A review by sapphistoire
Before. After. Always. by Morgan Lee Miller

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Before. After. Always. is my fourth book by Morgan Lee Miller and her writing never does disappoint! This latest novel deals a lot with loss and grief, and trying to find hope and love again despite it all. I enjoyed both Eliza and Blake as main characters and I thought that they both complimented each other really well - Eliza who always thought things through properly while wanting to take things slow, and Blake who was enthusiastic and a risk-taker. Morgan's writing is once again really easy to just fall into and enjoy and at times it felt like I was reading the book equivalent of a sitcom or a movie, so if you like books like that this is definitely one for you! One thing I really enjoyed about this is seeing some of Miller's characters from other books popping up - like Reagan and Blair from Hammers, Strings and Beautiful Things visiting Blake's restaurant!

There were a couple of things in this book, though, that I didn't love as much as in her previous ones - primarily the miscommunication trope. I hate the miscommunication trope and I don't think I've ever read it done well. It really could have been sorted out if they'd had one conversation after Eliza's celebratory drinks, as Blake suggested, and it just wasn't my favourite 'conflict' she's ever written. I also wasn't a huge fan of the way Blake's sister was written - she's meant to be in her late twenties but most of the time talked and acted like she was a teenager.

Overall, though, this was a great read - a lot more of an emotional read than I'm used to, but I really enjoyed it regardless!