Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Book Review: Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler

By Ann Redisch Stampler
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Source: Publisher

And it may be more than Emma can handle. 



Review: I have such mixed feelings about this book. I've never read anything by Ann Redisch Stampler before, so I wasn't prepared for her unique writing style. While Afterparty was definitely unlike anything I've ever read, I couldn't fully immerse myself into the story. 

Emma has always been the good girl, following her father from one school to another as he teaches at different universities around the world. Now, though, Emma has the chance of finishing out her high school years in California, and she's more than ready to take on a different life, especially when she meets eccentric Siobhan who decides they just have to be best friends. But with her overprotective father, Emma has to orchestrate how she can be the bad girl she's never been while keeping up her good girl facade. 

Like I said, the writing style of this book is very unique. While it was definitely a breath of fresh air, I found it hard throughout the book to follow the story and focus on the characters. At times, it seemed like the witty banter between Emma and Dylan or Emma's thoughts wouldn't really be said that way in real life, and the way Emma described things was jumbled up with her thoughts and emotions, so it was hard to fully grasp exactly what was going on. 

This entire book is a lead up to Afterparty, and Emma is supposed to learn to be a "bad girl" before she goes all out at Afterparty. That being said, there wasn't really a tangible plot, but rather a bunch of things that happened just to pass the time before this ultimate party at the end of the year. And when Afterpary finally arrived after 350 pages, I wasn't all that impressed. Everything was so hazy and jumbled (again, the writing style), that I was lost in everything going on. I guess that's the kind of atmosphere you would have at such a renowned party, but I wasn't a fan of having to experience it that way. 

The characters were definitely complex and likable enough, but they got lost in a story that was hard to follow. I loved Emma and Dylan's relationship, and the roller coaster relationship Emma has with Siobhan. Siobhan is definitely a crazy character, but she has one of those personalities that always draws people back to her. But while the story and characters are mesmerizing and draw you in, the writing style makes it hard to really get into the lives Afterparty is trying to capture.


  1. Hmm... I've seen this book around and it might even be on my list (love the cover!) but I think this one will be a pass for me. Thanks for the review! :)

  2. Cool review!! I want to read this book, but yeah I hate when conversations are written in ways that seem unreal. Like I think most people think of the perfect thing to say 10 minutes after a convo is over, so if someone is always saying all the right zingers, I get skeptical. Anyhow this books sounds unique-ish.... I'll probably give it a try :)


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