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mike_bolter's review
5.0
You can find the uncensored review on Fabulous and Fun!
After the Rain left me with such a book hangover!
It starts off so sweet and then crashes into a flaming wreck of heartache only to repeat the process a couple more times. It’s funny and heartfelt and sad all at the same time throughout most of the book.
And then we get to almost the ending. Where the most pointless of problems gets in the way. I’ll be honest, it’s one of my biggest pet peeves to see in a book. But I don’t want to spoil the details for you. It took a little time for it to sit with me before I was able to get over my annoyance for that part but the end result is sweet and charming and all puppies and rainbows kind of “awww” to it.
“If I blink, will you disappear?”
So grab this one and experience all the feels!
After the Rain left me with such a book hangover!
It starts off so sweet and then crashes into a flaming wreck of heartache only to repeat the process a couple more times. It’s funny and heartfelt and sad all at the same time throughout most of the book.
And then we get to almost the ending. Where the most pointless of problems gets in the way. I’ll be honest, it’s one of my biggest pet peeves to see in a book. But I don’t want to spoil the details for you. It took a little time for it to sit with me before I was able to get over my annoyance for that part but the end result is sweet and charming and all puppies and rainbows kind of “awww” to it.
“If I blink, will you disappear?”
So grab this one and experience all the feels!
jesseka8787's review
4.0
I absolutely LOVE Renee Carlino. Her writing is like NONE OTHER. This book was wonderful, but not my favorite. I still would read it and give it a lot of chance. It has a lot of good lessons to be learned and makes you reflect on your own life. That's what Renee does...she makes you think about your own life.
Lovely book. Lovely characters. Lovely believable scenarios... just read it!
Lovely book. Lovely characters. Lovely believable scenarios... just read it!
agiali's review
3.0
I am the #1 Yeehaw Romance lover and Renee Carlino's most famous book, Before We Were Strangers was one of my top five reads of 2022, so it was safe to say this new adult contemporary western romance was the perfect recipe for a book I'd love; unfortunately, I found it to be just okay. In these moments I wish Goodreads had half-star ratings because I'd probably give this more of a 2.5 or a 2.75 out of five stars.
Avelina Belo moved to Montana and started working on the ranch at 18. When she met a handsome and charming cowboy, Jake, they married within a few months and were extremely in love. Still, when his neck broke in an accident Avelina blamed herself and Jake is no longer able to be the cowboy he once was, he spirals and kills himself right in front of her. Years later, Avelina is a shell of herself and the ghost of Jake haunts her.
Nate Meyers is UCLA's next-best heart surgeon, but when he misdiagnoses a young girl and she flatlines on his operating table he is completely lost. Lost in a depressive hole and realizing his mistake led to someone's daughter being buried he doesn't know where to go. Nate finds himself on his uncle's Montana ranch where he takes an interest in the beautiful woman everyone seems to avoid. But when he learns more about Avelina's past and the two have undeniable chemistry, it's up to them to decide if they're willing to put their hearts back out there.
I honestly wish there was a book about Avelina and Jake's love story because Nate and Avelina were quite bland for me. This is a less than 300-page romance book and so much was put into it that it felt like everything was going too fast. Nate's character didn't have a lot of depth for me, while Avelina's character felt like an actual person. Nate just felt like the guy who came in to save her, which granted she was drowning in her own grief, but besides that he was just that one guy who is good at surgery. When I first picked up the book, Jake and Avelina as a couple had that spark that had me giggling, but after his accident he became a man he never wanted to be and I was a bit bummed. I wish there was more to their story than flashbacks and a few chapters.
I also didn't like how much religion got brought up, but that's just a personal preference. Oftentimes if a book has religion mentioned I don't bat an eye, but this one was brought up a lot. There was a character who would constantly bring up the fact that Avelina should go to church or seek God, and I understand that people go to religion when going through grief, but Avelina is the one who should make that decision.
Another topic that gave me a bit of the ick was the conversations on suicide. Jake shot himself dead and the way every character but Avelina didn't sympathize with him at all. I understand it is a controversial topic and it is selfish, but imagine being in his shoes. I know he left his wife, I know he hurt his wife, but he became completely paralyzed after being a cowboy and a loving husband. I feel for him, I don't think I could ever be the same if the same happened to me. I wouldn't treat Avelina the way he did, but sometimes when you are in so much pain and you can't recognize yourself, your brain just wants to be mercied and I have to try to see that from his lense.
Overall, this was just okay. I didn't love it and I don't think I'd recommend this highly, but I still want to read more books from Carlino, I just hope there will be a book I love just as much as Before We Were Strangers.
Avelina Belo moved to Montana and started working on the ranch at 18. When she met a handsome and charming cowboy, Jake, they married within a few months and were extremely in love. Still, when his neck broke in an accident Avelina blamed herself and Jake is no longer able to be the cowboy he once was, he spirals and kills himself right in front of her. Years later, Avelina is a shell of herself and the ghost of Jake haunts her.
Nate Meyers is UCLA's next-best heart surgeon, but when he misdiagnoses a young girl and she flatlines on his operating table he is completely lost. Lost in a depressive hole and realizing his mistake led to someone's daughter being buried he doesn't know where to go. Nate finds himself on his uncle's Montana ranch where he takes an interest in the beautiful woman everyone seems to avoid. But when he learns more about Avelina's past and the two have undeniable chemistry, it's up to them to decide if they're willing to put their hearts back out there.
I honestly wish there was a book about Avelina and Jake's love story because Nate and Avelina were quite bland for me. This is a less than 300-page romance book and so much was put into it that it felt like everything was going too fast. Nate's character didn't have a lot of depth for me, while Avelina's character felt like an actual person. Nate just felt like the guy who came in to save her, which granted she was drowning in her own grief, but besides that he was just that one guy who is good at surgery. When I first picked up the book, Jake and Avelina as a couple had that spark that had me giggling, but after his accident he became a man he never wanted to be and I was a bit bummed. I wish there was more to their story than flashbacks and a few chapters.
I also didn't like how much religion got brought up, but that's just a personal preference. Oftentimes if a book has religion mentioned I don't bat an eye, but this one was brought up a lot. There was a character who would constantly bring up the fact that Avelina should go to church or seek God, and I understand that people go to religion when going through grief, but Avelina is the one who should make that decision.
Another topic that gave me a bit of the ick was the conversations on suicide. Jake shot himself dead and the way every character but Avelina didn't sympathize with him at all. I understand it is a controversial topic and it is selfish, but imagine being in his shoes. I know he left his wife, I know he hurt his wife, but he became completely paralyzed after being a cowboy and a loving husband. I feel for him, I don't think I could ever be the same if the same happened to me. I wouldn't treat Avelina the way he did, but sometimes when you are in so much pain and you can't recognize yourself, your brain just wants to be mercied and I have to try to see that from his lense.
Overall, this was just okay. I didn't love it and I don't think I'd recommend this highly, but I still want to read more books from Carlino, I just hope there will be a book I love just as much as Before We Were Strangers.
juliette_21's review against another edition
4.0
This is a 3.5/5 stars for me.
It was a very nice and easy book to read. There was plenty of descriptions and I felt nicely introduced to all of the characters.
It was nice to read a book set in the first person for once.
I did find this book to be a little bit cheesy and did skip a few pages due to that.
Overall this was an easy book to read on a day when I didn't have much time to read.
It was a very nice and easy book to read. There was plenty of descriptions and I felt nicely introduced to all of the characters.
It was nice to read a book set in the first person for once.
I did find this book to be a little bit cheesy and did skip a few pages due to that.
Overall this was an easy book to read on a day when I didn't have much time to read.
ashcash04's review
3.0
Not a bad story. I really enjoyed the horse/country aspect and now I want to read about more cowboys! Ava was a little immature at times, but she's been through a horrific tragedy so I can't really even begin to understand what's going on in her mind. Wasn't crazy about the last portion of the book but still liked the story and ending overall.
bookishblasian's review
3.0
Well, I didn't hate it? I feel awful because I went into this expecting to absolutely love it. I loved two of her other books and absolutely adored them. This one fell short. It gets 3 stars because it kept me reading but just barely. I didn't care for Ava too much. Didn't really like Nate either. I didn't connect wth any of the characters like I usually do. I truly wanted to love this one, but it didn't do too much for me. Despite the sad story line, it didn't make me "feel."
simplyxkate's review
1.0
This book is just blah. Annoying heroine. Insta-love. Cheesy lines. Stupid drama. I skimmed the last 30% of it just to finish.
sampie120's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alittlewrightreading's review
3.0
After the Rain a lot was a beautiful love story and coming to age story.
In After the Rain , Ava and Nate are trying to overcome the life challenges that were thrown at them. When they meet everything seems to come together to heal both of their wounds that were haunting them.
I wanted more from the ending. It just didn’t seem like enough for the way the story unraveled.
TRIGGER ALERT: Suicide, domestic abuse, child death (non-violent)
In After the Rain , Ava and Nate are trying to overcome the life challenges that were thrown at them. When they meet everything seems to come together to heal both of their wounds that were haunting them.
I wanted more from the ending. It just didn’t seem like enough for the way the story unraveled.
TRIGGER ALERT: Suicide, domestic abuse, child death (non-violent)