My Review: “After Ever Happy” by Anna Todd

After Series Book 4

Possible triggers

Drug related death

Spoilers included!

Thank God, the end is near!

I’m back to the never ending drama and angst of Hardin and Tessa. I prayed that we could move on from the constant breakups and reconciliations. I could do without the eye rolling dialogue along the lines of “you are the only one who can save me”, “I can’t do this, but I can’t live without you” blah, blah, blah. I was also sick of the constants alcohol binges and violent outbursts, but I wanted to literally close the book on these self destructive characters and there was only one way to do it.

I was immediately disappointed. By chapter 2 Hardin was already in a bar, breaking stuff and getting drunk. Urgh, not again!

At the end of the last book we found out that Hardin’s dad is actually Christian Vance whose been getting it on with his mum on and off for over twenty years. While we spent three books blaming the guy Hardin thought was his dad for messing him up with his alcoholism and abandonment, it’s actually his mum who deserves to bear the blame.

What’s more annoying is she still marries her neighbour despite being caught in a steamy clinch with Christian the night before her wedding! Trish certainly went down down in my estimations, and then she vanishes without a mention, except for a few sentences, for the rest of the book. The “I’m your real daddy”plot line was the most interesting aspect of this final book and it’s kind of whitewashed over. We don’t even get to hear Trish’s side of the story.

Anyway it gave Hardin the excuse to continue with the destructive behaviour, even a bit of arson, but hey that’s okay, he’s hurting, he can do whatever he wants. (Read with very sarcastic tone.)

Tessa also continues to be annoying. She lets Hardin get away with so much, all the time. The “only I can fix him” line has worn thin with me. When she finally develops a back bone, I knew she would not stick to it. Then there’s the way she constantly leads other guys on: Noah, Trevor, Zed, and Robert the waiter, who she’s still stringing along towards the end of this book in the full knowledge that he likes her as more than a friend. Its a clearly selfish trait of “I want to be your friend even though I know you have feelings for me that will never be reciprocated”. Just slice their heart out while your at it, Tessa, and rub Hardin in their face by always going back when you say you won’t. Plus, Tessa knows it will upset Hardin, but still does it. God, she wants strange compromises from him, yet doesn’t seem to think compromising on this issue for his sake is important.

Therefore, we’re back in the never ending loop. He pushes her away. She leaves, says she needs space, then he comes back. In this book they’re back together in terms of they live in the same house for most of the story, talk all the time, have sex etc, but they are not together because she’s supposedly not letting him treat her that way anymore. He’s apparently changing, becoming a better person while they work though these issues, and I suppose he is. He refrains from the violence and self hate at least.

Again, there’s inconsistencies with plot throughout. Plus the pace is off and on. The books could be much shorter to avoid the drag and repetitive nature of their relationship. It’s a Wattpad sensation, so I suppose they don’t want to change too much incase they upset the core fan base.

Like the others there’s little bits that niggle: small details that are overlooked, plot and character inconsistencies, lagging pace in sections. But also like the others, there’s plenty of steamy sex with a good balance of emotions.

I have to admit I was happy to make it across the finish line. This series dragged me into a dark pit that I could not escape until I reached the end. I can’t put a finger on why though. The characters were annoying, the plot was drawn out and repetitive, and the pace lagged so many times. Particularly the ending, the longest, most drawn out ending to a story I’ve ever endured. I skipped so much just to get to the end.

But now it’s done. I can leave #Hessa behind me. This is a series that has you feeling plenty, be it frustration or the swoons on occasion, but it definitely doesn’t leave the reader in a state of ambivalence. Like Hardin and Tessa, it’s certainly a love or hate relationship.