I ended up reading AFTERLIFE by Julia Alvarez twice this month, first in print and then again via audio. It's a slim novel, but there's so much to unpack that I had to reread it. Essentially, this is an introspective story about a woman, Antonia Vega, and the grief she experiences after having lost her husband, and trying to figure out how she can possibly go on without him. But it's also a lot more than that. It's about an English teacher with a deep love of literature, her complicated relationship with each of her sisters, mental illness, and how the pressing issue of immigration affects Antonia's life both directly and indirectly. There are many side-plots to the overarching story, but personally I found they each fit together beautifully to tell a cohesive and thought-provoking narrative. Alvarez's writing style completely pulls you in from the first page, and like me you probably won't be able to put this book down until it's finished. I highly recommend this book if you're currently looking for a shorter novel that feels poetic and emotional.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with this ARC. This was a well told story of loss, love, relationships, and human experience. The poetic-lyrical writing style of this book was not necessarily for me, and it made it harder for me to stay connected to the story. I am still glad I got chance to read this work.

How can life continues after a big circle has closed? Antonia has recently lost her husband and has to move on with her life. She is about to encounter some serious difficulties, both her and her sisters and cope with issues referred to immigration and mental illness, along carrying the bereavement of her husband who was her world. Undoubtedly this story is emerging a life perspective I've never experienced and how one may feel In their deepest emotions. I'm giving 5 stars because Julia Alvarez is delivering us not only a novel but also knowledge for life.

I have nothing negative to say about this book. The writing was straight forward, but with occasional gems. I felt very immersed in Antonia's thoughts and feelings about the things she was struggling with externally and internally. Dealt with illegal immigration, grief, mental illness, family, and so much more. I liked it, but it wasn't the kind of book that's going to stick with me or one I would personally revisit.

Everything Julia Alvarez writes is a gift, and Afterlife is no exception. I truly believe everyone can find something to connect to within this book. This book offers hope during an unprecedented time in recent American History.

Once in a while, a book comes along where you want to cherish each sentence of the book. You want to remember how beautifully every emotion was described in the book. Afterlife is that book.
It was when I finished reading the first chapter that I realized that I am going to love this book. Afterlife is about love, loss, and emotions that you often feel but cannot described articulately. The want of trying to be a better person, but also wanting to be your own person, is chronicled beautifully in this book.
If you read the blurb of this book, you might think that there are a lot of things happening simultaneously, but the way all the situations are interwoven and the flow progresses is mesmerizing. There are no quotations in this book (I have come to love this style of writing), but I don't think that should deter you from reading this book.
Afterlife is a book which I wanted to reread as soon as I finished it, just so that I could read the beautiful prose again. This book will make you hug your significant other and miss your siblings.

This is a funny, moving novel that addresses life, love, and loss. Alvarez is a wonderful storyteller weaving together issues of immigration and family dynamics. This was a terrific read!

Afterlife follows Antonia, who is adjusting to life as a widow when two additional tragic events begin to unfold - one involving her sister and one involving a pregnant teen who has entered the country illegally and in desperate need of help. Antonia, who feels barely capable of taking on any kind of stressor, is forced to repeatedly ask herself who comes first - the teen, her sister, or herself.

Reading Afterlife is like traipsing through Antonia's mind, like wading through grief. I felt supremely put in Antonia's shoes. Confused, uncertain of what to do, frustrated with the decisions of others. The novel's ending isn't easy, yet it still brings with it a sense of relief. I didn't always agree with Antonia's decisions, but I respected and understood them. I'm not sure that I can imagine myself re-reading this novel, but I know that I will think of it in moments when I am faced with answering its central question - who should I put first?

Afterlife tells the story of Antonia, one of four sisters, who is a recent widow and retired college English teacher. She helps an immigrant working for a neighbor, and responds to a crisis with her eldest sister. The relationships with her sisters becomes strained and she fears losing herself in all her responsibilities, questioning how much she can take on and remain true to herself. Afterlife is well written, poetic and engaging.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed this story. This was about Antonia, an immigrant English teacher who is now a widower. As she works to put her life back together, her eccentric sister goes missing. She must come together with her sisters to try and find out what is going on. At the same time, a lost immigrant teen ends up at her house.

Throughout all this Antonia must decide what matters in her life.

How does life change when you only have yourself to answer for? Antonia is finding that it also means all the decisions are your responsibility, which can be good or bad.

When Antonia’s role as wife ends, she’s not sure what’s left. Almost a year after her husband’s death, she’s forced to re-enter the world more fully as a sister, and then as a member of her community without her husband by her side.

Antonia is one of four sisters whose parents passed away years ago. Now when one sister disappears while on her way to visit the other three, Antonia spends a lot of time in her own head, contemplating the roles and responsibilities they each have in the sisterhood.

Then she returns home to find a very young, very pregnant immigrant without papers in her garage. Antonia knows the important humanitarian role her husband played in their community as a doctor and defender of the underdogs.

All of this plays alongside Antonia’s need to find the right words. She relentlessly remembers quotes and passages from favorite and influential authors who she read and taught to her students. Finding the right words will solve her dilemmas, she’s convinced.

Overall, I’d give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. The unique writing style of Antonia’s internal monologue felt a bit awkward at first, but charming and beautiful as the story developed.

"Afterlife," the first adult novel written by Julia Alvarez in almost fifteen years, is a deep, multi-layered book with several intertwining themes from immigration to grief and loss to family interactions and roles in Latina sisterhood. There is a real depth in both Alvarez's exploration of these topics and her character's subsequent findings.

The story revolves around Antonia, a recently widowed, retired university professor living in Vermont. Her neighbor owns a farm who employs mostly illegal immigrants from Latin America. She is dealing with the loss of her husband Sam when two new developments in her life threaten to unravel her entire life: a pregnant, female immigrant has taken up residence her garage, and her sister has gone missing.

Ms. Alvarez does a splendid job of balancing the mystery of her sister's disappearance and the new "responsibilities" she cannot ignore as well as trying to navigate the unspoken "rules" in her family's hierarchy between her three other sisters. As the conflicting demands that need her attention pull her in every direction, she is forced to make difficult decisions about what matters most.

Fans of other books written by Ms. Alvarez will surely enjoy her latest offering. There is much poetry sprinkled throughout the novel as well as other tidbits of classic literature. As a retired English teacher, the protagonist is constantly referring back to discussions and lessons from her decades of teaching experience as she tries to bring to life the lessons learned from literature. I recommend the book to all literary fiction lovers, people who enjoy poetry, as well as fans of classic literature, who I believe would also thoroughly enjoy Julia Alvarez's newest novel, "Afterlife."

I received this eBook free of charge from Algonquin Books via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Admittedly, I haven't read much of Alvarez's work, but what I have read, I have loved. Her prose is always gorgeous, and her characters always complex. I quickly put this on my to-read shelf late last year hoping for much of the same.

"Afterlife" follows Antonia, a recently-retired college professor and widow, as she wades the rough waters of grief, a year after the passing of her husband, Sam. She becomes entangled with the drama of an immigrant couple -- Mario and Estela -- as they try to navigate their relationship and living undocumented in America. And to add onto all of that, her eldest sister, Izzy, has gone missing.

Despite there being plenty of conflict throughout this short novel, I didn't find it entirely engaging. I understood how all three aspects of the plot were intertwined by the end, which made the ending more poignant, but along the way I found it difficult to read more than one chapter in a sitting. Alvarez covers a lot of social and political issues in this one, but I felt like she attempted to cover so much that most of these were not fully fleshed out and read a little "preachy", as if mentioning it once and not addressing it again would suffice. Some of the issues were connected into the conflict, but I wanted even more! There were also moments where the transitions between scenes or days were so fast (see the mention of driving between Indiana and Massachusetts several times) that the timeline of events read confusing.

As always, Alvarez's prose was gorgeous in places. I wrote down a lot of quotes and found myself rereading a few sentences here and there. I think her development of Antonia's character was probably my favorite part of this book; she is dynamic, but convincingly so, not going so far as exaggeration. As someone whose life will likely not include children, I found this book cathartic and reassuring.

I received a reviewer copy of Afterlife by Julia Alvarez from the publisher Algonquin Books from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Antonia is a recently widowed and retired woman living in Vermont, she finds her life impacted by two simultaneous crises: an undocumented neighbor trying to help his girlfriend cross the border and her older sister's disappearance.

What I Loved: I have a soft spot in my heart for books set in Vermont and New Hampshire, as I'm from there. This book looks at the undocumented community in Vermont something I know little about and found intriguing and believable. Also Alvarez's writing is gorgeous and I really loved how she set up the story with Antonia trying to be a kind person but also knowing her own limitations and struggles, the way she speaks about this struggle is touching. Additionally, I loved the elements of the sisterhood and sisters when you are in your senior years, it's rare this is talked about.

What I didn’t like so much: At times the book feels repetitive and sometimes that can be frustrating but it's also part of the style. The writing for the introduction was also an unusual style that made it hard to read.

Who Should Read It: People who like books with beautiful writing. People who like books about family and sister. People who like complex and diverse stories.

General Summary: A story about a woman balancing her grief and mental health in the midst of two crises.

Antonia has just lost her husband, Sam to an aortic aneurysm, and is struggling with her new role as widow. As she goes about her days, trying to return to some sort of normalcy, she is always reminded of what Sam would have said or done in a situation and she begins to feel as though she must say or do what he would have. She refers to him as the “good cop” in the relationship, the one who was optimistic, who saw the good in everything. Antonia also begins imagining what could go gravely wrong in situations that are seemingly normal to any one else. Maybe it is because of the tragic way she lost Sam or maybe it is who she is coming to fruition at a later age. Regardless, she begins questioning everything and everyone.

Antonia has three sisters: Izzy, Tilly, & Mona (all short for something, only Antonia prefers to go by her given name). Together they make up the sisterhood as they call it. There are rules to the sisterhood (i.e. Always act pleased to see them, honor thy sister’s turf). And each sister has a role. Izzy gives advice on relationships and when to drop them. Tilly is the doer, helping wherever she thinks necessary wether it is or not. And Mona gives advice on a variety of things like where to buy the best shampoo for your dog. Antonia is unsure of what role she plays in the sisterhood but I see her as the voice of reason. She is always telling her sisters to be fair or calm down, to not jump to conclusions.

Antonia, not the oldest, but possibly the most mature, sees each of her sisters as stuck in a certain stage of life. Tilly in highschool, Izzy in childhood, and Mona in the womb. She is curious as to what stage of life her sisters would say she is stuck in. That is if her sisters even she her as stuck in a certain stage of life. I think she isn’t so much stuck in a certain stage in life but more so in a before and after with Sam’s death. She mentions a lot of not only what Sam would do in situations but also of what she was like, of what their relationship was like, of who they were before he died.

She finds herself listening to the radio where “her own sadness (is) put in perspective by the larger sadness of the world.” This is something I think we all do when experiencing any sort of grief, pain, or suffering. It is easier to numb that pain in any way than to deal with it head on. But I also think in doing so, we diminish our own pain. We begin to think that just because someone else might be experiencing something even more tragic that our pain is in someway less. But that is not true. Our pain is just as valid. I think that sometimes we find ourselves ashamed of our own sorrow because others have it worse than us. I think Antonia, despite having every reason to be grieving in any way that she needs, is experiencing that.

She is wrestling with being alone or doing what Sam would do in the situations she is put in. As she approaches the one year anniversary of Sam’s passing, Antonia finds herself helping her sisters find Izzy as she has gone missing and also helping out a neighboring migrant worker and his girlfriend through an uncertain time. Despite an overwhelming feeling of wanting nothing more than to be left alone and not help in either situation, after all she’s not Job, as she likes to point out, this shouldn’t all fall on her. Being the voice of reason in the sisterhood, Antonia believes that Izzy is fine and that her sisters are just overreacting. They have hired a private investigator for pete’s sake. But in her efforts to be more like Sam, she agrees to continue to help both to the best that she can.

Afterlife is much more than a story of a woman trying to find her way after her husband’s passing. It is about finding out who she is and wants to be after his death. How she can be more like him without losing herself in the process. How she learns to understand and accept others. Alvarez poses so many questions about life, about the things we question in life, the people we are, about the way we treat others. As the Los Angeles Times described it, “Shimmering…Valuable and necessary.”

If you have the chance to read this one please do it is one of those stories that will have you thinking about it long after you finish the last page.

This book is raw, it's funny, it's sad, but most of all, it's wonderfully, and flawlessly, written. A central theme of the book is what do we owe each other? This is a question the narrator, Antonia, returns to over and over again and it is not simply answered. The story shows the emotions that our short, beautiful lives are filled with, love, sadness, hope, and loss. I think this is a great story and definitely recommend reading!

While I own When the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, another book of Julia Alvarez's, I hadn't gotten around to reading it yet when I agreed to be part of Afterlife's blog tour. I was a bit hesitant since I wasn't familiar with her works, but oh how glad I am to have read this upon its release. What a beautiful look at growing old, at learning to deal with loss and grief as it comes upon you more frequently, at how sisterhood is such a unique and strong bond no matter the years. I truly appreciated following Antonia on her journey as she learned to live through the end and beginning of old and new relationships, as her life shifted towards her new normal. Her bond with her sisters, and how each and every one of them has their own very unique personalities, while also still blending into what they've dubbed 'the Sisterhood', was wonderful to read and experience. Alvarez's writing is a treat, and you can feel her own thoughts and questions surrounding the issues Afterlife touches upon through Antonia's voice. The inclusion of Estela and Mario's storyline, and the immigrant issues within Antonia's community in Vermont, was also handled very well, highlighting how immigrants' lives are affected by both the decisions of the community members and the unsteady political footing in the U.S. With so few books truly analyzing these issues, this novel gives a voice to those who have grown older, but still feel young in their questioning of the world's intricacies, as well as blending together many societal issues we are dealing with right now.

I’ve mentioned before that Julia Alvarez is one of my favorite authors. I was so happy to hear that she had another book coming out. Thank you to @algonquinbooks and @librofm for making a review copy available to me.

Antonia Vega is an English Professor who has just retired from teaching and is suddenly widowed. If these two major life events weren’t enough, her sister disappears and an undocumented teenager shows up on her doorstep.

One of the things I enjoy most about Julia Alvarez is that she is a master storyteller, especially about sisters. In the Time of the Butterflies, How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, and now Afterlife are perfectly written stories of how sisters interact with each other. Alvarez writes of the complex relationship between each one of them: the oldest, the youngest, the most successful, etc. The Vega sisters deal with a tough issue, mental illness, but in the funny way sisters around the world interact.

The storylines in the novel are complex: coping with the loss of a spouse, the mental illness of a sibling, and dealing with illegal immigration. The illegal immigration storyline is especially poignant because Antonia isn’t removed from the struggle, she is living it. When an undocumented teen shows up on her doorstep, she has to act to help her.

My only wish is that this book had more--more of the Vega sisters and more about the town Sheriff...there’s more to that story! Afterlife was worth the wait, and now I want more! 4/5

Thank you so much to @algonquinbooks and @writerjalvarez for giving me access to an advance review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks! Afterlife is out now!

Antonia Vega has retired from the college where she taught English and then her husband Sam dies. Then her sister disappears and a pregnant teenager shows up on her doorstep. Interesting novel about a family in crisis.

Antonia is a woman in her 60's who has just become a widow. Her deceased husband is someone who she believes is a much better person than herself. As she grieves, her life feels empty and hollow without the man she loved. Antonia pinwheels emotionally, but believes she should do what she can to keep her husband, Sam, alive in some way. This story is her journey through the valley of the shadow of death, on her way to finding some new kind of peace and normalcy. Along the way, she must deal with her sisters and a pregnant, undocumented teenage girl who shows up unannounced. What can love do for Antonia? It's time to find out.

What I appreciated about Afterlife is that it provides a hopeful picture of life after death. Some other stories have covered the idea of keeping loved ones alive in memory, but I think Afterlife takes this a step further, and I appreciated its approach. I also enjoyed reading about an older protagonist, which is uncommon. One thing I know for sure: You owe it to yourself to walk a mile in Antonia's shoes, and to ask yourself what you would do if you lost somebody you loved and respected in your life. Now more than ever, the moments we have with loved ones are so precious, and Afterlife probes our minds and our hearts for a deeper response than just, "I would miss them." Don't miss this one.