The Beginning of After

Title: The Beginning of After 
Author: Jennifer Castle
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all, there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss, a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways. 
My Thoughts:  I was drawn to this book because of its cover, and because I enjoyed reading the book If I Stay. This book was one of the few books that deal with the reality of tradegy, and how one does not suddenly fall in love and forget everything, but gradually heals. Castle wrote the emotions of her characters brilliantly. The Beginning of After dealt with the pychological effect of the death of all of one's family members. This book was a strong, and amazing novel, and I am very glad to have read it.