After Ever Happy (The After Series)

“’After’?”

“It’s about my journey, after meeting you.”

I am not sure where I even start writing the review for After Ever Happy, book four in the After series by Anna Todd, because to be honest, I am truly a blubbering mess. I had no idea when I started this series just what an effect these two characters would have on me. I fell into a love/hate relationship with them early on and this journey with them has been one hell of a ride.

If you are new to the After series, it is the story of Hardin and Tessa….it is their love story. I am not going to lie and say it was an easy road for these two. Both Hardin and Tessa had so many obstacles to overcome that the fact they even made it to a book four is a testament of their love for each other. For me, the relationship between Tessa and Hardin was one of the most angsty and volatile ones I have read. I am not kidding when I say these two went back and forth, back and forth. There seemed to be very little peace between these young lovers that at times I had to take a break just to regroup because seeing the hurt they were causing each other was tough to read. Anna Todd did an amazing job at capturing the essence of these two and what loving so fiercely at such a young age can be like. I said it in another review of this series, but playing house and grown up isn’t always easy.

There is no denying that Hardin was a broken guy. His upbringing and choices he made throughout his life would make anyone act insane as him sometimes. Everything finally comes to a head in After Ever Happy and we finally get the last of the puzzle pieces that makes Hardin who he is. When circumstances finally give him the clarity he needs to truly fight for Tessa, his time is up. And here is where I have to applaud Anna and her writing. At about 40% of the book, she changes up gears and takes out the fighting factor. She gives Tessa the wherewithal that we have wanted her to have for a long time. Reading Tessa look back over her mistakes and take ownership with her decisions was very enlightening. I truly loved the direction the book took. Hardin now has his “fight or flight” moment and what he chose was such a courageous and mature path, my heart swelled for him. Maturity shines in the last half of this book and it shows that even the most broken of people such as Hardin can make a change.

I had no idea that Anna would take the direction she did in the last half of the book and it was just sheer brilliance in how it ended. Tessa and Hardin would never have made it on the path they were headed down and their lives would have been filled with angst and anger. Hardin was an angry, angry guy coupled with an addiction…he needed to change and Tessa needed to not be his enabler anymore. That is what made this book standout for me….that Anna gave them the coping skills and maturity level to recognize this.

Whenever we as readers invest ourselves in a series, we connect with the characters, we live their lives, we root for them, we mourn with them and most of all we love them. I loved how Anna gave us some flashbacks to some wonderful times in their relationship for us to remember it always wasn’t all fighting. I knew going into this last series it would break me, but I didn’t realize to what extent that would be. I already miss Tessa and Hardin. Throughout over 2000+ pages there was one variable that stayed constant…their love for each other. It was beautiful and tragic at the same time. And the heartache that follows them through life only made that love stronger as time went by. I am not sure what Anna Todd has up her sleeve next, but I will be watching from the stands and cheering her on. 5 #HESSA FOREVER stars for After Ever Happy and the After series!

“I thought that we could make it. I thought ours was a love of the novels, a love that no matter how hard and fast and tough it was, I thought we would survive anything and everything and live to tell the story.”

Really disappointing with nothing but angst and pain from beginning to end. The pattern of pushing away from each other and then desperately hanging on was predictable although still painful. I felt the ending was rushed and that there should have been more attention paid to their HEA especially with all the previous devastation. In my opinion the plot of this last book didn’t compensate enough for all the heartbreak from the other three. Would NEVER reread even though these books are well written and I couldn’t put them down.

I liked the growth of Hardin. If anyone ever Newsweek's it was him. Tessa on the other hand was annoying and she was a little redundant. Overall the ending was rushed. I didn't need that glance into the future but it was enjoyable. It was a good ending to the series. Realistic in terms of not every love story is happy ever after.

I absolutely loved this series. It was unlike anything I have ever read before. I was hooked form the beginning. Hardin Scott is a beautifully damaged soul who clings to the light that is Tessa. I am so sad that it's over. I could easily have read four more!

I loved these books when they were on wattpad and I love them now that they're published. But I feel like all they did was fight, have sex, make up then everything all over again. The only part that gave me satisfaction was the Epilouge. Other than that this series was okay, it would be better if it wasn't so repetitive.

In love with this series. The will they wont they gets me every time. While some who dread predictability may have an issue with this series, they're relationship pulls me in and I can't help but feel for Hessa.

I'm so sad its ending, there are tears in my eyes.