First book I've read from this author, but not the last! One of my goals this year is to read more YA.

Tag & Lily attend the Ames School, a boarding school in Rhode Island. They dated for a couple of years and have been avoiding each other since their breakup.
Both of their backgrounds are interesting but now they're seniors and the last day of school is 2 weeks away. How the scene is set is perfect, I can imagine myself at the school's campus, smelling the salt air.

Each year, a Joker, is appointed to pull the senior prank. There is a bit of mystery in the first 2 chapters (and tension!) but eventually we find out who the Joker is, what the prank is, and who will be tapped to be involved.

The friends of Tag & Lily really make this book! Alex especially. I love his meddling!

This author is apparently known for Swifty references and this one also had a lot of Schitt's Creek. All of them went over my head but it wasn't distracting from the storyline.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. this was fantastic, just what i have come to expect from this author and look forward to carrying in my book store.

📖 BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: What Happens After Midnight
AUTHOR: K.L. Walther
FORMAT: Physical
GENRE: YA Romance
DID I CRY: No
PUB DATE: 6/27/23
RATING: 9/10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @sourcebooksfire for my #gifted advanced copy of #WhatHappensAfterMidnight out now!

MY THOUGHTS

After Walther’s last novel THE SUMMER OF BROKEN RULES was one of my top 3 reads of 2022, I was more than excited to start this one.

Known for her abundance of Taylor Swift references weaved throughout her writing, Walther does not disappoint Swifties with this one. I found it SO fun to read and recognize all of Taylor’s song titles and distinguishable lyrics on every page.

This one is definitely geared toward fall as it takes place on the campus of a boarding school, so if you’re looking for an end of summer easy read to transition you to fall reads, this one is perfect. The characters were likable, and the plot was so fun. It revolves around a campus-wide senior prank. The second-chance trope was perfection & really added a wonderful bonus to a book I already loved so much.

I didn’t like this one as much as TSOBR though it was still fantastic. I wanted a little more of the prank maybe the idea brainstorming, and I almost wish more people were involved in it. The reveal also could have been a bigger deal.

All in all I absolutely recommend this one! Especially if you’re a swiftie!

Overall a pretty cute second-chance romance.

I was surprised I stuck with it because the writing goes from being solid, to being weirdly annoying/cheesy the next sentence.

The development of the second chance romance was well done.

such an adorable summer YA book!! I absolutely love the games and adventure and the characters are so lovable and i just loved this book!! I also loved the summer of broken rules so i can’t wait for this authors future books!

I absolutely adored The Summer of Broken Rules so I was overjoyed to get my hands on a copy of this book. If you like sweet YA stories and Taylor Swift references, this book will be your jam! Pick it up for a fun second chance romance thats perfect for summer/the teens in your life!

a boarding school setting, with a senior prank to be executed by a group of friends with a second chance romance blooming at its core, told over one fun and tense and high-stakes night! it captures teenagehood so beautifully, with all its tangled up emotions and chaos and cuteness and quirks, and it felt fun to go along for the ride with this crew for a night.

Lily Hopper isn’t quite over her first love, Taggert Swell and due to being involved in a school prank, she is forced to face her feelings. The story is moving and fun in some parts, but overall this is just muh…. I wanted to like it as the premise sounded fun, but it lacked the chemistry for it to be a romance and the adventure for a good mystery.

love KLW and the fun and youthful world she creates with her characters. there’s so much on the line for teens and it’s palpable in her writing.

"What Happens After Midnight" by K. L. Walther is a captivating and romantic tale that sweeps readers into a world of unexpected connections, heartfelt emotions, and the magic that can unfold in the darkness of night. This novel is a delightful blend of love, serendipity, and the power of taking chances.

Walther's writing style is engaging and evocative, immersing readers in the enchanting atmosphere and the emotional landscapes of the characters. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their journey toward discovering love and self-discovery creates a dynamic that is both heartwarming and endearing.

At the heart of the narrative is a tender exploration of fate, vulnerability, and the transformative nature of nighttime encounters. The author skillfully weaves together elements of romance and destiny, creating a narrative that captivates the reader's imagination.

"What Happens After Midnight" successfully balances the romantic moments with moments of genuine emotion, resulting in a narrative that is both charming and emotionally resonant. The themes of seizing the moment, embracing the unexpected, and the magic of finding love add depth to the story.

In conclusion, "What Happens After Midnight" is a beautifully written and emotionally engaging novel that captures the essence of love's enchantment and the mysteries of the night. If you're looking for a book that offers a blend of romance, serendipity, and heartfelt connections, this novel provides a captivating and delightful narrative that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Loved the Taylor Swift references in this. My high school readers are going to love this one. This will be a definite pick for my library.

This book was magical!! I loved the summer vibes and how the story took place on the campus of a boarding school. The adventure aspect and romance was so perfectly written. The story made me smile and laugh at times. It was truly beautiful!!

3.8!

| Particularly, I believe that the story itself is very simple and some little things bothered me a little while reading, like the miss communication between the protagonists, chapters were little too long and really slow; and the slightly exaggerated references to Taylor's songs (I love her songs, but in my opinion they could have been a little more subtle).

| In summary, it's a good story for that weekend you want to entertain yourself a little. I liked it for making me feel young again with all the boarding school setting and I adored Alex! He is such a great character and the bond with Lily, they were adorable.
So, despite off some negative points, the book brings gender representation and addresses topics not often portrayed such as diabetes and its various levels, which was things that I really think are positive points here.

I enjoyed this book however it did take me a while to really get into because of the pacing at the beginning but once it picked up I was really engaged. I do wish it was longer though at least the climax of the story. I really enjoy this authors writing style and the Taylor Swift references scattered throughout.

High school senior Lily Hopper is two weeks away from graduation when she is tapped by the unknown "Jester" to be a part of the school's senior prank team. When the Jester turns out to be Lily's ex-boyfriend, Tag, she realizes she must spend from dusk to dawn with him carrying out the senior prank. With a great friend group and plenty of Taylor Swift and movie references, this was a fun second-chance YA romance.

i enjoyed this book quite a bit but honestly i wish the synopsis would have revealed less than it did! i would recommend going into this book mostly blind. the romance was very cute and i would like to say i'm normally not a fan of second chance romance but i think it really depends on why it didn't work the first time, and the way it went down in this book i wasn't mad about it! the adventure part was fun but i kind of wished it had been set up more like a mystery or like we could follow along with the clues and what they meant? but it was impossible to do that because most of the clues just led to specific places on their campus that as the reader, we don't know because we don't go to that school ahaha i feel like it would have been more fun for it to be like generalized clues that we could play along with! i wasn't a huge fan of some of the events near the ending but at the core of it i enjoyed the characters and the pacing!

A short & sweet read. Super entertaining and the storyline was easy to follow. Definitely a coming of age story with a cute little kick of second chance romance. I think the book is for a very specific audience so if you do not enjoy YA romance you this book might not be your cup go tea. Overall, a very cute story of two teenagers in their final year of high school coming together to pull the ultimate prank. I was a fan of all the Taylor Swift references.

Thanks to net galley and sourcebooks fire for the gifted copy!

What happens after midnight was another fun read by KL Walther! This gave all the cozy, young adult romance vibes, complete with the teen angst but also the lower stakes drama. If you liked the whimsicality of The Summer of Broken Rules, you’ll definitely like this one, too! Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

I also enjoyed that Tag was a type 1 diabetic, because it’s always great to see more representation out there (and an accurate portrayal of diabetes as well).

I loved this author’s first book and was so happy with book two! I think that the way that this author deals with sensitive issues in a very good and comfortable way. The plot line along with the characters themselves were very well thought out and introduced in a very cohesive way! The writing is addictively readable and flows so quickly these books are easy to binge in one or two sittings.

I was luck enough to get an ARC of this author’s next book coming out this fall and I’m so ready to jump into that story too! I will definitely be recommending this book to fellow YA readers.

I normally love YA books so I was really looking forward to What Happens After Midnight. I had high hopes for the senior prank that takes place at a boarding school.

Unfortunately, I was I completely bored while reading this book. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but it never did. The prank was fairly tame but also very lame.

There might be readers who really enjoy this book. I was just not one of them.