Blog Tour ~ Review: Living in the Aftermath (The Ties That Bind Us #2) by Lucy A. Kelly

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the Living in the Aftermath blog tour hosted by Irresistible Reads Book Tours. Click here for the full tour schedule. :D

Title: Living in the Aftermath (The Ties That Bind Us #2)

Author: K.A. Coleman (Pen name was Lucy A. Kelly)

Published: June 18, 2013

Pages: 194

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Average Rating: 4.50 / 5

My Rating: 5 / 5 

Blog Tour Organized By: Irresistible Reads Book Tours

Source: Review copy provided for the tour

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~Synopsis~

At the start of her junior year, Savannah had it all: popularity, money, cheerleading, a boyfriend, and a best friend. Unfortunately, when you have it all, you risk losing everything. After a tragic accident forever changes her life and the lives of her friends, Savannah finds herself faced with a decision to make. She can try to slip back into her old life, flaws and all, or she can try to redefine herself for her last year of high school. Is it even possible that Savannah can change after having everything go her way for 18 years?

Jacob has nothing to lose. He has seen one too many schools and wants nothing more than to graduate, so he can finally stay in one place for more than a year. In fact, Jacob thinks he has every clique and student pegged after switching schools so frequently. When Jacob finds himself face to face with Savannah, he realizes that she doesn't quite fit into one of the high school stereotypes.

In fact, they're both harboring rather big secrets. Maintaining a friendship or any kind of relationship can be akin to balancing on the thinnest of tight ropes. When the rope is made of lies, revenge, and half truths, well, it's only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. 

  

~My Thoughts~

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review doesn't contain any spoilers from the first book. Click here to read my review of the first book, Holding On and Letting Go.

Living in the Aftermath picks up not long after the end of the first book, Holding On and Letting Go. After being completely shocked by the events that unfolded in the first book with the accident and with how much I loved the character and story, I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen in this book. 

I really didn't like Savannah in the first book; however, as time went on, she did begin to grow on me, and I ended up liking her by the end. Savannah has undergone a transformation since she was first introduced. On the surface, she was a spoiled, rich cheerleader, but inside, she showed she is a loyal friend and will be there in the bad times as well as the good times. She has become bitter after the accident and decides she should go back to caring only about herself. 

Jacob is introduced as a new student and quickly becomes friends with Savannah's group. He discovers that this particular group of friends don't fit into the stereotypes he had first assigned to them. I was shocked when his secret was revealed - I never saw it coming, but I love all of the different issues with all of the characters that are addressed in the story. I know if I went to their high school, this is the group of friends I'd definitely choose to hang with. 

The relationships and dynamics between all of the characters are fraught with complications. They're struggling to keep everything together, and sometimes I didn't understand why Savannah was so bitter towards her friends at times when they are being supportive of her and things that have happened aren't their fault. I just wanted them all to stick together. Each character has such a unique voice and personality - the author did a superb job making them realistic and each are his or her own person. 

There's a lot of wisdom in these books. So much of what the characters say is beautiful in regards to grief and tragedy and love. They're so perceptive it's almost scary. The way the author writes is gorgeous. There's just no other way to describe it. I really hope there's another book coming out because I could hang out with Savannah, Jacob, and their group forever! 

~Purchase Links~

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble 

~About the Author~ 

I'm not really going to write a biography. Though I am supportive of the high schools and colleges I have attended, it's probably not actually the most interesting stuff about me. I'm going to do a list of five really random things instead for now. 

1. I like making lists. It's weird, and I never actually scratch things off of the list.

2. I sing and dance in the car like a maniac. 

3. For the first six years of my life, I truly believed a shark lived under my bed. I watched Jaws at too young of an age. 

4. Without a doubt, I am a night person. I am enormously grumpy when first woken up in the morning.

5. When I was younger, I read almost every Nancy Drew book, both new and old. I had a notebook, and I would take notes to see if I could figure out who the "bad guy" was before Nancy did. We probably tied.   

~Author Links~

Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook