Before & After You & Me
Summary
For fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Niven comes a breathtakingly original contemporary YA novel about love, grief, art, and the tiny choices that change our lives.
Emma blames herself when a freak accident at a pool party leaves Hunter, the town’s rising track star and her former boyfriend, paralyzed from the waist down. As she struggles with anxiety, loneliness and regret, she begins to obsessively paint portraits of legs and feet—Hunter’s legs and feet—and for the first time receives critical acclaim and notice for her artwork.
But what started as therapeutic for Emma ends up deepening her guilt. Does creating meaningful art require retreating inward toward self-expression, or striving outward toward recognition—or can it somehow be both?
Searching for one whole, authentic identity, Emma grapples with love, ambition, grief, homecoming, and—ultimately—redemption.
A creatively told tale of emotional and personal growth.”
Must read. With unique structure, vibrant prose, and minimal angst, Dallas Woodburn's Before & After You & Me is heart-felt with endearing characters.”
Reading Before & After You & Me felt like reading a beautiful poem; Woodburn has a way of expressing color, emotions, and experiences on blank pages with only her words as her medium. When I started reading Before & After You & Me, I had no idea of the depth and emotions and self-discovery I was about to explore, but, looking back, I wish I could read it for the first time again."
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."
With heart-wrenching honesty and raw emotion, this book explores the complex themes of love, loss, and redemption. Each page is a journey of self-discovery and introspection, leaving readers profoundly moved. Prepare to be captivated, enthralled, and utterly addicted to the compelling storytelling that awaits within these pages.”
A poignant exploration of guilt, love, and redemption in the aftermath of a life-altering swimming accident. Through evocative prose and authentic character development, Woodburn delves into Emma's journey of self-forgiveness and the healing power of art as she navigates her intertwined past and present with Hunter. Before & After You & Me is a compelling read that reminds readers of the resilience of the human spirit.”
Before and After You and Me is a gorgeously crafted story of first loves and first losses, and how we grow from our grief, through vulnerability, time, and creative expression. Woodburn's ingenious use of timelines and her powerful command of details puts her in league with the best of today's contemporary YA authors."
Before & After You & Me is a masterclass on alternating timelines. The story is woven together so intricately, the characters painted with such a deft hand, that it’s like watching the author piece together a puzzle of a beautiful and unexpected work of art, one unique piece at a time. Woodburn touches on the full range of complex emotions before and after a tragedy, and she concludes with such fierce hope and joy that it’s unforgettable. I will be thinking about this book for a long time."
An inspiring and heartwarming exploration of self-discovery and forgiveness, Dallas Woodburn reminds us of the transformative power of embracing our past and giving ourselves the space to heal and grow.”
Gut-wrenching, raw and real. If it’s possible for a book to break your heart and mend it at the same time, Before & After You & Me does just that. Emma’s inner struggles are beautifully portrayed in a manner that is relatable and thought-provoking, while the story’s details weave together like a colorful tapestry. Highly recommended!”
Book Club Guide
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