Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway- After Tuesday by Renee Erickson

Today WinterHaven Books has the pleasure of participating in the blog tour for After Tuesday by Renee Ericson, hosted by Itching for Books.

After Tuesday by Renee Erickson

Publisher- Amazon Digital Services, Inc

Release- May 5th 2013

Purchase- Amazon/ B & N  

Family really is a pain…especially when your father is an addict.For the last two years, high school senior Ruby has been her own rock and solace. She has learned to depend only on herself and hides her family's issues by keeping herself somewhat unnoticeable. Despite her isolation, Ruby has intrigued the affections of someone unexpected. Finding herself loving life once again as his persistence sparks a romance awakening a well-protected heart.
While Ruby’s relationship with her father is constantly teetering, her new-found affection continues to blossom into something more than she ever thought possible. Soon, Ruby comes to realize that opening up your heart means being susceptible to love and disappointment.

My Thoughts:

After Tuesday is a story about a girl named Ruby Miller, who just moved to Illinois from Chicago so her dad can find work, but she's had to find her own way these days since her dad finds more comfort in a bottle then having a conversation with his daughter. But it's okay, Ruby's been surviving just fine without him for the last two years and only has one more year before she turns eighteen and she can start a real life. But things are looking up when the unexpected Brent Cromwell, one of the most popular guys at school notices her while picking up his brother at camp White Ash, where Ruby worked for the summer. A bright bubbling romance begins for these two hearts, but it's hard to let yourself feel happiness and fall in love when your father is an addict. Love is messy and complicated and Ruby will soon realize that it's okay to let someone in, even if it means getting hurt. 

Aww, I really enjoyed this book. If I could pick one word for this, it would be so so sweet. Renee Ericson's writing is wonderful. She realistically and beautifully captures that feeling of falling in love and all the intense emotions that comes with it, but at the same time showing us the shame and guilt of having someone you love be an addict, making this story both a heart lifting and heart breaking journey on the road to self-discovery, acceptance, trust and an ultimate love.

First, the love story. There is nothing more powerful then the first time you give your heart to someone else. Trusting that person enough to know that he wont hurt you. The feeling of new and being able to explore the simple sensation of being happy. To take each 'getting to know you' moment and holding on to each memory just a little bit longer each and everyday.  Ericson did such a sensational job conveying that feeling of being young and in love for the first time, taking me back to my own memories and experiences when I was young and love was just as crazy and intense and so very messy. 

But this story is also about the bitterness and loneliness of having a parent who is fighting an addiction. It can feel like an endless battle of sadness, resentment, embarrassment and even fear and guilt to have someone you love feel desperate and empty enough to resort to such extreme measures for escape and your powerless to stop it.

When one part of your life is all goofy grins, slow kisses and warm embraces, but another part of your life is filled with confusion, worry and anger, how do you find the in between? How do you let that person in? How do you let him see this part of your world? But soon enough Brent will show Ruby that with a little faith, hope, acceptance and trust, your heart will learn that it's bigger then you think.

I really loved all of these amazing characters. They are all wonderfully developed and easy to connect with from minute one.

Ruby doesn't have an easy home life, being the new kid is one thing, but having no mother and having to fend for yourself for the last two years while your father basically turns into a stranger is an entirely different story, and yet, Ruby remains positive, kind and good hearted instead of falling into bitter and despair. I could see why it was hard for her to let Brent into her hidden little world and how she wanted to live in this romantic bubble a little longer with him instead of coming clean about what she has to deal with.

Brent is one of those amazing guys who is popular and gorgeous and athletic and could have any girl he wants. I love the fact that he's willing to put himself out there and that he makes mistakes but makes up for them come the end, but most of all I love the way he loves.

Brent and Ruby have so many precious moments between them I could have practically highlighted the entire book. Those were my favorite parts, the falling part of being in love. Holding hands, first kiss, first 'I love you's' and then that first time. It really does take me back to the magic of it all and I loved experiencing it all over again with Brent and Ruby.

I also really enjoyed what the secondary characters brought into this story. I loved the fact that we didn't have any mean girls in this one and that everyone seemed to accept Ruby into their group. Lexi was a great best friend, I loved her infectious playful personality.

And even though Ruby's dad is going through something complex, I liked the fact that he still loves his daughter and it didn't involve abuse or meanness that I usually find in most books with this particular topic.

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book. Fans who want to smile and sink into the sensation of falling in love will want to read this warm, loving and touching summer escape filled with heartwarming characters, heartfelt issues and terrific writing. I can't wait to see where Renee Ericson takes Ruby and Brent next with the follow-up sequel, Forgotten Yesterday.

This one made my heart happy, and really, what more can I ask for. Well done!

                                                                    4 Snowflakes

                                                                About the Author

                                                              Goodreads /Website

Renee loves to wear hoodies, is fluent in Yoda speak, and likes to make videos with Lego figures. She is a long time insomniac, but doesn't have the energy to start an underground Fight Club so she settles for writing stories about the characters who plague her mind. She grew up in the Midwest and currently resides in the Boston area, but sounds nothing like Ben Affleck or Matt Damon.

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