Allie Stevens

A profoundly beautiful, strange, and introspective love story, at turns soothing and scalding. Recommended for every collection.Bayerl, Katie. What Comes After. 416p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. Apr. 2025. Tr $21.99. ISBN 9780399545283. Gr 9 Up–Waking up dead is shocking enough, but this version of the afterlife—with its forced positivity, kale chips, and yoga—proves to be even more unsettling. All Mari, 16, wants is to make peace with her mother (who is also in purgatory), move on, and reunite with her beloved grandparents. If she could remember how she died that would be great, too, but something sinister is lurking beneath the surface of Paradise Gates. Souls are disappearing, mysterious agencies are scheming, and then there’s Jethro—a presence that she’s not sure how to feel about. Fans of The Good Place will appreciate the novel’s satirical take on the bureaucracy of the afterlife, complete with absurd rules and a system that begs to be challenged. The book explores themes of rebellion, self-discovery, and the struggle to break free from the status quo. While diversity is present, it is not a focal point. The pacing starts off slow, requiring some patience before the intrigue fully unfolds, but once it does, readers will be hooked by the mystery; they’ll enjoy this different take on life and death and Mari’s unconventional experience in the afterlife. VERDICT While this may not be a must-have for all collections, it could be a solid addition to libraries where offbeat, darkly comedic stories like Lance Rubin’s Denton Little’s Deathdate are popular.–Claire Covington

A strange and grisly tale of what we can survive to get closer to our truest selves, deeply infused with Vietnamese cultural concepts.

A gut-wrenching and powerful kaleidoscope of a story; for fans of A.S. King, Ellen Hopkins, and Kathleen Glasgow.

A cutthroat boarding school story recommended for purchase where murder mysteries are particularly popular.

Fast and furious; a must-buy anywhere gritty murder mysteries circulate.

Quick, big-hearted, and well-curated, this is an anthology of stories about love, but not love stories.

A dramatic and darkly intriguing mystery.

Exciting historical horror; full of sharp turns and fast-paced action with a fiery, feminist heart.

An angst-fueled, twisted fairy tale wrapped tightly in dark academia, exploring the border between love and something more dangerous.