Blog Tour: After Hello




After Hello
by Lisa Mangum
YA Contemporary
Hardcover272 Pages
August 21st, 2012 by Shadow Mountain                  

Summary

What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had?

Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot camera, especially on her first trip to New York City.

Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find.

When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able to overcome fate? This new novel from award-winning author Lisa Mangum explores what happens after hello.
      




My Review

I loved this book! I actually started it late one night and couldn't put it down, which meant I didn't hit the pillow until about 1:30 am, but it was worth it. If you've read Just One Day by Gayle Forman, this is a similar plot except that this was released the year before that one and I loved the characters and story so much more! I have had this one on my tbr for a while since I read Mangum's Hourglass Door series. It's definitely one I'm now planning on adding to my shelves! I also have to say that the title is perfect for this book.

I loved the characters! Sara is somewhat reserved and you would almost think shy, except that she also has a layer of steel under her when she decides to do or face something. She is sweet, a little naive, has some good instincts, and carries a deep pain that she continually struggles with. I liked that the author let her show some insecurities. There were a few parts where Sara was thrown a little or uncomfortable and we get to see that and how she deals or doesn't deal with it. Then you have Sam. Oh, I loved that kid! He is a little bit of a mystery, but I loved how he would look at Sara and try to figure something out about her. I loved that he has all these connections in New York City and took Sara on this adventure. He also has something that happened in his past that continues to haunt him. He has to decide if he can move on or if he will continue to let it influence his life. I loved how they fit together, that it wasn't love at first sight, that they didn't always say the right thing to each other, and the friendship that develops over one day. The characters and their relationship just feels really authentic.

I loved the whole plot! Girl sees boy. Takes a picture of that boy. Finds that she is suddenly free and decides to follow boy. Boy decides to find out who she is and takes her with him. Then they receive a quest and travel the city to fulfill it. What Sara was asked to do was a little over the top, except that I could see someone like Piper being overly dramatic like she was. Even with that part being a little unrealistic, I still loved it! 

I also loved the ending. This does tie up, but it doesn't necessarily tie up all nicely. There are a few things that are left unresolved. I would love it if there was a second book. I want to know the rest of the story for Sara and Sam and how their ever after ends.

Here are some of my favorite parts:
     "So what secrets are you keeping?" she asked, a tease in her tone. "You know, so I can report back to the KGB at the end of my mission."
     Sam swallowed the words that weighed down his tongue. Not yet. Instead he shook his head and tsked in mock disapproval. "Look at you. Asking me for the information outright. Some spy you are."
     "Gimme a break. I'm new to the espionage game."
     "Then what game are you good at?"
     "Well," Sara began, holding up her hand and ticking off her answers one by one. "I'm good at Scrabble and Twister and Pictionary and Clue and Uno, but the game I'm best at is" She slapped his arm with her open hand. "Tagyou're it!"
     And then she ran.
     "I believe that happiness is always there," Sam continued, looking up and away at the faint stars struggling to peek through the night. "That's why we have to keep looking for it. Because we can't always see it."
     "And is that why we have to find it? Because it doesn't always find us?"
     He turned to me, the light reflecting like stars in his eyes. "Sometimes it does, though. Even when we aren't looking for it." 
     "Do you believe in fate?" he asked.
     "I don't know. Maybe a little. Why?"
     "I blieve sometimes people come into your life at exactly the right moment to give you exactly what you need at that moment."
I highly recommend picking this up if you enjoy reading about forgiveness, finding oneself, spontaneous adventure, unexpected love, New York City, and Contemporary YA! It is definitely worth reading! 

Content: Clean

Source: From tour host, which did not affect my review in any way.




About the Author


Lisa Mangum has loved and worked with books ever since elementary school, when she volunteered at the school library during recess. Her first paying job was shelving books at the Sandy Library. She worked for five years at Waldenbooks while she attended the University of Utah, graduating with honors with a degree in English. An avid reader of all genres, she has worked in the publishing department for Deseret Book since 1997.

Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy. She is the author of The Hourglass Door (which was named the 2009 YA Book of the Year by ForeWord Reviews), The Golden Spiral, The Forgotten Locket and After Hello. 




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