“What Comes After” by Joanne Tompkins

A small town in the Pacific Northwest is reeling from the deaths of two teenage boys, two best friends, Daniel & Jonah – one at the hand of the other, the other by his own. Their families being long time friends and neighbors are now fractured. Late one evening, Issac – Daniel’s father, finds a pregnant teenager in his backyard and decides to take her in after discovering she is living on her own with no family. Slowly, Evangeline integrates herself into the lives of Daniel and Jonah’s families all while harboring a secret that could change everything. Terrified of losing the only bit of normal she’s ever known, Evangeline walks on a cliff’s edge knowing eventually the truth could rip this happiness from her but could she live with the guilt forever? “What Comes After” is a heart-wrenching, powerful and well-written debut novel by author Joanne Tompkins. Following three different POVs with time jumps helping weave this moving story together. There are some strong scenes that may not be for everyone but I didn’t feel they were staged inappropriately or unnecessarily as some authors will do for shock value. Give this one a try if you can handle an emotional roller coaster of a book.

Purchase a copy of “What Comes After” here.