Title: After
Author: Anna Todd
Publisher: Gallery books
Pages: 582
Genre: New Adult, romance
My Rating: 5/10
Buy on Amazon or Book Depository
After
Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way.
But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to.
But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before.
He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn’t the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper.
Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her?
Unless…could this be love?
Review
One year ago I watched the movie ‘After’ on Netflix and to be honest I thought the movie was terrible. The acting was horrible, and the storyline was pretty boring. But I read on the internet (our best friend these days) that the book was a lot better than the movie.
I have to agree. But I also think that the book couldn’t be worse than the movie. That movie was really bad. And I agree that the storyline in the book was better too. The book was more interesting to read.
But this is a great book if you want to know more about really toxic relationships. Hardin has a temper and super-toxic too. Now I finished the book, I kind of understand him and his actions but that doesn’t mean I approve it. He is the perfect example of the kind of boy you need to avoid in your life or else he would destroy your life. Because he really destroyed Tessa’s life. Even though, Tessa was also not strong enough to walk away after his first or second mistake.
Normally I love reading romance books because they give me that great feeling. But this time I wasn’t feeling amazing. This book felt really toxic. But the ending made it a little better because you know the reason why Harding wants to be in a relationship with Tessa so bad.
Halfway in, I was sure I didn’t want the second book. But now I finished it, I kind of wants to read the rest of the books too. I just hope for Tessa that she gets a healthy relationship with someone. I don’t care who. But I am not going to read the other books immediately. I will probably read them later this year. I have to recover from this book first. I need more ‘funny and beautiful love stories first before I can read the other books.
But honestly, I am not sure if I understand the hype. But then again; fifty shades of grey was also very popular. I got the same vibes from this book. Fifty shades was not bad but not great either in my opinion. Probably because it is just not my cup of tea.
I don’t know why but I still was hoping for something romantic, even after watching the movie. Obviously, that didn’t happen. It is not a bad book, but also not the best book I’ve ever read. It is just okay.