Would you risk your life to save your best friend?
Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning.
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs, and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julia’s memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julia’s abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning.
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
After the Woods was a surprisingly dark and creepy YA
mystery that I ended up devouring very quickly. I’ve read YA mysteries before
that come across as silly or with easy to figure out twists, but that wasn’t
the case at all in this book. I was surprised by so many of the clues unearthed
by Liv and how they tied into her abduction that occurred a year prior. After
the Woods is an amazing debut and I can’t wait to read more from the author.
Julia is very likeable and I connected with her character
from the very start. She’s brave and smart and although the book isn’t a
whodunit, she needs to find out more about the events surrounding her abduction.
Readers know from the very beginning who took Julia, but the unique part of the
book is the “why” and the “how.”
The secondary characters were well developed, especially Liv
and Kellan. I enjoyed the romance between Kellan and Julia because it lacked
any sort of cheese factor. Liv and Julia’s friendship is complicated and it was
interesting to read about their changing dynamic.
The pace was good although I didn’t feel the tension as much
as I would have liked while reading. I guess since the threat to Julia seems
neutralized from the very start, the suspense wasn’t as apparent. But the mystery
and romance held my interest and kept me reading. Although this book is YA, I
think readers of adult mysteries will also enjoy the plot.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
