Review and Giveaway: After Tuesday by Renee Ericson

Synopsis

Family really is a pain…especially when your father is an addict.

For the last two years, high school senior Ruby has been her own rock and solace. She has learned to depend only on herself and hides her family's issues by keeping herself somewhat unnoticeable. Despite her isolation, Ruby has intrigued the affections of someone unexpected. Finding herself loving life once again as his persistence sparks a romance awakening a well-protected heart.

While Ruby’s relationship with her father is constantly teetering, her new-found affection continues to blossom into something more than she ever thought possible. Soon, Ruby comes to realize that opening up your heart means being susceptible to love and disappointment.

YA-M: This book contains mature content including profanity, drug/alcohol use, and sexual situations/language.


4.5 star review 

After Tuesday is a wonderful, light, refreshing read about love, hope and learning to find happiness.  It is about a young 17 year old girl named Ruby who moved to a little town in Illinois two years ago because her father needed a job and the only one he could find was with her uncle. She once had a good relationship with her father, but that changed when the bottle became more important than her.  She is living in a new town, with no friends and seems to have lost the father she once knew so well.  She feels alone and is basically left to take care of herself.  She gets a job at a summer camp where she meets her best friend Lexi, who I loved.  She is there for Ruby in every way a best friend should be.  One Friday afternoon Brent Cromwell comes to pick his little brother up at camp.  Now Brent Cromwell is the hottest guy in Ruby's school, the guy that is dating the most popular girl in school and the guy that every girl dreams of dating.  Lucky for Ruby, Brent and his girlfriend are no longer together and he is now interested in seeing her.

I loved Brent!  Remember when you were in high school and there was that one cute guy who you liked.  When he would look your way you would get all nervous and your face would turn red from blushing.  Or when he spoke to you, you would get butterflies in your stomach.  And when he kissed you he made you feel things you didn't know existed.  Well for Ruby, that guy was Brent Cromwell.  Brent put a smile on her face, she felt the butterflies in her stomach when she was with him.  She loved being with him and she found that she was happy when she was.  There was no denying it, she was falling for Brent.  She experienced a lot of firsts with Brent and I have to say if there is any guy to have those first moments with it would be Brent Cromwell.

Brent may be the most popular and hottest guy in school but he is nothing like the guy you would expect him to be.  He isn't your typical obnoxious jock who thinks he is God's gift to woman, I knew a few of them in high school.  But instead, Brent is sweet, caring, romantic and has a heart.  I loved him with Ruby and I loved what they had.  Ruby was afraid of Brent finding out the truth about her father.  She was afraid if he knew the truth he wouldn't want to be with her any more.  I think in many ways Ruby was ashamed of her father and his issues and tried as best as she could to hide it from not only Brent but Lexi as well.  Brent made a few mistakes along the way that completely frustrated me but you have to remember he is young and he let his assumptions get in the way of what was real.  But he still managed to capture my heart and Ruby's and made up for his mistakes. 

After Tuesday is a wonderful read.  It's a wonderful love story but there is also the underlying issue of addiction and how it affects Ruby's life.  Ruby is a young girl struggling with her father's addiction and at the same time trying to find herself, find what makes her happy.  It's a struggle for her, wanting to be there to take care of her father but at the same time it shouldn't be the responsibility of someone her age to do.  She suddenly finds herself becoming the parent and her father is the child that she has to take care of.  It's not fair for someone so young to take on that burden.  Her story and her struggles broke my heart at times.  But she has an amazing best friend who is willing to stand by her side.  And a wonderful boyfriend who she must learn to let in and trust.  This story is a sweet romantic read but there are moments that will completely break your heart.  Ruby and Brent are perfect together, but may not necessarily have the perfect relationship.  They have their ups and downs just like any relationship, but they learn that trust is key to their relationship. Ruby is strong and a fighter and I loved that about her.  She was in a tough situation but did her best to make it work and survive.  Brent is kind and sweet and every girl's dream and I loved him.

Renee Ericson has done an amazing job with this story.  It is an emotional journey, but one worth taking.  I fell in love with Ruby and Brent and cannot wait to see what the future holds for them in the next book.  Job well done by Ms. Ericson.   



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