Sometimes sweet, sometimes heartbreaking, but always engaging and impossible to set aside.
The decision to leave Southern California is almost a no-brainer for Emma Mason. An exclusive scholarship to a boarding school meant to hone her painting skills is all the motivation Emma needs to trade the comforts of her sheltered high school, her magnetic best friend, her supportive parents, and her long-term boyfriend for a special opportunity. Wabash Academy for the Arts is as good as it sounds and it only takes a short time away to realize that things in her life need to change. “What I love most about Hunter is that he is comfortable and familiar. But comfort and familiarity are not reasons enough to stay together.” That honest realization about her steady boyfriend leads to a tough decision with even tougher consequences. A shattering accident means that Emma’s life can now be categorized into events either “Before” or “After”, and even worse, everything that has gone wrong is her fault. She didn’t have to break up with Hunter as soon as she got home from Wabash for winter break. She didn’t have to stand idly by while he overdrank and sulked. And she definitely didn’t have to suggest skinny-dipping at Robbie Zwick’s party. Now, her artistic talent is hampered by her guilt, and her art isn’t the only thing that’s suffering. Emma’s friendships are failing, her confidence is waning, and Hunter is now a broken boy who might never forgive her for what she did to him.
If you want to get swept up in the novelty of first love and be struck by what comes after, grab a copy of this book and prepare to get completely lost in a compelling story of contrasts. A novel with enough heart to fill an entire bookshelf, Dallas Woodburn’s writing takes readers on a journey that is sometimes sweet, sometimes heartbreaking, but always engaging and impossible to set aside. The distinction between sunny California and snowy Indiana is just one of the many examples of the dichotomy within Emma. This constant emotional push and pull endears Emma to readers, even when her insecurities remind us that she is, after all, a high school girl. Keen storytelling places audiences right beside Emma through all her phases of love and grief. Whether it’s a bite from In-N-Out on a quick weekend home or a casual request for a can of pop back in Indiana, even the most subtle details contribute to a believable backdrop. A powerful story element that reinforces the entire novel revolves around the increasingly poignant art Emma creates, how it mirrors her state of mind, and how it evolves as she does. Layers upon layers of drama, Before & After You & Me is a polished gem that reveals a heart of solid gold.
