Elsewhere

"Elsewhere, gifted to me and annotated by one of my best friends, Aa, was a beautiful book, which made me feel incredibly deeply and left a bittersweet melancholy singing through my soul. It made me feel immeasurably comforted, as if wrapped in a fuzzy blanket hug, that there could be an elsewhere, a something more and something magical in the afterlife. It made me consider the inner workings of the universe and “the why” behind it all. It made me consider life’s fragile transience and take a deep breath to honor the now. Everything becomes gentler and more ethereal through the lens of the fictive Elsewhere, where life moves backwards, rather than forwards, people getting younger year by year then being reborn. Liz dies at 15-years-young in a freak accident and desperately claws for her old life on Earth, which now seems faraway, otherworldly, and distant. However, little by little she learns to lean in and embrace her new world with a rush of tenderness and warmly kept appreciation. Her surroundings and the people in her new world gradually feel less foreign and over time she begins to acclimate. She soul-searches and discovers herself at each new turn. I loved how carefully, lovingly crafted this story was as it went unexpectedly profound places that filled me with hurt, grief, love, and hope. It was bittersweet through and through as I went through a rollercoaster of emotions that left me reeling. I let myself go and be immersed in another place apart from any I know and it was a thing of such beauty and calamity that I will never forget the ways in which it moved me. Something special and such a treasure. "

"I will never shut up about how much I love this book. It’s so good I recommend it to everyone. A very unique take on the afterlife."

"E"

"Great book to read. Loved the begging to end. Its a must read book."

"The concept was intriguing, but I didn’t find it executed very well. The main character doesn’t develop during the story at all. She leaves a world of interesting possibilities and experiences unexplored, and about a third of the book is spent with the main character learning to parallel park. I found myself constantly frustrated with the main character and her refusal to better herself. I’m happy for those this book has helped with their grief or simply enjoyed it, but it’s Not for me."

"This book is amazing it’s one of the best books I have read don’t read if you don’t wanna get absolutely addicted "

"9/10"

"I really think this story is a wonderful way to deal with the concept of death and what an afterlife could be. This is clearly a YA story, and I experienced this story first when I was a teenager so it has resonated with me for quite some time. I think that I keep going back to it as an adult is really telling of a good story. There are adult characters in this story that have to deal with death, change, and the afterlife and each do it in a unique way that doesn't talk down to the reader."

"This one, but the Birthright books were also pretty good"

"Tragic yet whimsical"