Review :: Between Before and After | Amanda Dick

Title: Between Before and After

Author: Amanda Dick
Publisher: Amanda Dick
Year: 2014

 

Synopsis:

Five friends. Three days. One heart-stopping discovery. 

 

Three years ago, Danny Morris left behind a gun, a tonne of questions and a gaping hole in the lives of those who loved him. What he didn’t leave was a suicide note.

 

On the anniversary of his death, his closest friends gather at his parents’ beach house in New Zealand's idyllic Marlborough Sounds. Danny’s girlfriend, Kate, is fighting valiantly against her blossoming feelings for his best friend, Finn, afraid she is somehow betraying his memory by moving on. Max is self-medicating with alcohol, fighting off nightmares he refuses to talk about as the memory of finding Danny’s body continues to haunt him. While Finn is finally ready to admit to himself that he is drawn to Kate, trying to save Max from himself dredges up long-buried anger and frustration that threaten to overwhelm him.

 

Three years ago, a single bullet ricocheted through all of them. But instead of time easing the pain, it has created a new set of problems.

 

How do you leave the past behind when it's right in front of you?

Review/opinion:
When I first read the synopsis, I was very interested and curious about the whole story. And when I started my reading, I found it a bit different of what I imagined before. But in a positive way!

The author tells the story of Danny's suicide and his friends' feelings and behaviours. These friends gather every year by the anniversary of Danny's death in the beach house. At first, it seemed it was going to be a "happy" tribute in his memory at a cool and paradisiac place, but then they started realising there were unsolved problems related to that bloody day. Some of them (like Max and Finn) had hidden secrets that nobody ever imagined had happened and, somehow, become damaging.

These gatherings could be seen as a love proof to their friend, but I wondered if they were also lasting their grief and pain?

The most important thing I took from this is that is better talk to someone about what we are feeling or problems we are holding inside us that are messing us up and, consequently, the ones around us. This is the best way to overcome and keep going with our lives.

Besides the most serious issues, I found the story very pleasant. I loved the descriptions of the beach house, which led me to the beautiful landscapes of the Pacific islands. I also enjoyed the connection among these friends and the willingness to help each other.

I primarily recommend this book to everyone who are concerned about this matter (like me, because last year an uncle of mine committed suicide), but also to all who want to read a delightful story about true friendship.

Once more, my sincere thanks to Amanda Dick for the opportunity to read this amazing book!