After Ever Happy by Anna Todd
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Blurb (on back of book):
Tessa and Hardin have defied all the odds, but will their fairy tale ending be turned on its head? AFTER EVER HAPPY...Life will never be the same. #HESSA
It’s never been all rainbows and sunshine for Tessa and Hardin, but each new challenge they’ve faced has only made their passionate bond stronger and stronger. But when a revelation about the past shakes Hardin’s impenetrable façade to the core—and then Tessa suffers a tragedy—will they stick together again, or be torn apart?
As the shocking truth about each of their families emerges, it’s clear the two lovers are not so different from each other. Tessa is no longer the sweet, simple, good girl she was when she met Hardin—any more than he is the cruel, moody boy she fell so hard for. Tessa understands all the troubling emotions brewing beneath Hardin’s exterior, and she knows she’s the only one who can calm him when he erupts. He needs her.
But the more layers of his past come to light, the darker he grows, and the harder he pushes Tessa—and everyone else in his life—away. Tessa’s not sure if she really can save him—not without sacrificing herself. She refuses to go down without a fight. But who is she fighting for—Hardin or herself?
MY OPINION: *****
I'm so sad that this series has finally ended! It was a long journey, but I loved every part of it.
I am officially an Afternator!
It took me a while to catch up, especially since my library never seemed to have these books when I wanted them, but I finally finished, and boy, am I glad I read these.
I definitely want to read them again in the future, maybe as a more mature reader or maybe really soon. I loved these, but there were some faults to it that I can't ignore.
HESSA. I loved their entire love saga so much because it was so twisted and complicated, full of ups and downs, and incredible pitfalls and very graphic make-up make-out sessions. Hardin and Tessa will forever be one of my favorite ships in teenage romance (or new adult romance), and even though they definitely had a lot of problems, I will forever continue to love them and their story.
Many people are probably judging me right now for reading and loving this series, but you know what, I Don't Care. I loved it so much and I wouldn't want to go back for the world.
This book originally started as One Direction fanfiction on Wattpad. Now, as a past-fanfic writer myself, I definitely appreciated the journey that it must have taken Todd to write such an elaborate and complicated story about Harry Styles. Wattpad, for those of you who don't know, is my complete and utter guilty pleasure and I will forever continue to love it and the majority of the good stories on it. (self-promo: if you want to read my own stories, follow me on wattpad -- malaynaturally)
Hardin Scott / Harry Styles was a god. Now, I'm not a 1D fangirl (please don't attack me), but I never read this series on Wattpad. Finding out it was a book with a completely different name definitely inspired me to read it because I wasn't too willing to read Harry Styles fanfiction. However, I just have to say, Hardin and Harry are NOTHING like each other.
Hardin Scott is a mess, and he knows it. After pushing Tessa away too many times, he finally realizes that enough is enough but it's too late. He and Tessa split ways and decide to take a break, even though Hardin is more obviously against it than Tessa. Now, I loved Hardin. He was not only attractive (especially in the movie, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin), but he was also intellectual, sweet when he wants to be, and adoring. He didn't always treat Tessa the way she should have been treated but he definitely loved her. You can just tell, especially when reading from his point of view.
He's very possessive, but it's to be expected, considering that he wasn't brought up like a normal childhood and he is a complete and utter mess. There was talk in the book of him being abusive, not physically but emotionally. I didn't completely think that his behavior was justified in the book, because I do think that he was fairly emotionally abusive to Tessa, but it wasn't only him. She emotionally abused him as well, and they chalked it up to being a different kind of passionate relationship that only they share. Which could be true, but fair warning: there's emotional abuse.
Tessa has 100% matured since the first book. She's not only more open and more extroverted, but she's also just become a different person overall. She doesn't dress as conservative and good-girl as she used to, she's not as innocent as she used to be (not at all), and she has more friends. She's also a LOT stronger; she makes the decision to leave Hardin because she knows that it's better for herself and her own mental stability, a trait that is fairly admirable because it's not easy to leave someone who you love infinitely.
One concern I had with this book: it went sooo fast. The whole last 20 pages or so is like a span of almost 20 years or something, in which we get to see their future and their lives after college, and such. I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more before all of that just jumped ahead, but I suppose she had drawn out the series for far too long, especially since it's still a Wattpad book.
The ending was adorable and I couldn't help but smile through the tears the entire time.
Zed. Ugh. Steph. Whatever, she's gone and she's now banished from my memory. Molly. She's not so bad. Luke. I loved him.
AND LANDON. GOD, I LOVE HIM. He is honestly so sweet, not only to Tessa but also to Hardin, and he truly cares for Hardin and Tessa's relationship, even though he's going against his own judgment. I was sad to hear about his own relationship, until the end, though.
KAREN. KEN. VANCE. KIMBERLY. I loved them all and they really do make up the perfect little family for both Hardin and Tessa.
I am especially thankful for David because he definitely changed Tessa's mother for the better.
And aww, Robert is so cute. I'm so glad he resurfaced. I can only imagine the squeals or rolled-eyes from the Wattpad comments.
I love-love-love-love this book and I am so BEYOND excited for the second After movie, After We Collided, especially for the cast. Candice King, Dylan Sprouse, Jo Langford, and OBVIOUSLY Hero Fiennes-Tiffin are truly my loves.
I would recommend this book to readers looking for a long, beautiful, extreme love story.
Main Character: Hardin, Tessa
Sidekick(s): Landon, Vance, Ken, Kimberly, Karen, mother, etc
Villain(s): Misunderstandings, breakups, fights, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book is real to life.
Comments
Post a Comment