Afterlove by Tanya Burne follows Ash Persuad who falls in love with her girlfriend Poppy Morgan. However on New Year's Eve, Ash dies in a hit and run accident, and suddenly becomes a grim reaper (and if that in itself isn't enough for you, then I don't know what is).

This book had an incredible premise so I was very excited to jump into it, and also I am a sucker for F/F romances, so that was a double bonus. This book mainly highlights Ash's struggles as she comes to term with her new job, while still being in love with Poppy (who is very much alive). I really enjoyed getting to see a lot of Ash and Poppy's relationship throughout the book, and there were multiple times where I was giggling and kicking my feet!

The only con I had with it is that the pacing of the book felt a little slow, and almost left the plot unresolved in places. However, this can be easily overlooked due to how fun and developed the characters felt (and is a very character driven story).

Actually read this a few years ago but forgot to leave feedback then - sorry! LOVE this book. I'm a huge fan of anything dealing with the afterlife in an interesting and different way, and this has that in spades. The characters are so real, despite where they find themselves.

This book was a joy to read. It was refreshing and really easy to read. I am a sucker for the found daily trope and a bit of romance which this book had both of. The conversations about grief this book promotes is compelling and I would happily read more about the characters introduced in Tanya Byrne's world.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I wish I could have read this when I was a teen because I would have ate it up. Bittersweet and really lovely in places, Afterlove just didn’t quite hit me in the heart like I wanted it to, but maybe that’s a me problem. There’s a lot of focus on Ash’s family in the first half that I really missed in the second half, but the love story is sweet and I’d recommend if you like the sound of the synopsis.

I feel that I wasn't the right demographic for this book. It was a bit too angsty teenager for me but I can see it appealing to younger readers. It was a very original take on reapers and written in a way that held my attention without the plot being predictable.

I'm not crying, you are! I was not expecting those 390-ish pages to be that powerful and be left in tears at the end. It has similar vibes to You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao but with gay romance instead. It was delightful and heart-breaking reading, an emotional ride to take. I loved it Please, be ready to tear up and maybe ugly cry.

One of the best YA romances I have ever read! I loved the way the grim reapers worked - and thought the story was the perfect mix of mystical and adorable.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

This was a touching, unique YA book focusing on two young girls in love, until one of them dies. It did feel a little insta love for me, the writing was still strong enough to make you believe it.
The fantasy side of it was really well done as well, and I feel like its the perfect sapphic version of They Both Die At The End.

Loved the first, the "alive" part, the romance felt real and believable, unfortunately part two, the "dead" part was a bit dull.

I love queer love. As a queer person, it's incredibly important for me to seek out new queer media and promote it, and I am more than happy to promote Afterlove.

Byrne takes the traditional tropes of love and horror and the romance that is spun between Ash and Poppy is beautiful and captivating. This is not a queer love story for the sake of it, it is nuanced with humanity and flaws; the colours of a heteronormative narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of Afterlove by Tanya Byrne.

I was instantly attached to this book when I saw the cover, and despite it being far from what I normally read I just knew I had to read this book.

It was beautifully written, and the story felt unique and powerful.

I loved all of the characters, I loved the insight to the grim reapers and I loved the diversity.

Afterlove was really fantastic, and I'm so glad I read this book.

While I didn't personally enjoy this book I know so many of the young people I work with will absolutely love it. Its such an interesting concept and told in a way that keeps you turning the page!

Beautiful, thought provoking and heart breaking supernatural love story with well developed, interesting characters and an intriguing premise.

This has such an interesting premise. A girl dies and joins a group of girl reapers. But she wants to see her first love one more time. This was beautiful and I loved the main characters.

This review contains some spoilers.

This book was everything I didn’t know I needed.

The setting, Brighton, was superb. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a lover of Brighton and a frequent traveller to the town but it helped the story come alive to read about all of the funny places.

The characters, Ash and Poppy, were so well written. I could see them and feel them with every description. I also felt for them and wanted them to do well.

Although “kill your gays” is a tired old trope, This book revitalises it and turns it into a story of hope, love and acceptance. I was left sobbing at the last few pages not out of sadness but out of quite, happy acceptance of the fates of the two characters.

And although it’s not the traditional cliche happy ending for the young lovers, it is no less beautiful or fulfilling for it.

Whilst this book seemed like something I would enjoy, sadly I lost interest before I got round to reading it.

This is my own fault and nothing with the book, sadly I feel victim to the hype

A very bittersweet book, very moving, and just lovely. I always look out for sapphic books and this one did not let me down.

Afterlove is an utterly original, heartbreaking Sapphic romance with well-rounded, well-written characters and a gripping plot. Perfect for fans of ""They Both Die At The End" and "The Falling in Love Montage".

Although the story is a little predictable in places, these characters will draw you in and take you on an emotional journey every reader can relate to.