Note to the publisher: I’m sorry, but this is not the review that you were expecting. My old phone broke, and all the titles that I had saved to it went too. Since NetGalley has archived the books, I am no longer able to access them. My sincerest apologies.

Interesting story. I wasn't sure where it was headed, or how things would turn out, but I enjoyed the suspense and mystery!

A story of a girl that went through an abusive relationship and a haunted house.
Shes trying to come to terms of her abusive boyfriends death and wondering if it's to early to move on when the house shes staying at for the summer tries to possess her. Shes trying to workout of it's her ex coming back because theres a chance shes developing feelings for someone else even thought she promised him forever.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Barbara J. Hancock for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I call this new adult because the narrative perspective is that of an eighteen-year-old girl who has already had her fair share of life experiences, including those in the romance category.

Lydia and Tristan were together, and promised forever, until his untimely demise at sea. Lydia is haunted by guilt, because she's not so sure she did want forever with him; he was abusive and controlling.

When she takes some time stay with a music teacher who runs an inn--an inn that has the feel of an old Victorian gentry home--strange things begin to happen around her.

Michael, a young man who works there, shows interest in Lydia, but she can't quite bring herself to trust in love. It's too soon, and perhaps not something she is ready to move on to.

On top of this newfound love interest, every time she wants to test the waters with Michael, something strange happens, preventing their showings of affection for each other. And this strange presence feels like Tristan, but how can that be possible?

Lydia takes time to absorb a painting of the previous owner, Alexander Jericho, and his wife Octavia. The eyes of Jericho seem extremely similar to those of Tristan, but something seems off and foreboding, hidden within the eyes of those in the painting. When other strange thing begin to happen, even a seance is requested to try and find out if Tristan really is holding onto something against Lydia. Tristan is gone, and it is the ghost of Alexander Jericho, who presumably drowned/murdered his wife and unborn child, that haunts the inn. Or is he haunting Lydia herself?

When I first started this book, it felt like it would be a basic "accept loss and move on" type of book. I wasn't really expecting the paranormal aspect to the novel, at least not to the degree that it takes, but it definitely makes this already easy read much more interesting and quick-paced. Overall, and enjoyable read that gives new adult a new twist, as well as shows the importance of looking on the past, accepting what is, and moving forward in life.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

After Always was a surprising read for me and thankfully it was in a good way. What I was expecting to read was a simple love and loss story about a girl who ends up finding love again, but I ended up getting some much more.

I enjoyed getting to watch Lydia’s healing and growth from her past relationship and Tristan's death. It was believable and real. There was no speedy fix to her pain and grief, just the simple fact that it takes time. Michael was a gem and I feel he is exactly the kind of person Lydia needed to be around during such a difficult time in her life.

The paranormal aspects and added mystery gave this story a twist I was not expecting but it did not disappoint. I look for to reading more by Barbara J. Hancock in the future.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This is a very emotional novel. It goes from sad and tragic to dark, creepy and kind of depression. That is after the death of her boyfriend in an accident. That is when her mother suggests that she goes across the country to Stonebridge Inn. The place with a dark and spooky history of it own. There is this picture that looks lot like Tristan. There is some dark entity that lives at the inn. She meets a gentle man named Michael who is a handyman. This made me feel all kind of ways for there is a lot dark theme and plot points. It will get your heart going.

With YA Thrillers, they seem to be a hit or miss for me, especially if romance is tied into it as well. This book holds a strong in every department I look for in a thriller. Despite a couple weak spots here and there, it's a great tale of romance, healing, growth, and contains a compelling mystery.

Lydia is mourning the loss of her boyfriend Tristan. We listen to her tale of what her and her past relationship was through what we initially perceived as a perfect romance, but in reality, it was abusive and full of darkness. What is initially painted by Lydia to what seemed an overly obsessive relationship on her part, turns out she was a victim in the end. Lydia is used to a relationship filled with fear from Tristan's physical abuse and manipulative ways while remaining devoted all because of her personal views on love.

Her parents finally believe Lydia needs a change of scenery and allow her to go away for the summer to stay in a mansion. Upon arriving, she meets Michael who is basically the healthy, compassionate opposite of what Lydia is used too. Their relationship begins as co-workers to friends and leads to more, however, Lydia is not used to a healthy relationship. Her self-growth and healing in this story is wonderful. Michael is a love, I could not get enough of him.

The paranormal aspects of this novel were an added bonus to this story. On the sole plot foundation, it read as a Contemporary novel then next thing you know you're faced with a supernatural mystery tied into it. All in all, all elements come together in the end to keep you on your toes.

I could not get enough of this book and it was beautiful to see a broken character like Lydia find the power within herself to grow and pursue forward in a healthy manner with someone else who truly feeds her soul with love and kindness.

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review, so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
The cover and title is what originally drew me to this book.
Lydia’s life felt like it ended when Tristan died. Sure, they had their problems and he could be a little…intense at times. But he’d promised to love her forever…
When her parents propose a summer across the country with a music teacher who runs an inn, Lydia agrees. But it’s different from what she expected. There’s a presence there she can’t quite reconcile—and it feels like it’s hunting her. It seems Tristan’s promise followed her…and may have graver consequences than she could have known.
Then there’s Michael Malone, the one light spot in an otherwise dark existence. Lydia can’t help but be drawn to him, and as they try to uncover the evil plaguing the inn, they grow closer. But guilt over Tristan’s death still consumes her. Can she and Michael uncover what evil lurks in the inn before it takes another victim?
This was my first book by this author. It was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
4.5 star rating!

After Always was suspenseful, amazing, and outright incredible. I was in love with Lydia and the story. The plot was so unique and the store was written so well.

I didn't like this book in the beginning. The relationship is super unhealthy, but the character development is nice and has an interesting concept. Really digging the Romeo and Juliet quotes at the beginning of the chapters.

Modern gothic novels can be a bit hit and miss with me because I am very fussy about a genre I write in myself (I realise this is a me issue not an author issue!) However I was caught and held by After Always. What makes a ghost/ paranormal plot work in my opinion is the internal emotional struggles of the MC being reflected by the supernatural story. Hancock managed to create a pitch perfect portrayal of a teenage girl emerging from an abusive and controlling relationship with someone she loved, mingled with all the guilt attendant at a sudden tragic bereavement. I didn’t like the MC to start with but then it’s hard to really see someone who is in the middle of the densest stage of grieving, especially when that’s not just for a person but for realising their perspective was false. The story then segued nicely into creepiness with plenty of stirring motifs – the sea and music, I can’t get enough of either. I’m not normally a fan of ‘heroine recovers through discovering love with a new person’ type story lines but this wasn’t in the least contrived and worked well here. All in all a tightly plotted, intelligent and gripping YA novel.

Being a cross between a ghost story, abusive relationship, and romance, this book kept my attention until the end. I love the way the author only gave you bits of need to know information. It kept me guessing and eager to see what happens next.

'After Always' is a great new young adult paranormal thriller that readers are going to want to pick up. The description doesn't really make it sound paranormal, but it definitely is. I was happily surprised by the huge supernatural aspect and it definitely made my reading experience better. I don't do spoilers, so I can't go into the plot very much without giving anything away, but the main character, Lydia, goes up against some nasty ghosts who are out to claim people's souls and bodies. Awesomely creepy, in my opinion. On another level, Lydia is dealing with the death of her boyfriend Tristan. It's ripped her apart and she's become numb - a hollow shell of herself basically. But we find out throughout the story that her relationship with Tristan wasn't as perfect as she'd like to remember and things were actually pretty bad and she was always scared - of him, of upsetting or disappointing him, of him hurting her one way or another. So there's two different levels of the plot happening that the author nicely ties together to have them blend into a seamless story line.

I really liked Lydia as the main character. I found her very realistic and easy to identify with right from the beginning. I loved watching her find herself again - her sense of self, her strength, determination, and willpower - and changing for the better. The book is told from the first person point of view, from Lydia's perspective - which I'm so happy the author chose to do. The first person is by far my favorite style of writing because the reader gets to really connect with the narrator in ways other perspectives don't allow. I love getting to know the main character on a deeper level - their thoughts, feelings, memories, hopes and dreams, fears, and everything in between. It makes them so much more relatable and helps me really get into their story. Which is exactly the case with this book - I felt like I was right alongside Lydia as everything happened. I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting in a matter of a few hours. I didn't want to stop reading because I needed to know what happened next.

I have to mention the romance in the book because it's a little different than most novels. Lydia has just lost her boyfriend and is deeply mourning and filled with grief. Enter Michael who is basically the opposite of Tristan (which we learn wasn't exactly the greatest guy to begin with) and we see their relationship start as friends and co-workers and then grow into something more. It was really sweet and I was definitely rooting for them the entire time. Normally I don't like a lot of romance in books that aren't specifically about that topic because it tends to overshadow the main story line and take over the book when it's not supposed to be the center of things. That wasn't the case here and I'm so happy that the author found the balance between having the romance between Lydia and Michael be a large part of the story but not taking over the super creepy main plot. Definitely recommended for fans of YA, contemporary, paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, and romance.

After Always is the first book I have read by Barbara J. Hancock. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. Lydia got on my nerves in the beginning with how she essentially let Tristan tell her what she was going to do. She had divided her life into BEFORE and AFTER around his death and that made sense because it changed her completely. But the more I learned about their relationship, it was no wonder that her parents thought they needed some distant.

As the book progresses and Lydia interacts more with Michael, I really started to understand her more. This story was really good and I'd highly recommend.

This book was sort of an ride for both my brain and heart. At first I was quite bored with it and stuck with it because it keeps talking about the main character missing her late boyfriend mourning . BUT THEN she discovered maybe the mansion shes living in has a VERY dark history and maybe haunted (I was totally creeped out) after a series of investigation and incidents and exploration (do not do that at home kids you're risking your life) she found out a very dark relevation and saved the house from further torture. Honestly this book is amazing it gave me the heebie jeebies and was totally creeped out yet intrigued on what happens next and what is behind all those incidents? Will Michael end up with her or is all his actions under influenced by a certain someone? dont let those first few chapters bore you away. Its amazing and if you love paranormal novels I 100000% recommend :)

This book was freaky deaky but a very very good freaky deaky. A great October read.

When you begin the book Lydia isn’t exactly your favorite person. You see her obsession with Tristan and the world she was in with him. She seems to be disconnected from everyone and the reader as well. But as you read the story and become engrossed in it you realize that this may have been done on purpose by the author. It was a haunting parallel to Octavia’s world and what was happening so many years ago. It was to see how she is brought back to life by the inn and Michael. Mainly Michael for the inn was her challenge I believe. It was her way of finding her way back and facing what her life with Tristan really was. A dark void that left her distant and hollow. It was Michael that helped her come back and find someone to trust and be by her side and not controlling anything.

Michael was a great character. He saw more than others and had his own secrets but they weren’t dark and ominous. He was a protector and wanted to rid his family of the darkness that seemed to be there even if no one understood what it truly was.

When Lydia arrives at the inn she is hollow. Soon things begin to occur that can’t be explained and it is rather freaky. She has an obsession that takes over and we see her and everyone around her seem to be stuck in a sort of obsession that isn’t who they are. We see Michael fight it at times but at other times he cannot. It is love that keeps him in the now and his will to be there for his family, Lydia and his desire to find out the truth.

The dark tale of Jericho and his valet and what they dabbled in was ominous in its own right. As the past is unfolded and blends into the present you are engrossed in what is happening and feel like you are truly in the inn with Lydia and fighting the darkness and unraveling the truth. We learn just how dark and evil Jericho was and the lengths he went to for power and control of others.

Watching Lydia and Michael fight that evil, reveal the truth but also find their way to one another was great. Seeing Lydia finally become connected and realize what her life was before Tristan left and after and how it was a bad place to me paralleled Octavia and the inn itself. As she grew stronger and more present, the fight became more ominous and difficult and the darkness became more vicious.

A truly engrossing story that has you captured from the beginning wanting to know the secrets of Jericho, Lydia’s family, Lydia and the inn itself. Wanting to see light win and dark disappear. Wanting Michael and Lydia to grow close and fight together and see Lydia let him in. A great October read for it’s content and freaky deaky nature.

“‘… when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine, That all the world will be in love with night, And pay no worship to the garish sun.’”

Before, Lydia was in an all consuming relationship with Tristan, quietly abusive which she refused to see when he was lost at sea and declared dead. After, Lydia has no desire to move on or attempt normal, instead she has given up everything she loved to only do they things that Tristan would have wanted her to do or loved himself. In a last ditch effort, her parents have sent her to an old friend's for the summer, hoping for her to have a chance to heal and to get back in touch with her music. But there is something about the old house that calls to Lydia...

Look at that cover!! I had to have this when I saw the prettiness that made up the cover. I read the synopsis and figured this was going to be an angsty teen romance that dealt with the loss of love and how to love again. And this kinda was... but it was so much better than that! I feel like I might be a little dense, but there was a supernatural component I never saw coming and it made the story that much better. The writing had a kind of lyrical feel to it, as if this was poetry or a Gothic novel, where words and transitions flow more smoothly together- all while being a contemporary story. It was very easy to sit down and read huge chunks of this book in a single sitting.

This was a complicated, at times painful journey. Lydia basically wants to fade away since Tristan died, since she does not know how to be her own person without his demands. Her emotions are all over the place- even joy to be free and then guilt for being happy. And then we have calm, quiet Michael who just wants to help and support in any way he can- but is rejected at every turn. I did find it interesting that Lydia knew Michael was interested in her, no coy girl here who could not read signs. It was very interesting to get into the mindset of Lydia, such a damaged lost girl who did her best to get through each day- her pain was so real and tangible it made my heart hurt for her. That is not to say there were so many times I wanted to shake some sense into her, but still I understood her whys.

Side note here (or trigger warning and/or spoiler)- this book really made me think about how many young girls get into terrible relationship situations like this, where they are being abused emotionally and or physically and have no idea it is going on or how to escape?? Now this, this is a scary topic way more terrifying than any ghost story!

Overall this was a very interesting story written in such a pretty way. I am glad I got to experience the tale and I highly recommend it to mystery, romance, paranormal and classic Gothic style fans.

I reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. Come visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

‘After Always’ is a great book. The plot, the writing, it’s all great. I also love the character development. This book was a really easy book to read and enjoyed it immensely. I don’t actually read that many supernatural novels, I tend to stick more with fantasy or contemporary, but ‘After Always’ has gotten me rethinking my ways. My own outlook on life as I am a very confident person and will not take crap is that you should never control someone, and I can see how Lydia wants to break free from her relationship with Tristan.


I felt that Lydia’s character had an amazing development and plot line, with some intense struggles that she had to work through. I loved witnessing her character grow and get stronger with every struggle she faces. She is strong enough to recognise that her relationship with Tristan was abusive and that it wasn’t right. She is scared to get into anything and is worried about her own behaviours. This novel is great as I hope that Lydia’s character will help people to relate, empathise or get out of relationships that are making them unhappy.

The supernatural aspects of ‘After Always’ also impressed me. Nothing in the plot was disjointed and all of the small little things came and tied back to something else, such as the masks or little poppet dolls found in Lydia’s room. I was extremely impressed, as this can be very very difficult to do successfully.

Great read. Loved the hero but the heroine could have been less whiny. The ending was satisfying.Great read. Loved the hero but the heroine could have been less whiny. The ending was satisfying.

Rating 3.5/5

This is a thrillingly creepy read if you enjoy being scared. It definitely was not what I was expecting in this novel, but the plot itself was enjoyable and touched on such important issues. However, I really felt out of place at times when reading, and I think it was because the pacing wasn't maintained through it all.

The author tackled on a tough issue which was dating abuse and I really liked that this was brought up because I feel a lot of adolescents are already going through a lot hormonally causing their emotions to go haywire, but when *young love* is added to that, they feel like they have to work so hard to keep it going, even settling for someone is isn't right at all. Such is the case for Lydia who must learn that her and Tristan's relationship wasn't right for many reasons. I would have liked learning a lot more about their relationship prior to his death, but the way the story is now it didn't take much away from it.

The paranormal aspect included in this was interesting and kept the book exciting too, however, if the focus of this novel was for Lydia to open her eyes to what she was blind too, mature from it and learn to love and trust again, the book could have done without the ghosts. BUT, the parts without that paranormal activity, the pace was very slow and hard to keep up so it was sort of needed.