Review: In the After by Dimitria Lunetta

Title: In the After

Author: Demitria Lunetta

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publishing Date: June 25th, 2013

Pages: 455
Audio Length: 9 Hours and 37 Minutes

Genre: YA Post Apocalyptic

Series: In the After

Source: Audio

 

In debut author Demitria Lunetta's heart-pounding thriller, one girl must fight for her survival in a world overrun by violent, deadly creatures. Perfect for fans of New York Times bestsellers like The 5th Wave and Across the Universe.
Amy Harris's life changed forever when They took over. Her parents—vanished. The government—obsolete. Societal structure—nonexistent. No one knows where They came from, but these vicious creatures have been rapidly devouring mankind since They appeared. With fierce survivor instincts, Amy manages to stay alive—and even rescues "Baby," a toddler who was left behind. After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope. On the surface, it appears to be a safe haven for survivors. But there are dark and twisted secrets lurking beneath that could have Amy and Baby paying with not only their freedom . . . but also their lives.

What made me pick this book up: 

I had bought this book years ago at Half Price Books. The cover looked creepy and apocalyptic like. And the title made me think of the apocalypse as well. I'm so down for the apocalypse.

What did I like about the cover: 

Like I said, it looks creepy and like the apocalypse. I like how it looks like a road and it's all torn up and broken.

What made me read this book: 

Apocalyptic. But also because I drew it out to read this week. The story sounded interesting to me.

What did I like the most: 

I really liked the story to be honest. These creatures, presumably aliens, arrive and start killing all the humans off.

Sounds very 5th Wave. But it's also very different than 5th wave. It doesn't cause sickness or anything. 

We just don't have many alien books around, and to me, aliens aren't very scary. I don't know why they aren't, but they just aren't. Until you read this and realize that you have to be incredibly quiet or you attract these stupid man eating creatures.

So 5th Wave meets The Quiet Place? Something like that. Still very unique. 

I also really liked how Amy had learned to take care of herself. Yes in the beginning she kind of just gave up. But I'm pretty sure *most* people's gut reaction is to just be like, well this is life, F it. 

But she learns, and she's tough, and she does everything she can to survive. She becomes smart and learns exactly what it is she has to do to be able to live in this world of "The After"

The characters are also really great. Obviously I just talked about Amy, but I love Baby too. She's a tough little girl, and from such a young age, she learns to be really quiet and also how to live. She's very sweet and I found myself also wanting to protect her. 

Reading about their own language that they came up with, involving hand motions is amazing, and reading about how they survive together is just great. It's incredibly impressive.

I absolutely loved Kay, she was a japanese pop star before any of this happened, and then she became this badass protector, called a Guardian, of the group called A New Hope, which is a community made to protect people who have lived in The After. 

And let me tell you, there is a guy named Rice, who is just amazing. He is sweet and awkward and totally geeky and exactly the kind of guy I would like. He instantly likes Amy and is very protective and does what he can for her. I loved reading about him and every time there was a scene with him and Amy together I got a little excited to read about their romance. Sadly it doesn't turn into romance, *yet*.

I also really like the realism of it. Amy has severe PTSD, which most people would living through that. She has a very hard time adjusting to life in the New Hope. And I love being able to read that and think that yeah, this is what would really happen to most people in this situation.

What didn't I like: 

There was a girl, I can't remember her name, who Amy found when she and Baby were out scavenging, and I just could not stand her. She was stupid and annoying and would not listen. 

I also didn't like The New Hope, which as stated above is a community who has a group called the Guardians who go out and rescue people. It all felt like it was too fake. It was too good, and it was too much. I hated reading about it because it all was too good to be true. It made me cringe a bit.

The idea of a group like that is great, but something about it left a dirty taste in my mouth, from the first moment that they arrived. 

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Yes! I can't wait to read the second one. Planning on doing so ASAP.

A really great apocalyptic book. Better than I ever thought it would be.

“This is how I think of time: the past is Before, and the present is the After. Before was reality; the After, a nightmare.” 
― Demitria Lunetta, In the After

Demitria Lunetta is the author of BAD BLOOD (Delacorte Press/Random House) and the YA Sci-fi duology, IN THE AFTER and IN THE END (HarperTeen). She is also an editor and contributing author for the YA anthology, AMONG THE SHADOWS: 13 STORIES OF DARKNESS & LIGHT.
Her next novel, THE FADE, will release from Delacorte /Random House in 2018.
IN THE AFTER is an American Booksellers Association 2013 ABC Best Books for Children and an Amazon 2013 Top Twenty Teen Book.


Find her at demitrialunetta.blogspot.com, on twitter @DemitriaLunetta and on Facebook facebook/DemitriaLunettaAuthor.