"Life After" by Katie Ganshert

[reviewsbyerin]

I have been drawn to Katie Ganshert's vulnerable writing style ever since I was first introduced to her, and "Life After" is a wonderful addition to her published works. With much depth and feeling, Katie explores what it means to continue living when your reality has been shattered beyond recognition.

Autumn Manning was taking the train home one spring evening when a bomb went off. Twenty-two people were killed in the blast. Autumn was the only survivor. This novel picks up on the one-year anniversary of the bombing, and while Autumn has healed physically, she remains broken and scarred emotionally. She feels unable to move on with life in any form, even though circumstances are going to force her to confront certain things, like the fact that after next month she will no longer be able to pay her rent. The time has come to consider getting a job and going out in public again.

Her reintroduction to society is sped up when a 12-year-old girl knocks on her door. It's Reese, a girl who lost her mom in the train explosion and who has been writing letters to Autumn all throughout the last year. Desperate in her own way for help and healing, Reese has come to Autumn in hopes that they can find something in a relationship with each other. 

Reese's father, Paul Elliott, can't believe his daughter has chosen Autumn Manning, of all people, to seek out. The more he tries to refocus his daughter away from the woman she has obsessed over, the more Reese shuts him out. He wants to help his daughter, yet is Autumn really the right person? 

At Reese's suggestion, Autumn begins putting together a video tribute for the victims of the bombing. This means contacting each family and sitting down for an interview. To Autumn's surprise this actually goes much smoother than she is expecting, but Paul pulls Reese away from the project and is adamant that their family will not be taking part. As the big day approaches for the video memorial's big screening, will Paul and Autumn be able to get on the same page? Will Reese be able to accept the things she can change and the things she can't?

I had a very hard time putting this novel down. It was very thought-provoking and gripping, even with such somber subject matter. Secrets and pain played a big part in the plot, but so did learning about life in the midst of tragedy. This is a story I won't be forgetting, and one I look forward to rereading in the future.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.