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Fighting Chance #1
Caged: Caged Series Book One
Sadie Reynolds is a liar. Hanging with the AE, Atwood High’s elite group of popular kids requires absolute perfection on every level: a goal Sadie knows she’ll never attain. Haunted by dreams of the night her mother was murdered, she hides her PTSD as best she can and stays quiet when her snobby friends terrorize everyone who isn’t a part of their exclusive group of friends—specifically, her geeky neighbor, Ian Daniels. Standing up against Britt Kennedy, Atwood High’s “Queen Bee” means social suicide on an epic level. Unwilling to give up the one “good” thing in her life despite her inner hatred for Britt, Sadie silently follows her bossy friend’s orders. That is, until she crosses paths with Hayden Pope.
Hayden is a “Waverly.” A kid with the misfortune of living in the small farming town of Waverly that borders the very affluent Lexington Parrish. The AE doesn’t mix with “Waverlies.” Ever. Unless the mixing involves a one-night stand. Sadie crashes into Hayden at a bonfire and the attraction that sparks between the two is nothing short of electric.
Unwilling to live a life ruled by the AE, Sadie takes a stand against her frenemies. But she soon finds out she waited too long, and the unthinkable happens, leaving everything she knows a shadow of what it once was.
Hayden is a “Waverly.” A kid with the misfortune of living in the small farming town of Waverly that borders the very affluent Lexington Parrish. The AE doesn’t mix with “Waverlies.” Ever. Unless the mixing involves a one-night stand. Sadie crashes into Hayden at a bonfire and the attraction that sparks between the two is nothing short of electric.
Unwilling to live a life ruled by the AE, Sadie takes a stand against her frenemies. But she soon finds out she waited too long, and the unthinkable happens, leaving everything she knows a shadow of what it once was.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2017
About the author
Elisa Dane
8 books247 followersELISA DANE is a self-proclaimed book junkie. A lover of handbags, chocolate, and reality television, she's a proud mother to three All- Star cheerleaders. Writing is her absolute passion, and it's her mission to create stories that will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but help you find a new respect and interest in the sport of All-Star cheerleading.
Elisa is no stranger to the publishing world. She writes steamy paranormal romance under her real name, Lisa Sanchez. Her adult works include the Hanford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, and Faythe Reclaimed), Obsessed (an erotic suspense), and a paranormal novella, Cursing Athena. Elisa lives in Northern California with her husband, three daughters, and a feisty Chihuahua who stubbornly believes she's human.
You can connect with Elisa at the following places on the web:
Facebook - Elisa Dane, and Lisa Sanchez Romance Author
Twitter - @ElisaDane, and @LisaSanchez3
Website - elisadane.com, and LisaSanchezRomanceAuthor.com
Elisa is no stranger to the publishing world. She writes steamy paranormal romance under her real name, Lisa Sanchez. Her adult works include the Hanford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, and Faythe Reclaimed), Obsessed (an erotic suspense), and a paranormal novella, Cursing Athena. Elisa lives in Northern California with her husband, three daughters, and a feisty Chihuahua who stubbornly believes she's human.
You can connect with Elisa at the following places on the web:
Facebook - Elisa Dane, and Lisa Sanchez Romance Author
Twitter - @ElisaDane, and @LisaSanchez3
Website - elisadane.com, and LisaSanchezRomanceAuthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 26, 2016
WOW.
This book deals with so much that still a couple of days later it has still left me shaking.
This book is dealing with a school shooting and it is completely heart breaking to watch it all build up.
I highly recommend this contemporary read. I really do. PLUS there is the most steamy scene in this book... ARHHHH #tingles #YASSSSSSS #WORKGIRLWORK
This book deals with so much that still a couple of days later it has still left me shaking.
This book is dealing with a school shooting and it is completely heart breaking to watch it all build up.
I highly recommend this contemporary read. I really do. PLUS there is the most steamy scene in this book... ARHHHH #tingles #YASSSSSSS #WORKGIRLWORK
July 30, 2016
This book is all kinds of messed up! I remember being in high school and all the social ladders and groups and how hard it could be to just be you but this book is way more intense. Be prepared for some major violence, abuse, drama, teenage angst and guys being way too forward.
My nephew was killed several years ago because he wanted to be friends with everyone and a group of boys didn’t like it. SO they punched him. While they didn’t mean to kill him, they did. So, I felt several times like stopping. It was too emotional for me. But I wanted to see how the author would end it. When I had to stop and drive to work one evening, I thought about the book and what I thought needed to be done. My thoughts weren’t nice. But the book just stayed with me.
Sadie is a student with a past that she has only told to her best friend Jenna. She was bound and gagged and put into a cubby hole of a closet while her mother was raped and murdered. She has nightmares every night. She is also in a school where the popular girl- Britt (the one really in charge), rules the do’s and don’ts of the upper class in school. You dress what she wants you to dress in, when she says jump you say – “How high”, you date who she wants you to date; you make fun of who she wants you to make fun of. It’s disgusting. But Sadie has PTSD and wants to stay under the radar so she goes along. She stopped going to counseling because Britt’s aunt is the counselor and she doesn’t want anyone to find out and treat her poorly and make fun of her or worse.
Sadie’s neighbor Ian is a geek. She used to be friends with him until Britt made it forbidden. Now he is a shell of his former self. He is constantly ridiculed and has everyone play pranks on him. Sadie hates it but makes no move to help him.
Sadie also doesn’t like the boys in the group she hangs with. They are selfish and feel entitled.
Then there is Hayden. He is a hottie, even to Britt. But he is not in their social class and so is off limits unless you bring him to a party for a one night stand. Literally. But Hayden has his own share of problems. He is seen as bad. But he is really a boy that seems to be way more mature than his age. He sticks up for what is right. And he has the knuckles to prove it! Sadie’s father doesn’t want her near him. But they find themselves falling for each other anyway. The ending with Sadie’s father had me in tears.
Anyway, the story is really good. The characters are believable. The group that Sadie hangs with are scum to me. From the blurb you get a sense of what is going to happen, and when it does, I found myself wanting more than what happened. Can’t elaborate - sorry.
If you don’t mind teenage violence, stupid social ladders in school, troubled teenagers, a love story, trying to overcome your own horror stories, PTSD, doing what is right instead of what is expected than this story might be for you.
I give it a 5 because it made me think. It made me cry. It made me sad for those kids who are mistreated every day in school and helped me talk to my own kids about it. It made me disgusted with parents who give their kids whatever they want because they can and not because they deserve something. It made me grateful I am not so rich and so engrossed in my own life that I don’t make time for my own kids.
My nephew was killed several years ago because he wanted to be friends with everyone and a group of boys didn’t like it. SO they punched him. While they didn’t mean to kill him, they did. So, I felt several times like stopping. It was too emotional for me. But I wanted to see how the author would end it. When I had to stop and drive to work one evening, I thought about the book and what I thought needed to be done. My thoughts weren’t nice. But the book just stayed with me.
Sadie is a student with a past that she has only told to her best friend Jenna. She was bound and gagged and put into a cubby hole of a closet while her mother was raped and murdered. She has nightmares every night. She is also in a school where the popular girl- Britt (the one really in charge), rules the do’s and don’ts of the upper class in school. You dress what she wants you to dress in, when she says jump you say – “How high”, you date who she wants you to date; you make fun of who she wants you to make fun of. It’s disgusting. But Sadie has PTSD and wants to stay under the radar so she goes along. She stopped going to counseling because Britt’s aunt is the counselor and she doesn’t want anyone to find out and treat her poorly and make fun of her or worse.
Sadie’s neighbor Ian is a geek. She used to be friends with him until Britt made it forbidden. Now he is a shell of his former self. He is constantly ridiculed and has everyone play pranks on him. Sadie hates it but makes no move to help him.
Sadie also doesn’t like the boys in the group she hangs with. They are selfish and feel entitled.
Then there is Hayden. He is a hottie, even to Britt. But he is not in their social class and so is off limits unless you bring him to a party for a one night stand. Literally. But Hayden has his own share of problems. He is seen as bad. But he is really a boy that seems to be way more mature than his age. He sticks up for what is right. And he has the knuckles to prove it! Sadie’s father doesn’t want her near him. But they find themselves falling for each other anyway. The ending with Sadie’s father had me in tears.
Anyway, the story is really good. The characters are believable. The group that Sadie hangs with are scum to me. From the blurb you get a sense of what is going to happen, and when it does, I found myself wanting more than what happened. Can’t elaborate - sorry.
If you don’t mind teenage violence, stupid social ladders in school, troubled teenagers, a love story, trying to overcome your own horror stories, PTSD, doing what is right instead of what is expected than this story might be for you.
I give it a 5 because it made me think. It made me cry. It made me sad for those kids who are mistreated every day in school and helped me talk to my own kids about it. It made me disgusted with parents who give their kids whatever they want because they can and not because they deserve something. It made me grateful I am not so rich and so engrossed in my own life that I don’t make time for my own kids.
"So you've been through the fire. You've been beaten down. Changed." He angled his body toward mine and pulled his hand away. "Princess..." He placed his hands on either side of my neck, his expression resolute. "Steel is forged the same way. It's burned and beaten... until it's made stronger." His thumb swept across my cheek, his lips curling up into a beautiful smile. "Like you, Sadie. You're so much stronger than you think."
June 6, 2016
This book made me take a really good look at how I treat people on a daily basis and have a chat with my children on bullying.
The main premise of this book is all about the popular kids at a prep school and the horrible, awful ways that they treat the ones that are not exactly with the "in" crowd. The main character knows that it is wrong but cannot help following along because if she sticks up for them, then she will become the bullied.
I really enjoyed the character of Sadie. She had to really look within herself and try to do the right thing. Of course, I fell in love with Hayden right from the start. He may not have always thought things through first but his heart was in the right place even if it always got him into trouble.
I actually cried for Ian and was able to feel his torment. Also, the moment that he was broken.
This book became my worst nightmare as a parent and I really struggled to read through the last few chapters. The ending literally gave us a bang and the detail that was given left me breathless. I would love to see a sequel and see how the characters as well as the school pulled themselves out of the darkness.
Although, I was able to see where this book was headed, I really enjoyed it because it made me feel! Even though it was shock, sadness and pity, I will keep an eye on this author!
Thanks to YA Bound Book Tours for the review copy!!
The main premise of this book is all about the popular kids at a prep school and the horrible, awful ways that they treat the ones that are not exactly with the "in" crowd. The main character knows that it is wrong but cannot help following along because if she sticks up for them, then she will become the bullied.
I really enjoyed the character of Sadie. She had to really look within herself and try to do the right thing. Of course, I fell in love with Hayden right from the start. He may not have always thought things through first but his heart was in the right place even if it always got him into trouble.
I actually cried for Ian and was able to feel his torment. Also, the moment that he was broken.
This book became my worst nightmare as a parent and I really struggled to read through the last few chapters. The ending literally gave us a bang and the detail that was given left me breathless. I would love to see a sequel and see how the characters as well as the school pulled themselves out of the darkness.
Although, I was able to see where this book was headed, I really enjoyed it because it made me feel! Even though it was shock, sadness and pity, I will keep an eye on this author!
Thanks to YA Bound Book Tours for the review copy!!
March 31, 2017
Honestly, this book quite suprised me. It thouches a sad and sensitive topic we are all familiar with, somehow. A topic which is more avoided, than addressed. We should talk about this more openly.
When I started this book, I would've never guessed it will turn directions so dramatically. However deeper into the story the signs are all there and it's quite obvious that things have to happen as they did.
This book is not just a lovestory with insta attraction and so many reasons why you can't be together but can't stay away.
The lovestory in this book is just perfectly woven in other topics this book is dealing with. Loss, grief, traumata, bullying, overcoming all these and finding yourself.
With two easy lovable and strong main characters who grow eben stronger through the story, this book is totally worth reading!
When I started this book, I would've never guessed it will turn directions so dramatically. However deeper into the story the signs are all there and it's quite obvious that things have to happen as they did.
This book is not just a lovestory with insta attraction and so many reasons why you can't be together but can't stay away.
The lovestory in this book is just perfectly woven in other topics this book is dealing with. Loss, grief, traumata, bullying, overcoming all these and finding yourself.
With two easy lovable and strong main characters who grow eben stronger through the story, this book is totally worth reading!
February 9, 2017
This book was sent to me by the author herself in exchange for an honest review. So, thank you again, Elisa Dane.
I had to let everything sink in for a few days before I uploaded this review. I mean, I attempted to review this story and it was especially hard to not add five billion spoilers.
This book opens with the rules for the game ‘Assassin’ played in this book. I thought it sounded like a pretty fun game, to be honest. I had never heard of a game such as this one and really, after reading this book, I can understand why.
I thought this book was a simple romance between the two main characters but there was so much more to it. I’m not going to say their relationship was insta-love-y but it was pretty quick paced. I can understand why, the story wasn’t only about those two characters falling in love with each other.
Throughout the story, the game Assassin was continuously talked about and played a major role in the progression of the novel. I’m going to be completed honest and say that I didn’t really see the relevance of it while I was reading it. But, when I reached the end, I finally got my answer.
Sadie is part of the AE and, can I just say, they were mental. I don’t go to a school that 1. Is mixed 2. Is in America and 3. Has a lot of problems with bullying, thankfully so I thought that the AE were a bit extreme. But, what do I know? People are ruthless and if those lowlifes found enjoyment in breaking someone down by verbal and physical abuse, well… they’re assholes. But, they still didn’t deserve what happened to them to happen. Even if we all secretly wished something bad would happen to them, we didn’t want it to be that extreme.
The ending had me hyperventilating. I was in my grandparents’ house while reading the final five or so chapters of this book and I also happened to be sitting closest to the front door. So, every time either my siblings or cousins knocked on the door for whatever reason, I had to pause, try not to over exert myself because I was already lacking in oxygen and answer the bloody door. I swear, I was dying when I reached the end of the book. They knocked on the door a lot.
If I lived in America (because we all know they’ve got the biggest problem with this), I’d probably be agoraphobic. I’m not kidding. I wouldn’t want to leave my house, much less go to school. Thankfully, I live on a conservation island that has had no record of anything ever like what happened in this book happen ever. So, thank you Irish government for making wise decisions. I can happily leave my house (although I’d much rather stay and home) and not live in fear of one day not coming home from school because of an event like this.
So, let’s just say this book traumatised me. I mean, this happens in real life! People’s lives are affected by crazy events like this. It’s so saddening. But, I didn’t recommend it to all my friends! That’s a plus, right. They can be happy that they don’t live in a country like this either! For any international friends, be safe. (As in stay at home and never leave the place safe #TopTips)
I had to let everything sink in for a few days before I uploaded this review. I mean, I attempted to review this story and it was especially hard to not add five billion spoilers.
This book opens with the rules for the game ‘Assassin’ played in this book. I thought it sounded like a pretty fun game, to be honest. I had never heard of a game such as this one and really, after reading this book, I can understand why.
I thought this book was a simple romance between the two main characters but there was so much more to it. I’m not going to say their relationship was insta-love-y but it was pretty quick paced. I can understand why, the story wasn’t only about those two characters falling in love with each other.
Throughout the story, the game Assassin was continuously talked about and played a major role in the progression of the novel. I’m going to be completed honest and say that I didn’t really see the relevance of it while I was reading it. But, when I reached the end, I finally got my answer.
Sadie is part of the AE and, can I just say, they were mental. I don’t go to a school that 1. Is mixed 2. Is in America and 3. Has a lot of problems with bullying, thankfully so I thought that the AE were a bit extreme. But, what do I know? People are ruthless and if those lowlifes found enjoyment in breaking someone down by verbal and physical abuse, well… they’re assholes. But, they still didn’t deserve what happened to them to happen. Even if we all secretly wished something bad would happen to them, we didn’t want it to be that extreme.
The ending had me hyperventilating. I was in my grandparents’ house while reading the final five or so chapters of this book and I also happened to be sitting closest to the front door. So, every time either my siblings or cousins knocked on the door for whatever reason, I had to pause, try not to over exert myself because I was already lacking in oxygen and answer the bloody door. I swear, I was dying when I reached the end of the book. They knocked on the door a lot.
If I lived in America (because we all know they’ve got the biggest problem with this), I’d probably be agoraphobic. I’m not kidding. I wouldn’t want to leave my house, much less go to school. Thankfully, I live on a conservation island that has had no record of anything ever like what happened in this book happen ever. So, thank you Irish government for making wise decisions. I can happily leave my house (although I’d much rather stay and home) and not live in fear of one day not coming home from school because of an event like this.
So, let’s just say this book traumatised me. I mean, this happens in real life! People’s lives are affected by crazy events like this. It’s so saddening. But, I didn’t recommend it to all my friends! That’s a plus, right. They can be happy that they don’t live in a country like this either! For any international friends, be safe. (As in stay at home and never leave the place safe #TopTips)
April 5, 2016
* Review copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
4.5/5
Oh wow, where to start?? So many emotions! I read 75% of this book in one sitting because I literally could not stop -- I had to find out what was next. And the pace picks up beautifully (& naturally), it's impossible to stop reading!
Sadie is such a relatable character & so very real, I absolutely loved her. I don't want to give away spoilers (so tempting though!), but what she goes through with her best friend, crush, neighbour & classmates -- very intense! The writing is casual but appropriate, the pace works well & there is evident growth in Sadie as the story unfolds. And such a wide range of emotions! Everything from laughing out loud to cringing, heart-racing fear to sexy romance and happiness. Essentially, the full range of feels but it flowed naturally.
I only hope there will be a second book! I would love to read more with these characters!
4.5/5
Oh wow, where to start?? So many emotions! I read 75% of this book in one sitting because I literally could not stop -- I had to find out what was next. And the pace picks up beautifully (& naturally), it's impossible to stop reading!
Sadie is such a relatable character & so very real, I absolutely loved her. I don't want to give away spoilers (so tempting though!), but what she goes through with her best friend, crush, neighbour & classmates -- very intense! The writing is casual but appropriate, the pace works well & there is evident growth in Sadie as the story unfolds. And such a wide range of emotions! Everything from laughing out loud to cringing, heart-racing fear to sexy romance and happiness. Essentially, the full range of feels but it flowed naturally.
I only hope there will be a second book! I would love to read more with these characters!
May 8, 2016
I couldn't stop reading this book...it consumed me. At first it was hierarchy school drama...which even decades later one can still relate...and then there's this amazing romance. But the tragedy...you see it coming...but your distracted by steaminess...and then WHAM it hits you and your reeling and suddenly its over and
everything
falls
apart...
This book made me do everything from get angry to cry. It's an emotional rollercoaster of feels and shows a tragedy so heartbreaking it leaves you in. a daze as if you were there.
everything
falls
apart...
This book made me do everything from get angry to cry. It's an emotional rollercoaster of feels and shows a tragedy so heartbreaking it leaves you in. a daze as if you were there.
July 5, 2016
This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
In the After is a story that tells a very powerful and brutally true message of bullying; what it can lead its victim to do.
Sadie is part of the Atwood Elite, teens from the school who are the most popular, and the deadliest. If you cross them, you can kiss your future college and job goodbye. They are the meanest bullies you will ever encounter, except for Sadie and Jenna. They are what I would call the second-hand bullies since they stand by while the AE do their terrorizing. Sadie wants nothing more than to leave the AE. If she does she will be a target so she stays and watches the cruelty. What she fears is that the AE will find out that she has PTSD due to a very traumatic event in her life.
Hayden is attracted to Sadie. Once he sees how she stands by while Dane beats his cousin, he's completely disgusted by her. Hayden is kind of the reason why Sadie wants to officially be done with the AE. The AE has gone too far, though. Someone who has been tormented for a long time decides to get revenge and shoot everyone they can find at the school.
I've read a lot of books where there are bullies but I've never read about bullies being this cruel. I was so disgusted by it, knowing that there are a lot of the AE people in real life. Britt and Dane were the worst of them all. I can't even begin to describe how evil these two were when it came to bullying. I just wanted all of them to get a lesson, but the lesson they got cost them a lot.
Regina George looked like a soft, huggable bunny next to the sheer evilness that was Britt Kennedy.
I have to say I didn't like Sadie. I understand that the AE would terrorize her even more than the other kids at the school, but she literally would stand by and watch everything unfold, at least for the first part of the book. Afterwards, you could tell she was fed up and wanted an out. Jenna was another who stood by, but she saw first-hand what would happen if you were part of the AE and then turned your back on them. Her brother was part of the AE when he was in high school. When he fell for someone who wasn't in the AE, he got kicked out and tormented until the end. Jenna wants to be safe from that and to keep her secret hidden so she stays.
I'd never personally attacked anyone, but my silence made me as big of a bully as the rest of the Atwood Elite.
I felt like the story was beating around the bush a lot. It's a lot of Sadie saying she wants to leave the AE, and her relationship with Hayden. When I read the description, it gave the impression that the story would include more of the shooting but it ended up happening after the 86% mark. This last part of the story felt so real, even though it was rather quick, in my opinion. When reading about the shooting through Sadie's eyes and how terrified she was for herself, her best friend and Hayden, I was over here stressing out and wanting someone to come and save them.
Also, can we talk about that long description? I actually shortened it for the blog, but if you go to Goodreads, the description is even longer! I feel like it could have been better if it never mentioned the shooting. I went in the book knowing what would happen, no element of surprise when these types of books should be to go in blind and really feel all the emotions it would provide.
Overall, this was a good story on bullying and the lengths the victims could end up going to put an end to it.
I received an eBook from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
In the After is a story that tells a very powerful and brutally true message of bullying; what it can lead its victim to do.
Sadie is part of the Atwood Elite, teens from the school who are the most popular, and the deadliest. If you cross them, you can kiss your future college and job goodbye. They are the meanest bullies you will ever encounter, except for Sadie and Jenna. They are what I would call the second-hand bullies since they stand by while the AE do their terrorizing. Sadie wants nothing more than to leave the AE. If she does she will be a target so she stays and watches the cruelty. What she fears is that the AE will find out that she has PTSD due to a very traumatic event in her life.
Hayden is attracted to Sadie. Once he sees how she stands by while Dane beats his cousin, he's completely disgusted by her. Hayden is kind of the reason why Sadie wants to officially be done with the AE. The AE has gone too far, though. Someone who has been tormented for a long time decides to get revenge and shoot everyone they can find at the school.
I've read a lot of books where there are bullies but I've never read about bullies being this cruel. I was so disgusted by it, knowing that there are a lot of the AE people in real life. Britt and Dane were the worst of them all. I can't even begin to describe how evil these two were when it came to bullying. I just wanted all of them to get a lesson, but the lesson they got cost them a lot.
Regina George looked like a soft, huggable bunny next to the sheer evilness that was Britt Kennedy.
I have to say I didn't like Sadie. I understand that the AE would terrorize her even more than the other kids at the school, but she literally would stand by and watch everything unfold, at least for the first part of the book. Afterwards, you could tell she was fed up and wanted an out. Jenna was another who stood by, but she saw first-hand what would happen if you were part of the AE and then turned your back on them. Her brother was part of the AE when he was in high school. When he fell for someone who wasn't in the AE, he got kicked out and tormented until the end. Jenna wants to be safe from that and to keep her secret hidden so she stays.
I'd never personally attacked anyone, but my silence made me as big of a bully as the rest of the Atwood Elite.
I felt like the story was beating around the bush a lot. It's a lot of Sadie saying she wants to leave the AE, and her relationship with Hayden. When I read the description, it gave the impression that the story would include more of the shooting but it ended up happening after the 86% mark. This last part of the story felt so real, even though it was rather quick, in my opinion. When reading about the shooting through Sadie's eyes and how terrified she was for herself, her best friend and Hayden, I was over here stressing out and wanting someone to come and save them.
Also, can we talk about that long description? I actually shortened it for the blog, but if you go to Goodreads, the description is even longer! I feel like it could have been better if it never mentioned the shooting. I went in the book knowing what would happen, no element of surprise when these types of books should be to go in blind and really feel all the emotions it would provide.
Overall, this was a good story on bullying and the lengths the victims could end up going to put an end to it.
I received an eBook from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
Read
February 28, 2016To start off, I read this book in 2 days. It was SO hard to put down. Elisa Dane does a great job of drawing the reader into her work. Her descriptive writing pulls the reader into the story AND the character's head. I even had a few moments where I was internally yelling at the main character for not doing what I thought she should do. To say the least, I was effectively HOOKED and had no intention of getting away.
This book touches on an important message--bullying in high school. It's really harsh, but the way Elisa Dane writes pulls you in and makes you really feel. It blew my mind. I felt like I was seriously living in this book. I felt like I WAS Sadie--now that is good writing.
On another note, the synopsis provided basically gave away the ENTIRE story. It mentioned something about a school shooting and I kept waiting the ENTIRE book for it to happen...it didn't happen until the last 2-3 chapters. That was just annoying. I like a lot more suspense. The entirety of the novel focuses on bullying and the effects it has on EVERYONE--such an important topic to touch on. I was just confused because, after reading the synopsis, I had a different idea in my head concerning the subject of the book. Thankfully, it turned out even better than the synopsis suggested.
But, here is why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars:
First off, I believe this book is geared towards young adults, considering it's a teenage girl (16 or 17?) and all about high school. BUT I HIGHLY discourage any one that age to read this book. It felt like "Fifty Shades of Grey" for young adults. The romance was HEAVY stuff, while the intimate scenes were far beyond what any teenager should know about. As for readers my age, these types of moments are approached with open arms On top of that, there was a lot of cussing (even though this is realistic for some teenagers, it was heavy-handed in this book and probably unnecessary exposure for young adults).
Second, considering this book is geared towards young adults, the amount of violence and graphic description was even a little much for me. I was not expecting the detail that I got from the school shooting described. Reading this scene was even horrifying to me, so I cannot imagine how a teenager would feel after this violent exposure.
Lastly, I felt that the book was a little heavy-handed on the chick romance substance. The lead guy, Hayden, felt "too perfect" and dreamy to be real. He acted more like a level-headed 20-something year old, rather than a teenager--how unrealistic. Also, every time Sadie was in the presence of Hayden, her descriptions were overly descriptive and mushy-gushy *eye roll*. I felt like I was constantly asking myself if this was seriously a young adult book because the emotions and relationships were not comparable to any teenage relationship. Basically, some moments were unrealistic and had me rolling my eyes.
Nonetheless, this book was really, really good. Don't let the 4-star rating deter you away from reading this novel. Like I said, I finished it in 2 days and was not able to put it down for one minute; it's a page turner. I would just not recommend this book to the audience it is geared towards because there is violence, language and sexual interactions. It basically felt like a rated-R movie--which is perfectly okay with certain age groups!
I'm telling you now, go grab a copy of this book and start reading it now! You can download it straight onto your Kindle, Nook or iPhone using the Amazon Kindle app.
Thanks to the author, Elisa Dane, for a copy. This review is solely my opinion and not endorsed.
This book touches on an important message--bullying in high school. It's really harsh, but the way Elisa Dane writes pulls you in and makes you really feel. It blew my mind. I felt like I was seriously living in this book. I felt like I WAS Sadie--now that is good writing.
On another note, the synopsis provided basically gave away the ENTIRE story. It mentioned something about a school shooting and I kept waiting the ENTIRE book for it to happen...it didn't happen until the last 2-3 chapters. That was just annoying. I like a lot more suspense. The entirety of the novel focuses on bullying and the effects it has on EVERYONE--such an important topic to touch on. I was just confused because, after reading the synopsis, I had a different idea in my head concerning the subject of the book. Thankfully, it turned out even better than the synopsis suggested.
But, here is why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars:
First off, I believe this book is geared towards young adults, considering it's a teenage girl (16 or 17?) and all about high school. BUT I HIGHLY discourage any one that age to read this book. It felt like "Fifty Shades of Grey" for young adults. The romance was HEAVY stuff, while the intimate scenes were far beyond what any teenager should know about. As for readers my age, these types of moments are approached with open arms On top of that, there was a lot of cussing (even though this is realistic for some teenagers, it was heavy-handed in this book and probably unnecessary exposure for young adults).
Second, considering this book is geared towards young adults, the amount of violence and graphic description was even a little much for me. I was not expecting the detail that I got from the school shooting described. Reading this scene was even horrifying to me, so I cannot imagine how a teenager would feel after this violent exposure.
Lastly, I felt that the book was a little heavy-handed on the chick romance substance. The lead guy, Hayden, felt "too perfect" and dreamy to be real. He acted more like a level-headed 20-something year old, rather than a teenager--how unrealistic. Also, every time Sadie was in the presence of Hayden, her descriptions were overly descriptive and mushy-gushy *eye roll*. I felt like I was constantly asking myself if this was seriously a young adult book because the emotions and relationships were not comparable to any teenage relationship. Basically, some moments were unrealistic and had me rolling my eyes.
Nonetheless, this book was really, really good. Don't let the 4-star rating deter you away from reading this novel. Like I said, I finished it in 2 days and was not able to put it down for one minute; it's a page turner. I would just not recommend this book to the audience it is geared towards because there is violence, language and sexual interactions. It basically felt like a rated-R movie--which is perfectly okay with certain age groups!
I'm telling you now, go grab a copy of this book and start reading it now! You can download it straight onto your Kindle, Nook or iPhone using the Amazon Kindle app.
Thanks to the author, Elisa Dane, for a copy. This review is solely my opinion and not endorsed.
December 25, 2016
Sadie is faking things to get through life. She's part of the AE, her town's popular crowd, the Atwood Elite. Most of her social circle consists of bullies and Sadie does nothing to stop them. She does what she's being told to do. Shunning her neighbor and friend Ian, who isn't part of the AE, is the only option she feels she has. Sadie is traumatized and wants to spare herself the hurt of being harmed again, but her silence is starting to bother her more and more. Ian doesn't deserve what she's doing to him, he's been nothing but nice to her.
When Ian's cousin Hayden comes into Sadie's life she loves him at first sight. He's from Waverly, a rural village that the AE doesn't approve of at all. Sadie has to make a choice, the AE or her own chance at happiness. Sadie tries to make amends for what she's done, but the leader of the AE, Britt, doesn't let her get away with it. She will make Sadie's life as miserable as she possibly can. Will Sadie be able to take that in exchange for real love?
The bullying is going far, too far and Sadie's done with it. She wants to get out, but that isn't as easy as it seems. While Sadie tries to do what her conscience tells her to do for a change things are getting out of hand at school. The pressure is building and something is about to go horribly wrong. Will there be consequences for the AE this time and will Sadie be able to make things right before it's too late?
In the After is an emotional story. Sadie is severely traumatized and suffers from PTSD. She wants to stay safe whatever the cost. However, trying to remain on the good side of the popular crowd means that she's losing important parts of who she is. Sadie wants to change and I liked that she's taking responsibility for her own actions. She tries to make things right and she isn't afraid to admit she's made mistakes. That's what makes her a great main character. Sadie's personality has many different layers and that makes her really interesting.
Hayden is a sweet guy who always does the right thing. He has a big heart and gets into fights because he stands up for the people he loves. He is caring and kind and is there for Sadie when she needs him. The bullying often made my heart ache and I'm glad that there is someone in the story who isn't afraid to speak his mind. Some scenes were almost too terrible to read and Hayden's presence is the only positive thing that brings some balance between the bad and the good.
Elisa Dane writes about an important and difficult topic, bullying. The AE, especially Britt, does terrible things to the students of Sadie's high school who aren't part of the popular crowd. What happens in this book is raw and horrible, but there's also hope. Sadie wants to be good again and that comes with a price. I often felt bad for her and even though I could understand her fear I was glad she's finally able to see that what she condones is almost as bad as the bullying itself. I felt sorry for her because she's been through so much already and now she's living in such a terrible place.
The AE made me feel sick, especially Britt. Elisa Dane has made her vile and insensitive, plus she's smart and manipulative, which is a scary combination. The writing is realistic and the tension keeps building until there is too much and things have to escalate. I loved Elisa Dane's controlled way of adding to the stress level bit by bit, trauma by trauma. Her writing is clever and intense. In the After is a very impressive story, a book you should definitely read if you like something dramatic and have a strong stomach.
When Ian's cousin Hayden comes into Sadie's life she loves him at first sight. He's from Waverly, a rural village that the AE doesn't approve of at all. Sadie has to make a choice, the AE or her own chance at happiness. Sadie tries to make amends for what she's done, but the leader of the AE, Britt, doesn't let her get away with it. She will make Sadie's life as miserable as she possibly can. Will Sadie be able to take that in exchange for real love?
The bullying is going far, too far and Sadie's done with it. She wants to get out, but that isn't as easy as it seems. While Sadie tries to do what her conscience tells her to do for a change things are getting out of hand at school. The pressure is building and something is about to go horribly wrong. Will there be consequences for the AE this time and will Sadie be able to make things right before it's too late?
In the After is an emotional story. Sadie is severely traumatized and suffers from PTSD. She wants to stay safe whatever the cost. However, trying to remain on the good side of the popular crowd means that she's losing important parts of who she is. Sadie wants to change and I liked that she's taking responsibility for her own actions. She tries to make things right and she isn't afraid to admit she's made mistakes. That's what makes her a great main character. Sadie's personality has many different layers and that makes her really interesting.
Hayden is a sweet guy who always does the right thing. He has a big heart and gets into fights because he stands up for the people he loves. He is caring and kind and is there for Sadie when she needs him. The bullying often made my heart ache and I'm glad that there is someone in the story who isn't afraid to speak his mind. Some scenes were almost too terrible to read and Hayden's presence is the only positive thing that brings some balance between the bad and the good.
Elisa Dane writes about an important and difficult topic, bullying. The AE, especially Britt, does terrible things to the students of Sadie's high school who aren't part of the popular crowd. What happens in this book is raw and horrible, but there's also hope. Sadie wants to be good again and that comes with a price. I often felt bad for her and even though I could understand her fear I was glad she's finally able to see that what she condones is almost as bad as the bullying itself. I felt sorry for her because she's been through so much already and now she's living in such a terrible place.
The AE made me feel sick, especially Britt. Elisa Dane has made her vile and insensitive, plus she's smart and manipulative, which is a scary combination. The writing is realistic and the tension keeps building until there is too much and things have to escalate. I loved Elisa Dane's controlled way of adding to the stress level bit by bit, trauma by trauma. Her writing is clever and intense. In the After is a very impressive story, a book you should definitely read if you like something dramatic and have a strong stomach.
April 26, 2016
Title: In the After by Elisa Dane
Rating: 5/5 stars
~ I am just gonna dive right into it. I just finished reading this book and I am all bundled up with SOOO MUCH EMOTION AND SADNESS AND something else I do not know.....Shock maybe.
I want to start of by saying the Book Cover is Beautiful. I love it and the colors used to attract attention....but you know the cover made me think it was a completely different type of book. The title ''In the After" I did not understand the meaning until I was "In" that point. The story line, the plot, the characters....I'm still a little speechless by the events that went down in this read. The authors writing was so easy to go into. The characters were definitely relatable because events in this book have happened in real life events. I did not read the synopsis but if you want my advice DON'T READ THE SYNOPSIS AND JUST DIVE IN. I just read it now and gives to much spoilers. I was glad I didn't or else I would not of felt all the emotions I am feeling now. if you want my short summary w/no spoilers here it goes:
-Sadie is our main character. She holds a secret about her past that only three people know. She can't let anyone know or they will think she is a freak. Social status is everything to the people she is surrounded by. She lives is a world of lies. Of who she is. People like her can't mix w/the geeks/losers. If you do you'll be shunned is the worst possible. So she stays quite while her "friends" bully others and minimize them.......But then Hayden appears. Maybe she might have the courage to stand up and change. -
I will say Sadie was a FRUSTRATING CHARACTER!!! at times I felt like jumping in the book and beating her up! I'm serious she ahhhh!!! She F****D UP so many times!! I blame her for the EVENT that happened. Her and the "Elites". Hayden OMG He is PERFECT! I loved him. No flaw what so ever but it did sucked that we never got to see or know more of him. They kept saying stuff like "the way he was brought up" or "I could understand why you hated people" or stuff like that but we the readers never knew what. The author kept us in the dark there. He was a mystery and I really wanted to know what happened to him. Ian.....I know I would of liked this character. In different circumstances I would of I'm sure.
When we finally hit that SCENE, I was lost in the lovey dovey world of Hayden and Sadie that when it happened it hit me by surprise. I knew something was gonna happen but not like this. I had a completely different picture so what I read Hit me HARD. I got lost in the authors words and was able to see everything happening. I gasped, I was shocked, still am!! It just goes to show there is only so much you can push a person until they break or just had enough.
I love how the author brings issues we have now in days in her book. Bullying, popularity, peer pressure, status, ect. Its all well portrayed. The only flaws I found were that at times I felt it was a little too cheesy and it was weird that whenever Hayden was around she could sense it. Like if she had a Hayden radar like really.... But I liked the romance and I loved the climax. I loved how the author described that event. I really enjoyed this read. Recommend!!! DON'T READ THE SYNOPSIS JUST DIVE IN OR YOU"LL BE SPOILED!!!! TRUST ME ITS WORTH IT!!!!
Rating: 5/5 stars
~ I am just gonna dive right into it. I just finished reading this book and I am all bundled up with SOOO MUCH EMOTION AND SADNESS AND something else I do not know.....Shock maybe.
I want to start of by saying the Book Cover is Beautiful. I love it and the colors used to attract attention....but you know the cover made me think it was a completely different type of book. The title ''In the After" I did not understand the meaning until I was "In" that point. The story line, the plot, the characters....I'm still a little speechless by the events that went down in this read. The authors writing was so easy to go into. The characters were definitely relatable because events in this book have happened in real life events. I did not read the synopsis but if you want my advice DON'T READ THE SYNOPSIS AND JUST DIVE IN. I just read it now and gives to much spoilers. I was glad I didn't or else I would not of felt all the emotions I am feeling now. if you want my short summary w/no spoilers here it goes:
-Sadie is our main character. She holds a secret about her past that only three people know. She can't let anyone know or they will think she is a freak. Social status is everything to the people she is surrounded by. She lives is a world of lies. Of who she is. People like her can't mix w/the geeks/losers. If you do you'll be shunned is the worst possible. So she stays quite while her "friends" bully others and minimize them.......But then Hayden appears. Maybe she might have the courage to stand up and change. -
I will say Sadie was a FRUSTRATING CHARACTER!!! at times I felt like jumping in the book and beating her up! I'm serious she ahhhh!!! She F****D UP so many times!! I blame her for the EVENT that happened. Her and the "Elites". Hayden OMG He is PERFECT! I loved him. No flaw what so ever but it did sucked that we never got to see or know more of him. They kept saying stuff like "the way he was brought up" or "I could understand why you hated people" or stuff like that but we the readers never knew what. The author kept us in the dark there. He was a mystery and I really wanted to know what happened to him. Ian.....I know I would of liked this character. In different circumstances I would of I'm sure.
When we finally hit that SCENE, I was lost in the lovey dovey world of Hayden and Sadie that when it happened it hit me by surprise. I knew something was gonna happen but not like this. I had a completely different picture so what I read Hit me HARD. I got lost in the authors words and was able to see everything happening. I gasped, I was shocked, still am!! It just goes to show there is only so much you can push a person until they break or just had enough.
I love how the author brings issues we have now in days in her book. Bullying, popularity, peer pressure, status, ect. Its all well portrayed. The only flaws I found were that at times I felt it was a little too cheesy and it was weird that whenever Hayden was around she could sense it. Like if she had a Hayden radar like really.... But I liked the romance and I loved the climax. I loved how the author described that event. I really enjoyed this read. Recommend!!! DON'T READ THE SYNOPSIS JUST DIVE IN OR YOU"LL BE SPOILED!!!! TRUST ME ITS WORTH IT!!!!
June 28, 2016
I don't even know where to begin with this review, but I highly suggest not reading this at night as it gave me so much anxiety I could not sleep. I also got highly addicted to the book so I couldn't put it down, which lead me to reading it late at night. I felt so invested in the characters and wanted to know what was going to happen and so much happens.
To start this book is a very fast paced read that is told completely through the eyes of Sadie. We learn a lot about what happened to Sadie and her mother in bits and pieces throughout the book. She doesn't really want to think about it much so we only get to hear about it as a reader when she is thinking about the accident. The details that are described sound as if it was the worst nightmare any person could go through.
Sadie is a very conflicted character throughout the entire book. She is always trying to do what is right in her mind to keep herself safe since she can't get hurt again. Sadie goes with the AE crowd so she doesn't get picked on and just witnesses the people getting bullied/picked on. I don't think that Sadie realizes how strong of a person she is until Hayden points out all of her strength.
I loved how the author dealt with all of the bullying in the book. Sadie joined the AE group because she didn't feel like she could be bullied after what happened to her and she needed to hide in her shell. During the story Sadie really begins to see what was going on with the kids that she witnessed be bullied and how wrong it really was. Sadie is still trying to protector herself so she is scared but does want to stand up to the bullying. It is very hard to overcome bullying and Sadie doesn't even know where to begin and doesn't want to ask for help. Sadie has a hard time opening up to people, which gets her in a lot of trouble in the book.
Hayden is my favorite character. He really stands up to Sadie in the beginning and that is where she is starting to see maybe she can stop the bullying or stand up for someone who is bullied. Hayden has such a positive outlook on everything, even after hearing of the tragedy that Sadie experienced, he wants her to be able to trust him and move forward. Also, the book does talk about something that happened to Hayden we don't know what (I am assuming this will be covered in book), but it is something bad. For this attitude to be so reassuring and positive he has to be a very strong person.
Things I could have done without was the game as assassin the kids where playing at the school. It was sort of confusing and didn't add to much to the story line for me since Sadie was out so early, it felt more like an afterthought. If the story was told from different perspectives maybe the game would have had a little more standing with me. I still think this book is worth a 5 though, because it deals with such a strong topic and is written so well it deserves to be talked about.
I was received a copy of this book from the YA Bound Book Tours for the purpose of providing an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
To start this book is a very fast paced read that is told completely through the eyes of Sadie. We learn a lot about what happened to Sadie and her mother in bits and pieces throughout the book. She doesn't really want to think about it much so we only get to hear about it as a reader when she is thinking about the accident. The details that are described sound as if it was the worst nightmare any person could go through.
Sadie is a very conflicted character throughout the entire book. She is always trying to do what is right in her mind to keep herself safe since she can't get hurt again. Sadie goes with the AE crowd so she doesn't get picked on and just witnesses the people getting bullied/picked on. I don't think that Sadie realizes how strong of a person she is until Hayden points out all of her strength.
I loved how the author dealt with all of the bullying in the book. Sadie joined the AE group because she didn't feel like she could be bullied after what happened to her and she needed to hide in her shell. During the story Sadie really begins to see what was going on with the kids that she witnessed be bullied and how wrong it really was. Sadie is still trying to protector herself so she is scared but does want to stand up to the bullying. It is very hard to overcome bullying and Sadie doesn't even know where to begin and doesn't want to ask for help. Sadie has a hard time opening up to people, which gets her in a lot of trouble in the book.
Hayden is my favorite character. He really stands up to Sadie in the beginning and that is where she is starting to see maybe she can stop the bullying or stand up for someone who is bullied. Hayden has such a positive outlook on everything, even after hearing of the tragedy that Sadie experienced, he wants her to be able to trust him and move forward. Also, the book does talk about something that happened to Hayden we don't know what (I am assuming this will be covered in book), but it is something bad. For this attitude to be so reassuring and positive he has to be a very strong person.
Things I could have done without was the game as assassin the kids where playing at the school. It was sort of confusing and didn't add to much to the story line for me since Sadie was out so early, it felt more like an afterthought. If the story was told from different perspectives maybe the game would have had a little more standing with me. I still think this book is worth a 5 though, because it deals with such a strong topic and is written so well it deserves to be talked about.
I was received a copy of this book from the YA Bound Book Tours for the purpose of providing an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 5, 2016
I started this book without knowing much about the plot and I have to say that is best way to go into this book. The more I read, the more involved and committed, I become to the characters and the storyline. I read this book in three sittings and that's only because work commitments got in the way. If I had the free time I would of easily managed to read this in a single sitting because its so easy to get lost in the book. If I'm honest I was disppaointed when I actually did finish it because it was over to quick. Looking back I should of paced myself because I did genuinely miss the characters once I had finished, especially Sadie and Hayden.
In The After is about Sadie, who is part of the town's popular kids called the Atwood Elite. Sadie does not like being part of the group because they go around bullying other students, and she doesn't do anything to stop the bullying. Sadie starts to have serious doubts on whether to stay with the AE when she meets a boy called Hayden, who is from a town the AE dislike. She must make a choice between staying with a group of people she doesn't like or try and make something work between a boy she has only just met. The only problem is that if Sadie does decide to leave the AE, the leader Britt wont let her go quietly and will make Sadie's life a living hell.
This is a very emotional read throughout, by the time I got to the end of the book I was very emotional. Not just with tears but as you read the book you go through a range of emotions with Sadie. Whether she feels loved, scared, angry or annoyed, you always feel the same way and its very difficult to not feel involved and connected with her. Sadie is a very complex character who has had an horrific past and is now caught up in something else that could end up in disaster. The character of Sadie definitely makes you continuing reading because she is so interesting and realistic. She is very self aware and knows what she is doing with the AE is wrong, she isn't frightened to admit she has done wrong and knows she has to makes things right.
The writing is superb, its realistic, heart-breaking and addictive. I felt a bit guilty when I had to put the book down, but even when I wasn't reading the book, the story and characters where always on my mind. In The After does deal with some strong subjects such as bullying and Elisa Dane manages to write this with ease but full of emotion. You can go from a hot and steamy scene to a really intense edge of your seats scene. This is the first book I've read by Elisa Dane, but it wont be the last.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a great coming of age contemporary book, but be aware it does contain heavy going topics. In The After is a book I think everyone should read because its something different and original. I know I haven't read anything like it before and I did really enjoy it and I know this book will stick with me for many years.
I rate this book 5/5 stars
In The After is about Sadie, who is part of the town's popular kids called the Atwood Elite. Sadie does not like being part of the group because they go around bullying other students, and she doesn't do anything to stop the bullying. Sadie starts to have serious doubts on whether to stay with the AE when she meets a boy called Hayden, who is from a town the AE dislike. She must make a choice between staying with a group of people she doesn't like or try and make something work between a boy she has only just met. The only problem is that if Sadie does decide to leave the AE, the leader Britt wont let her go quietly and will make Sadie's life a living hell.
This is a very emotional read throughout, by the time I got to the end of the book I was very emotional. Not just with tears but as you read the book you go through a range of emotions with Sadie. Whether she feels loved, scared, angry or annoyed, you always feel the same way and its very difficult to not feel involved and connected with her. Sadie is a very complex character who has had an horrific past and is now caught up in something else that could end up in disaster. The character of Sadie definitely makes you continuing reading because she is so interesting and realistic. She is very self aware and knows what she is doing with the AE is wrong, she isn't frightened to admit she has done wrong and knows she has to makes things right.
The writing is superb, its realistic, heart-breaking and addictive. I felt a bit guilty when I had to put the book down, but even when I wasn't reading the book, the story and characters where always on my mind. In The After does deal with some strong subjects such as bullying and Elisa Dane manages to write this with ease but full of emotion. You can go from a hot and steamy scene to a really intense edge of your seats scene. This is the first book I've read by Elisa Dane, but it wont be the last.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a great coming of age contemporary book, but be aware it does contain heavy going topics. In The After is a book I think everyone should read because its something different and original. I know I haven't read anything like it before and I did really enjoy it and I know this book will stick with me for many years.
I rate this book 5/5 stars
August 15, 2016
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
*I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Trigger Warning: Bullying
This book was not at all was I was expecting it to be but in the end I ended up falling in love with it. This was definitely an emotional ride.
Sadie belongs to the Elites or AE crowd and she knows better than not to cross Britt, the Queen Bee otherwise she'll end up with the same fate as her neighbour Ian and his only friend Newton. But when Sadie crashes with Hayden at a bonfire, the chemistry between them is undeniable but Hayden is not ready to be her secret. Sadie finally decides to stand up to her so-called-friends but the unthinkable happens as shooters attack the school. Will she able to survive the attack? Even if she does, will her life ever be the same?
In the After deals heavily with bullying. The AE basically rules the school and Britt is their Queen Bee. Her father, is the judge and the wealthiest family in town, so no one dares to cross her. Sadie is a part of the AE, she sees the injustice in front of her eyes everyday as the AE bullies everyone and treats them like trash. She wants to protest but she doesn't want to endure Britt's wrath. I felt so angry at how the AE treated everyone, even the school administration turned a blind eye on the bullying because of Britt's father's power. It was simply unbelievable how everybody cowered in front of Britt. That is why anti-bullying policy or rule is so freaking important. The shooting incident was horrifying, I could guess which character was going to spiral out of control and it felt so damn bad but I definitely agreed with Sadie's point of view that nobody deserved to be mindlessly killed like that.
I liked Sadie's character. Although she didn't do much in the beginning to stand up to the bullying but she tried her best when she understood the depth of the situation. What she did was wrong but I could understand where she was coming from, her PTSD took quite a toll on her and Britt was a total monster, she crushed everyone and Sadie didn't want her secret of PTSD to be revealed in front of the whole school. I absolutely loved Hayden, he played such a positive influence in Sadie's life, I don't think she could have got the strength to stand up if not for Hayden. I loved the romance between them!
Overall, In the After was a good read. The plot and the characters kept me intrigued and the writing painted a vivid picture. The pace was even throughout the book. I loved Hayden and Sadie together and the bullying was handled realistically.
Recommend it?
Yes
*I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Trigger Warning: Bullying
This book was not at all was I was expecting it to be but in the end I ended up falling in love with it. This was definitely an emotional ride.
Sadie belongs to the Elites or AE crowd and she knows better than not to cross Britt, the Queen Bee otherwise she'll end up with the same fate as her neighbour Ian and his only friend Newton. But when Sadie crashes with Hayden at a bonfire, the chemistry between them is undeniable but Hayden is not ready to be her secret. Sadie finally decides to stand up to her so-called-friends but the unthinkable happens as shooters attack the school. Will she able to survive the attack? Even if she does, will her life ever be the same?
In the After deals heavily with bullying. The AE basically rules the school and Britt is their Queen Bee. Her father, is the judge and the wealthiest family in town, so no one dares to cross her. Sadie is a part of the AE, she sees the injustice in front of her eyes everyday as the AE bullies everyone and treats them like trash. She wants to protest but she doesn't want to endure Britt's wrath. I felt so angry at how the AE treated everyone, even the school administration turned a blind eye on the bullying because of Britt's father's power. It was simply unbelievable how everybody cowered in front of Britt. That is why anti-bullying policy or rule is so freaking important. The shooting incident was horrifying, I could guess which character was going to spiral out of control and it felt so damn bad but I definitely agreed with Sadie's point of view that nobody deserved to be mindlessly killed like that.
I liked Sadie's character. Although she didn't do much in the beginning to stand up to the bullying but she tried her best when she understood the depth of the situation. What she did was wrong but I could understand where she was coming from, her PTSD took quite a toll on her and Britt was a total monster, she crushed everyone and Sadie didn't want her secret of PTSD to be revealed in front of the whole school. I absolutely loved Hayden, he played such a positive influence in Sadie's life, I don't think she could have got the strength to stand up if not for Hayden. I loved the romance between them!
Overall, In the After was a good read. The plot and the characters kept me intrigued and the writing painted a vivid picture. The pace was even throughout the book. I loved Hayden and Sadie together and the bullying was handled realistically.
Recommend it?
Yes
February 11, 2017
In the After is the second Elisa Dane book that I read, and I totally sped through it! I truly adored the main character, Sadie Reynolds, a high schooler who is living a bit of a lie as she is a part of the popular crowd at school. Aside from her best friend Jenna, no one knows about her true trauma-ridden past and struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. She connects with Hayden, a new boy from the other side of town who doesn’t run in the same circles as she does— and the Queen Bee of her clique is not happy about it. Not to mention the fact that Hayden is the cousin of a boy she befriended when she first moved to town and immediately dropped when she realized he was too nerdy and would harm her social reputation.
I was expecting this book to be a more light-hearted read— I can’t give away why it’s not (no spoilers!!), but y’all can trust me on this one. It gets intense. I wasn’t sure what to think at first, but wound up finding myself captivated by Dane’s writing about tragedy, trauma, love, loss, and friendship. I read this entire book over the course of three hours— I literally did not put it down!
All that being said, I was a bit confused by Sadie and Hayden’s relationship and the feasibility of such a monster clique happening at a school without any administration being aware of it. So, unfortunately, I can’t give the book 5 stars!
***4 STARS***
Note: I received an ARC of In the After from Elisa Dane in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting this book to be a more light-hearted read— I can’t give away why it’s not (no spoilers!!), but y’all can trust me on this one. It gets intense. I wasn’t sure what to think at first, but wound up finding myself captivated by Dane’s writing about tragedy, trauma, love, loss, and friendship. I read this entire book over the course of three hours— I literally did not put it down!
All that being said, I was a bit confused by Sadie and Hayden’s relationship and the feasibility of such a monster clique happening at a school without any administration being aware of it. So, unfortunately, I can’t give the book 5 stars!
***4 STARS***
Note: I received an ARC of In the After from Elisa Dane in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2016
4.5 Stars! This is my first Elisa Dane book and I am definitely a new fan! This book tackles difficult issues including bullying, trauma, death, eating disorders and more. I appreciated the in depth character development which allowed me to really want to root for Sadie, Hayden and Jenna. At times, I was frustrated when the characters seemed unable to take the difficult steps to stand up to the awful "AE", which is the elite clique responsible for the bullying. Watching the teens make spirit crushing decisions just to survive was heartbreaking.
This is a book that still has me thinking 2 days after finishing it. It made me feel a mixture of sad and scared about the bullying that kids face today. At the same time, it also made me hopeful that if just one person is able to stand up to bullying then tragedies might be prevented. This book is not an easy read because of the serious content. However, I feel that it can be an eye opener and delivers a strong message to teens. It was a fast read with plot twists that left me wanting more!
Note: I received a copy of this book from Elisa Dane for an honest review.
This is a book that still has me thinking 2 days after finishing it. It made me feel a mixture of sad and scared about the bullying that kids face today. At the same time, it also made me hopeful that if just one person is able to stand up to bullying then tragedies might be prevented. This book is not an easy read because of the serious content. However, I feel that it can be an eye opener and delivers a strong message to teens. It was a fast read with plot twists that left me wanting more!
Note: I received a copy of this book from Elisa Dane for an honest review.
March 23, 2016
IN THE AFTER by ELISA DANE.
I finished this book a few days ago and I needed these days to collect my feelings and thoughts about it. What can I say? THIS BOOK WAS JUST TOO BEAUTIFUL.It is one of those books that are a 5/5 stars, and I mean it. The characters are just so realistic that everyone can relate to them but let's talk about the plot. THE PLOT GUYS. Everything is set at Atwood High, where bullying is the norm and the social divide is enourmous. The two main characters are Sadie and Hayden, that live on the opposite sides of the social spectrum and do their best to go through the day, everyday. They will find though in one another the strength and the love they needed to survive. I am not going to add anything else, but I must say that the end blew up my mind. Literally. Because you just can't imagine something like that. I wasn't ready. We always feel safe no matter what we do and where we are. That thing changes here, and that is the X factor of this book.
In the end, I really recommend this read, and once again, I want to thank Elisa for giving me the chance to read her book, cause it was totally worth it and I'm already looking forward to the next book!
I finished this book a few days ago and I needed these days to collect my feelings and thoughts about it. What can I say? THIS BOOK WAS JUST TOO BEAUTIFUL.It is one of those books that are a 5/5 stars, and I mean it. The characters are just so realistic that everyone can relate to them but let's talk about the plot. THE PLOT GUYS. Everything is set at Atwood High, where bullying is the norm and the social divide is enourmous. The two main characters are Sadie and Hayden, that live on the opposite sides of the social spectrum and do their best to go through the day, everyday. They will find though in one another the strength and the love they needed to survive. I am not going to add anything else, but I must say that the end blew up my mind. Literally. Because you just can't imagine something like that. I wasn't ready. We always feel safe no matter what we do and where we are. That thing changes here, and that is the X factor of this book.
In the end, I really recommend this read, and once again, I want to thank Elisa for giving me the chance to read her book, cause it was totally worth it and I'm already looking forward to the next book!
March 13, 2016
Love. Love. Love. Huge book hangover.
Sadie was just doing her best to survive high school. She ran with the popular club which in this school was so much more than just your average normal snobby popular club. This particular club did horrible things to people with their bullying. They made others want to die from the things they did.
This book touched my heart from the very first day. You really relate to Sadie and feel so bad for her. She wants to be able to stick up for herself and her best friend but she is hiding a secret. Sadie knows that if she stands up to Brit (the leader for the group) Brit will stop at nothing to destroy and her best friend who Sadie knows would not be able to handle it.
Elisa Dane was nice enough to offer me an arc copy for review and I'm so glad I dropped everything and read this. Such an important topic that so many kids deal with. This book will not leave my heart for a long time. It gave me all the feels.
More to come.
Sadie was just doing her best to survive high school. She ran with the popular club which in this school was so much more than just your average normal snobby popular club. This particular club did horrible things to people with their bullying. They made others want to die from the things they did.
This book touched my heart from the very first day. You really relate to Sadie and feel so bad for her. She wants to be able to stick up for herself and her best friend but she is hiding a secret. Sadie knows that if she stands up to Brit (the leader for the group) Brit will stop at nothing to destroy and her best friend who Sadie knows would not be able to handle it.
Elisa Dane was nice enough to offer me an arc copy for review and I'm so glad I dropped everything and read this. Such an important topic that so many kids deal with. This book will not leave my heart for a long time. It gave me all the feels.
More to come.
February 2, 2016
This story was so moving. My emotions were so in tune with the characters that I really felt the way they were feeling. I loved that the story line is about something so real, the kind of situations that we all know happen, but we feel more comfortable looking the other way than facing it. The mix of teenage emotions and having to make adult decisions makes you feel like you have been in the character's shoes at some point in your young adult life.
I have read many books from Elisa Dane and I still get blow away by how captivating her stories and characters are. The emotions that I feel when reading her work makes me feel so connected. Need I say it again, you have outdone yourself and I look forward to many more adventures with you!
I have read many books from Elisa Dane and I still get blow away by how captivating her stories and characters are. The emotions that I feel when reading her work makes me feel so connected. Need I say it again, you have outdone yourself and I look forward to many more adventures with you!
January 27, 2016
I read this book as a beta, and man, did it break my heart! I felt sorry for Ian at first, I was so upset with Sadie for not standing up to Britt and the rest of the AE. But then I saw how sadistic the AE could be and Sadie's emotional health being downplayed. Loved, loved, LOVED Hayden, though! He tried so hard to help, but you can only do so much sometimes. This is definitely a can't miss book, let alone series! Highly recommend!
July 5, 2016
I read this book blind (no blurb, no reviews) so had no idea what to expect. It lured me in, believing it was a typical high school drama/romance with a few hints that something was coming then all of a sudden the big event happens. This was a quick easy read for me with plenty of feels, realistic language and plenty of action. The writing was a little repetitive at times with some phrases and descriptions over-used a little but all was forgiven by the end. Well told story, can't wait to read the follow on and find out what happened in the after :)
February 5, 2016
Well, that was definitely an emotional roller-coaster. In the After is certainly a hard hitting drama. It's a story about friendship, love and loss. One to add to your wish list.
The full review is up on my blog https://readingtilldawn.wordpress.com...
The full review is up on my blog https://readingtilldawn.wordpress.com...
March 9, 2021
What an amazing book
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It touches on the one subject I feel strongly about, bullying. Along with other topics too but the main focus was bullying. Elisa you did a great job with this book and I recommend everyone read it!!!
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It touches on the one subject I feel strongly about, bullying. Along with other topics too but the main focus was bullying. Elisa you did a great job with this book and I recommend everyone read it!!!
February 18, 2016
3.5/5 stars! Overall, I enjoyed this book, it was a quick read and broke me out of the strange reading slump Queen of Shadows sent me into! Review will be up on my YouTube channel soon!
April 22, 2016
What a wild and steamy ride! I enjoyed this book very much! If you like a romance book that also talks about high school hierarchy, this is your book.
February 2, 2017
3.5 stars!
Fair warning: this book is going to tear your heart out. Probably more than once. It’s tough to read at times, and definitely throws punches to the gut a time or two. Read at your own risk.
Sadie is not your sweet typical teenager. She’s suffering from PTSD after an extremely tragic event involving her mother. Since then, she’s tried her best to remain under the radar as much as possible. Sadie also happens to be a member of the Atwood Elite, the most popular kids at her high school. They’re also mean bullies that basically run your life as well. Sadie isn’t one of the main offenders, though she is a part of the group and doesn’t ever stick up for people being bullied and abused by these teens. In fact, she purposely keeps her mouth shut because she’s fearful that they will find out about her PTSD and make her life a living hell.
Let’s just say I’m not a huge fan of Sadie’s. Though I know she’s trying her best to remain quiet so she isn’t tormented as well, it’s still a hard pill to swallow. I’ve been lucky enough in my life to not have encountered bullying myself. I honestly can’t imagine how horrific it can be. And that alone is what kills me to think that others, though they may not be directly involved by doing the actual bullying firsthand, are able to stand by and watch it happen, solely for their own personal gain. I understand that life can be hard if you’re picked on, so you want to avoid that… but by watching others have their lives ruined and do absolutely NOTHING in the process?
This was definitely a tough one for me to read. I’m sure my age has a lot to do with it as well. I’m in my thirties, and times are VERY different nowadays. (Yes, that mad me feel VERY old just saying that….) But I can’t imagine ever seeing someone abused and just standing their watching my “friend” do it. (I have to put “friend” in quotes in this context because, seriously, these are not FRIENDS at all!! This group basically tells Sadie when and how to breathe, and there’s nothing “friendly” about it.) This group of characters needed a good beating. I seriously had so much anger inside while reading this story.
I’d never personally attacked anyone, but my silence made me as big of a bully as the rest of the Atwood Elite.
With this book, you can expect to get punched in the feels with a stark look at teenage bullying at its extreme. This is never an easy topic to read about, at least not for me. But the realistic nature of Elisa’s story and characters made it bearable, only because I wanted to see where this story would go. I wanted to see what would happen with these characters after the messy lives they were choosing to lead. This is definitely an intense read, and one I really do recommend. It’s not only about the abuse, violence, and bullying though. It’s also about redeeming yourself after mistakes, healing after a horrible loss, and learning to love with your heart. This is an all-around passionate book that teens can benefit from, in more ways than one.
* Thank you to Elisa Dane for inviting me to be a part of the Fighting Chance Read-Along on Instagram and for providing me an e-copy of this book to review.
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
Fair warning: this book is going to tear your heart out. Probably more than once. It’s tough to read at times, and definitely throws punches to the gut a time or two. Read at your own risk.
Sadie is not your sweet typical teenager. She’s suffering from PTSD after an extremely tragic event involving her mother. Since then, she’s tried her best to remain under the radar as much as possible. Sadie also happens to be a member of the Atwood Elite, the most popular kids at her high school. They’re also mean bullies that basically run your life as well. Sadie isn’t one of the main offenders, though she is a part of the group and doesn’t ever stick up for people being bullied and abused by these teens. In fact, she purposely keeps her mouth shut because she’s fearful that they will find out about her PTSD and make her life a living hell.
Let’s just say I’m not a huge fan of Sadie’s. Though I know she’s trying her best to remain quiet so she isn’t tormented as well, it’s still a hard pill to swallow. I’ve been lucky enough in my life to not have encountered bullying myself. I honestly can’t imagine how horrific it can be. And that alone is what kills me to think that others, though they may not be directly involved by doing the actual bullying firsthand, are able to stand by and watch it happen, solely for their own personal gain. I understand that life can be hard if you’re picked on, so you want to avoid that… but by watching others have their lives ruined and do absolutely NOTHING in the process?
This was definitely a tough one for me to read. I’m sure my age has a lot to do with it as well. I’m in my thirties, and times are VERY different nowadays. (Yes, that mad me feel VERY old just saying that….) But I can’t imagine ever seeing someone abused and just standing their watching my “friend” do it. (I have to put “friend” in quotes in this context because, seriously, these are not FRIENDS at all!! This group basically tells Sadie when and how to breathe, and there’s nothing “friendly” about it.) This group of characters needed a good beating. I seriously had so much anger inside while reading this story.
I’d never personally attacked anyone, but my silence made me as big of a bully as the rest of the Atwood Elite.
With this book, you can expect to get punched in the feels with a stark look at teenage bullying at its extreme. This is never an easy topic to read about, at least not for me. But the realistic nature of Elisa’s story and characters made it bearable, only because I wanted to see where this story would go. I wanted to see what would happen with these characters after the messy lives they were choosing to lead. This is definitely an intense read, and one I really do recommend. It’s not only about the abuse, violence, and bullying though. It’s also about redeeming yourself after mistakes, healing after a horrible loss, and learning to love with your heart. This is an all-around passionate book that teens can benefit from, in more ways than one.
* Thank you to Elisa Dane for inviting me to be a part of the Fighting Chance Read-Along on Instagram and for providing me an e-copy of this book to review.
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
January 19, 2018
WOW!!!
Wow!!!! I was intrigued by the story line but the last couple chapters definitely kept me glued to the end. Incould feel every emotion; especially the fear. I dont even know what to say. My heart is still racing from reading those scenes. I definitely wish we could've had a litttle more insight into Ian's and Newton's heads or at least emotions. Definitely would've made this more powerful than what this book already is. This was one of thise books that just leaves you wanting more and wishing you didn't finish reading it.
Wow!!!! I was intrigued by the story line but the last couple chapters definitely kept me glued to the end. Incould feel every emotion; especially the fear. I dont even know what to say. My heart is still racing from reading those scenes. I definitely wish we could've had a litttle more insight into Ian's and Newton's heads or at least emotions. Definitely would've made this more powerful than what this book already is. This was one of thise books that just leaves you wanting more and wishing you didn't finish reading it.
March 24, 2017
This one started out a little slower than the previous two, but it didn't take long for me to fall in love. The situations and characters always have such a rich heritage and backstory; you really feel like a part of their lives, a feat many authors can't accomplish. So many emotions went through me as I read this book, but so as not to spoil the ending, I'll just say this: bullying is never right and has an immense effect on the victims. This book tackled heavy subjects with honesty and kindness, showcasing the dark underbelly of adolescent life.
June 11, 2017
Ok so I got a Advance Review Copy of this book and life got in the way of my finishing this book but oh my gosh! This book had me on a emotional roller coaster! I wanted to laugh, cry, smile and yell all at the same time. It was beautifully written and I loved the characters. I really got attached to them all. I would definitely recommend this book to an older audience but other than that I loved it!
July 28, 2016
Review
by
Yes! This is a love story. You got two teenagers discovering each other, learning the melody of maybe their first-love dance. Their love story is beautiful and far from complete, which has me believing or maybe hoping, we will read more about it in a second book.
What I meant to say is that their romance is breathtaking, but if you are choosing this book because you are looking for a fairy tale, stop right now!
In the After is not about romance. This story is about choices and the path they may take you. This book is about second chances, about failures and regrets. This story is about LIFE. In fact, this book is so current that I'm amazed that I haven't read before anything like it.
Ms. Dane was an unknown author to me and I feel so lucky to have somehow stumble upon this story and read her work. Her writing style reminded me a lot of Ms. Colleen Hoover, which means in my case at least, her writing hit me in the gut and I've cried a lot while reading this book.
Sadie is the heroine of this story. In fact, In the After is her book. She is not this perfect teenager that never messed up and has people bullying her. No, she is real, she makes lots of wrong choices, she is bullied, but she also does a lot of damage herself.
Ms. Dane's characters are stripped down. They are real and show us their darkness. Like all of us, they are parts of good and bad. Their life's choices pave the way for their actions which cause the reaction.
I love how Ms. Dane's has written her plot. It has the perfect pace, not leaving any loopholes in the way, and growing to a crescendo at the end. The tension in the book is high and the emotions are rampant.
No, this is not a lighthearted book. In fact this book hurts! It hurts me as a mother of three teenagers to even think of the possibilities that they may be going through anything like that. In fact, I believe I have a bit of Sadie at my eldest, the popular child, and a bit of Ian at my middle son, the bullied one. OMG! How have I've suffered reading this story. I have laughed at the poetic feel of that first-love; I have smiled with the beauty of Sadie and Jenna's friendship; I have cried for seeing how cruel we could be in our teenager years. But most of all, I have fell in love with this book and this new-to-me author and I can't wait to read more of her work!
P.S: Yeah, I didn't even talk about Hayden. Well, he is a mouth-watering, jaw-dropping, panty-wetter type of hero; but this book, is all about Sadie. Maybe we will have our Hayden's book which I would love!
This review was originally posted on More Books Than Livros
by
He looked like a fat heat of sin wrapped in a perfect package sent straight from heaven. And much like ice cream, cookies, and every other sweet treat I abstained from on a semi-regular basis, I couldn't have him. Which made me want him all the more. by Sadie
Yes! This is a love story. You got two teenagers discovering each other, learning the melody of maybe their first-love dance. Their love story is beautiful and far from complete, which has me believing or maybe hoping, we will read more about it in a second book.
What I meant to say is that their romance is breathtaking, but if you are choosing this book because you are looking for a fairy tale, stop right now!
In the After is not about romance. This story is about choices and the path they may take you. This book is about second chances, about failures and regrets. This story is about LIFE. In fact, this book is so current that I'm amazed that I haven't read before anything like it.
Ms. Dane was an unknown author to me and I feel so lucky to have somehow stumble upon this story and read her work. Her writing style reminded me a lot of Ms. Colleen Hoover, which means in my case at least, her writing hit me in the gut and I've cried a lot while reading this book.
... part that grew larger every day that would rather face the wrath of a bunch of over-privileged teenagers than spend another day hating myself for the company I kept and the horrible things I did because of it. by Sadie
Sadie is the heroine of this story. In fact, In the After is her book. She is not this perfect teenager that never messed up and has people bullying her. No, she is real, she makes lots of wrong choices, she is bullied, but she also does a lot of damage herself.
Ms. Dane's characters are stripped down. They are real and show us their darkness. Like all of us, they are parts of good and bad. Their life's choices pave the way for their actions which cause the reaction.
I love how Ms. Dane's has written her plot. It has the perfect pace, not leaving any loopholes in the way, and growing to a crescendo at the end. The tension in the book is high and the emotions are rampant.
No, this is not a lighthearted book. In fact this book hurts! It hurts me as a mother of three teenagers to even think of the possibilities that they may be going through anything like that. In fact, I believe I have a bit of Sadie at my eldest, the popular child, and a bit of Ian at my middle son, the bullied one. OMG! How have I've suffered reading this story. I have laughed at the poetic feel of that first-love; I have smiled with the beauty of Sadie and Jenna's friendship; I have cried for seeing how cruel we could be in our teenager years. But most of all, I have fell in love with this book and this new-to-me author and I can't wait to read more of her work!
Still believed the world was bright and full of possibilities. That was before. I now lived in the after. by Sadie
P.S: Yeah, I didn't even talk about Hayden. Well, he is a mouth-watering, jaw-dropping, panty-wetter type of hero; but this book, is all about Sadie. Maybe we will have our Hayden's book which I would love!
You MAY buy this book because you are looking for a beautiful romance; you SHOULD buy this book because you would like to read something very current; but you MUST read this book if you love a cathartic experience, that feels like a rollercoaster ride, and leave you with feeling good for having survived!!!
This review was originally posted on More Books Than Livros
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