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A review by foreverinastory
Afterlove by Tanya Byrne
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was so sad but also really amazing!
Afterlove is a love story about young teens Ashana Persaud and Poppy Morgan. When the two meet during a chance field trip, they feel sparks fly. A whirlwind romance sweeps them both off their feet. But on New Years Eve, tragedy strikes and Ash is killed. But Ash isn't gone, she's joined a group a reapers who escort the newly deceased to the afterlife. Ash begrudgingly does her job, but she can't forget Poppy, she has to find her.
This book fucking broke my heart. We know going into this book that Ash is going to die. Even though, I was compelled to love these characters. I love seeing Ash meet and fall for Poppy. I loved everything about their relationship. I was destroyed when we finally get to NYE.
The After section was just as compelling. I was so curious to see what would happen to Ash, how the reapers worked and if she'd find Poppy again. I loved these characters so much. The ending was equally sad as the rest of this, but no other ending would've fit for this book. Make sure you read the author's note too because it made everything even MORE emotional. I definitely want to read Byrne's other work after this.
Rep: Indo-Guyanese British lesbian female MC, white British lesbian female love interest, BIPOC hijabi cishet female side character, Indo-Guyanese parents, Indo-Guyanese British female side character, BIPOC female side characters.
CWs: Underage alcohol consumption, child death, death, grief. Moderate: Car accident, drug abuse/death by overdose of minor character, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, outing, sexual content, suicide of minor character, racism, xenophobia.
Afterlove is a love story about young teens Ashana Persaud and Poppy Morgan. When the two meet during a chance field trip, they feel sparks fly. A whirlwind romance sweeps them both off their feet. But on New Years Eve, tragedy strikes and Ash is killed. But Ash isn't gone, she's joined a group a reapers who escort the newly deceased to the afterlife. Ash begrudgingly does her job, but she can't forget Poppy, she has to find her.
This book fucking broke my heart. We know going into this book that Ash is going to die. Even though, I was compelled to love these characters. I love seeing Ash meet and fall for Poppy. I loved everything about their relationship. I was destroyed when we finally get to NYE.
The After section was just as compelling. I was so curious to see what would happen to Ash, how the reapers worked and if she'd find Poppy again. I loved these characters so much. The ending was equally sad as the rest of this, but no other ending would've fit for this book. Make sure you read the author's note too because it made everything even MORE emotional. I definitely want to read Byrne's other work after this.
Rep: Indo-Guyanese British lesbian female MC, white British lesbian female love interest, BIPOC hijabi cishet female side character, Indo-Guyanese parents, Indo-Guyanese British female side character, BIPOC female side characters.
CWs: Underage alcohol consumption, child death, death, grief. Moderate: Car accident, drug abuse/death by overdose of minor character, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, outing, sexual content, suicide of minor character, racism, xenophobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Outing