte passed away from cancer, Becca Hanson has been measuring time in pages. It’s been 3,718 pages since her Dad dropped her off for her first day of school. It’s been 150 pages since she stepped on the bus this morning. And it’s been 108,023 pages since Charlotte died. Grieving the death of her best and only friend, Becca spends every minute she can with her head in a book, living through fictional characters whose stories and endings have already been written. People don’t bother her and she prefers it that way. But after accidentally face-planting in her classmate Max Herrera’s lap one day, things take a turn for the better.
Suddenly, Becca finds herself doing things she’s always wanted to do, but was too afraid. She attends callbacks for the school play, "Romeo and Juliet." She finally dances on a table. She even builds a catwalk with power tools. As Becca gets to know Max better, she starts connecting with other people from school, as well. She befriends the Techies who help produce and create the set for the play, and makes a pact with the school’s drama queen and star actress, Darby. Max, the Drammies and the Techies show Becca that perhaps the real world isn’t so bad. Although life is uncontrollable, maybe certain things are worth living for. Perhaps letting people in can heal.
Alexander’s novel is a touching and delightful exploration of friendship, loss and hope. It’s about acknowledging that the grief never really goes away, but forgiving oneself for moving on. It’s about remembering how to laugh again, and that letting go is not the same as forgetting. Becca’s healing process was a journey I thoroughly enjoyed taking and reading about. With witty references and homages to major literary works such as Shakespeare, The Velveteen Rabbit and A Wrinkle in Time, this book makes for a wonderful and unforgettable read, perfect for book lovers and drama fanatics alike.
*This review was originally posted on Teenreads.com*
July 5, 2016
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Becca is grieving the death of her best and only friend Charlotte. She spends every minute she can with her head buried in a book, avoiding the world, her grief and making connections with people. She is socially awkward and thinks people don't notice her. But they do.
When Becca face plants into Max's lap in class, and after a little pursuing from Max, they become friends and Becca starts to come out of her shell. She signs up for the school play and starts to live. Charlotte's death and grief hang heavily over Becca as happiness in her new life wars with guilt over moving on.
The lovely teen romance between Max and Becca moves slowly and is PG rated. Becca's relationship with Max is important in her new life but so are the people around her. Max's best mate Victor provides comic relief while frienemy Darby helps hold a mirror up to Becca's life, forcing her to face things she'd rather avoid.
This is a beautiful story about a girl learning to move out of her comfort zone and live life after the death of a loved one. I note this is a companion book to Love and Other Unknown Variables but I read it as a standalone. Love and Other Variables has been added to my 'to read' list but knowing what I know, I'm not sure if my heart can take reading Charlie's story. Perhaps I need to take a leaf out of Becca's book and move out of my own comfort zone.
Becca is grieving the death of her best and only friend Charlotte. She spends every minute she can with her head buried in a book, avoiding the world, her grief and making connections with people. She is socially awkward and thinks people don't notice her. But they do.
When Becca face plants into Max's lap in class, and after a little pursuing from Max, they become friends and Becca starts to come out of her shell. She signs up for the school play and starts to live. Charlotte's death and grief hang heavily over Becca as happiness in her new life wars with guilt over moving on.
The lovely teen romance between Max and Becca moves slowly and is PG rated. Becca's relationship with Max is important in her new life but so are the people around her. Max's best mate Victor provides comic relief while frienemy Darby helps hold a mirror up to Becca's life, forcing her to face things she'd rather avoid.
This is a beautiful story about a girl learning to move out of her comfort zone and live life after the death of a loved one. I note this is a companion book to Love and Other Unknown Variables but I read it as a standalone. Love and Other Variables has been added to my 'to read' list but knowing what I know, I'm not sure if my heart can take reading Charlie's story. Perhaps I need to take a leaf out of Becca's book and move out of my own comfort zone.
July 22, 2017
What a beautiful story.
I truly felt for Becca and Charlie, it truly is not easy to move on when your heart is this broken.
I loved, loved Becca and just how real she was. The author didn’t shy away from the pain Becca felt, and at the same time, she showed us Becca had hope growing within her that just needed to be nourished. Which it did with the help of the play, Max, her family and her new friends.
I also liked Max a lot. Such a cutie, all nervous and teenage-like, lol, but at the same time, having gone through more sorrow that a boy should have to at such a young age. Loved his family and these new set of friends he introduced Becca to (Victor!). I didn’t like Darby, though. Yeah, she was more than what she showed in the end, but I felt an instant dislike the second she called Becca a w**** in a fit of anger. Not. Cool.
The story had many swoon worthy moments :-), a lot of laugh, but also a lot of sad moments. Having gone through something similar with my dad just a year ago, I found it very sad and, at the same time, uplifting when Becca remembered her friend Charlotte. Those memories are so precious and painful at the same time, at least at first. The story touched me very deeply and all I wanted was Becca to be happy and show the world the kickass girl she really was.
Great story and you can totally read it without reading ‘Love and Other Unknown Variables’ before (I haven’t yet, though I know it’s gonna hurt some).
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
I truly felt for Becca and Charlie, it truly is not easy to move on when your heart is this broken.
I loved, loved Becca and just how real she was. The author didn’t shy away from the pain Becca felt, and at the same time, she showed us Becca had hope growing within her that just needed to be nourished. Which it did with the help of the play, Max, her family and her new friends.
I also liked Max a lot. Such a cutie, all nervous and teenage-like, lol, but at the same time, having gone through more sorrow that a boy should have to at such a young age. Loved his family and these new set of friends he introduced Becca to (Victor!). I didn’t like Darby, though. Yeah, she was more than what she showed in the end, but I felt an instant dislike the second she called Becca a w**** in a fit of anger. Not. Cool.
The story had many swoon worthy moments :-), a lot of laugh, but also a lot of sad moments. Having gone through something similar with my dad just a year ago, I found it very sad and, at the same time, uplifting when Becca remembered her friend Charlotte. Those memories are so precious and painful at the same time, at least at first. The story touched me very deeply and all I wanted was Becca to be happy and show the world the kickass girl she really was.
Great story and you can totally read it without reading ‘Love and Other Unknown Variables’ before (I haven’t yet, though I know it’s gonna hurt some).
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
July 18, 2016
I was hesitant to read this book as I figured it would leave me ugly crying. When I was in high school I had three good friends killed in a car accident, through no fault of theirs, and I still remember the horror of being told this by the mother of another friend of ours. I went to more funerals in three days than I had ever been to before in my life and it was eons before things ever went back to "normal" (if they ever did). I was lucky that I had other friends to lean on during this ordeal and we supported each other in many ways. I can't image the pain Becca went through not having other close friend to talk to but I definitely understand her losing herself in her books. This is similar to how I reacted when my hubby was diagnosed with lymphoma and something that got me through many sleepless days and nights.
The saving grace here is that I also found myself laughing at Becca and
having been through a similar loss at this age, understood her anger and uncontrolled rage at the unfairness of life. One of the friends I lost was the twin sister of a guy I adored and I understood the pain she was in. This is the first book of Alexander's I've read and I'm definitely going to keep her name in my watch pile. It will probably be awhile before I can physic myself up to read Love and Other Unknown Variables, however.
The saving grace here is that I also found myself laughing at Becca and
having been through a similar loss at this age, understood her anger and uncontrolled rage at the unfairness of life. One of the friends I lost was the twin sister of a guy I adored and I understood the pain she was in. This is the first book of Alexander's I've read and I'm definitely going to keep her name in my watch pile. It will probably be awhile before I can physic myself up to read Love and Other Unknown Variables, however.
June 17, 2016
This is a companion book to Love and Other Unknown Variables which is about first love, friendship and illness. I haven't read that book because it looks very cry-worthy but I really enjoyed this book about what happens after. Becca not only lost her best friend, but she lost her only friend. A loner who is more comfortable in her books, she is not handling her grief very well and when she is thrust into new friendships and a staring role in the school play she has to decide how she wants to live her life. Becca is a sweet girl that I really empathize with as a loner, bookish person myself. The other characters are what make this book so good though, there is a lot of personality and humor and it is just an extremely well written, feel good book. I received this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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