Everything After by Jill Santopolo

BOOK 30 OF 2021

RATING: 3/5

I am a big fan of Jill Santopolo's work. I loved The Light We Lost and More Than Words. She kind of gives me Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes, except more tragic.

Excerpt from publisher: Emily has come a long way since she lost her two passions fifteen years ago: music, and Rob. She’s a psychologist at NYU who helps troubled college students like the one she once was. Together with her caring doctor husband, Ezra, she has a beautiful life. They’re happy. They hope to start a family. But when a tragic event in Emily’s present too closely echoes her past, and parts of her story that she’d hoped never to share come to light, her perfect life is suddenly upturned. Then Emily hears a song on the radio about the woman who got away. The melody and voice are hauntingly familiar. Could it be? As Emily’s past passions come roaring back into her life, she’ll find herself asking: Who is she meant to be? Who is she meant to love?

Unfortunately, I didn't love Everything After as much as her other books. I don't know what it was: I had a hard time really falling for the characters, I didn't love Emily's love interests or feel her chemistry with them. One of the things that I love about Santopolo's books though, is that they are all a love letter to New York City. Reading her vivid imagery and romanticization of the city is just such a great experience especially if you love the city.

Thank you Penguin Canada and Edelweiss for the advanced reader's copy of this book.