Five friends. Three days. One heart-stopping discovery.
Three years ago, Danny Morris left behind a gun, a tonne of questions and a gaping hole in the lives of those who loved him. What he didn’t leave was a suicide note.
On the anniversary of his death, his closest friends gather at his parents’ beach house in New Zealand’s idyllic Marlborough Sounds. Danny’s girlfriend, Kate, holds fast to his memory by continuing to live in the house they shared. Struggling to move on with her life, her blossoming feelings for Danny’s best friend, Finn, only complicate matters. Withdrawing from his high-flying lifestyle, Max has carved out a much simpler life. Self-medicating with alcohol, fighting off nightmares he refuses to talk about, the memory of finding Danny’s body has him sailing dangerously close to the edge. While Finn is finally ready to address his feelings for Kate, trying to save Max from himself dredges up long-buried anger and frustration that threaten to overwhelm him. For Lacey and Gavin, a recent bereavement gives them a heart-wrenching insight of a different kind.
Instead of time easing the pain, the group find themselves stuck in limbo, awaiting the understanding and peace that has so far eluded them.
Three years ago, a single bullet ricocheted through all of them – and this year everything will change again.
Carla’s Review: 4 Stars
4 stars for Between Before and After by Amanda Dick. This is a very emotional and well written story! This is NOT a light and fluffy read. The focus of this book is suicide and how loved ones and friends are left to pick up the pieces.
It has been three years since their friend, Danny, took his own life. His friends come together to honor his memory. However, they are all grieving in different ways, and they each realize that none of them have really faced their grief head on. What is so great about this story is the fact that along with the sadness and grief, we get to experience the strength of friendship along with the hope of a brighter future, The characters in this book are so real, and I swear I was right there with them experiencing every one of their emotions. My heart broke for them because they were left with many whys and what ifs.
Congrats to Amanda Dick for creating such a touching and emotional book and doing it in a very sensitive way. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it! If you are looking for a book that will make you sit back and think about life and death, this is just the book for you!
*I was given a copy of this book as a gift from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Gavin
The amount of hare-brained schemes that Danny had hatched over the years he had known him had to be in triple figures – and most of them had gotten Gavin into some kind of trouble. The beach house belonged to his parents, and this is where Danny had always been at his most relaxed. He was more at home here than anywhere else. It had seemed to bring out the best in him. Here was where he could see Danny the clearest – with friends who remembered him, who knew him the way he had known him. The pain of his loss was secondary. They would never know why he had killed himself, and he wished with all his heart that everyone would finally let it rest – let Danny rest. He had made a stupid mistake – he hadn’t asked for help. And although that would always hurt, he was determined not to lose sight of the friend he had known and loved. Danny had loved this place, and the energy drawing them all here was magnetic, just as Danny himself had been.
He rounded the final bend slowly, spotting the hand-painted sign and the turning bay on the left. He pulled in and checked the road, heading down under the canopy of trees towards the house. Spying the Monaro parked on the lawn beside the house in its usual spot, he had to fight back the comparisons. Finn had it sparkling, as usual. Danny would have been impressed. Slowly, he pulled up beside the wood shed, piled high with chopped wood, ready for winter.
As they got out and began to unpack the car, he took Lacey’s bag from her with a smile. She opened her mouth to object, but he shook his head.
“I know – you’re fine. Just let me, okay?”
She graciously gave in, and he leaned in to kiss her gently. Despite her bravado, he was still afraid he might break her if he was too rough.
As they headed towards the back door at the end of the carport, they heard laughter. Detouring around the side of the house instead, they wandered down onto the lawn. Gavin’s heart immediately soared as he spied Max and Finn sitting on the grass, overlooking the beach. Finn was lying on his back, stretched out, hands laced behind his head. Max sat next to him, knees drawn up. They stood up as soon as they realised they had company, and Gavin’s smile grew. It had been about a week since he had last spoken to Finn, a hell of a lot longer since he had been in the same post code as Max.
Before he could speak, Lacey was jogging over the lawn towards them and Gavin’s grin widened. The last few weeks seemed forgotten as she threw her arms around Finn.
“Jeez, Lace!” Finn laughed, pulling her close. “Miss me?”
“Like a fart in a space suit,” she chuckled, kissing his cheek as she pulled away. “How’s things?”
“Not feeling the love, I gotta say,” he grinned as she turned to embrace Max in a similar fashion.
Finn puckered up as Gavin got closer, and Gavin swatted him away. He dropped the bags he was holding to give him a brief hug instead.
“What, no kiss?” Finn jibed.
“You’ll need to buy me dinner first.”
“Tease.”
Gavin’s heart felt lighter just being near them. He was so relieved Max was here. He had been so distant recently. He was looking forward to catching up properly. While Max and Lacey greeted each other, he took the opportunity to give him the once-over. Max looked tanned and taut, which was a good sign, but he also had dark smudges under his blue eyes that belied the healthy exterior. His hair was longer than usual, making him look younger and at odds with the rest of them. He looked like the outsider he had become. The euphoria he felt just moments ago turned to sorrow. He had hoped this year would be different.
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Gavin
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Amanda Dick is a night-owl, coffee addict, movie buff and music lover. She also writes. Born in Opotiki, New Zealand, she is rather partial to dark chocolate and believes in the power of a good vanilla latte. She has a passion for the colour green (particularly in clothes and gemstones) and insists there is nothing sexier than a man in a kilt. She spent several months traveling around Europe in her late 20’s (there’s a story there – she’ll get around to writing it one day). After ridding herself of her wanderlust, she met the love of her life (while working to pay off said wanderlust) in Edinburgh, Scotland. They moved in together the week after their first date – so yes, she believes in love at first sight. She also believes in Women’s Intuition and following your heart. She writes on her trusty laptop, predominantly late at night, when it’s quiet and interruptions are few. Most of all, she enjoys writing about human behaviour – love, loss, joy, grief, friendship and relationships in general. She loves to put normal, everyday people into situations that will test their boundaries. She is passionately curious about how we, as human beings, react when pushed to the edge. After living in Scotland for five years, she has now settled back home in New Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two children.
Author links
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/author/show/7265772.Amanda_Dick
Facebook – www.facebook.com/amandadickauthor
Amazon page – www.amazon.com/Amanda-Dick/e/B00GH5HC80/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Website – www.amandadick.com
Twitter – www.twitter.com/AmandaDick_
Blog – www.muse-needs-coffee.blogspot.co.nz
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Thank you for posting! Glad you enjoyed the book, too 🙂