Hereafter by Terri Bruce

Goodreads Summary:

Thirty-six-year-old Irene Dunphy didn't plan on dying any time soon, but that’s exactly what happens when she makes the mistake of getting behind the wheel after a night bar-hopping with friends. She finds herself stranded on Earth as a ghost, where the food has no taste, the alcohol doesn’t get you drunk, and the sex...well, let’s just say “don’t bother.” To make matters worse, the only person who can see her—courtesy of a book he found in his school library—is a fourteen-year-old boy genius obsessed with the afterlife.

This sounds suspiciously like hell to Irene, so she prepares to strike out for the Great Beyond. The only problem is that, while this side has exorcism, ghost repellents, and soul devouring demons, the other side has three-headed hell hounds, final judgment, and eternal torment. If only there was a third option …

Excerpt:
She got up and got dressed, her back to him.

“I’m leaving,” she said. “Tonight. Now. As soon as I get my stuff.”

He blew a cloud of smoke and didn’t say anything.

“Well, it’s been nice knowing you!” she cried, stung by his lack of response.

“What is it you modern girls say?” he asked sardonically. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch? If you wait twenty minutes I’ll get some pants on and come with you.”

She whirled around. “I mean I’m going through the tunnel.”

He stubbed out his cigarette. “I know what you meant.” He threw back the covers and stood up. For a second relief flooded through her.

Then it faded. She shook her head. “Ernest, you can’t…”

He was hunting for his clothes. “Don’t worry about it, Princess. I suspect if anyone tries to give me any grief you’ll clonk them over the head with one of these clogs of yours.” He tossed a shoe to her.

She shook her head again, even though he wasn’t looking at her. “It’s not that. It’s just that…you and me…”

He heard the uncertainty in her voice and straightened up quickly. “Don’t be stupid,” he said, but he sounded more alarmed than irate.
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My Review

Before I won an ebook copy of Hereafter I had read the first few pages of the book. As soon as I read them I knew this book would be a really good read specially because I believe in a lot of the things that where talked about in the story. In some parts of Mexico people have a tradition called El Dia de Los Muertos it is very similar to the Chinese celebration and their believes but it is celebrated two days only November 1st and 2nd. I celebrate it every year and always set up my altar with my ofrendas(offerings). To me it is the most amazing traditions we have besides posadas of course it's just so incredible to be part of a tradition like this and celebrate it. That is why I really enjoyed the story. Terri Bruce did a fantastically amazing job with this story. The best way to write a book about a beautiful tradition and different culture's believes about what comes after death.

I really do hope that if there is an afterlife similar to that, that it really won't be hard to have things, that you don't have to work or be homeless. It would be terrible to carry all the things you own around. I do hope we can read because I would miss that terribly. That would be the worst thing that could ever happen from my point of view lol. In a way this story frightened me I sure hope it would be a little easier after going to the light.

Besides the story being amazingly written I also loved the book cover. That's what caught my attention as soon as I saw the book and I've got to say I never judge a book by its cover at all. What I usually do is read a small paragraph of the review or the book summary and that is when I say I've got to read this book. After that it goes on my to read list then to find time to read it. The color of the cover is beautiful, the light behind Irene the red dress she has on is just stunning. Everything in the cover looks amazing.

I think that on all my reviews I like saying who my favorite character in the book was and why he/she was my favorite character. In this book Jonah was the best I loved, loved, loved his character. He was so great, he was always there for Irene even if she was so cruel with him most of the time. Poor kid he had so many problems and he still had to deal with Irene. He was one of those friends that would be hard to find and I was pretty sure he had feelings for Irene too. He was so fun in a healthy way, funny, serious when he had to be and smart which was why I loved his character. Don't get me wrong I completely understood Irene I'm sure it was a nightmare for her to realize what she was missing once she died and to know she could never get all that back. That would be a perfectly created hell in my opinion. What I thought was great once she came back to her senses was that she did not want to live like that and wasn't very sad she died she excepted it and wasn't being dramatic about it. What she was mad about and was hard for her was to think about what would happen if she went to the light. She was just afraid about what she didn't know, didn't see and what was waiting for her beyond the light. Which was a very good reason to be freaking out trying to forget about it while she could. Would I recommend this book to people I know who love to read? Definitely yes. Hereafter is a must read. I enjoyed reading it and I definitely know you will too.