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kburns2004's review against another edition
4.0
I requested this book from NetGalley for the cover alone. I am really into airplanes and more specifically their crashes. While that plays a factor in this book, this is more centered around a man's journey to find out more about the person he loved. I was a bit wishy washy on this book for a lot of it, just because I felt Coen was a bit unbelievable with his interactions with others, but when they went looking for Elias' family is when I couldn't put the book down.
While I don't think I will remember this book a few months from now, it was an enjoyable read
While I don't think I will remember this book a few months from now, it was an enjoyable read
tinamayreads's review against another edition
5.0
AFTER ELIAS by Eddy Boudel Tan is such a sad novel but I loved it! We follow the main character Coen after he loses his fiancé Elias in a plane crash one week before their wedding. Their story is truly heartbreaking but it was wonderful to read about the life they had together and how Coen deals with the aftermath.
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I absolutely loved how one of the settings is my city - Vancouver! The way Eddy describes Vancouver is so spot on. The other setting is Mexico and luckily enough I have been there a couple times too so I felt such a connection to both settings.
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This book made me cry and I really loved it! Definitely pick this one up when you’re in the right mood for a sad book!
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Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review!
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I absolutely loved how one of the settings is my city - Vancouver! The way Eddy describes Vancouver is so spot on. The other setting is Mexico and luckily enough I have been there a couple times too so I felt such a connection to both settings.
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This book made me cry and I really loved it! Definitely pick this one up when you’re in the right mood for a sad book!
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Thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review!
wafflepolly's review against another edition
4.0
“You look so happy. I want to believe it. I really do. But I know how good you are at pretending.”
A plane crashes into the ocean, and Coen Carraway loses the man he loves. He and Elias are due to get married just one week later on a paradisal Mexican island. Among rumours and suggestions in the news that the crash could have had a sinister cause, Coen decides to go ahead with the celebration planned for their wedding day, turning it into a celebration of Elias's life.
Friends and family of Coen share many of the same doubts and discomfort that the reader does, making much of this book an uncomfortable read. It is an ugly and honest exploration of grief and denial, and the author does an excellent job of creating doubts in the reader's mind.
I spent a lot of the first half of the book being made to feel uncomfortable by Coen, and also by Elias via flashbacks. I found that I could put little trust in either of them.
These doubts caused me to debate leaving a more critical review, however when part 2 is reached – over halfway through the book – there is a sudden dark turn, one which makes a lot of these doubts that have been cast suddenly make sense.
The second half of the story in particular is beautifully written – once the reader understands the perspective of the characters more, everything feels more fleshed out. Supporting characters, in particular Vivi, Decker, and Clark, coax the story along with conflict and resolve, and play a big part in making the story so relatable – several times they are there to show the reader that other people are questioning Coen's actions and motives.
For a debut novel in particular, this book is very impressive. I look forward to reading Eddy Boudel Tan's next work, due for release next year.
Content warnings for the book: a rape scene, self-harm, discussions of suicide.
(An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts are my own.)
A plane crashes into the ocean, and Coen Carraway loses the man he loves. He and Elias are due to get married just one week later on a paradisal Mexican island. Among rumours and suggestions in the news that the crash could have had a sinister cause, Coen decides to go ahead with the celebration planned for their wedding day, turning it into a celebration of Elias's life.
Friends and family of Coen share many of the same doubts and discomfort that the reader does, making much of this book an uncomfortable read. It is an ugly and honest exploration of grief and denial, and the author does an excellent job of creating doubts in the reader's mind.
I spent a lot of the first half of the book being made to feel uncomfortable by Coen, and also by Elias via flashbacks. I found that I could put little trust in either of them.
These doubts caused me to debate leaving a more critical review, however when part 2 is reached – over halfway through the book – there is a sudden dark turn, one which makes a lot of these doubts that have been cast suddenly make sense.
The second half of the story in particular is beautifully written – once the reader understands the perspective of the characters more, everything feels more fleshed out. Supporting characters, in particular Vivi, Decker, and Clark, coax the story along with conflict and resolve, and play a big part in making the story so relatable – several times they are there to show the reader that other people are questioning Coen's actions and motives.
For a debut novel in particular, this book is very impressive. I look forward to reading Eddy Boudel Tan's next work, due for release next year.
Content warnings for the book: a rape scene, self-harm, discussions of suicide.
(An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts are my own.)
deepdivethis's review against another edition
5.0
As I started AFTER ELIAS I felt like I was wearing a blindfold. I always prefer to go into books knowing as little as possible and luckily the back cover description is very slim on the details (which I love).
✈️
What we do know is that Coen Caraway has already traveled from Vancouver to Mexico as he waits for his fiancé Elias to arrive for their wedding. However, as Coen catches a glimpse of the news he learns that the plane Elias was piloting has gone down.
✈️
What we do know is that Coen Caraway has already traveled from Vancouver to Mexico as he waits for his fiancé Elias to arrive for their wedding. However, as Coen catches a glimpse of the news he learns that the plane Elias was piloting has gone down.
taytay616's review
2.0
Tough and sad
This book took a long time to get into.I almost stopped reading it but decided to push through it. The book is incredibly sad and heartbreaking. I hope nobody goes through what he did that is unimaginable pain. the frequent time flips made it hard at time to follow the story. I thought the time flips from before the crash and after the crash would come together at the end. However, that didn't happened instead I had more questions. I felt the story was left incomplete and empty.
This book took a long time to get into.I almost stopped reading it but decided to push through it. The book is incredibly sad and heartbreaking. I hope nobody goes through what he did that is unimaginable pain. the frequent time flips made it hard at time to follow the story. I thought the time flips from before the crash and after the crash would come together at the end. However, that didn't happened instead I had more questions. I felt the story was left incomplete and empty.
kelsielynn_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chibihao's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rebeckareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Rape
alonsonm's review against another edition
5.0
MAGNIFICENT novel. This novel is full of contrasts in the most powerful and beautiful way. It’s heartbreaking but full of hope. It’s emotional but intriguing. It’s about love and depression.
I was very impressed with how Tan managed to capture the essence of Mexico across the whole novel, even when the main characters aren’t Mexican and just happen to be in the country. As a Mexican living away from Mexico, it was very nice feeling back home through the pages of this book.
I also think Tan manages to talk about and portrait depression in a very unique and real way, far from stereotypes and common places.
I was very impressed with how Tan managed to capture the essence of Mexico across the whole novel, even when the main characters aren’t Mexican and just happen to be in the country. As a Mexican living away from Mexico, it was very nice feeling back home through the pages of this book.
I also think Tan manages to talk about and portrait depression in a very unique and real way, far from stereotypes and common places.