The Aftermath

Kay does a wonderful job transporting readers to far flung destinations - from my first experience reading "You're the One That I Want," which made me feel the intense heat of Florida, to the experience in The Aftermath of the PNW's lush mountains and secluded small towns. I felt completely immersed in the setting in a way a lot of stories skimp on. This book also does a wonderful job of pulling the reader into the literature referenced throughout without needing the advantage of having read all of the books and poetry to understand the connections.

While I found The Aftermath to be a bit longer than necessary, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these realistic characters and getting inside their irrational, yet very human, heads. Even as I was put off by Will's intense drinking and Daniel's hair-trigger temper, it added to their complexity and only pushed me to see them come together and temper each other's rough edges. My only request would be that the rest of the characters had gotten more fleshed out, especially Daniel's family and Manny. There were quite a lot of supporting characters, so it's understandable that they didn't all get the spotlight, but I wanted to know more, if only to get an even better feel for the characters' relationships.

Kay Simone, you are unbelievable.

With that out of the way, a review: The Aftermath is the most compelling book I've read in years. The world is rich and alive, and the story is led by its characters, rather than being dragged through a plot. Each side of the drama is vibrant and humming, and if you're sharp or read more than once, you can catch where characters tip the scales toward a new point of tension. Every sentence of The Aftermath is lived-in, homey, draws the reader into the action and wraps them up to stay.

Daniel and Will also dance through some poetry and lit analysis in remarkably compelling ways, which is not something you expect of a romance novel, but god does it work here. It provides echoes of the main threads without being repetitive, and lends an extra layer of intimacy to the characters as they expose their thoughts with each other through literature. It's honestly breathtaking.

Even if you don't usually read romances, or you're not sure about student/teacher relationships, The Aftermath is 100% worth your time. It is so much more than a forbidden love story - it is thoroughly about two flawed, intricately written humans figuring out how the eff to navigate the consequences of a chance encounter. And it is absolutely rad.

The Aftermath is a book that is destined to change your entire view on literature. Before I read The Aftermath I thought a book's quality was solely based on how much you put it down while reading. I've been proven wrong. The characters in this book are so three-dimensional and the emotions so raw that you will find yourself needing to take breaks just to think about them. The entire novel is woven together with references to other works of literature that manage to peak their way through into the author's style. The settings described make you yearn for a road trip and every situation is dealt with in a way that will help you understand just how human the protagonists are. If you saw that this story is about a teacher/student relationship and your initial reaction was to think that the book might not be for you, please give it a shot. It's about so much more than that. It's not a romanticized situation. It's not a fetishized situation. The book is about a horrible, undesirable situation and how two very complex people deal with it.

The characters were really well written. I think it was a little out of the norm to have a high school student with his teacher. Even if he was 18. But it was still written well. I think the Lit additions were new and unusual, but sometimes it was overwhelming reading an entire section of poetry. I felt like I was in an English Lit 101 class.

The Aftermath is breathtaking, heartbreaking and absolutely captivating. It's a slow, passionate burn and worth every second, I already want to read it again. The depth of the characters allows the reader fantastic insight to their struggles and makes them feel so real and human, you have no doubts about their chemistry and how these two fall so deeply in love. Of course there are twists along the way with the unique struggles of their relationship, and the story never feels too slow or predictable. Please, please do yourself a favor and read this book. Simone is an incredibly talented author who has captured my attention more than any "published" author ever has.

Got bored around 30%. The story could really have been wrapped up at that point and been fine, but I couldn't bring myself to continue reading. Also, the 3rd person narration didn't do it for me. More just annoying and distancing.

The Aftermath is excellent. You will be hooked cover to cover.

What I love so much about The Aftermath is that it doesn't romanticise Will's depression at all. It's raw and real and the book is as much to do with Will overcoming his self-loathing as it is a love song. And what I love as well is how much the reader latches onto it. I just came out of a long term relationship before reading this and there was something cathartic and comforting in Will's story and loneliness and feelings of inadequacy, but I can easily imagine the me I was in a relationship identify with Daniel's frustrations at the same thing- why can't he get over himself etc? There's a humanity to the characters where no one is perfect, everything is tender and raw, because that's how it is.

I love it, I love it so much. I just wish I could express that love better, because you really need to read it

This book is absolutely stunning. I received an ARC and every page was wonderful to read. Character driven stories are often difficult for focusing more on people than actions, and conveying those emotional developments is a great effort even for skilled writers. Kay Simone pulled it off beautifully. This story has touched my heart and I'm sure it will remain a favorite for a very long time. The literary references are brilliant and on point, and slip effortlessly into the characters' lives to both reflect and resolve their conflicts with each other. The romance itself is also heart wrenching in the best way. This novel reflects two real people with problems, who have to grow and change to learn what they really want and use the mistakes they've made to find the right path in their journeys. I love this story to pieces, and I highly recommend anyone considering it to give it a try. You won't regret it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and long enough to connect with the characters which is important. That being said the taboo subject matter (student/teacher relationship) will be hard for some, but seeing as how all the characters are over 18 and met outside of the school - oh and it's fiction - it's ok. My only criticism is that the story line was a bit jumpy, especially at the end.

The Aftermath was an amazing book that pulled you into the world of Daniel and Will. The story flowed so smoothly I didn't want to stop reading. I was as emotionally involved in the story as the characters. It was a great read overall and I highly recommend it.
I received an Arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story of Will and Daniel nearly broke my heart at times. I have a hard time putting the experience of this story into words...this brought many emotions into play as I was reading it but in the end it was well worth the angst. This is a must read as far as I am concerned and will be on my list to read again.

Another amazing story from this author. I've found myself more emotionally invested in this story than most things i've read in my life. Kay has put so much love and care into bringing this story to life and you can feel that from the very first pages. As the story progressed I honestly felt myself growing and learning more about myself alongside the characters as they grew and overcame their obstacles. This is one of those stories that will stick with me for a long time and I'm so happy to have experienced it.

an absolutely incredible love story like no other love story I have ever encountered. At the centre The Aftermath is love at its most honest, and something so beautiful to read. It's hard to put into words how wonderful this story is, from it's design, to it's characters, to the incredible writing that sews it all together. I love this book from beginning to end.

There are nowhere near enough words for me to describe the enormity of what the Aftermath has become to me. I didn't simply read it, I lived every moment alongside Daniel and Will, and after each chapter I found myself needing to take a moment to re-ground myself in reality before moving on in the narrative. I found myself crying more than once and felt my heart break for these two men. So, before I start waxing poetic, I'll sum this all up: this book is my absolute favorite piece of fiction. Ever.

Kay Simone continues to not disappoint me with the quality of her writing. The characters that Simone has crafted are shockingly relatable and they strike me to my core. There is no doubt that I will be re-reading this work for years to come. It puts me in such a good space and makes me feel like a child discovering their love of reading all over again.

My favorite thing about The Aftermath are the characters. There are not two dimensional characters you can imagine banging and then be on your way, these are complicated and well written characters whose motives and actions are realistic and understandable. Something I look for in a book are characters who feel real. Ones that come to life with faults and strengths. The Aftermath fully delivered that.

Kay Simone continues to not disappoint me with the quality of her writing. The characters that Simone has crafted are shockingly relatable and they strike me to my core. There is no doubt that I will be re-reading this work for years to come. It puts me in such a good space and makes me feel like a child discovering their love of reading all over again.

My favorite thing about The Aftermath are the characters. There are not two dimensional characters you can imagine banging and then be on your way, these are complicated and well written characters whose motives and actions are realistic and understandable. Something I look for in a book are characters who feel real. Ones that come to life with faults and strengths. The Aftermath fully delivered that.

This is a really lovely book with well written characters, things get quite complicated at times for the two of them but the story never flags and you hope for a happy ending all the way! The whole book I was tense just waiting for them to get caught, but it doesn't happen how you expect which goes to show what a great writer this author is, able to keep you on tenterhooks the whole way.

Each book gets better and better and this one really hits everything. It was longer than I expected (I know 740 pgs didn't clue me in) but that really let me step away from the book and feel that I got to know the characters and could still hear them in my head, which made me feel very satisfied with the story. Another fantastic read from Kay Simone!

I absolutely loved this book. Even with the length of the book, it never feels like it drags, keeping you on your toes with its great characterization and intense situations. It's 100% a must-read and I will absolutely be reading it again

From this newest version to the fandom version "The Aftermath" is an amazing read. It's emotional, its well thought out and developed AND MOST IMPORTANTLY it got me into some weird books I never, as a 17 year old high school student, EVER thought I would be interested in. The characters are complex and amazing and you feel for them and it hurts your very soul when things go wrong, which mean that when things go right its all the more fulfilling (and also squee inducing). "The Aftermath" is nothing short amazing. And from the moment I read it the first time in fandom form I wanted it to be published. I'm so happy its become a reality and its definitely worth the read.

The Aftermath is one of the best, most realistic, most painful, hottest stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The relationship that Kay creates, the world that they paint is so fascinating and real that you want to spend all your time there.

Thrilling in all that best ways. The characterization is fantastic and the pacing of the book is even better. This is a book that is worth reading and rereading and will most likely still leave you wanting more.

I love this story with my whole heart. The characters are likable and realistic, and feel somewhat like an old friend. The story is written perfectly, with just enough tension to keep you hooked. This book is one that has stuck with me since I first read it, and has only gotten better with every new read through.

I am absolutely in love with this book!!!! There are are no words to describe how great this is. It made think, cry, laugh, and more importantly it completely immersed me into the story. It's amazing to see how mature Daniel is most of the time but then he also loses himself in emotion and I relate to that so much. This book really inspired me to try to see the beauty in life and myself. I may have taken it to heart more than was necessary but I'm so glad I did! I was looking for a good read and this was more than I could hope for and more!

A truly captivating read. A touching story of the relationship between two individuals in conflicting positions in life. The characters were so real and their situations at times complicated and heartbreaking. This is absolutely a story worth reading!

The Aftermath is a beautifully written story. The characters feel real and will draw you into the story. If you are tired of reading mm romance with no real plot I would give this book a chance you won't regret it.

Loved, loved, loved this story. So well written and intricate. I cared so much about Will and Daniel from the very beginning. Almost impossible to put this book down. I would love a sequel and an Audible version.

This story took me through hills and valleys and long stretches of highway. The way Simone captured these two people falling in love is poetry in and of itself. The prose is beautiful, and it was so easy to fall in love with these characters.

The Aftermath tells the story how one night changed two peoples lives. Kay Simone did a great job of creating realistic characters who have to deal with the consequences of going after what they want.

This book is about a high school student having a relationship with his teacher after they have a sexual encounter before finding out who the other person is.

I got halfway through the prologue and realized that was what it was about, nearly wanted to vomit at the normalization of sexual abuse. This story doesn't have to be told. It's not romantic for an 18 year old and a 28 year old who is HIS TEACHER to have a relationship.

The writing is good the story is ridiculous and the author seems to think as long she throws in enough other people's poetry it will some cover up the glaring flaws of the main characters. The alcoholic High School teacher who is sleeping with one of his students and the privileged rich student who takes what he wants anyway he can get it with out regard for the consequences or the impact on other people's. But at least the author had someone else's poem to distract us from the atrocious behavior of both main characters. And if that failed she could regale us with pages and pages of a drunken 28 year old High School English teacher having sex with his 18 year old student. Ludicrous!