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A review by clicktojointhemafia
The Year After You by Nina de Pass
3.75
: ̗̀➛ This book said: "Honey, I'm sorry for the tears and depression, let me make it up to you with an aesthetic ass boarding school in the swiss mountains, where you travel around in cable cars. And you know what?" I ate it UP!! (With tears down my face)
TW: depression, grief, bullying, homophobia and mentions of suicide.
Cara and her best friend got into a car crash, and she was the only survivor from the incident. She's grieving and she's losing herself and she's stuck spiralling into depression with surivors guilt. Her mother is ill equipped to handle these emotions and as a last attempt to save her, she sends Cara to a boarding school in Switzerland (Oh to have money). This school is a new, fresh start for her and she's slowly making new friends. One person in particular has her drawn like a moth to her flame, and as their connection grows she realises she can't keep the secret she's been holding in since the crash in anymore.
One of the most memorable things about this book was Cara's clear progress and healing. At the start, her inner monologue was lifeless and numb of any emotion but as she went through certain events we saw small seeds of life return to her until she was whole again. Her grief was so sad to read, and I wasn't expecting to cry but I did. Cara's confessions and fears after losing her best friend were so raw and just real to read, that I think a little part of me broke inside when reading it.
Two moments that really had a profound impact was the conversation with Mr King (Rina Kent flashbacks 😭😭😭) and her conversation with Mr and Mrs Canter (her best friend's parents). Mr King's conversation embodied the push, help and realisation before healing. And the conversationwith Mr and Mrs Canter embodied Cara's self forgiviness and the readiness to move on and heal.
TW: depression, grief, bullying, homophobia and mentions of suicide.
Cara and her best friend got into a car crash, and she was the only survivor from the incident. She's grieving and she's losing herself and she's stuck spiralling into depression with surivors guilt. Her mother is ill equipped to handle these emotions and as a last attempt to save her, she sends Cara to a boarding school in Switzerland (Oh to have money). This school is a new, fresh start for her and she's slowly making new friends. One person in particular has her drawn like a moth to her flame, and as their connection grows she realises she can't keep the secret she's been holding in since the crash in anymore.
One of the most memorable things about this book was Cara's clear progress and healing. At the start, her inner monologue was lifeless and numb of any emotion but as she went through certain events we saw small seeds of life return to her until she was whole again. Her grief was so sad to read, and I wasn't expecting to cry but I did. Cara's confessions and fears after losing her best friend were so raw and just real to read, that I think a little part of me broke inside when reading it.
Two moments that really had a profound impact was the conversation with Mr King (Rina Kent flashbacks 😭😭😭) and her conversation with Mr and Mrs Canter (her best friend's parents). Mr King's conversation embodied the push, help and realisation before healing. And the conversationwith Mr and Mrs Canter embodied Cara's self forgiviness and the readiness to move on and heal.
“Your friend might be gone, but everything you built with her lives on. She’ll be a marker for you –for what you expect from friendships. For how you carry yourself into new experiences, things you weren’t able to do with her. For how you love. She’ll be with you, inside you, for the rest of everything.”
-Mr King
I might cry.
The characters overall were wonderful to read and had distinct personalities aswell as layers that made them feel so real or like I was watching a movie. I love how the author gave them their own complex issues and how it slowly descended into a complicated mess, resulting in one heavily tortured friend group. I love it.
My love Ren had my heart. I want to be friends with her, ugh. She was so sweet and patient with Cara, and overall was such a soft and kind hearted person (she's also Lesbian (or bi???)). The other two 'friends' (i call them friends loosely because one was barely a friend and the other was a love interest) were Fred and Hector.
Hector was a love interest, and I have to say he had character. His personality wasn't just based off the FMC. The sturggles he faced before and during the book really made me feel for him. His father was frustratingly...male to say the very least and the poor boy really could use some therapy. His heart is truly in the right place but I fear we have a JJ/Sarah Cameron situation (OBX characters).
Hector and Cara's chemistry was so pure and innocent, I feel like they need to cuddle their depression away now.
The whole aesthetic of the boarding school was... fuck, it was mesmerising. Who says money can't buy happiness? This book just fucked that statement cause yk what? IT MADE CARA HAPPY AFTER ALL. Okay jokes aside, wtf I am jealous. Let me live in the snowy mountains and travel by cable cars please??? This is exactly what we need in boarding school YA/NA books- a gloriously beautiful setting to just ADD the right amount of sprinkle to this already awesome cupcake.
Authors gotta do this more often please and thank you.
(Next)
I didn't expect to cry in this book at all. I expected it to be heart felt, but I didn't think I would shed a single tear. But I did. Whether it was because it was 3am or IDFK but I didn't just cry, I semi bawled. The tears did not stop. I was so proud to see Cara healing and I was so distraught when hearing Cara's guilt and anguish being let out.
I think reading about grief will be my new favourite depressing topic to read about.
I don't have many criticisms, but of course I still do. Author please re-clarify Ren's sexuality and feelings towards Fred- I am not following. I disliked how at the end when Cara was on the road of healing, her relationship with her mother was insinuated to be perfect? Her mother was described to be a horrible support system after her best friend's death and I have not forgotten, so why has Cara? The start- until the 30% mark- was incredibly slow.
Overall though, it was a wonderful read.
rating: 3.75 stars (although i praised it, I have high expectations so this rating is actually a good one, don't be deterred!!)