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marquessa17's review against another edition
4.0
I am so happy that I read this book, it was an unexpected surprise. It is told from the perspective of Ethan who was kidnapped when he was 11 but has now returned home 4 years later and also from Caroline the older sister of another boy that was also taken. Ethan's perspective was my favorite and I thought that the parents depiction was very well done. I will definitely have to check out the other books by the author.
samwlabb's review against another edition
4.0
I read The Truth About Alice 2 years ago, and became a Mathieu fan. I was very excited when I heard about this book, and I was not disappointed.
This is exactly what the title implies. It is the story of what happens afterward. Caroline's little brother, who is also autistic, is kidnapped. After being missing for several days, the police find him, but they also find Ethan, who had been kidnapped from their town 4 years earlier. The story is told from alternating POVs (Caroline and Ethan) over the course of a year after Ethan and Dylan are rescued.
The focus may have been on Ethan and Caroline, but Mathieu really showed how differently the two families healed and dealt with the kidnappings. One family, Ethan's, was able to afford the best therapists and faced the problem head on. While the other family, Caroline's, was cash strapped, and wanted to pretend the kidnapping never happened. As a result, one family grows closer as the other falls apart. This was sad, but realistic.
I became very attached to Ethan quite quickly. The therapy sessions with Dr. Greenberg were some of my favorite parts, because this is where we could really see how Ethan was changing and healing. These sessions were also some of the most emotional parts of the book, as Ethan starts to fill int he holes in his memory. **Sidenote: Dr. Greenberg and Groovy were awesome**
Caroline is sort of a mess, but this "event" seems to be a catalyst for change. In my opinion, she becomes a much better person over the course of the story. The kidnapping forced her to grow up a little, and to focus on other people a little more. She develops new friendships, starts to take her responsibilities more seriously, and even gets a little closer to her mom. I felt sort of proud of her at the end of the book, whereas, I did not think too much of her and her actions in the beginning of the book.
The friendship that develops between Caroline and Ethan is quite beautiful. It's a tough basis for a relationship, but both of them got so much out of being with the other. They helped each other just "be", and through this musical therapy, each of them healed and grew a little.
Another solid "ripped from the headlines" book from Jennifer Mathieu.
**I was lucky enough to have my "wish granted" and obtained an eARC copy of this from NetGalley. Quotes may differ in the final copy**
"Four years. A quarter of my life. Twenty-five percent of it lost"
This is exactly what the title implies. It is the story of what happens afterward. Caroline's little brother, who is also autistic, is kidnapped. After being missing for several days, the police find him, but they also find Ethan, who had been kidnapped from their town 4 years earlier. The story is told from alternating POVs (Caroline and Ethan) over the course of a year after Ethan and Dylan are rescued.
"I want to disintegrate into a million little pieces and float through the atmosphere. I want to rocket up past the moon and disappear somewhere into ht router bands of the Milky Way. I want to be somewhere where I don't feel anything"
The focus may have been on Ethan and Caroline, but Mathieu really showed how differently the two families healed and dealt with the kidnappings. One family, Ethan's, was able to afford the best therapists and faced the problem head on. While the other family, Caroline's, was cash strapped, and wanted to pretend the kidnapping never happened. As a result, one family grows closer as the other falls apart. This was sad, but realistic.
"I'm not going to try and reduce the weight of your burden, but I'm going to help you grow strong enough to carry it."
I became very attached to Ethan quite quickly. The therapy sessions with Dr. Greenberg were some of my favorite parts, because this is where we could really see how Ethan was changing and healing. These sessions were also some of the most emotional parts of the book, as Ethan starts to fill int he holes in his memory. **Sidenote: Dr. Greenberg and Groovy were awesome**
but the thing about Moments is that when you try to have them, you can't. They only sneak up on you when you don't expect them."
Caroline is sort of a mess, but this "event" seems to be a catalyst for change. In my opinion, she becomes a much better person over the course of the story. The kidnapping forced her to grow up a little, and to focus on other people a little more. She develops new friendships, starts to take her responsibilities more seriously, and even gets a little closer to her mom. I felt sort of proud of her at the end of the book, whereas, I did not think too much of her and her actions in the beginning of the book.
"I think you and Caroline must be int he same karass"
The friendship that develops between Caroline and Ethan is quite beautiful. It's a tough basis for a relationship, but both of them got so much out of being with the other. They helped each other just "be", and through this musical therapy, each of them healed and grew a little.
"she grins because she knows. She knows we've got a million songs ahead of us, all of them waiting to be found, and we can't wait to play every single one of them together."
Another solid "ripped from the headlines" book from Jennifer Mathieu.
**I was lucky enough to have my "wish granted" and obtained an eARC copy of this from NetGalley. Quotes may differ in the final copy**
grahamlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this title at the Texas Library Association. I've been a fan of Mathieu since The Truth About Alice and this is her best title yet. I can't wait to recommend this to my students when it's released in the fall. It's a great contemporary fiction about a difficult topic and dealt with in a realistic, honest, and respectful way.
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
5.0
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Such a tough subject. It was very well written. I liked how complex the characters and their emotions were. It was interesting to read about a character with autism who isn't able to express what happened and I can only imagine how frustrating and heartbreaking that would be. The family dynamics and the difficult friendship made the story more believable because real life is messy.
Such a tough subject. It was very well written. I liked how complex the characters and their emotions were. It was interesting to read about a character with autism who isn't able to express what happened and I can only imagine how frustrating and heartbreaking that would be. The family dynamics and the difficult friendship made the story more believable because real life is messy.
thefox22's review against another edition
4.0
*Physical ARC kindly provided by Macmillan*
This was a wonderful book. I’m especially happy with how therapy-positive this book was, and how Jennifer Mathieu showed Ethan’s PTSD and healing process. Most of the book was focused on that, and how Caroline was connected to it. Because when they start to become friends, and perhaps something more, the kidnapping is there between them. But the author treated their relationship, and Ethan’s trauma, with such care and respect. And I loved the two of them so much, even when I wanted Caroline to do better. While it was her little brother who had been kidnapped, she was still feeling the effects of that tragedy, especially when it doesn’t seem like they’ll be able to help Dylan. But she is sometimes a little selfish, and she doesn’t try as hard as she could. And Ethan gets caught up in her, starts to feel something more. But he’s still trying to heal and come to terms with everything that had happened to him, and it’s hard for him. The two of them have a long ways to go, and though the book doesn’t wrap everything up perfectly, it felt realistic and the story was handled so well. And I so appreciated the way that Jennifer wrote Ethan’s character and the therapy sessions. This is an important read; one that made me cry so hard but also filled me with hope and light. It was a story of a tragedy, yes, but it was also a story of healing and forgiveness and compassion. Just WONDERFUL.
This was a wonderful book. I’m especially happy with how therapy-positive this book was, and how Jennifer Mathieu showed Ethan’s PTSD and healing process. Most of the book was focused on that, and how Caroline was connected to it. Because when they start to become friends, and perhaps something more, the kidnapping is there between them. But the author treated their relationship, and Ethan’s trauma, with such care and respect. And I loved the two of them so much, even when I wanted Caroline to do better. While it was her little brother who had been kidnapped, she was still feeling the effects of that tragedy, especially when it doesn’t seem like they’ll be able to help Dylan. But she is sometimes a little selfish, and she doesn’t try as hard as she could. And Ethan gets caught up in her, starts to feel something more. But he’s still trying to heal and come to terms with everything that had happened to him, and it’s hard for him. The two of them have a long ways to go, and though the book doesn’t wrap everything up perfectly, it felt realistic and the story was handled so well. And I so appreciated the way that Jennifer wrote Ethan’s character and the therapy sessions. This is an important read; one that made me cry so hard but also filled me with hope and light. It was a story of a tragedy, yes, but it was also a story of healing and forgiveness and compassion. Just WONDERFUL.
kellyhager's review against another edition
5.0
Four years ago, Ethan was kidnapped. Several days ago, the man who took Ethan also kidnapped Dylan, an autistic boy. The two were rescued but both are having trouble getting back to normal. Dylan's sister Caroline thinks it might be better if she could talk to Ethan about what Dylan went through. And so the two become friends, sort of.
I loved Jennifer Mathieu's second novel, Devoted, and this is even better. It's a kidnapping novel that focuses much more on the aftermath, which I think is relatively rarely explored.
Also, while her books tend to be dark, there's also a major undercurrent of hope. You know that the characters will end up ok, even if they're not there now.
I haven't read her first book yet but I am desperate to.
Highly recommended.
I loved Jennifer Mathieu's second novel, Devoted, and this is even better. It's a kidnapping novel that focuses much more on the aftermath, which I think is relatively rarely explored.
Also, while her books tend to be dark, there's also a major undercurrent of hope. You know that the characters will end up ok, even if they're not there now.
I haven't read her first book yet but I am desperate to.
Highly recommended.
alisoninbookland's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Great exploration of a really messed up situation. I love Law & Order/Criminal Minds so I'm very familiar with that side of a kidnapping story. Seeing the aftermath was new and completely different. Everything felt very true to life and very messy. Highly recommended.
tapsandtomes's review against another edition
4.0
GAH this book will make you HURT. It’s a book about trauma–kidnapping, sexual abuse, PTSD, healing. It tore me up so much that I didn’t write the review immediately because I just wasn’t sure HOW to write it.
I’m still not sure.
Mostly I just felt so much pain for the boys and their families in this story. It’s extremely intense, so be careful with yourselves when you read it.
I’m sorry, this is a hard book to review–it’s beautiful, and heartbreaking. I highly recommend it, but also put a major trigger warning on it.
This book was awarded in a Goodreads giveaway by Roaring Book Press. This post does contain affiliate links.
I’m still not sure.
Mostly I just felt so much pain for the boys and their families in this story. It’s extremely intense, so be careful with yourselves when you read it.
I’m sorry, this is a hard book to review–it’s beautiful, and heartbreaking. I highly recommend it, but also put a major trigger warning on it.
This book was awarded in a Goodreads giveaway by Roaring Book Press. This post does contain affiliate links.
chymerra's review against another edition
5.0
https://easonjolie5.wordpress.com/2016/06/10/book-review-afterwards-by-jennifer-mathieu/
take_me_awayyy's review against another edition
4.0
The drugs part I didn't care for and almost made me DNF it, but I had to ILL this version (cd audio) from another library, so I didn't want to waste their effort. Real review to come. Maybe.