After Ever Happy

I watched the movies BEFORE I read the books, just the opposite of what I usually do. Mainly, it was because I had never heard of this series and got hooked when I randomly chose the second movie on Netflix and watched it first, out of order, because I didn’t even know there was a first one called “After.” This series is a soul wrenching, crying, laughing, yelling out loud, put the book down and go find something else to do because you know what is coming but can’t stand to see it or hear it, kind of series. It is rare to find something that just dares you to put it down. Even if sometimes it is raw and painful to read, somehow the author manages to pull out the good in her very flawed characters. The main character, Hardin, was probably the most despicable, selfish, uncaring SOB I have ever encountered in a book. His polar opposite is a beautiful, innocent young girl that he used in the most vile way, but in doing so fell head over in heels in love with her. Hardin was totally unfamiliar with love on any level. He didn’t even love himself. At all. An alcoholic, he lived solely for his own pleasure and cared for no one but himself. The depth of forgiveness in her soul is a beautiful thing to see. She manages to see beyond his scarred surface to the wounded child beneath, and her love heals him. In the movies, they do not end up together. I guess maybe they are planning on a 5th movie? Anyway, I was so happy that this book actually has them working through all their demons and maturing into whole, productive people who stay together happily. I recommend this series, thought not for young people. The language and sexual content is, in my opinion, for mature audiences only.

“’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.”

This book was too short to me and felt so rushed. (Insert dramatic tears)How quickly everything transpired and the rushed time lapse ruined the feel of how the other books prior felt. I'm nervous to read the final book. About to purchase the final book now. I've invested so much time, tears and stress reading this series I have to see how it ends.

this is the last book in the after series and is actually the most interesting one. The hessa relation matures after some time apart......

Excelente

Such a happy ending!

Impossível não amar essa série de livros esse em especial fecha com chave de ouro um história incrível deixando ela ainda miais linda.

La trama se puede catalogar como para los adolescentes, está en inglés. Mi novia lo pidió para practicar el idioma. Por el precio no me puedo quejar, pero no traía plástico protector y llegó un poco manchada la portada