Review : Hereafter, Tara Hudson

Herafter by Tara Hudson (#1)

June 7th, 2011 (US)
HarperTeen

Description

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she’s dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she’s trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

My review

This first book of a trilogy is written by a new debut author. This is a beautiful and cute love story between a ghost and a human.

Amelia is a ghost and doesn’t remember her death nor her identity, except during her nightmares when she drowns in the river, near the bridge, or when she awakes in a graveyard. When she rescues Joshua from the river, she feels something for the first time since she’s dead. She can touch him and can smell him while he is the only one who can see her, hear her and touch her. With his help, Amelia remembers some memories of her past and tries to find her identity. But Eli, another ghost, comes to claim her.

The love story between Joshua and Amelia is one of the cutest I’ve ever read. They are 18 years old but are so innocent, hopeful and nice, I’m fond of them. It was love at first sight for them but they are very sensitive and timid so their feelings are not shown crudely, but rather by romantic and meaning words and acts. They love each other and want to protect each other from their nature and their kind.

The search for Amelia’s past is sad. I can understand her fear of discovering the truth and the loss she has since her death.

The story is full of emotions and is very sweet. Romantic people will love this book and these characters. Even when there are some dangerous moments, it’s never violent or cruel. It’s a strong impossible love story : how can they have a future together? I’m waiting for the sequels so I can see what the author thinks about it.