August and Everything After brought back so many memories from high school and the struggle of telling people what my post-grad plans were when I hadn't even decided myself. I loved the book but hated the memories that it brought back.

This was pretty good. and I think had I been a bit younger I would have gotten way more out of it than I did now. This definitely would have been something fun and good to read as I graduate high school. But almost graduating college, I feel different about it in a way. But I still enjoyed it, and it was nice reading about other people going through the struggles I went through before starting college. I thought the writing was really well done, and the characters were really well developed. Overall this was a solid read and I highly recommend checking it out.

Quinn is struggling to get by after the death of a friend and is just waiting around until she will get a fresh start at college- although she tries not to think about the future.  Spending a summer with her aunt  in New Jersey provides a change before the future.  Over the summer she runs into Malcolm, who is facing his own dark struggles, and together they try to prepare for what's next.

I thought this was a nice read, although a little heavy with problems for a summer read.  The love came on quick and could have been a bit more fleshed out rather than instant.

♡ Well, I suppose I was bound to read a disappointment some time this year. Unfortunately, I found August and Everything After quite problematic, with a toxic relationship and unremarkable characters. As soon as we're introduced to the two main characters, it's clear that both are dealing with their own struggles - guilt, grief, and addiction to name a few. I hoped this novel would be a sincere story about two individuals who help one another come to terms with or alleviate some of these challenges. Instead, I was met was met with something else entirely ... and not for the better.

♡ The rushed and toxic romance was absolutely awful. I'll cut to the chase and express why this relationship did not work for me. The leading male character, Malcolm has been recovering from an opioid addiction that was spurred several months prior to the events in the novel. Two of his fellow band members were killed in a car accident, and Malcom has been dealing with grief ever since. He confides in Quinn about this, and although the romance starts out sweet (albeit, VERY rushed), it quickly evolves into a relationship formed on nothing but force and manipulation. Malcolm pressures Quinn into doing a few things she doesn't feel comfortable it, then proceeds to snap at her when she carries out his wishes. Not to mention he uses both physical force and emotional manipulation to execute power of her.

♡ I also didn't find the writing style or humor unique. This is a shame, since I did enjoy Doktorski's other novel, How My Summer Went Up in Flames. Unlike that one, I wasn't able to become fully invested in the lives of the characters nor the story line. I admired Quinn's development by the end, as well as the overall conclusion of the novel. I honestly felt as though the last 5% of the book was the most realistic part.

♡ The relationship between Quinn and her aunt is executed well. It felt realistic, and I liked how it wasn't picture perfect, so to say. They had their ups and downs (as did Quinn's relationship with her mother, for that matter), but every argument that arose was over sensible issues. This was refreshing to see, since many YA novels don't pay heed to the worries and concerns adult figures have about the lives of the teenagers.

♡ Personally, I don't believe the few silver linings of this novel outweigh its issues. Even if the romance didn't emit disrespect and sheer rudeness on Malcom's part, the writing and story don't offer much interest. Perhaps this story simply wasn't Doktorski's niche. The novel I had read by her before is very amusing, and far closer to the light-hearted, carefree side of the contemporary spectrum. If I were to recommend any of her works, it would certainly be that one, and not August and Everything After.

Will no longer be reading or reviewing this book due to lack of interest in the title, and the fact that the title has been archived.

*I WAS SENT AN E-ARC IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

From the author of How My Summer Went Up in Flames comes an amazingly written contemporary about a girl with a bad past.

Quinn Gallo is a newly graduated girl who is struggling to find her "life plan" like her mom wants. For the summer, she's staying with her aunt and working two jobs in the town. While working for her job at a bar, the singer that is performing that night—Malcolm Trent—approaches her.

"You have pretty eyes, Quinn. You shouldn't hide them behind ugly glasses."

This quote is actually pretty relatable for me. I've gotten this comment before, even though I absolutely love my glasses and wouldn't trade them for any other pairs. Quinn and I actually share a few things. Like her, I also have cat-like eyes that multiple people have pointed out to me.

All in all, this story has become a new favorite. The characters were well developed and relatable, the plot was well understood and liked, and the tension was perfect. For that, this book has earned its rating of 5/5 stars.

I've enjoyed this author's books in the past, but I had trouble connecting to the characters in this book. After a couple of chapters, I had to set it aside. Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read and review this title.

This was an interesting read. I liked the MC but I'm not sure I followed along with her story. The big to do that lead her to her aunt's house wasn't really explained. And I hated that she called her aunt "Auntsie" like a two year old. Also, the ending leaves a bit to be desired. Does it mean the MC and her guy will end up together, are they truly going to be apart? I'm so confused. And then the one character who is talked about the entirety of the book, but never seen, comes in on the last few pages and I'm like "Chemistry! There you are!" but what does that mean for the MC? All in all, the writing is good but the story doesn't follow a linear plot.

Summer on the New Jersey shore offers Quinn a new start at life and love, but only if she can come to terms with her past 

Graduation can't come soon enough. Desperate for a fresh start, Quinn is eager to escape to her aunt's house on the New Jersey shore for the summer, away from teenage drama and having to answer everyone's questions about "what comes next" after high school.Quinn can't bear to focus on the future. She doesn't even think she deserves one—not after her best friend died in a car accident that Quinn feels responsible for. While working in a bar she meets musician Malcolm Trent who, like her, is trying to get over a tragedy that they feel guilty for. After she joins his band as a drummer Quinn finds herself falling in love fast and must make a hard decision about where she goes next.


Overall I found this an okay read. The idea of the storyline was nice, and Quinn, her aunt and Malcolm are believable. But the storyline missed something. It was all a little entertaining, but nothing new that I haven't read in any other YA novel. It just lacked originality and some more excitement that makes you turning pages. It was nice though that she had such a good relation with her aunt, and that Quinn was able to find some forgiveness in the accident that killed her best friend.. If you're looking for a fast-paced book, this is not for you. If you are in for a slow romance, this might be one for you.

August and Everything After is a book about summer, love, and loss. First (and personally the most important to me) character development. This author is fantastic about delving into the characters minds and digging down deep. The characters are dynamic and don't necessarily say everything that they feel.
The plot is good as well. It moves you along with it. While it's not the most fast paced or thrilling book, it is touching and has a good message. It's not necessarily riddled with plot twists it does keep you wondering what's going to happen next. 
I love the romantic plot of this book. Anyone who knows me know I love romance. I won't read a book that doesn't have romance in it (or I'll read it begrudgingly.) It's not overwhelmingly romantic but it is a main aspect of the plot.  It's well written so that it's not sappy or disgusting but still makes you go awwwwww.
While I don't particularly like the ending I have to say that I respect the authors choice and understand why she wrote it like that. At least it's not a devastating ending like other books I've read.

A beautiful story about love and loss and grief and music.

I love the characters, 'Auntsie' in particular is fantastic! A cool, free-spirited music fanatic. I loved how the friendships and relationships developed and how things 'ended'.

The music stuff was all brilliantly real and researched, so detailed. I loved that Quinn was a badass female drummer and I especially appreciated that it was a process, she wasn't instantly good, everything was so realistic.

My only minor query was that in the UK at least you need to be legal drinking age i.e. 18 to work in a bar, whereas Quinn - in America - was working in a bar at 18 when the US drinking age is 21.

I was hoping for a book like The Summer After You and Me which I really liked, especially since some of the same characters are in this book. But something about this book didn't quite work for me. The ending was really unexpected and unexplained. I actually reread the end of the book to see if I missed anything. Quinn did seem to realize putting her plans on hold to follow a guy, especially one with addiction issues, was not a good idea. But one moment she was packing and telling her family she was going on tour, and telling Malcolm she loved him, and the next she was no longer in contact with Malcolm and was flirting with a new guy.... and the book ends. What??

This book was a little slow going for me until about 45% in, then it just flew by. Quinn is staying with her ‘Auntsie’ at the Jersey Shore for the summer after some things went down after her best friend dies and she hooks up with her teacher. So her mom sends her to stay with her aunt. She’s working at a bar when she meets Malcolm who has struggled with addiction in the past but is now sober. This book hits on some serious topics like, addiction and self harm, but had a good romance as well. I loved her relationships with her friends, aunt, sister and her mom. I got a little teary eyed a few times. All in all really enjoyable! Would definitely read more from this author.

I had to go look up the synopsis of this book. Of what I did read, I still couldn't even think of single thing that happened...but for there was music involved. I'm not big on the music scene/musician plots, and it's hard for me to get into this book. I made the mistake of looking at some other reviews, and heard that it's pretty fast instalove, and those 2 combined I just couldn't keep interested. I didn't get very far before I found I hadn't picked the book up in a week, nor could I remember anything I read.

*3.5* 

August and Everything After seemed like the perfect start-to-summer read. I mean, a Jersey Shore setting, summer romance, and adventure? I don't think it can get much more summery than that! It also didn't hurt that I've enjoyed Jennifer's previous books - How My Summer Went Up in Flames and Famous Last Words are perfect poolside reading material! 

As it turns out, August and Everything After did put me in a summery mood; however, it also brought way more heart and emotion to the table than I had anticipated! 

At its heart, August and Everything After is a book about growing up, making the hard decisions in life, and learning to love not only other people but also yourself. When the book first begins Quinn   is in a state of constant indecision. She doesn't know what to do now that she's graduated, and she doesn't know how to express that to her overly driven mother and sister who think college is the only option out there. 

I found Quinn's voice to be realistic and I feel that it will appeal to readers who are in the same position as Quinn, having one monumental era come to an end and not knowing what to do next. I felt for Quinn. It's hard making the big choices after high school (been there, done that!), and it's even harder when you're still dealing with the pain of losing someone you loved. What I admired the most about Quinn, however, was how willing she was to take chances. Yes, sometimes they led to incredibly embarrassing moments (i.e. fire rescue disaster) or even heartbreak, but they also led to some great growth - moments in which I was yelling "Go Quinn!" 

I also LOVED the aunt-niece dynamic here! Aunt Annie and Quinn were two peas in a pod. I liked that Annie and Quinn both helped each other out over the course of the summer. Annie helped Quinn see that it's okay to make mistakes and take chances, but they should never stop you from growing, for reaching for more. On the other hand, Quinn helped Annie see that just because something ended, it doesn't mean that it has to be over over. Their relationship was honest and heartwarming, containing plenty of "aww" moments as well as "oh darn." 

Now for the part that I'm iffy about: Malcolm, the sexy misunderstood musician. I think we've all encountered Malcolms in our lives - boys who we know are nothing but trouble but couldn't resist simply because of how swoony they were. On one side, I liked Malcolm. He played a huge role in Quinn's summer, helping her make some big decisions. He also was pretty irresistible. I can understand why Quinn why was so taken by him. He had that sexy musician charm for sure, and he used that to his benefit.  On the other hand, I felt that their relationship was unhealthy. I didn't like that Quinn took on the savior role here, always feeling as if it was up to her to keep Malcolm's sobriety in check. That's a hard role for anyone, especially someone who is already facing a lot in their own life. There were so many moments in which I wished I could reach through the book and knock some sense into Quinn, to tell her that she it wasn't solely up to her, that it wasn't okay that he was always making such weak promises. I will admit that sometimes their back-and-forth relationship grew old; however, I appreciated the end result. I won't say too much, but Jennifer did a great job of wrapping it up. There were some shaky "oh my goodness" moments, but I couldn't have been happier by the end. 

Overall, August and Everything After is a relatable read, perfect for the summer! While it isn't my favorite book by Jennifer (How My Summer Went Up in Flames remains my favorite), it still demonstrates how great Jennifer's contemporaries are. I can't wait to read more by her! 

*This review was posted on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf on May 18, 2018. It has been cross-posted to Amazon, BN, and Goodreads.*

Review will be posted week of 5/21/18

Quinn is dealing with a lot of guilt as her best friend died in a car accident that she feels responsible for.  After a scandal at home involving a teacher, Quinn is spending the summer at the Jersey Shore at her aunt's house and working at the local bar.  She is supposed to be figuring out what is next for her and come up with some sort of plan, but it's harder than it looks.  She is definitely distracted by local musician, Malcom.  He is the quintessential rocker and encourages her to play drums on his demo.  Things progress to something more between the two of them, but she isn't sure this is the type of relationship is exactly healthy as Malcolm is very complicated and his past isn't squeaky clean to say the least.  Can he help her move on from her past or will he complicate her life further? And ultimately this novel examines that big question for many seniors...what comes next?  Jennifer Salvato Doktorski's August and Everything After is an edgier beach read for mature YA readers all set on the memorable backdrop of the Jersey Shore. 

I thought Quinn was an interesting character in August and Everything After. Her complex past is heartbreaking and I wanted to learn more about her.  I really enjoyed her relationship with her aunt as well as Quinn's interest in music. 

Speaking of music, you can really tell that Doktorski knows music as well as bands. If you like this sort of thing, you will appreciate that the most about this book.  The musical details, band life, demos, playing live in front of an audience, and the idea of going on tour is all explored in August and Everything After.

One of the things that Doktorski does well is depict a summer at the Jersey Shore. You can tell she is well versed in shore life and really brought the small town, the bars, and the quirky people to life very well.  

I also appreciated that Malcolm and Quinn were dealing with grief regarding the untimely death of their friends. This made August and Everything After a more serious type of beach read. Quinn struggles with anxiety on a daily basis due to her complicated past and Malcolm struggles with addiction.  So, obviously, this was a darker read than I anticipated despite the romance between Quinn and Malcolm.

If you enjoy darker beach reads that tackle serious issues that teenagers face everyday, then you'll want to check out August and Everything After this summer, especially if you love all things music.  While this isn't my favorite of Doktorski's novels, I still appreciated the novel's message.

This contemporary teen novel had a bit of everything. Tragedy, sadness, loss, love, drugs, music, laughter and tears. I think that many teens can relate to parts of the book and would enjoy it. The ending was a bit odd and good all at the same time.

Quinn's best friend Lynn died in a car crash that she feels responsible for, and feels she should be punished for it. She is eager to get away from her hometown for  awhile, and stay with her aunt Annie, whom she affectionately called Antsie, on the Jersey shore for the summer. There she meets Malcolm, a musician who has been dealing with his own issues. Nevertheless, she feels herself falling for him, and wonders if this is the new beginning she's been looking for all along.

I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for my honest review.  I'm a huge fan of Sarah Dessen so I was intrigued by this book when it was compared to her novels.  It was a great fast young adult read that I did enjoy.  The ending kinda threw me for a loop but I liked the writer's style and how she interpreted each character.

Quinn just graduated from high school and is spending the summer at her aunt's house at the Jersey Shore while she figures out her next step in life.  While working in a bar she meets musician Malcolm Trent who, like her, is trying to get over a tragedy that they feel guilty for.  After she joins his band as a drummer Quinn finds herself falling in love fast and must make a hard decision about where she goes next.

This was a good read and I really liked all the characters.  Like I said I really was not expecting the ending but still a great book.

August and Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski begins with a girl struggling years after the death of her best friend. She's sent to live with her aunt for the summer to come up with a life plan for her future. Enter Malcolm. The typical bad boy with a past of his own that mirrors Quinn's experiences. 

There was a lot of angst and growing up in this one. I had a similar experience and lost a friend of mine in high school in a car accident too so this one hit close to home. I liked Quinn's choice at the end and the woman she grew into throughout the book. This book left me feeling hopeful that others can come out the other side of loss at such a young age. 

*Thank you Netgalley and Sourcefire Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.