Blog Tour, ARC Review, & Giveaway: After They Go By J. Mercer

Title: After They Go
Author: J. Mercer
Release Date: May 15th, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Available: Amazon
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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?

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.

I don’t know why this reminded me of Big Little Lies. The author wrote these characters in such a complex way, you needed to keep your eye on them all and each event that takes place. Since this is told by multiple perspectives, it can be difficult keeping track especially if you need to put the book down for any reason. Despite all of that, they are woven together in together in the end to make a complete, cohesive story.

The Aaldenberg family is going through financial struggles that bleed into the mother and her three daughters’ lives. Gwen wishes to be free of obligations of any kind, but since she is the oldest, she is forced to tow the line despite wanting to have her own life. Betta has taken on much of the family burdens to the degree where she wants to take the wheel of the family business. The youngest, Esmerelda, is facing the harsh reality that sometimes in order to be popular, you have to basically sell your soul.

A small community can hold it’s secret, but for this family they need to learn trust, openness, and sacrifice. This story kept me indulged to the very end. Much like the family will keep all readers.