In the After (In the After #1) by Demitria Lunetta

"They are faster than anything you've ever seen. And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta."


I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's maybe not as deep as Bird Box, but it's a fun read that delivers a fast-moving survivor's tale. Most post-apcalyptic stories have a few holes. This one wasn't much different. But I found the book so entertaining, that I could overlook most of them.

And I really liked the characters, which usually goes a long way to pushing a book into my "like" column. They're all quite young, so I could overlook some of the actions taken that I would have completely not bought in an adult. Actually, the adult characterizations are probably my one quibble with the book. They're written as pretty two-dimensional. Not surprising, given the age of the author.

I did almost have a fit when I reached the ending—until I realized that there's a sequel. I've already got it in my greedy, little hands.