After the Fall

Farrar, Straus & Giroux - January 24, 2017

paperback - January 23, 2018

purchase

amazon  //  barnes & noble  //  booksamillion  // goodreads //  indiebound  //  nightbird books (signed copies available)

 

blurbs

"In her remarkably crafted and unforgettable debut, Kate Hart proves herself a force to be reckoned with. AFTER THE FALL is a beautiful and brutal exploration of love, feminism, consent and identity; of who we are, who we think we are--and who we have the potential to be. Everyone should read this book."

- Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and All the Rage

“In AFTER THE FALL, Kate Hart will give words to girls who need them, and open the eyes of boys who need them, too.”

- E.K. Johnston, New York Times bestselling author of Ashoka and Exit, Pursued By A Bear


“Achingly real characters navigate the complexities of their everyday lives in AFTER THE FALL, an honest tale about love, lust, friendship, and the lines in between.”

- Mindy McGinnis, author of The Female of the Species

"In her gorgeous and unflinching debut, Hart brilliantly unwinds the many facets of consent and entitlement, and the tragic ways these dynamics can play out, even among friends. Both heartbreaking and heartbreakingly relevant, AFTER THE FALL is a must-read."

—Stephanie Kuehn, author of the Morris-Award-winning Charm & Strange

 

recommendations

"[A] strong contemporary YA novel about rape culture, about living in Arkansas, and about the choices we make that do and do not define us as people... one part Sara Zarr, one part Courtney Summers, and one part Laurie Halse Anderson."

- Kelly Jensen, editor of Here We Are: Feminism For The Real World

"This book, which asks important questions about consent (questions that have, frankly, become even more important of late), doesn’t come out until January, but I would accept this gift in the form of a preorder, that’s how eager I am to read it in its entirety."

- Veronica Roth, New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series

"It’s both seriously and timely and also deeply smart and thoughtful, about rape culture not as an abstract concept but as lived experiences for teenagers. I got to read an early copy and I was underlining basically every third sentence as I read."

- Zan Romanoff, author of A Song To Take The World Apart, in "Here’s What People Are Excited About In Culture For 2017" at Buzzfeed

"Kate Hart's debut YA novel AFTER THE FALL is a wrenching, emotional read and an intense conversation starter about issues of sexual consent.

Seventeen-year-old Raychel is sleeping with two boys: her overachieving best friend Matt…and his slacker brother, Andrew. Raychel sneaks into Matt’s bed after nightmares, but nothing ever happens. He doesn’t even seem to realize she’s a girl, except when he decides she needs rescuing.

But Raychel doesn't want to be his girl anyway. She just needs his support as she deals with the classmate who assaulted her, the constant threat of her family’s eviction, and the dream of college slipping quickly out of reach. Matt tries to help, but he doesn’t really get it… and he’d never understand why she’s fallen into a secret relationship with his brother.

The friendships are a precarious balance, and when tragedy strikes, everything falls apart. Raychel has to decide which pieces she can pick up – and which ones are worth putting back together."

 
 
 

trade reviews

* "This memorable debut novel is told in the alternating perspectives of Raychel and Matt. Both characters are very well portrayed as complex characters with strengths and weaknesses.  The supporting cast is also well developed, with most characters avoiding the trap of falling into mere stereotypes. The story is well paced, flowing logically towards its conclusion. The ending ties up most issues, but leaves enough open so that the reader knows the characters are going to move on. This book deals with heavy issues concerning sexuality and grief, and as such might be difficult for some readers. Issues of jealousy, relationships, sexual consent, and grief run throughout. This would be an excellent addition to most high school libraries."

- VOYA starred review

"Hart’s debut novel has a lot going for it—well-defined and believable major and minor characters, in particular—as well as a lot going on. ... Hart holds it all together and closes with an ending that retains a measure of hope without becoming unrealistically perfect."

- Publisher's Weekly

"Hart’s poignant debut novel unfolds slowly, alternating between Raychel and Matt’s points of view, which allows readers to experience their respective emotional journeys. Thought-provoking moments regarding such issues as female sexuality, racial microaggressions, and class differences add depth to the characters."

- Booklist

"At first, this title seems like a well-written examination of the definitions of assault and consent. But as a relationship blossoms between Raychel and Matt’s brother, Andrew, questions about communication and honesty emerge even more strongly, and after a family tragedy, grief and guilt are also brought into the mix. Those are some pretty heavy themes for one book to explore, but Hart does a good job of handling her ambitious plot. VERDICT: Like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak and Courtney Summers’s All the Rage, this is an important novel for teens and adults to discuss together."

- School Library Journal