Book Review: What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton

Synopsis:

How can you talk about something you can’t remember?

Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.

Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.

Witty and poignant, Colleen Clayton’s stunning debut is a story about moving on after the unthinkable happens.

My Review

   I have nothing to say except that I liked this book. Although to be honest, I was a little freaked out by the whole thing but the premise of the book definitely intrigued me.  Anyway, so I usually don't feel comfortable reading books about rape and such but this wasn't the one to make someone uncomfortable but I'll leave at this because I don't want to accidentally give anything away.

   I won't say that I never read anything with the same essence but Colleen Clayton did manage to make it stand out a bit than other stories. And again, rape isn't a normal subject or a light one but this story turned out to be a good one. And what's more is that I can somewhat relate to Sid's character and that captivated me even more to read it, although, I was slightly creeped out by how down-to-earth this story seemed to me at least.

   I can confidently say that the author nailed it with all of her characters, along with her style of writing which was easy to read. I loved Corey, he was such a sweetheart later on in the story and he captured my heart then :P As for Sid, I pitied her greatly as well as strongly felt for her, I just wanted to give her hug for everything she's been through - like seriously! The plot was well thought and as I said, the actual rape part wasn't in details - thank God - so it was like the unfortunate incident that happened to Sid without details of the actual thing but just the circumstances that it happened in as well as the aftermath of everything.

   The story was wrapped up nicely, I liked the ending so much. Corey and Sid's relationship was growing and so when the book reached an end, they have already reached a cute level of their relationship and it wasn't at all an instant so I liked that too and also, everything got cleared out by the end of the book, all about what happened to Sid as well Corey's secret, so we weren't left clueless. 

   Overall, I found What Happens Next to be an enjoyable read and a book worth reading. I personally learned a lesson or two if I could say. It could be read by younger readers - like 16 and up I guess - not just adults because there was nothing extremely inappropriate as I said before. This story was about heartbreaking, raw, sorrowful feelings weaved with hope and love, seeking trust, finding the stability to stand ones ground in life through family & friends, overcoming a permanent scar through accepting it and the journey of pain that it took to do so. So basically I would say that if you're into contemporary novels if even slightly then I'd recommend this book for you! 

Title: What Happens Next
Author: Colleen Clayton
Series: Stand-alone
Source: Owned
Published: October 9th 2012 by Poppy (Little Brown Books for Young Readers)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Rating: 3.5/5 

Happy Reading!
xoxo, Mariam