As a 90s kid, I loved this book's trip down memory lane - the references made me smile throughout, and I appreciated that they never overshadowed the story or felt gimmicky, just that they let the story inhabit a real place and time. Loved the pace of the book, and the story really carried me through. Well done and very accomplished debut!

loved loved loved this book. I felt deeply connected to the characters in the story. I couldn't wait to open my kindle at night. I am greatly anticipating reading more books by this talented author!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

This part of the summary immediately caught my eye, and it's why I wanted to read this book.
""Tony is dead. He killed himself Monday night. Three thousand miles away. Brian Listo is going home."

Suicide is such a .. raw, heartbreaking subject. But it is SO important that it be portrayed and written about accurately and appropriately.

This author did just that. This book was beautiful and touching. Check it out.

"Tony is dead. He killed himself Monday night. Three thousand miles away. Brian Listo is going home.

Five days. Four best friends who don’t forgive him. Three women who can’t stand him. Two parents who don’t trust him. One unforgivable sin he can’t hide from anymore..."

That part alone had me interested in reading that book and I wasn't disappointed.

Well written and interesting.

Friends reconnect and try to cope with their friend's suicide. Everyone has issues... life is hard...

This was an emotional read, a good book.

ARC received through NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

A touching, interesting and human exploration in grief and forgiveness, and the many layers of friendship.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy. I enjoyed the writing style and that the book bounced back and forth between timelines. Interesting read.

The plot concept drew me in, but when I was actually reading it, it felt like an imitation "Less Than Zero." It was interesting but didn't feel original or new.

I had a hard time getting through this book. The characters were well defined and the story was typical of the age group. The back and forth through time was ok but the end was predictable.

This was so well-written. I loved reading about the struggles the characters had with not only dealing with the suicide of their lifelong friend, but of breaking out of the molds of their high school personalities. The author captured these struggles in such a way that it is easy for the reader to relate to. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read! Just make sure you have enough time to read it in one sitting because it is impossible to put down once you start reading!

This book certainly has a storyline that I am drawn to. I was looking forward to diving into this story, but I found that I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Brian, the main character, definitely has his struggles and we can all empathize with him and his thought process. This was not my favorite book, but my preferences for writing and storytelling are a little different. If you are looking for an emotional read, this is your book.

The book had a very nostalgic feel to it, and the author drew me into the story, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. It was hard for me to get lost in the book because I just couldn't relate to them. (I also didn't have a "typical" high school or college experience, so that may have impacted it) I would definitely be interested in trying out other books by Kasie Whitener, but this one was just ok for me.

This book just wasn’t for me and I genuinely believe that’s down to me and not the author.

Despite a couple of attempts, I struggled to relate to the demographic of the characters and the writing style seemed stilted. There just wasn’t enough to make it an enjoyable read. So, despite it being a sound storyline and characters, I found it a tough read.

For all the reasons stated above, I won’t publicise my review any wider than Netgalley and I wish the book much success.

If your pop culture touchpoints are
- Empire Records
- Reality Bites
- Clerks
then After December is going to feel very familiar to you!

A tight circle of lifelong friends are reunited after one of their friends dies by suicide. Each of them struggle to come to terms with Tony's death, and in that struggle, showing who they are as adults, breaking out of their high school selves. Despite Brian being somewhat of a self-centered prick, I felt empathy for him, thanks to the author's effective showing of his internal monologue and character development. I finished this book in a night, eager to see how it all turns out at the end.

As a Generation X-er, who grew up in the 90s, I particularly loved all of the references to a time and way of life that wasn't that long ago, but feels like ancient history. The story of friendship and forgiveness felt so familiar to me... how do we come back and face the people we loved the most and hurt the most? Brian is a character you both love and love to hate, but you can empathize with his poor decisions and really root hard for him to make it right with his friends. It's a quick read, leaving you wanting more time with these characters. Thankfully the author is hard at work at the next book and provided a snippet!