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kkenna7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
(copying and pasting to all of the books as it pertains to all of them)
To rate this book, or any of this series, with any amount of stars feels entirely wrong to me.
I read this as part of what I *thought* was going to be a fun "hate-read" where I'd get to roll through this series and poke fun at all the silly shenanigans that the fanic-y mid-2010s brought us. And I did hate it, but that is not at all what this series is. Book one is a silly little time, sure, you get in that mindset. You're giggling at the cringy dialogue and the unrealistic scenarios. But then, books two through four are gut-punch-after-gut-punch of traumatic events and toxic behaviors. There is no single second where you have a reprieve. Not to mention the completely useless "prequel" fifth book that just regurgitates the first book's events but in Hardin's POV even though the series is dual POV anyway. A complete waste of time
This series is a complete normalization of abusive behavior that is not ever even ONCE called out for what it is. Every single character, with the exception of Landon and Smith (a literal child), is completely abhorrent and irredeemable. There's not one moment in this series where the awful things that are happening on page happen for any reason other than shock value and plot movement. No one learns or grows, no one reaps what they sow, no one experiences any consequences. The only person experiencing consequences was me, seemingly, who was triggered, given literal nightmares, and then left IRL exhausted at the end of this awful awful series. Never again.
This woman should not nor should she ever have been successful. These books should not have ever existed. They should not have ever been as popular as they were. They definitely were not fun or guilty pleasure reads. And they certainly did not deserve to be made into movies (that just edited all of the traumatizing plot points out, anyway).
To rate this book, or any of this series, with any amount of stars feels entirely wrong to me.
I read this as part of what I *thought* was going to be a fun "hate-read" where I'd get to roll through this series and poke fun at all the silly shenanigans that the fanic-y mid-2010s brought us. And I did hate it, but that is not at all what this series is. Book one is a silly little time, sure, you get in that mindset. You're giggling at the cringy dialogue and the unrealistic scenarios. But then, books two through four are gut-punch-after-gut-punch of traumatic events and toxic behaviors. There is no single second where you have a reprieve. Not to mention the completely useless "prequel" fifth book that just regurgitates the first book's events but in Hardin's POV even though the series is dual POV anyway. A complete waste of time
This series is a complete normalization of abusive behavior that is not ever even ONCE called out for what it is. Every single character, with the exception of Landon and Smith (a literal child), is completely abhorrent and irredeemable. There's not one moment in this series where the awful things that are happening on page happen for any reason other than shock value and plot movement. No one learns or grows, no one reaps what they sow, no one experiences any consequences. The only person experiencing consequences was me, seemingly, who was triggered, given literal nightmares, and then left IRL exhausted at the end of this awful awful series. Never again.
This woman should not nor should she ever have been successful. These books should not have ever existed. They should not have ever been as popular as they were. They definitely were not fun or guilty pleasure reads. And they certainly did not deserve to be made into movies (that just edited all of the traumatizing plot points out, anyway).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
subtlewriter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
i am defeated. anna todd, you've defeated me. i am genuinely emotionally exhausted from this series. thank god it's over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
brittneydye19's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The least favorite of the After series for me. Still great though.
“ I dragged Tess and myself through hell and back, but here we are—After everything, we made it to our own version of heaven. “
“ I dragged Tess and myself through hell and back, but here we are—After everything, we made it to our own version of heaven. “
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
meghanlamar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It skips a lot and doesn’t give much context in some chapters that are needed to understand. I would say read directly after after so that doesn’t happen but it would also have spoilers for book 2-4. I do love seeing the different perspectives
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
planetshelf's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
We're given some unnecessary information about the people in Hardin’s life before he met Tessa (that didn't come with any closure), but apart from that, there's no reason for this to be called Before. I didn't need to be told that Steph and Molly have feelings and motivations for acting straight-up evil. I was bored and felt that this was a pointless experience.
It's After from Hardin’s perspective and time jumps to much later. We shirked past Noah learning about Tessa’s cheating, but I would've thought that meaningful to Hardin’s ego and Hessa’s relationship dynamic. The most confusing decisions Hardin made were never touched on.
I learned more about Hardin in After We Fell and Ever After Happy than in this book.
It's After from Hardin’s perspective and time jumps to much later. We shirked past Noah learning about Tessa’s cheating, but I would've thought that meaningful to Hardin’s ego and Hessa’s relationship dynamic. The most confusing decisions Hardin made were never touched on.
I learned more about Hardin in After We Fell and Ever After Happy than in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Fatphobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
isabellav12345's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
streebela's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol