Before Ever After
A Novel
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4.2 • 72 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A young widow embarks on a globe-spanning quest to discover the truth about her late husband in the dazzling first novel, full of heart and magical realism, from the bestselling author of Water Moon.
“A highly original and engaging mix of romance, mystery, and magic that will challenge everything you think you know about happily ever after.”—Jill Smolinski, author of The Next Thing on My List
Three years after her husband Max’s death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max that he could be his long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that his grandfather, who looks just like Max, though he seemingly hasn’t aged a day, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.
As outrageous as Paolo’s claims seem—how could her husband be alive? And how does he look identical in those photographs from decades ago?—Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down—if it is really Max. Along the way, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was. As she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In her debut novel, Sotto sets up the intriguing notion that Shelley Gallus's husband, Max, dead for three years, is actually alive and well on an island in the Philippines in fact he's been alive for centuries! As Shelley and Paolo (who claims to be Max's grandson) embark on a journey to confront Max about abandoning them, Shelley recounts how she met Max in Europe while he was working as a tour guide for the Slight Detour Company. She and Paulo come to understand that Max's historic tidbits, from 79 A.D. to 1871, involve stories in which he was a major player. While Sotto capably envisions different venues and historic events, it is difficult for readers to make the leap of faith necessary to make this fantastical premise work, especially since Sotto never adequately explains the precise logistics of how Max achieved his immortality. While the various anecdotes about Max's different roles through history are entertaining including that of a wealthy landowner living the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius and a French rou who escaped the ravages of the French Revolution they lack narrative purpose and seem to merely showcase Sotto's knowledge of obscure historic facts and myths. Nevertheless, the author shows a flair for description and offers insight into successful relationships.
Customer Reviews
Extremely romantic...
Such a nice reading with love and romance and mysteri... I recommend it if you are a romantic person.
Before Ever After
I would have given this book five stars if not for the end. I personally abhor stories that leave you guessing. I need to know how the story ends. This book is well written and engrossing. That being said, I feel that I have squandered many hours of my life.
Great read
This is ambitious. Hedonism, existentialism, darkness, resilience, comedy, familial love, romantic love, true love – themes that are explored in this novel that at some point in our lives, we’ve experienced either in a small, medium or encompassing way. The clever use of vignettes to portray these themes as Max is constructed (or deconstructed depending on an individual’s point of view) is where, in my opinion, the ambition of the book coincides with its brilliance.
All in all, the combination of the vignettes and the various contexts it gives, the dry Brit humor, excellent historical backdrops, and the dash of the supernatural make this an excellent and entertaining read for the summer. Definitely a two thumbs up.