The Aftermath

This is a fantastic book that I read in a single sitting. The story unfolds and builds being told from various character perspectives at once which gives a wonderful dynamism and pace to the book. The characters are well formed, engaging and believable from the outset. Whilst there are some aspects that could be quite dark they are handled with grace, sensitivity and dignity.
I would definitely recommend this book and already have done so!

I found this to be an easy read although I was not expecting it to be the kind of story it turned out to be. It’s not a thriller I don’t think but don’t let that put you off it’s a good read.

I’m astounded how much I ended up loving this book. This book by far is one of my all time favorites that despite a free copy for the kindle (through the wonderful NetGalley), I purchased a hard copy to add to my favorite books collection.

Helen and Julia were in a tragic accident that changed both their lives for the worse. Helen knows her resulting depression (and lack of empathy) will affect her daughter Julia so she sends her off to a therapist at 13 to help try and prevent anymore psychological damage Helen might put on her due to her unstable mental state after The Accident.

But it may have been too little too late because Julia makes a decision that tears a family and a friendship apart.

What I love most is how beautifully messy these characters were. Each one was flawed and dealt with their own selfishness, self-destruction, and rocky mental health. As someone who has gone through some of these emotions and some similar circumstances, it was relatable—not just with Julia but every single character was a well developed and intriguing protagonist to the story.

I would buy several copies of this for my friends and continue recommending this book to every woman I know. It’s a work of art.

This story wasn’t what I was expecting at all, but it turned out to be great. A chain of actions break apart a family and friendship. But what they need the most is each other. These characters are messy and at times I hated them, but I think they were made to be because it fits the story so well.

Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Gail Schimmel for a copy to review.
26 years ago, an accident happened changing Helen's life forever. She is living on autopilot waiting for a release from her life. She can't unlive the hours she was stuck in that car in the horror she faced there.
Helen's depression and distance affects her daughter's life Julia messing it up to the extent of taking the wrong decisions for the wrong reasons ending up destroying her only meaningful friendship.
A wonderful beautiful painful hopeful full of flawed characters.
I loved it.

This is a moving and beautifully written book, and I fully recommend it to lovers of good storytelling.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title. It was written from 4 peoples perspective, which could have been difficult, but wasn't because they each had their own chapters. One character was very annoying, but I do think that is a sign of a good author giving us very realistic characters.
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is told in four points of view, Helen, her daughter, Julia, Clare, Julia's BFF and Daniel, Clare's husband. It took me awhile to get into this book. There is a bit of drama, i love it. This book has made me angry and sad at the same time. The ending shocked me, that's why i like this book. I never saw it coming, I thought it would go one way and BAM! it all changed. It was a great ending. #TheAftermath #NetGalley

An Unravelling...
As the lives of three women unravel and reconnect unexpectedly a secret from the past hangs over them. With credible characters and an engaging storyline this nicely told with empathy and care. A compelling narrative with some twists the reader may not see coming.

This is one of the most depressing books I have ever read. It is full of characters very, very mentally damaged, to the point that I almost gave up reading it after the first quarter of the story. However, I decided to finish reading it and without daring to say that I loved the story, its ending is more or less satisfactory.
Despite the difficult plot, the author's style is very consistent and keeps the reader curious to know if the situation of the protagonists improves. In short, it is a very appropriate book for students of the human psyche.

Beachy, book club read or vacation read. Fiction at its best. This tale has your rooting for the characters you’ve come to care about amongst the pages.

Just as the title suggests, this book reveals the aftermath of three significant incidents on the lives of the three leading ladies of this story.

Helen: whose life turned upside down after an accident twenty six years ago. She's now just waiting for her daughter Julia to become independent so that she can commit suicide.
Julia: Helen's daughter, who has seen her mother emotionally withdrawn and unavailable ever since she (Julia) was two. The consequence is that she searches for love wherever it isn't available, and the consequence of her latest such decision drives away her best friend.
Claire: The perfect wife, the perfect mother, Julia's best friend once upon a time. But after Julia betrays her trust, she finds herself questioning everything that she had taken for granted.

Each of these ladies have strong yet complicated personalities. There are so many layers to their characters that keep getting revealed as the book goes ahead. Some of their characteristics will speak to you. Helen's decision to close out everyone close to her to avoid future hurts, Julia's quest for acceptance that makes her take decisions without considering long-term consequences, Claire's inability to say no as she's a people pleaser... each trait is nicely established in the story. The author has really developed her characters well.

A few of the chapters come to us from Daniel's perspective. I can't tell you who Daniel is as even the smallest information will be a spoiler. But suffice to know that Daniel is one of the most despicable characters I've ever seen in writing. He's a spoilt man-child, an A-grade jerk who can't see anything beyond himself. I struggled to keep my temper under control in some of his scenes. If I could, I would have jumped in the narrative and given him a mighty whack. Luckily, there are a few other men in the story who, though not main characters, still do justice to their gender. Otherwise, I might have plugged the author as a misandrist. 😄

Though this book is about 350 pages long, the really short chapters and pacy writing makes the book zoom by quickly. The author has a firm control on where she wants the story to go and this shows in the way the plot unfolds. But this is a character-oriented book, and that's where the author shines. No random mood changes, no sudden strange decisions. The characters are established firmly and act accordingly. The only minor complaint I had with the book was that despite its uncommon location (the story is set in Johannesburg, SA), the author doesn't mention anything that brings Jo'burg to life in our minds. No location descriptions, no cultural references... I feel like I missed out on an opportunity to see Johannesburg through a book.

If you are looking for a quick, thoughtful, emotional read, Aftermath will work for you. It has a few surprises built in the plot, and yet that's nothing too intense except for the sheer wrath you will feel for all MANkind whenever Daniel makes an appearance.

Ending with a book quote that I adored.
"Marriages are not about the affection revealed in front of people, and that support can be shown in one hundred different ways, and that a person outside a marriage can never judge what is happening inside that marriage – whether it is good or bad."

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely not what I was expecting. This book was a little hard to get through in some parts but overall was a good story.

Lovely family drama read. Perfect reading.

Thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

This book gripped me from the first page. The three female characters were fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed following their journeys. There was quite a twist at one point and I had to take a deep breath because it really took me by surprise.
Gail Schimmel has a lovely author voice and she has created a wonderful cast of characters in this gripping and highly emotional story. I'll definitely look for more of her books.
5 stars!

4.3 Stars

The Aftermath is about three women- Helen (mother), Julia (daughter), and Claire (friend).
Helen had been in an accident twenty-six years ago and has been barely present for her daughter, Julia. Julia grew up with bare minimum affection and spent more time with her therapist as she grew older.
Claire comes as a breath of fresh air into Julia’s life, bringing laughter and mindless fun. She has a loving family, understanding parents, a nice husband, and a cute 6yo daughter. She’s ever-ready to help others, even if it puts her under immense strain.
One rash decision by Julia changes everything. She can’t rely on Claire to make her laugh. Her mother is beginning to act different, and Julia isn’t sure if she likes it or not.
Things get further complicated, and the lives of the three women are entwined more than ever. What happens next? Can they find peace and happiness one way or another?
The book has multiple POVs, with Helen, Julia, and Claire sharing their version of the story. Another character, Daniel, also gets to share his side of things, and let’s just say that he’s someone who needs to be hit on the head with a hot frying pan to knock some sense into it.
I love how the author has presented four different POVs (three of which are women) and still maintained their voices true to their characters. There is no confusion or mix-up in the narration. The character arcs are steady, and so are the voices as the story progresses.
Despite being a 350-page book, the short chapters and free-flowing narrative style make the book an easy read. The characters do their thing, muddle through life, make a few wrong decisions, make the right ones, try to get life back on track, and well… just live.
Though I don’t identify with any of the characters, I could understand their decisions and motives. The characters are real and flawed. Yet, they aren’t weak. They carry the story from start to finish with apparent ease. As a reader, I know they’ll handle whatever comes in the way, and they do.
The story deals with multiple themes of life, love, loss, friendships, and so on. It’s a contemporary drama without seeming to be one. The side characters are well-etched within their scope and add more depth to the story.
All of it sounds great, but there are teeny things I wished the book had. As someone who likes complete endings, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I wanted to hear all the women say goodbye to the readers.
The secret isn’t something devastating or major. Yeah, it is important. But it doesn’t define or change things per se. And it comes towards the end. That part of the blurb makes the book sound more like a family thriller, but it isn’t.
Apart from these, the setting is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The story is set in a suburb of Johannesburg, SA. Now, when you read the book, you hardly find anything related to the region. People want the setting to be an inherent part of the story; this could disappoint them a little. This book could be set just about anywhere, and it would more or less be the same. While the universal factor is a plus, and I like it (that’s how I write too), not every reader sees it that way.
Overall, The Aftermath is a very well-written, steady-paced book with strong characters and a definite storyline. There aren’t many twists or confusing changes of directions. We can guess how things will proceed, and most of the time, they go the same way. If you enjoy such books, The Aftermath is for you.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC.

First book read by this author but it won’t be my last.
This book will draw you in a nd have you hooked.
There’s humour,friendship and delving into people’s lives.
Great read.
Thanks NetGalley