It has been almost, almost a year since I have read Hereafter, and today (Singapore time), it's the release day of it's sequel, Arise!!! I'm going to keep this recap post short and sweet because I'm having exams, like, 8+ hours later(!), but still, I want to have this Hereafter recap on a special release day like that.

First of all, in local time, HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO ARISE! I have already pre-ordered it with Amazon, and they are shipping it out really, really soon. A good 2 weeks I'll have to wait but I'm SURE it'll be worth the wait. I can't wait for Arise, can't wait to get right into Amelia and Joshua's world again. I have read reviews and many of them are big positives!

I remembered I came across Hereafter through some online recommendations and honestly, I never liked Ghost stories. Maybe because I don't like haunting stuffs as much, and I'm afraid of how things would end. But nevertheless I picked up Hereafter because I was really attracted by it's description. And I found myself loving it, a lot a lot more than I have expected myself to. It's not usual ghost stories, but with the prospects of a human-ghost romance element with it, and in this case, the female being the ghosts, I found Hereafter strangely appealing.

Amelia, was so innocent and I like to read her growth with the knowledge she was introduced to throughout the book. I like the way she was unsure about herself, yet being so, rightfully herself. There's something sweet about herself just in Amelia that made me love her, care for her feelings and all, a feeling that can't be pen down expressively. On the other hand, Joshua was a downright sweet guy, and he is so far one of my MOST favourites YA male characters ever. The way he was introduced to Amelia was interesting, through the accident and her saving him. And subsequently looking for her, going back for her, and the way he seemed to treat her just like any other normal girl - not a ghost - was just another element of how sweet his was. Others would seriously freaked out, I guess.

How the two relationship progresses seriously captures my heart entirely, squeezing it with the troubles they have to face and bursting with happiness for their sweet moments. From discovering that Amelia's a ghost, to Joshua being a Seer, and then to discoveries of Amelia's real identity, and with Eli and the demons coming into the picture, they strive to get back to one another no matter what. The book was well-balanced with the intriguing and appealing romance between the 2, as well as theories about the Underworld, and the power the ghosts have. I have since then re-read Hereafter twice, and trust me, re-reading it just brings back the original amazing feelings you have for this book, and more!

Hereafter was basically an introduction, to the world Amelia belongs as a ghost, and the start of the surreal yet amazingly sweet relationship between her and Joshua. I cannot wait to see how this amazing story will be taken to in the sequel, Arise.

I failed to keep it short, unfortunately. :P Fortunately though, still sweet!