When I first decided to start reading the After series I never expected to get wrapped up in the book so fast. I was hesitant to begin as I had heard mixed reviews, but I am so glad I started. This book was jam packed with a roller coaster of emotions. Anna did an amazing job portraying these characters emotions and how fragile they both are.

Theresa better known as “Tessa” is on her way to attend her freshman year in college. She is a kind, sweet innocent 18 year old with an overbearing mother and a boyfriend who is nothing but nice. Upon entering her dorm room for the first time Tessa is met with her very out here roommate Steph and her male friends who are nothing but unusual. Heavily tattooed and pierced, her mother is shocked that these ‘punks’ are who her daughter is going to be living with and is making it known how displeased she is. Tessa not wanting to cause any drama chooses to stay in the same dorm, after all how much time can they really spend together?

Hardin is a rough, rude and has a bad attitude to go with it. Assuming he knows Tessa from the moment he meets her, he is nothing but unpleasant, apparently he is that way with everyone or so she hears. After multiple run ins with each other and numerous arguments Tessa and Hardin find themselves spending time together alone, realizing that they have the same classes and the same love for great books; their friendship starts to become more.

The more time they spend together Tess grows to trust Hardin. But he is holding secrets in he didn't want anyone to know, especially Tessa. But like most, love is blind, it makes you believe things you never would have, trust people you never knew you would. Tessa is in too deep to realize what Hardin is doing to her. Her fiery personality and her questioning gets to Hardin and this is where their issues lay. He is unapproachable and his moods leave you with your head spinning but there is always that thing that brings you back to loving him at the same time. He has been through so much in his life and his relationships with this family are far from normal.

Hardin slowly starts to open up to Tessa and when he does, she learns why he is who he is, she chooses to approach things differently with him and slowly he starts to trust her more and shows her why she fell in love with him, but when she discovers the biggest secret that not only Hardin has hidden from her, but also her so called friends her betrayal is real and Hardin's deceit is unforgivable.

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself disliking both characters for their mistakes but at the same time reminding myself that they are both so young. Tessa has lived a sheltered life, where Hardin has seen the raw and gritty that the world really is. My heart broke numerous times for both of these characters and I wanted to wrap them both up and hold them. I am so excited to start book 2, After We Collide and see where their story is going to go from here.