Hereafter [Paperback]

After a night out drinking with the girls, Irene wakes up on the side of a road. Not really sure how she got there, or why some Good Samaritan didn't stop to help her, Irene jumps in her car to drive back home. Once home things just don't seem to be adding up, like the amount of missed calls she has, or the endless amount of mail at her door. In full blown panic Irene bumps into a boy names Jonah who breaks the news about her untimely death to her. The two characters set out on an adventure to get Irene to the afterlife. Sounds simple? Being dead is a lot more complicated then searching for a door and tunnels with lights at the end.

I really enjoyed this story. The thing I love most is the character interaction between Jonah and Irene. At first I just thought Irene really treated Jonah like crap. I mean here Jonah is perfectly alive dedicating his free time to helping Irene and she is fussing at him, and just being rude to him. As the characters develop I enjoyed the intersection between the two and it reminded me more of a sister and brother bickering away. Also Irene's emotions are more realistic because she is newly dead and lost and confused that would make any ghost snippy.

I also loved how factual this book is. There are so many different kinds of afterlife theories and religious beliefs it is mind boggling. I love learning about the different afterlife traditions of each culture. Terri Bruce really took the time to research her material, to give readers a factional take on the afterlife, but cleverly twisted it into the story. I as the reader felt like it was real and was excited to learn so many awesome facts.

As Irene is bumbling along in the afterlife you get a take on the world through the ghost perspective. The rules they have to follow, and things only they know about and can see. You also get to learn what you really see out of the corner of your eye that makes you look, and why humans can't really see ghost. I loved it, yes I see you giving me crazy eye because this is only a story, but it gave me moments of excitement like "Oh ya that could totally be true". I have don't have a hard time separating fiction from reality I just chose not to.

I definitely recommend this book to readers. I loved wondering the Hereafter with Jonah and Irene, and other things that go bump in the night.

Hereafter is full of snappy dialogue and humorous moments, yet it has a thoughtful side which suited the subject. I loved how well the two main characters, Irene and Jonah, took to one another, never giving up on each other, but never being anything but honest with their words. Despite Irene's sometimes harshness, she was a character that really drew me in and made me care about her. I could agree with all her range of emotions over being recently dead.

This was a fast read because I couldn't put it down for long!

"Hereafter" is an interesting look into different cultures' concepts of the afterlife.

Irene wakes up on the side of the road after a night of partying with her friends. What she doesn't know is that she is dead and has been for several days. She doesn't understand why no one can see her or hear her. Then she meets Jonah who can see her and communicate with her. Jonah is willing to help her come to terms with her death and move on to the afterlife.

This book takes us on a journey of not only the afterlife but of self-discovery. Irene is forced to acknowledge her past mistakes and choices that she has made so she can move on. My only issues were I wanted more details about Jonah and it was a little slow at times. I did enjoy this book despite those issues.