After They Go by J. Mercer

After They Go
J. Mercer

Publication date: May 15th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

“…Mercer’s prose is lucid and her themes of redemption and reinvention are resonant…” — Kirkus Reviews

A large family saga set in a coastal tourist town:
One sister chained by family tradition.
The second stunted by her sister’s shadow.
The youngest propelled by desperation.

Gwen is the oldest of four children in the Aaldenberg family, and the one who seems to have it all. She’s also most desperate to escape. Betta, having nursed their dying grandpa for the past three years, is anxious for Gwen to go, so she can finally have reins to the family business. And Esmerelda, viciously determined to follow in Gwen’s footsteps, vies for popularity as a freshman in high school, only to learn she must sell her soul, reputation, and most prized possession for acceptance.

As their father struggles with retirement and their mother with depression, Gwen discovers the debt her grandfather’s passing left them in–and during a time of year when their coastal town, dependent on tourists, can barely sustain itself. Gwen and their father agree Betta can’t take over the store under such stressful circumstances, not when she’s been carrying the load for so long, and to protect Betta, they play it off that she needs some time to rest.

When Gwen’s fiancé moves to town, Gwen does her best to resign herself to a local life, while Betta struggles for meaning without the store. In order to carve out a place for herself, Betta must decide to what lengths she’ll go in order to become her own person, and Gwen must decide what’s more important: her sister or her future. Can this family pull through their disappointment, jealousy, and regret? Or will they cling so tightly to their desires that it ruins them?

A splendid day to day story about the life of the female members of the Aaldenberg family.

Gwen hates the small town where she grew up, she wants nothing to do with it. She can't wait to get out again after her grandfather's funeral. But the store is in dire situation, and it will probably get out of business if she did not help out. Besides her sister also needs a break after caring for their grandpa for 2 years. So it seems that she has no choice but to stay for the coming months.

Betta hates her life. She is unhappy most in her own skin. She feels that Gwen has everything that she is denied. And when after slaving years in her family store it was given to Gwen and all her future plans were ruined she needs a change. But she has no idea how to do that. Gwen becomes everything she ever wanted and never got. Not realizing that Gwen have no intention of having the store neither staying here.

Ez idolizes Gwen. She wants to be the younger version of her. She have to be her. A typical high schooler she wants nothing more than to get inside the circle of the popular high school kids. In fact she is ready to go to any lengths for that.

Wanda is just happy that all her children will be home for Christmas. She painstakingly tries to ignore the fact that she is unhappy in her life. She us also ignorant of the condition in which the store is in and the fact that they are swimming in debt. The fact that her husband is handling it is enough assurance to her yet, Wanda is worried by Gwen's word. Maybe now it would be the right time to start talking to her husband about their business.

A great story where the family bindings are tested, relationships shattered and rebuilt, illusions dispelled and truths revealed.The complex characters only increases the interesting factor of the story. 

Overall an interesting read which not only shows the psychological complexities in family members but also the  complexities as well as the insecurities of human beings. It is sure to capture anyone who is in love with a good psychological read along with a splash of drama.

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Author Bio:
J. Mercer grew up in Wisconsin where she walked home from school with her head in a book, filled notebooks with stories in junior high, then went to college for accounting and psychology only to open a dog daycare. She wishes she were an expert linguist, is pretty much a professional with regards to competitive dance hair (bunhawk, anyone?), and enjoys exploring with her husband–though as much as she loves to travel, she’s also an accomplished hermit. Perfect days include cancelled plans, rain, and endless hours to do with what she pleases. Find her on Facebook @jmercerbooks or online at www.jmercerbooks.com.

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