My review: I’m in love with this novel. I read this book with a bit of hesitation at first (I am not a fan of romance stories) but my worries were unfounded. Before Ever After is a complex and fun adventure packed in 300 pages. Author Samantha Sotto took me to the back roads of Europe, away from the tourists and in the middle of Shelley and Max’s love story. The mythology of love and the laws love breaks are cleverly handled by Sam. Her attention to detail is absolutely amazing and so escaping with Shelley and Max became so easy. The novel is a page-turner and Sam deftly creates tension with every new chapter. It definitely kept me guessing until the very end.
Synopsis: Before Ever After is about love and the crazy cycle of finding, keeping and losing it. Shelley, the main protagonist is grieving the loss of her husband Max when a knock on the door reveals a young man – who looks like Max and is as old as Max. It turns out that this man, Paolo is actually Max’s grandson and he needs Shelley’s help because Max is apparently still alive and is living in Boracay. The novel takes place on Paolo and Shelley’s plane ride to the Philippines with Shelley recounting the details of her life with Max.
You can buy the book now at all National Book Store and Powerbooks outlets. The paperback costs Php 499 and the hardbound is Php 895.
The novel also has its own trailer and an accompanying virtual tour which you could both view below.
Before Ever After Book Trailer
The Virtual Tour
Question: If you’ve read the book, which actor do you think would be perfect for Max??
Jem says
January 3, 2012 at 2:16 pmI’m going to buy this book soon..thanks for sharing your review!! Would love to feel Europe while reading it. I’m voting Ben Barnes as Max… 🙂
marian says
October 31, 2011 at 12:31 pmJust finished reading it..Now, I want to visit Europe too and Fall madly in love…*wishful thinking*…Cheers to the author! You make me proud to be a FILIPINO!
Toni says
August 2, 2011 at 1:58 pmI’ve been seeing this at National Bookstore but wasn’t sure if I would buy it. Thanks for the encouragement!
ocmominmanila says
July 30, 2011 at 6:23 pmI was convincing Sam before that she should have a book launch in Boracay too =) With Marc Nelson reading the part of Max…
erlaine says
July 30, 2011 at 6:11 pmI’m so excited to read this book! I bought one already kanina hehe. I’ll answer your question abt the actor after I’ve read the book 🙂
Mom-Friday says
July 30, 2011 at 4:38 pmI am not a voracious reader… well, I don’t read books, hahaha! Last novel I read was…..mmmm…..mmmm…..
Bridges of Madison County pa ata in college! And it was before they made it into a movie!
After watching the video and your review, I am now looking forward to reading the book 🙂
manilamommy says
July 30, 2011 at 11:06 pm@michelle (mom-friday) – the books i read for fun are compilations of essays haha so sam’s book was a welcome detour 😀
@erlaine – enjoy the book!
@kris (ocmominmanila) – !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *sigh* !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!