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After Everything
All Abby Rhodes wants is a chance to pursue her songwriting dreams. When she leaves her husband on Christmas Eve and puts their Missouri hometown in her rearview mirror, she heads straight to Nashville and onto the doorstep of her estranged father.
But in typical Abby fashion, nothing goes as planned.
Unemployed and alone, Abby lands a job waiting tables at her neighborhood dive bar. There she meets a local singer-songwriter with steel-grey eyes and a reputation that threatens to unlock Abby’s small-town innocence.
Just as Nashville starts to feel like home, her past comes crashing back in the form of her soon-to-be ex-husband, forcing her to confront the truth behind her midnight escape.
If Abby can’t reconcile her history with her future, she might lose out on her dreams and her second chance at finding love.
But in typical Abby fashion, nothing goes as planned.
Unemployed and alone, Abby lands a job waiting tables at her neighborhood dive bar. There she meets a local singer-songwriter with steel-grey eyes and a reputation that threatens to unlock Abby’s small-town innocence.
Just as Nashville starts to feel like home, her past comes crashing back in the form of her soon-to-be ex-husband, forcing her to confront the truth behind her midnight escape.
If Abby can’t reconcile her history with her future, she might lose out on her dreams and her second chance at finding love.
270 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2020
5 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Nourse
7 books92 followersAndrea is the author of women’s fiction novels, including Happily Ever Never and After Everything.
Andrea currently lives outside Nashville with her husband, their two children, and their puppy, Cosmic Brownie. She has a BS in Mass Communication from MTSU and an MBA from the University of Memphis.
When she’s not reading, writing, or Bookstagramming, she enjoys pretending to know how to bake, memorizing and dissecting Taylor Swift lyrics, starting (but rarely finishing) crochet projects, and scrolling Netflix without ever finding something to watch.
Andrea currently lives outside Nashville with her husband, their two children, and their puppy, Cosmic Brownie. She has a BS in Mass Communication from MTSU and an MBA from the University of Memphis.
When she’s not reading, writing, or Bookstagramming, she enjoys pretending to know how to bake, memorizing and dissecting Taylor Swift lyrics, starting (but rarely finishing) crochet projects, and scrolling Netflix without ever finding something to watch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 5, 2020
After Everything is one of my FAVORITE ROMANCES of the year y’all!! Also my favorite Nourse novel to date.
This novel is about singer songwriter Abby Rhodes yearning to find herself by chasing her dreams and all the messy complications she stumbles upon along the way.
What I love most about this novel (and every other Nourse novel!) is the authenticity and character depth - I truly felt for each character jumping off the page. Also, I always appreciate a strong main female protagonist fighting for her rights and not backing down. Abby Rhodes’ story was crafted so beautifully that I could have easily read another hundred pages and would love to see a sequel.
This novel is about singer songwriter Abby Rhodes yearning to find herself by chasing her dreams and all the messy complications she stumbles upon along the way.
What I love most about this novel (and every other Nourse novel!) is the authenticity and character depth - I truly felt for each character jumping off the page. Also, I always appreciate a strong main female protagonist fighting for her rights and not backing down. Abby Rhodes’ story was crafted so beautifully that I could have easily read another hundred pages and would love to see a sequel.
October 22, 2020
Have you ever read an author and wondered why it took you so long to read one of their books?
That was my first thought upon finishing After Everything. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. Nourse’s writing pulled me in immediately. Her characters felt so real. The storyline had depth and humor and steam and sarcasm. She was definitely giving me Jennifer Weiner vibes. I honestly would have read the whole thing in one sitting if the world would have left me alone.
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy women’s fiction, if you’re looking for an emotional read, if you want a new favorite author. Thank you to Andrea Nourse for the gifted copy.
That was my first thought upon finishing After Everything. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. Nourse’s writing pulled me in immediately. Her characters felt so real. The storyline had depth and humor and steam and sarcasm. She was definitely giving me Jennifer Weiner vibes. I honestly would have read the whole thing in one sitting if the world would have left me alone.
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy women’s fiction, if you’re looking for an emotional read, if you want a new favorite author. Thank you to Andrea Nourse for the gifted copy.
August 19, 2020
After Everything may be my favorite work of Andrea Nourse's so far. This book felt the most real and authentic of them all.
I loved the character growth of Abby, Derrick, Noah, and Abby's parents, all in different ways. They all needed to learn, self-analyze, and heal from different experiences. Abby is the kind of girl I could easily call a friend, as are the other women we meet along her journey.
Everyone has a hidden past. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has regrets. And everyone has more to them than what's on the surface. After Everything highlights these aspects of life, and much more. I definitely recommend this book to any romance reader, anyone trying to do a little soul searching, or anyone who just wants a good read!
I loved the character growth of Abby, Derrick, Noah, and Abby's parents, all in different ways. They all needed to learn, self-analyze, and heal from different experiences. Abby is the kind of girl I could easily call a friend, as are the other women we meet along her journey.
Everyone has a hidden past. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has regrets. And everyone has more to them than what's on the surface. After Everything highlights these aspects of life, and much more. I definitely recommend this book to any romance reader, anyone trying to do a little soul searching, or anyone who just wants a good read!
November 25, 2020
Beautifully written romance about a woman who went against our society’s patriarchal norms and expectations to follow her dreams.
I found Abby to be a likable, relatable, and sympathetic character. She’s a strong woman who goes against everything she’s known, everything she’s been taught, everything she’s expected to do and be to find her own happiness.
After Everything is a story of chasing dreams, family, healing, and love. And I loved every word of it.
This was my first time reading an Andrea Nourse novel but it definitely won’t be my last.
I found Abby to be a likable, relatable, and sympathetic character. She’s a strong woman who goes against everything she’s known, everything she’s been taught, everything she’s expected to do and be to find her own happiness.
After Everything is a story of chasing dreams, family, healing, and love. And I loved every word of it.
This was my first time reading an Andrea Nourse novel but it definitely won’t be my last.
July 1, 2020
I ADORE everything about this book. It’s sweet, it’s emotional, it’s everything s romance should be!
December 3, 2020
Abby Rhodes leaves her husband and Missouri hometown to pursue her dreams of being a songwriter in Nashville. When she shows up at her estranged father's doorstep he helps her get a job, but when Abby loses that job she starts working at her neighborhood dive bar. There she meets Derrick, a local singer-songwriter with steel-grey eyes. As she starts to move forward her past comes back and she must confront the truth from her midnight escape.
I really enjoyed After Everything! It touches on some controversial tough choices in life that I like to see in a book. Controversial topics and decisions really draw me into a story. They show that characters in books are human and sometimes people need to make decisions for themselves that not everyone agrees with and allows them to see things from a different POV. That other people have different problems from others and handle things differently. I found Abby to be a strong character that has handled leaving her husband poorly and she knows that, but she felt trapped so she panicked and left. She is a main character that for some is hard to root for but it's her flaws that draw me to her. I also really liked the reconnecting with her dad side of the story. That was a great part of it that I loved seeing unfold!
What I was disappointed with was I felt the romance was rushed. It wasn't though, we just didn't get to really see the build up. I really liked Derrick so I would've liked to have seen more of him being all sexy seductive.
After Everything gave me the same feels as Beach Read. A romance book with a deeper story behind it. Two characters who have pretty intense pasts that are trying to find themselves again.
I really enjoyed After Everything! It touches on some controversial tough choices in life that I like to see in a book. Controversial topics and decisions really draw me into a story. They show that characters in books are human and sometimes people need to make decisions for themselves that not everyone agrees with and allows them to see things from a different POV. That other people have different problems from others and handle things differently. I found Abby to be a strong character that has handled leaving her husband poorly and she knows that, but she felt trapped so she panicked and left. She is a main character that for some is hard to root for but it's her flaws that draw me to her. I also really liked the reconnecting with her dad side of the story. That was a great part of it that I loved seeing unfold!
What I was disappointed with was I felt the romance was rushed. It wasn't though, we just didn't get to really see the build up. I really liked Derrick so I would've liked to have seen more of him being all sexy seductive.
After Everything gave me the same feels as Beach Read. A romance book with a deeper story behind it. Two characters who have pretty intense pasts that are trying to find themselves again.
November 9, 2020
Over the weekend, I read latest book, After Everything, and it was so good!Abby has put her dreams of being a songwriter in Nashville, TN on hold for high school sweetheart turned husband. One Christmas Eve changes everything, and Abby packs up and leaves her small town of Wishing, Missouri to head to Nashville. Just like the rest of Abby's life, nothing really goes according to plan, and she ends up waiting tables at a local dive bar. Enter "one night stand Derrick", co-owner of the bar and songwriter with steel-grey eyes, tattoos, and a playboy reputation the precedes him.
I gave this one 5⭐. It was the perfect romance; it had the perfect amount of emotion, angst, witty banter, and steam. Abby is the perfect female protagonist- flawed yet strong, capable, and not afraid to go after what she wants. In other words, she was so human that I forgot I was reading about a fictional character. And Derrick- I loved his character. It seems I'm a sucker for a broken bad boy, but the way that he was with Abby was so adorable. Not to mention the way he handled her ex-husband and stood up for her and protected her. Swoon. Definitely a perfect book boyfriend. This book reminded me of a cross between Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover and the movie A Star is Born. I think the thing that stands out to me the most about this book was that it wasn't cliché or cheesy, which speaks volumes about Nourse's writing. This was truly a book about following your dreams and not being afraid to go after the life you want. You should definitely check this one out!
I gave this one 5⭐. It was the perfect romance; it had the perfect amount of emotion, angst, witty banter, and steam. Abby is the perfect female protagonist- flawed yet strong, capable, and not afraid to go after what she wants. In other words, she was so human that I forgot I was reading about a fictional character. And Derrick- I loved his character. It seems I'm a sucker for a broken bad boy, but the way that he was with Abby was so adorable. Not to mention the way he handled her ex-husband and stood up for her and protected her. Swoon. Definitely a perfect book boyfriend. This book reminded me of a cross between Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover and the movie A Star is Born. I think the thing that stands out to me the most about this book was that it wasn't cliché or cheesy, which speaks volumes about Nourse's writing. This was truly a book about following your dreams and not being afraid to go after the life you want. You should definitely check this one out!
September 23, 2020
I'm a huge fan of Andrea, both as a person and as a novelist. I've always been told as a writer that you should write the type of books you love to read. For me, spending time with Andrea's characters is like spending time with a good friend. For her protagonist, Abby Rhodes, I felt I was living out a fantasy of becoming a songwriter myself, entrenched in the past and struggling in love. This book left me satisfied long after the last page, both with the superb writing and the interesting plot. (Trust me, just read it.) My favorite Nourse novel to date! A must read for all contemporary fiction lovers everywhere.
January 20, 2021
The growth of all the characters was a joy to watch throughout.
January 17, 2021
This is probably one of my favorite romance books that I’ve read to date. I loved this book and these characters. In After Everything we follow the story of Abby Rhodes as she goes down a path of self discovery. Andrea Nourse wrote this book so well. What I love most about this story is how relatable all of these characters are. Nothing is easy for any of them and they each have their own individual struggles to overcome. Life is hard! We all have difficult decisions to make, regrets, and bumps in our road. I thoroughly enjoyed going on this journey with Abby, her friends and her family. Highly recommend this novel! I also listened to it on Audible and the narration was done really well.
September 19, 2020
Just like when reading Daisy Jones & The Six I’m dying to hear the songs written by Abby & Derrick. Like please let there be an album!
I can imagine being friends with Abby. I love listening to music and it’s lyrics. I often marvel at how someone can write something that describes what I feel.
Thank you Andrea for the ARC and for letting this piece of your heart into the world.
I can imagine being friends with Abby. I love listening to music and it’s lyrics. I often marvel at how someone can write something that describes what I feel.
Thank you Andrea for the ARC and for letting this piece of your heart into the world.
October 13, 2020
So this was my first Andrea Nourse books and it won't be my last. Her backlist of books have been added to my amazon wishlist that my husband usually buys me things off of for Christmas and my birthday and he knows that he can't go wrong with buying me a book.
Anyways, I "met" Andrea Nourse through bookstagram and during quarantine actually watched the movie After together and chatted via Instagram. Also, she loves Chris Evans so she's awesome in my book.
I loved her book After Everything. I laughed and I cried. I devoured it. It always seemed like when I got to a good part that I always had to either go back to work from a break or go to work. Sigh.
There is heartache, redemption and love filled throughout the pages of this book and you really get to know the characters because they are so well developed. I want Abby to be my best friend and for her to bring Derek along with her everywhere. I want to have a girl's night to with Abby and Claire. I just want to go to Nashville and hang out.
I had been in a funk of not wanting to read books for some reason and this book helped me to break that funk.
So get the book and read it when it comes out on October 20th.
PS Andrea, please write a sequel. Also like I did in Daisy Jones, I want to listen to B. Monroe's songs. Can you make that happen too?
Anyways, I "met" Andrea Nourse through bookstagram and during quarantine actually watched the movie After together and chatted via Instagram. Also, she loves Chris Evans so she's awesome in my book.
I loved her book After Everything. I laughed and I cried. I devoured it. It always seemed like when I got to a good part that I always had to either go back to work from a break or go to work. Sigh.
There is heartache, redemption and love filled throughout the pages of this book and you really get to know the characters because they are so well developed. I want Abby to be my best friend and for her to bring Derek along with her everywhere. I want to have a girl's night to with Abby and Claire. I just want to go to Nashville and hang out.
I had been in a funk of not wanting to read books for some reason and this book helped me to break that funk.
So get the book and read it when it comes out on October 20th.
PS Andrea, please write a sequel. Also like I did in Daisy Jones, I want to listen to B. Monroe's songs. Can you make that happen too?
October 6, 2020
I am typically not a fan of romances. Too many are overly cheesy or steamy for my taste, and usually the main character is a female who I have trouble rooting for. This book was a pleasant change from those types of books. Andrea Nourse wrote characters who are endearing, flawed, and who you want to root for. The story hooked me immediately and I stayed up way too late finishing it. I definitely recommend this one for anyone who enjoys romances, a heartfelt story, or who wants to support a talented indie author.
October 21, 2020
I thought this was an enjoyable romance overall. I will admit that I had a really hard time connecting with the main character. I wasn't a fan of some of the choices she made. I did see that she changed and grew up toward the end, so that helped me like the ending more. I believed in the relationship a lot more once she made amends with her past. This is the first book that I have read by this author. I look forward to trying some of her other books.
November 21, 2020
Even if you’re not a 20 something aspiring songwriter in Nashville, this story of past and futures will be something you can relate to in some emotional way. This is a characteristic I’ve come to expect from Andreas books, but in this, her most recent offering, she has reached a new level. I love when an author gets better and better with each book. Well done, Andrea! Ready for the next one!
October 21, 2020
If you are a fan of Colleen Hoover and K.A. Tucker, there is no reason why you shouldn't read Andrea Nourse's newest release. With an independent female protagonist that is relatable and self-aware, this book is an all around gem.
The lead character of Abby Rhodes is a girl with baggage. While she is running from her mundane past and passionless marriage, she is also growing the strength to face it head on in order to continue her personal growth. Enter Derrick, a love interest with his own baggage and reputation that Abby has to contend with. I loved that the reader never really has to question whether Derrick and Abby are good for one another; they just fit so well. The development that is shown with both the characters from the beginning of the relationship to the end of the book is executed perfectly.
I also love the growth exhibited in Abby in relation to her family ties as well. She makes a conscious effort to hear people out and the overall communication in the book is done wonderfully between the characters, being both natural and realistic.
I think the most amazing thing this book has to offer is having Abby be a female character that is willing to make different choices in life from what is considered the "norm", especially in regards to her choice to have children. So many authors shy away from this topic completely or just assume that all women should have the desire to bear children. Andrea Nourse handles this situation beautifully and creates a character that so many women desire to see in novels more often. Not everyone can relate to the women that feel bearing children is necessary to feel fulfilled and we tend to feel underrepresented on a day to day basis. Thank you to Andrea for not taking the easy way out and for making a character that speaks to so many of us! If only more authors would take the leap into creating a female protagonists that exemplify reproductive rights!
The lead character of Abby Rhodes is a girl with baggage. While she is running from her mundane past and passionless marriage, she is also growing the strength to face it head on in order to continue her personal growth. Enter Derrick, a love interest with his own baggage and reputation that Abby has to contend with. I loved that the reader never really has to question whether Derrick and Abby are good for one another; they just fit so well. The development that is shown with both the characters from the beginning of the relationship to the end of the book is executed perfectly.
I also love the growth exhibited in Abby in relation to her family ties as well. She makes a conscious effort to hear people out and the overall communication in the book is done wonderfully between the characters, being both natural and realistic.
I think the most amazing thing this book has to offer is having Abby be a female character that is willing to make different choices in life from what is considered the "norm", especially in regards to her choice to have children. So many authors shy away from this topic completely or just assume that all women should have the desire to bear children. Andrea Nourse handles this situation beautifully and creates a character that so many women desire to see in novels more often. Not everyone can relate to the women that feel bearing children is necessary to feel fulfilled and we tend to feel underrepresented on a day to day basis. Thank you to Andrea for not taking the easy way out and for making a character that speaks to so many of us! If only more authors would take the leap into creating a female protagonists that exemplify reproductive rights!
July 2, 2020
After Everything was such a joy to read. This is my second book by Andrea Nourse and she writes such REAL, heartfelt and emotional novels, with sprinkles of her witty humour throughout. My absolutely favourite thing about this book is how easy is was to connect with the main character and how real her story is.
I loved the setting of Nashville and Abby’s dream of being a songwriter. You may think that theme has been done before, but not in the way this. The restaurant scenes were so nostalgic for me, brought me right back to my bartending days in my 20’s.
The relationships between all the characters are complex and emotional. Each character goes through major growth in this book. Abby’s relationship journey with her dad is beautiful to read. I loved the little surprises that popped up throughout the story, I definitely didn’t see the story going in some ways that it did. Derrick is everything, such a perfect, charming character.
Thank you to Andrea Nourse for the advanced gifted copy to review!
I loved the setting of Nashville and Abby’s dream of being a songwriter. You may think that theme has been done before, but not in the way this. The restaurant scenes were so nostalgic for me, brought me right back to my bartending days in my 20’s.
The relationships between all the characters are complex and emotional. Each character goes through major growth in this book. Abby’s relationship journey with her dad is beautiful to read. I loved the little surprises that popped up throughout the story, I definitely didn’t see the story going in some ways that it did. Derrick is everything, such a perfect, charming character.
Thank you to Andrea Nourse for the advanced gifted copy to review!
September 13, 2020
Thank you so much to Andrea Nourse for sending me a copy of 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. This comes out October 20th so be sure to add this to your TBR.
“𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭”
I read this all in one day and couldn’t be more in love with Abby and Derrick. You have to chase your dreams because if you don’t, you never know what might come of it.
I am pretty sure I cried the entire second half of the book. It gave me all the feels. Andrea is a beautiful writer and now I want to read the rest of her books.
“𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭”
I read this all in one day and couldn’t be more in love with Abby and Derrick. You have to chase your dreams because if you don’t, you never know what might come of it.
I am pretty sure I cried the entire second half of the book. It gave me all the feels. Andrea is a beautiful writer and now I want to read the rest of her books.
September 15, 2020
I have read 3 out of 4 novels written by Andrea Nourse and this one is PERFECTION.
I loved Abby. I love that she has dreams and she went for them. No matter the cost. No matter what is going to happen. She knew she needed change and Nashville was just that.
I also loved Derrick’s character. One-night-stand turns into love.
Some twists I was not expecting. LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!
I loved Abby. I love that she has dreams and she went for them. No matter the cost. No matter what is going to happen. She knew she needed change and Nashville was just that.
I also loved Derrick’s character. One-night-stand turns into love.
Some twists I was not expecting. LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2020
After Everything is a great contemporary romance that has just enough fun and real-life messiness to make it a comfort read and heartfelt all at once. The characters are realistic and relatable and I was instantly invested in Abby’s life. As an indie author, Andrea Nourse is going to go far and she deserves all of the success.
October 20, 2020
Thanks to the author for the early e copy of this book! I thought this story of Abby, a twenty something woman who is running away from her life, was so realistic. I felt like I was reading about someone I knew and stories I had heard from them.
I had a really hard time putting this book down and wanted to see how everything would play out. This is not a hallmark story and there's some grit and rawness to the character. I look forward to reading more from this author and highly recommend this story.
I had a really hard time putting this book down and wanted to see how everything would play out. This is not a hallmark story and there's some grit and rawness to the character. I look forward to reading more from this author and highly recommend this story.
November 12, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was kind of bananas and I was here for it. There was a lot to unpack in all the different story lines - I won’t do it justice here, but getting to know Abby and Derrick with all these different layers kept me engaged the whole time.
Real talk: I did NOT like Abby for the first half of the book. However, I was so intrigued by the fact that I didn’t like her (I couldn’t figure out why), I wanted to keep reading!
What really brought me back time and again, was the writing. There were times when Nourse’s writing was enchanting:
"It was like the warmth of a bonfire on an autumn night. Your body craved the warmth and pulled you closer and closer until your brain screamed at you to stop. Except, no part of me was telling me to stop. I'd never touched fire before. I had a feeling Derrick was going to tempt me in ways I wasn't prepared for."
And there were times where the writing was 𝘀𝗼 descriptive I was having a visceral reaction to it - groaning, gasping out loud, etc. (Let me tell you how much my husband loves that when he is trying to sleep. 😝)
I appreciated how all these different parts of the story came together. Once Abby opened up and communicated what she needed in all aspects of her life, it was the turning point for me and that’s when I started cheering her on.
I told you - bananas! And there are so many storyline I didn’t touch on because I didn’t want to spoil anything!
This is out today so do yourself a favor and read it!
CW: abandonment, miscarriage
This book was kind of bananas and I was here for it. There was a lot to unpack in all the different story lines - I won’t do it justice here, but getting to know Abby and Derrick with all these different layers kept me engaged the whole time.
Real talk: I did NOT like Abby for the first half of the book. However, I was so intrigued by the fact that I didn’t like her (I couldn’t figure out why), I wanted to keep reading!
What really brought me back time and again, was the writing. There were times when Nourse’s writing was enchanting:
"It was like the warmth of a bonfire on an autumn night. Your body craved the warmth and pulled you closer and closer until your brain screamed at you to stop. Except, no part of me was telling me to stop. I'd never touched fire before. I had a feeling Derrick was going to tempt me in ways I wasn't prepared for."
And there were times where the writing was 𝘀𝗼 descriptive I was having a visceral reaction to it - groaning, gasping out loud, etc. (Let me tell you how much my husband loves that when he is trying to sleep. 😝)
I appreciated how all these different parts of the story came together. Once Abby opened up and communicated what she needed in all aspects of her life, it was the turning point for me and that’s when I started cheering her on.
I told you - bananas! And there are so many storyline I didn’t touch on because I didn’t want to spoil anything!
This is out today so do yourself a favor and read it!
CW: abandonment, miscarriage
September 16, 2020
There are few words to describe how truly amazing this book is. The raw and real emotions of the characters, their development individually, as well as collectively throughout the story, it’s not something you get in a book typically. Abby Rhodes is a woman so many can relate to. Chasing dreams lost and making mistakes along the way, seeking to find her dream, her second chance. She didn’t feel like a character in a story. She felt like a friend that I wanted to encourage to keep chasing her dreams, celebrate her accomplishments, and cry when things went backwards. Andrea Nourse kept me on my toes the entire book keeping me captivated with every turn. She even made my heart flutter when it came to the relationship between Abby and Derrick, entertaining me with the complexities they faced. I especially loved the cast of supporting characters, equally as important to the story as Abby. Each one had a deep impact on the story. I think this story is relatable. Everyone has made mistakes and has regrets. But how you overcome them, that’s what truly makes a difference.
If you haven’t already ordered ‘After Everything’, you should. Immediately.
Andrea, thank you so much for writing a truly amazing story.
All opinions are my own.
If you haven’t already ordered ‘After Everything’, you should. Immediately.
Andrea, thank you so much for writing a truly amazing story.
All opinions are my own.
November 23, 2020
I love supporting indie authors. This book is heartfelt and inspiring. Abby has been married with her high school sweetheart and everything seemed comfortable but she knows that he’s holding her back on her dreams. Tired of settling, she leaves her husband to pursue her dream. It’s a bold move and everyone she leaves behind was surprised by this. She goes to Nashville to meet her estranged father and she bonds with him. In the midst of her divorce, she meets another man who inspires her to write songs again.
This story is relatable and I like how the author wrote Abby as a normal person with flaws. I can see this happening in real life— growing up missing a father and falling in love with someone with the same family issues but also with a shared passion for music. This book touches different values and aspects in life from profession to dreams, family, divorce, forgiveness, jealousy, doubts, and acceptance. It’s equally inspiring as it is a romance book. I believe the central themes are forgiveness and family ties. I enjoyed the book as it seems realistic and I know a person or two going through the same thing as the main character.
This story is relatable and I like how the author wrote Abby as a normal person with flaws. I can see this happening in real life— growing up missing a father and falling in love with someone with the same family issues but also with a shared passion for music. This book touches different values and aspects in life from profession to dreams, family, divorce, forgiveness, jealousy, doubts, and acceptance. It’s equally inspiring as it is a romance book. I believe the central themes are forgiveness and family ties. I enjoyed the book as it seems realistic and I know a person or two going through the same thing as the main character.
September 7, 2020
Y'all this is going to be in my top books of 2020. I went through all of the emotions in this book. I laughed, cried, and I got angry. I finished in less than a day.
There are a lot of aspects to unpack in this book but there were two main ones that stood out to me.
The first is finding yourself. Sometimes we get stuck in relationships that we believe are right for us but along the way we realize that they take more from us than we have to give. They take our hopes and dreams and make them feel small. Nourse writes about this and it really hit home. Abby wants nothing more than to be a songwriter but her husband doesn't feel like her dream matters. But songwriting is part of who she is, it's part of her identity. I think we can all relate to this. Because I think we have all had people tell us our dreams don't matter or made us feel small for wanting more out of life than what we were given.
The second thing that really stood out is Abby's insecurity about people leaving her. Speaking from a child of divorced parents it is one of the hardest things to overcome. The fear that someone you love or the person you're with will just decide to leave you one day. Sometimes it's debilitating. As Abby is dealing with this and learning to trust multiple people in her life I felt like I was on that journey with her. I just wanted to hug her and tell her I understood and that she would overcome it.
I've read and loved Nourse's other novels but this one, this is the book she was born to write. Her writing was superb and the characters were flawed and beautiful. This book will stay with me for a long time. As soon as I finished I wanted to pick it up and read it again.
I think everyone will get something different out of this book and that is one of the things that makes this a GREAT books. It will appeal to a multitude of readers.
Thanks to Andrea Nourse for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This books is out October 20th 2020. Everyone should go ahead and pre-order this book!
There are a lot of aspects to unpack in this book but there were two main ones that stood out to me.
The first is finding yourself. Sometimes we get stuck in relationships that we believe are right for us but along the way we realize that they take more from us than we have to give. They take our hopes and dreams and make them feel small. Nourse writes about this and it really hit home. Abby wants nothing more than to be a songwriter but her husband doesn't feel like her dream matters. But songwriting is part of who she is, it's part of her identity. I think we can all relate to this. Because I think we have all had people tell us our dreams don't matter or made us feel small for wanting more out of life than what we were given.
The second thing that really stood out is Abby's insecurity about people leaving her. Speaking from a child of divorced parents it is one of the hardest things to overcome. The fear that someone you love or the person you're with will just decide to leave you one day. Sometimes it's debilitating. As Abby is dealing with this and learning to trust multiple people in her life I felt like I was on that journey with her. I just wanted to hug her and tell her I understood and that she would overcome it.
I've read and loved Nourse's other novels but this one, this is the book she was born to write. Her writing was superb and the characters were flawed and beautiful. This book will stay with me for a long time. As soon as I finished I wanted to pick it up and read it again.
I think everyone will get something different out of this book and that is one of the things that makes this a GREAT books. It will appeal to a multitude of readers.
Thanks to Andrea Nourse for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This books is out October 20th 2020. Everyone should go ahead and pre-order this book!
February 3, 2021
Thank you to the author for the gifted audio book!
This is the first book I've read by Andrea Nourse but it definitely will not be the last. I saw that Andrea was offering audio copies of this book and I jumped at the opportunity...and I'm so glad I did. I don't read romance a lot and I'm not sure why because I always enjoy it when I do!
I absolutely loved Abby and Derrick's story. Of course, when reading a romance for me, it's always about the journey...and this one was pitch-perfect! One of my favorite aspects of this book is that these characters had such depth to them and they are so relatable. We've all been at that point in our life when we are at a crossroads and are struggling to get to where we really want to be. The internal struggles that both Abby and Derrick were going through were so real and that makes this story so much more engaging and enjoyable. I felt their chemistry come through loud and clear and loved the growth that these characters went through as the book progressed.
Reading romances isn't all about that happy ending. Yes, you always want that and yes, you know it's going to happen...but for me it is what happens along the way that is what truly makes a romance book stand out and that is exactly why I enjoyed this one so much - the journey our characters take is filled with all of life's messiness, but it is also a sweet story, too. There are little surprises that occur, keeping you on your toes so that you really aren't sure where things are headed and that really makes this one a winner!
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It evokes a range of emotions and I loved that...and now I cannot wait to read Andrea's other books! If you love a good romance with a good story to get lost in, I highly recommend picking this one up!
Audio thoughts: This audio was so well-done. I found myself glued to the book once I started it and thought Emily deKanter did a fantastic job bringing the book to life. Her pacing and intonation were spot on and she infused just the right amount of emotion and tension into her voice as needed. I definitely enjoyed this audio!
You can see all my reviews at: https://alwayswithabook.blogspot.com
This is the first book I've read by Andrea Nourse but it definitely will not be the last. I saw that Andrea was offering audio copies of this book and I jumped at the opportunity...and I'm so glad I did. I don't read romance a lot and I'm not sure why because I always enjoy it when I do!
I absolutely loved Abby and Derrick's story. Of course, when reading a romance for me, it's always about the journey...and this one was pitch-perfect! One of my favorite aspects of this book is that these characters had such depth to them and they are so relatable. We've all been at that point in our life when we are at a crossroads and are struggling to get to where we really want to be. The internal struggles that both Abby and Derrick were going through were so real and that makes this story so much more engaging and enjoyable. I felt their chemistry come through loud and clear and loved the growth that these characters went through as the book progressed.
Reading romances isn't all about that happy ending. Yes, you always want that and yes, you know it's going to happen...but for me it is what happens along the way that is what truly makes a romance book stand out and that is exactly why I enjoyed this one so much - the journey our characters take is filled with all of life's messiness, but it is also a sweet story, too. There are little surprises that occur, keeping you on your toes so that you really aren't sure where things are headed and that really makes this one a winner!
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It evokes a range of emotions and I loved that...and now I cannot wait to read Andrea's other books! If you love a good romance with a good story to get lost in, I highly recommend picking this one up!
Audio thoughts: This audio was so well-done. I found myself glued to the book once I started it and thought Emily deKanter did a fantastic job bringing the book to life. Her pacing and intonation were spot on and she infused just the right amount of emotion and tension into her voice as needed. I definitely enjoyed this audio!
You can see all my reviews at: https://alwayswithabook.blogspot.com
October 20, 2020
After Everything by Andrea Nourse was one of my most anticipated reads this summer.
After Everything was a beautifully written book full of heart, real and relatable characters, and a book that will immerse you into the story and give you all the feels. The writing instantly pulled me right in and just from the few pages I developed an wonderful connection with the main character, Abby Rhodes.
Abby is a woman who was down in her luck, trying to make a fresh start after leaving her husband – her high school sweetheart, and then losing her corporate job in marketing. This time, she wants to start anew by following her heart, her life-long dream and her passion of becoming a song writer.
I felt all the raw emotions as she develops and forms new relationships and mend past ones. This was a great story about starting over, following your dreams, and mending family relationships. I love a great story about people who are brave. Brave to make mistakes. Brave to follow life’s passions. Brave to forgive and be forgiven. Brave to make a change.
This was a book I really loved! Thank you Andrea for the wonderful book and sharing with us Abby’s story.
BRAVO Andrea on this amazing book and happy #PUBDAY!
After Everything was a beautifully written book full of heart, real and relatable characters, and a book that will immerse you into the story and give you all the feels. The writing instantly pulled me right in and just from the few pages I developed an wonderful connection with the main character, Abby Rhodes.
Abby is a woman who was down in her luck, trying to make a fresh start after leaving her husband – her high school sweetheart, and then losing her corporate job in marketing. This time, she wants to start anew by following her heart, her life-long dream and her passion of becoming a song writer.
I felt all the raw emotions as she develops and forms new relationships and mend past ones. This was a great story about starting over, following your dreams, and mending family relationships. I love a great story about people who are brave. Brave to make mistakes. Brave to follow life’s passions. Brave to forgive and be forgiven. Brave to make a change.
This was a book I really loved! Thank you Andrea for the wonderful book and sharing with us Abby’s story.
BRAVO Andrea on this amazing book and happy #PUBDAY!
October 30, 2020
In this book, the heroine felt that her marriage was over so she left her hometown for Nashville to pursue her dreams. There she meets the hero, who helps her with her dreams while ending up being the person she falls for. Along the way, she tackles the personal issues she has with family, her first love, and more.
This is the first Andrea Nourse book I have read. I read the synopsis and thought it was a good blurb, but as I was reading it, it brought up a pet peeve of mine. After that, I couldn't enjoy it as much. I enjoyed the reconciliation of family members and moving on with their life after forgiving each other, but it has some details that I wasn't enjoying as much. For personal preference, I wanted more details to give a complete picture of certain situations and characters. A highlight of this book is the musical aspect of the story, where the lyrics provided gave such poignant imagery of the character and the feelings they invoke for certain individuals. Also, I liked the book cover and how colorful it is. Given my focus on that pet peeve being a detriment for my own reading enjoyment, I still want to read another Andrea Nourse book to figure out the author's writing style and hopefully a story that won't hit a pet peeve of mine.
This is the first Andrea Nourse book I have read. I read the synopsis and thought it was a good blurb, but as I was reading it, it brought up a pet peeve of mine. After that, I couldn't enjoy it as much. I enjoyed the reconciliation of family members and moving on with their life after forgiving each other, but it has some details that I wasn't enjoying as much. For personal preference, I wanted more details to give a complete picture of certain situations and characters. A highlight of this book is the musical aspect of the story, where the lyrics provided gave such poignant imagery of the character and the feelings they invoke for certain individuals. Also, I liked the book cover and how colorful it is. Given my focus on that pet peeve being a detriment for my own reading enjoyment, I still want to read another Andrea Nourse book to figure out the author's writing style and hopefully a story that won't hit a pet peeve of mine.
October 5, 2020
{REVIEW}
AFTER EVERYTHING was the very first work of art I read from @andreanourse and it was amazing! Andrea’s writing is out of this world!
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I immediately loved all of the characters in this book,they were all so relatable. And the relationship between Abby & Derrick was beautifully written. A one night stand ended up turning into a wildly beautiful relationship. This is a beautiful story about rediscovering yourself and being your own woman, about healing from your past, about recovering from loss and about family, but ultimately about being yourself. ••••••••••••••••••••••••
I love the storyteller music aspect and the ending was beautiful! I could go on for days about this five star read, but I’d don’t want to spoil anything for you.
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I am telling you right now, this book is amazing, do yourself a favor and go read it. This book is real, it’s relatable, it’s honest. It was everything I didn’t know I needed. Fantastic job Andrea, thank you for writing this book and for letting me be part of your ARC team.
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CW: Miscarriage.
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October 23, 2020
After Everything by Andrea Nourse was my first read of hers. I first became Bookstagram friends with her and when I noted she was also an author, I was very excited and quickly joined her Arc team!
After Everything had to be one of my most anticipated books this year once I saw she was releasing it. It's a book full of honesty, heart, and real relatable characters.
Within the first few pages I was drawn to the main character, Abby Rhodes. She was trying to start over after leaving her husband, who happened to be her high-school sweet heart, but that same love that was there back when they got together.... wasn't there anymore so she needed to let herself be free.
She didn't know any other way than to simply leave, she was overwhelmed by life, something I can relate to, which made me love Abby more.
She wanted to start fresh, and do what she's always dreamed of doing, becoming a song writer.
On this new journey relationships develop, old ones slowly mend and Abby slowly becomes the person she has always dreamed of being.
Fearless, that is how I would describe Abby. She left a very good life because she was truly not happy in it, and walked into the unknown to follow her dreams hoping they took her somewhere she felt she belonged. Oh how brave she was to do that!
I absolutely loved this book and would like to thank Andrea for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
After Everything had to be one of my most anticipated books this year once I saw she was releasing it. It's a book full of honesty, heart, and real relatable characters.
Within the first few pages I was drawn to the main character, Abby Rhodes. She was trying to start over after leaving her husband, who happened to be her high-school sweet heart, but that same love that was there back when they got together.... wasn't there anymore so she needed to let herself be free.
She didn't know any other way than to simply leave, she was overwhelmed by life, something I can relate to, which made me love Abby more.
She wanted to start fresh, and do what she's always dreamed of doing, becoming a song writer.
On this new journey relationships develop, old ones slowly mend and Abby slowly becomes the person she has always dreamed of being.
Fearless, that is how I would describe Abby. She left a very good life because she was truly not happy in it, and walked into the unknown to follow her dreams hoping they took her somewhere she felt she belonged. Oh how brave she was to do that!
I absolutely loved this book and would like to thank Andrea for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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