Hoping For More: Hereafter Review

Title: Hereafter
Author: Tara Hudson
Series: Hereafter, Book #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy (Ghosts)
Page Count: 404 Pages (Hardcover)
Pub. Date: Published June 2011 by HarperTeen
Rating: 5/5

*ARC received from publisher through NetGalley*

~Book's Description~

For Amelia, time has all but slowed to a stop as her spirit remains stranded alone in the dark waters of a mysterious river. She knows she’s died, but with no recollection of her past life--or her actual death--she’s trapped in one long continuous nightmare, in which she cannot feel anything or interact with anyone. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a teenage boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in a moment of connection, he looks in her eyes and becomes the first person in the world to see that she still exists.
When he touches her, Joshua sparks strange and wonderful sensory feelings in Amelia--at first just momentary flashes, then pulses that become ever stronger as he leads her out of the river and into his life. As Amelia and Joshua uncover who she was and the strange circumstances of her death, new problems arise: somehow, Joshua’s grandmother seems to know exactly what is going on between them, and Eli, a ghost enforcer, is hell-bent on destroying their happiness and dragging Amelia back into the spirit world.
With every touch and the growing feelings that come with them, Amelia and Joshua begin to wonder if there’s something special not only about Joshua but also the dark river that held her captive for so long. Can there truly be love after death?

~My Review~

First off, I am so mad at myself for not reading this one earlier. I realized halfway through the first chapter that Hereafter was fast becoming a new favourite. I loved the writing style, the characters and the tone of the book, I couldn't put it down.

Tara Hudson did a fantastic job with the main characters, Amelia and Joshua. I absolutely adore the both of them and their chemistry is perfect. I found their budding relationship addictive, and couldn't wait to see what happened next.

The ebb and flow of the story was well plotted out, and even though this is the first in a series, I was left very happy at the end. It didn't just feel like the first chunk of a story, but was complete enough in and of itself, but I am so happy I will get more of Amelia and her creepy ghost-world in future books.

If you haven't read Hereafter yet, be sure to pick it up, it is definitely worth the read, and if it's already on your TBR pile, bump it up, you won't be sorry!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC

My Rating: 5/5

~ You'll like this series if you liked ~

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb, Dead Girl Walking by Linda Joy Singleton, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, or Fallen by Lauren Kate.