After the Moment

By: Garret Freymann-Weyr

"realistic story of flawed people doing their best in a complicated world"

          When I read My Heartbeat, I figured out Garret Freymann-Weyr is one of the few authors of YA books who gives her readers credit for some intelligence and maturity. If you’re looking for books with BFF’s, pages of text message conversations, and lots of people described as “hotties” this book is not for you. If you want to read a touching story about how a sensitive guy and a troubled girl come together and grow apart, I highly recommend After the Moment.

          The book begins with 21-year-old Leigh Hunter (he's a guy; don't let the name confuse you) running into Maia Morland at a party and regretting that their high school romance ended. The rest of the story is a flashback explaining what happened between them. I'm not sure I liked the flashback plot structure, but it did create some suspense. It turns out that Leigh met Maia when he left his home to spend his senior year with his younger step-sister who lost her father in a car accident. Leigh is kind, smart, and caring. Maia is an emotional wreck, and he is intrigued because she’s the exact opposite of his beautiful “perfect” girlfriend back home.  

          So the nice guy/crazy girl’s been done before, but Freymann-Weyr makes it seem new with unexpected plot twists, deep and interesting characters, and intelligent discussion of heavy themes like death, sacrifice, betrayal, and vulnerability. I like an author who doesn’t tie everything up neatly at the end and Freymann-Weyr’s books always remind us that life is messy and things don’t always work out the way we planned. Like My Heartbeat, which is one of my favorite books, this book ends in a way you don’t really want, but in a way you know feels right. I love the beautiful writing and I love the realistic story of flawed people who are doing their best in a complicated world.

-Katie