Us in the Before and After

LoveReading Says

A new YA novel from Jenny Valentine is always something to celebrate. She writes with beautiful economy, there is never a wasted word, and her books will always leave an indelible impression upon the reader and will have them thinking deeply about what they have just experienced.

This is a mesmerising story about friendship, love, loss and grief. Elk and Mab are sixteen, on the cusp of independence, with everything ahead of them. They met at age eleven and have been inseparable ever since. They have the sort of friendship that everyone dreams of. In an instant, a tragic accident takes that away from them, but they are not ready to leave each other and in their ghostly conversations we learn about their lives, their families, how they met, what they wanted and what led up to the accident. We see Elk reluctantly falling in love with Mab’s brother France and the threat that this situation presents to the friendship, and a relationship which ultimately becomes the catalyst for the tragedy, with all the guilt this brings in its aftermath.

Sensitive, utterly compelling and profound, with a twist that will leave you reeling, this superbly crafted novel is an absolute must read.

Joy Court

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