Reviews

After Sundown by Linda Jones, Linda Howard

p0laris's review against another edition

2.0

Very slow in the first half. This mostly focuses on the politics of surviving after an apocalypse, as evidenced by the chapters-long electing of a leader two whole months after the event and the ripple effect of that decision. So little happens to this town until the storyline needs it to, that I'd almost call this a cozy post-apocalyptic story, which is just odd to me. I wanted more survival, I wanted higher stakes, more romance.

I didn't get that.

❌❌❌SPOILERS❌❌❌

The romance is very slow burn until it isn't. The MFC and MMC spend very few scenes together (the MMC barely acknowledges taking an interest in her and almost seems to regret being near her the few times he sees her). Then they spend like twenty minutes talking to each other one day and suddenly he's all in with her and wants a relationship with her. He's going to push past all his issues and his desire to be alone for her now. This man who could hardly stand to say two words to her is then asking her to marry him like two days later. The whiplash...

Everything interesting happens in less than one week, after two months of relative silence from antagonistic characters, and then it's all just over. Skip to an epilogue set a few months later where the world is coming back alive again.

Honestly I was just bored and the little bit of romance is the only thing that kept me here. 

catalinda04's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

hellishnell's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

readingbelle's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

t_c0le's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

sawedwards's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

riskyduck's review against another edition

4.0

Always enjoy Howard's low stakes emergency world. Enough drama to entertain but not too depressing. I felt like this was grown up Little House on the Prairie mixed in well with the love story. I enjoyed how both main characters were quiet, and compatible in that way instead of the cliche hot and fiery person drawing the reclusive one out of their shell.

rubyii's review against another edition

3.0

Romance was great, skimmed the apocalypse portion.

everbluem's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

thisisabooktracker's review against another edition

4.0

TRIGGER WARNING: This book begins with a worldwide natural disaster and a lot of it was reminiscent of the current lockdown for the pandemic. If this causes you anxiety, it might be better to read until after the real life situation is better. Take care if yourself!