‘What defines us is how well we rise after falling. And maybe that’s why we never rise in love, we fall; however what matters is that how far we are willing to go to bounce back rising in the said love together.’
As if their love wasn’t already a precarious tightrope of challenges that we now have a third book in the After series ‘After We Fell’. When one thinks the preceding two books would be the last straw in their messy relationship, the third installment proves to be a bombshell.
Packed with more twists and turns, intense toxicity and a mind-boggling drama, the next phase in the story of Hardin and Tessa showcases the actual problems of a couple deeply in love albeit their priorities are different.
This was never a fairy tale and now more than ever the dark and toxic aspects of this complicated tale surfaces, turning Hardin and Tessa’s world upside down. The one question that keeps popping up shatters all their faith in each other, that ‘Is love enough?
So, if you are ready to witness this eventful journey of your favourite couple then dive right into this madness.
Introduction
Name of the book - After We Fell
Author’s name - Anna Todd
Genre - Adult Romance
Language - Originally: English; Adapted: Portuguese, Spanish, and many others
Synopsis - Spoiler alert!
Leaving us at a cliff-hanger in the previous book After we collided, when Tessa addressed a beggar as her dad took the fandom’s breath away. Meeting her dad after ten years an overwhelmed Tessa and an ever- frustrated Hardin brings him to their apartment. As Tessa tries to revive her damaged relationship with her father Hardin rants and raves about his presence.
In the midst of all the tension the duo somehow creates their own time, arousing the audience with their steamy hot love. Revealing in this pool of love and lust Hardin and Tessa both have a secret yet to be disclosed.
Tessa is apprehensive about breaking it to Hardin that she has taken up the internship in Seattle wishing to live there with him. She expects him to understand her childhood dream of living in Seattle but to her dismay Hardin ends up being the last straw in her predicament.
His insecurities overpower his need to be with Tessa and instead of supporting her the former indulges in all sorts of tricks to sabotage her career.
This treachery ensues the couple to drift away on a grieving note. But as they say fate has different plans. Tessa meets with a deviant accident upending her world, beating her to the core. An enraged Hardin goes on a rampage beating the pulp out of the culprit, seeing only red.
He forgets all the fights and distance and without blinking an eye goes after Tessa to comfort her and while Tessa is coming to terms with the recent mishap, feels an unusual calm when Hardin visits her.
He tries to mend things with her but Tessa demands a break with the constant back and forth, she wishes for space between the two of them to ponder over. Even though Hardin is confused and doesn’t agree to her idea eventually relents for Tessa’s sake.
Moving to Seattle Tessa hopes to start afresh around new people in an entirely different work setting, after all it was her childhood dream to live here. However, she feels even more lost and incomplete now without him.
Her only comfort and peace, she misses him the minute she stepped in the new environment. Both of them try the new long-distance relationship but fail miserably. The constant phone calls and messages aren’t enough when Hardin finally runs off to Seattle to meet his girl.
As the two of them reunite, they spend time with each other while also ensuring giving each other space. However, when Hardin’s nightmare about Tessa and Zed puts him at unease Tessa decides to pacify him and a very hot and steamy gym scene ensues exhilarating the fandom.
As the duo experience a different kind of passion for each other through this apparent distance they also realize that their need for each other is never ending.
The couple visits London to attend Hardin’s mother’s wedding but little did they know what havoc this unfortunate wedding wrecked in their lives. Hardin encounters an abhorrent situation while also discovering an appalling truth about his existence. His world comes to a screeching halt rendering him to question every relation in his life, even her.
Will their love be able to conquer the demons of the past, or will they end up destroying each other in the process?
About the Author
Anna Renee Todd was born March 20, 1989. She is an American author and screenwriter. Best known for her After series which she started publishing on social media platform on watt-pad making it a huge success across the world. Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster published its print edition of the series in 2014.
The book was translated into numerous languages. The film adaptation of the first book of the series was released on April 12, 2019, by Aviron Pictures, and the second one in September 2020.
Anna’s writing was initially inspired by the music and fandom of One Direction with Harry Styles as the protagonist. But then it was edited to Hardin Scott instead of Harry. She began writing on watt-pad in 2013 publishing a chapter over a year, almost everyday. Three books were written in the same series on watt-pad.
In 2015, Anna announced a prequel of the series ‘Before’, explaining the events of ‘After’ from the perspective of Hardin Scott.
About the Book
With over a billion readers online, After We Fell of the After series is soon going to become a major motion picture from a random fan-fiction on Watt-pad. The fandom is overwhelmed with the plot of this new book which goes on to describe the volatile relationship of Hardin and Tessa who try everything in their capacity to be together but ends up drifting apart.
This captivating novel throws the audience in a frenzy when a single decision of Tessa’s changes the whole course of the story. The plot is filled with episodes of angst and insecurity about the future.
As the couple’s life takes atrocious turns towards the future while the demons of their past tags along, the book emphasises about their need and passion for each other.
It shatters all the beliefs that the duo had about each other rendering them doubtful more than ever. This cycle of jealousy, unpredictable anger, and forgiveness drag them in a vicious circle.
However, as a reader the most endearing part is that Hardin never shy away from confronting his mistakes for he knows what is at stake. Tessa! His only chance at survival for without her his life has no reason.
Psychological Analysis
After we fell though encompasses anxiety, insecurity and trauma it still manages to engage the readers till the end. The author’s main endeavor is to bring out the dark and painful aspects of a passionate relationship of the two characters who are polar opposites but when they decide to live together, they promise each other a lot of things only to break them when confronted with real life problems. Unlike any other love story this one gets darker and toxic but also passionate and hot.
As the story unfolds, we are introduced to the couple’s individual ugly past that reflects upon their relationship making them question their togetherness even more this time.
Sex becomes a major part of their relationship but it also becomes a method to ignore their issues. No matter how grave an issue is sex becomes an infinite solution to all the problems, making them even worse.
Amidst everything, the book beautifully encaptures the essence of classic love-stories that has been the inspiration for the pair to connect. Tessa’s whole world revolves around Darcy- Elizabeth, Heathcliff and Catherine the characters that fantasise her and are her obsession.
Her mindset of deriving inspiration from these stories becomes so strong that her real life ends up in a spiral of mess. While on the other hand Hardin’s struggle to live a normal life and leave his past behind entraps him in fear of jealousy and abandonment.
He can’t function without Tessa; his system goes on withdrawal even at the thought of parting with her. Still, he is unable to respect her needs and aspirations. So, is love really enough?
This time it’s mainly about trying to hold on to each other but does that come at the cost of losing themselves in the process? Let’s find out!
Famous Quotes
‘There is a difference between loving someone and not being able to live without them.’
‘I’m finally beginning to realize that you can only fight with someone over the same thing so many times before you’re burned out.’
‘The best thing about reading is to escape from your life to be able to live hundreds or even thousands of different lives.’
The Bottom Line
The plot though exhausting at times is also riveting and exciting. Towards each step there is an eagerness to discover what unfolds next? With all the drama and intensity, it manages to engulf the mind of the readers, hoping against hope that love will conquer the past.
There might me pain there might be struggle there might also be desertion but there aren’t any disappointments. Because unlike a light-hearted romantic fairy tale After We Fell is beyond the conventional ideologies of love.
This book inspires us to hold on to love without compromising on our principles, to dream and fantasize about a partner without losing oneself while also accepting the other. It’s not a typical happy-ending but a beginning of forever, if there is!
My ratings for the book - 4 on 5
Get your copy from Amazon - After We Fell
Written By - Shivani Singh
Edited By - Pavas Shrigyan
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