maya ⋆⭒˚｡⋆'s Reviews > After That Night

𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📑 ꒱ about my first impression

let me start this review with a warning. you have to know that around here? the expectations are always madly high, especially when it comes to this woman's books. cause i swear to you, i don't think i've ever read a book by her where i thought: “hey let's see what happens, hoping for the best (fingers crossed)”. no babes, not around here. it’s always something that goes along like this: “it’s going to be her best book trust me, i can’t fcking wait to read more about her characters and be able to cry and scream and giggle in my room while i read it”. that’s right, this girl right here is not ashamed to admit that she thought that she was going to be reading the seventh wonder of the world (silent laugh). so maybe (and just maybe) that's why i was a tiny bit disappointed with my reading after all, however i still consider this to be an awesome and well written book, especially bc ever since i found out that we would get to know more about one of my favorite characters, i was sold for good like there was no turning back (sara linton, you’ll always be famous in my shiny galaxy).

𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📇 ꒱ about the characters

will trent is an extraordinary and formidable character. the way he grows and evolves throughout the series is insane to say the least. first of all, you need to know that will had a shitty childhood full of neglect, abuse and mistreatment, in addition to having to deal with a dyslexia diagnosis without the necessary support and care that he should’ve been provided for. but he still manages to be the most intelligent and generous character you’ll ever have the pleasure to read about it. i want to wrap him in bubble wrap, put him gently in a glass jar and store it in a enchanted flower garden - away from all the evil in the universe. i've always been a big fan of his character and it's really exciting to see how far he has come, he managed to build a safe and loving haven full of affection and understanding with sara (unlike any relationship he's ever had in his life). and he deserves to keep it that way (fight me, karin).

about the beautiful sara linton. let me pause real quick. (audible loving sigh). when she was introduced to us as a regular character in the series, my heart knew that i was destined to love her forever. c’mon. she’s charming, intelligent, enchanting, funny, gorgeous, empathetic, generous, kind, loving, witty - like what else can this woman be please (!!!). from the very moment that i discovered that this book would feature her as one of the main characters, i practically climbed the walls of my room trying to contain my excitement since i’ve always had this enormous admiration for her character and her entire trajectory. this woman is made of steel stg. so, obviously, when the opportunity to learn more about her surged, i couldn't miss it (i would die if that happened fr). seriously, girlies, i'm obsessed with her. and to top all that, she’s the most perfect romantic partner for will, it's everything he deserves and i couldn’t imagine someone better for him even if i tried my hardest.

i don't even know what to say about faith mitchell. and it’s funny since, the first time she was introduced as a character, i thought that i wasn't going to like her very much (dummy and naive yeah that’s me). little did this girlie pop knew that when she finished faith's first book, she would spend the rest of the series picking up any crumbs the author threw at her away - my eyes would sparkle when faith’s name was mentioned. her sibling dynamic with will is just brilliant, it's certainly one of the series' greatest moments of comic relief. and her relationship with her son jeremy got me bawling my eyes out sometimes. she’s simply an exceptional human being, woman and mother.

and a honorable mention to amanda because she is like a mother to me. and her relationship with will made me cry like a child in the last few books.

𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📑 ꒱ about the romance

will and sara have my whole heart and soul and endless support for the rest of the foreseeable future. it’s not even funny, i swear, it's simply impossible not to hardcore love them and worship the ground they walk on - and this goes for them as separate individuals and for them as a couple. the delicate way in which sara understands and accepts will for who he is by far one of the most beautiful things ever to be written. and will (ily my sweet child), he has this huge respect and devotion towards sara (and every woman in his life fyi), he’s always trying to protect her, but never ever (not even for a single moment) to the cost of diminishing her as a woman or disrespecting her wishes as a person. and now a cliché bc it’s routine at this point: will and sara, despite all their differences and different upbringings, manage to complete and complement each other so well in a unique, special and passionate way that will have you in awe.

and a quick thing about faith and aiden: i have never asked you for anything, karin, but i’m begging you rn to let this couple happen (pretty please ma’am). she deserves every single drop of happiness and love (!!) and that's all i’m going to say. i’m warning you, i don't want to hear about faith self-sabotaging later - leave my baby alone.

𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📇 ꒱ about my final thoughts

by now, it’s no secret that i love this series and this author, seriously, i’m guessing that about 10% of everything i babble about in a day or two is about her fr. no one writes a good thriller like her, no one can write such amazing and fascinating characters in great details and depth like her and no one can write about victims in the empathetic and respectful way that only she knows how. karin has already written many many books with different important themes, including this one whose main subject revolves around sexual abuse, a heavy topic, but nonetheless extremely crucial and important to talk and spread awareness about. but let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the reason i didn't rate this as five stars. it has nothing to do with the characters, nor the suspense itself, because both were incredible as always. but compared to her previous books (meh sound), i felt that the story was rushed at the very end, it lacked that classic build up of suspense yk the one that gives you goosebumps and wide eyes stares. furthermore, i also have the feeling that she wanted to bring to life as many plots as possible, which gave her book a slightly messy and all over the place kind of look. despite this, i still highly recommend this book (and the whole series as a matter of fact) to everyone who enjoys a crime thriller like me (jumps excitedly) since it’s always an extremely well-written book with a fascinating story what will keep you hooked from the very start until the last word.

𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📑 ꒱ about my favorite quotes

people had endless amounts of compassion for women who were the right kind of victim - sympathetic, stoic, slightly tragic. britt was too angry, too cruel, for anyone to feel anything but a sense of karma that she was getting what was coming to her.

i had this idea that i was a strong person. he shattered that. it was actually a murder, really, because i was never me again after he raped me. i’ve never felt completely safe. i’ve never been able to completely trust someone. even my husband, who i trust the most in the world - that's only ninety-nine percent. that one percent is gone forever.

"does it bother you that i can't give you children?" "no." he liked emma and isabelle, but he liked it when they left, too. "does it bother you that my brain isn't wired for puns?" "i adore the way your brain is wired."

” your shoes are really expensive. and you wear nice things. which is great. you work hard. you deserve to spend your money how you want. but i don't want people to look at your engagement ring and wonder why i didn't buy you something that you would be proud to wear." "i've never been more proud than when you put your mother's ring on my finger. your heart is in that glass. your history. it pains me to be without it." she sounded so damn earnest. "will, i don't want to wear a ring for other people. i want to wear your ring for you."

”she called it a profound opportunity, because change tells you who you really are. and she was right. after that night, my entire life changed. the person i was going to be was gone. i had two choices. i could disappear along with her, or i could fight to get back the parts of her that mattered. i’m not saying that i’m grateful for that lesson. i’m really not. but i’m grateful that it made me the kind of woman who knows how to love you." will felt a lump in his throat. he watched betty settle back on her pillow. his eyes had started to water. "you know this is gonna be forever, right?" "i do.”

”you always tell me that you learn how to do stuff by doing it." "i was talking about your fucking laundry, not risking your life."

𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📑 ꒱ before writing this review 𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📇 ꒱

it wasn’t bad at all but i know the author can do a lot better than this 😭😭 and the potential was there

maybe rtc

𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📑 ꒱ pre-reading 𓏲 . ˙ ˖ 📇 ꒱

in my thriller/mystery era you guys 🧌