What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins

What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins – 416 pages

Book Blurb:

JoAnne Tompkins takes on what happens after the shocking death of two teenage boys tears apart a community in the Pacific Northwest, a mysterious pregnant girl emerges out of the woods and into the lives of those same boys’ families–a moving and hopeful novel about forgiveness and human connection. In misty, coastal Washington State, Isaac lives alone with his dog, grieving the recent death of his teenage son, Daniel. Next door, Lorrie, a working single mother, struggles with a heinous act committed by her own teenage son. Separated by only a silvery stretch of trees, the two parents are emotionally stranded, isolated by their great losses–until an unfamiliar sixteen-year-old girl shows up, bridges the gap, and changes everything. Evangeline’s arrival at first feels like a blessing, but she is also clearly hiding something. When Isaac, who has retreated into his Quaker faith, isn’t equipped to handle her alone, Lorrie forges her own relationship with the girl. Soon all three characters are forced to examine what really happened in their overlapping pasts, and what it all possibly means for a shared future.

My Review: 4 stars – Guest Review

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What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins is a powerful, lyrical, character driven, and complicated novel. It is amazing that this emotional and moving novel is the author’s debut. The main protagonist is Isaac, who is grieving the loss of his son, but the story is told from several points of view including Evangeline, who comes into the lives of the families of the two teenage boys, and Jonah, one of the teenage boys involved in the tragedy. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, although the book opens up with the tragedy and the reader learns early on in the novel what occurred, and who was responsible. The story slowly unfolds, not so much as a mystery, but explaining why the events happened and how the various characters react to what happened.  

The story was compelling, and although it moved along quietly and slowly, I was swept along by the beautiful narrative and character development. This story was relationship driven. The characters were wounded and flawed, and the author made me feel like I knew them intimately. I cared and empathized deeply for all of them. These characters were unforgettable. The depiction of the dog Rufus was especially heartrending. The author blends a mystery with an exploration of these complicated characters’ emotions, motivations, and actions. Every character is complex and is examined in depth. The author takes her time in developing the characters, and the events of the story are slowly and carefully revealed. Some of the frequent perspective shifting could be distracting at times. 

The novel is atmospheric, as the author beautifully describes this small Quaker town in the Pacific Northwest. There is a very interesting look at the Quaker religion through the introspection of one of the characters. The book explores how one carries on after experiencing a tragedy, how friends and strangers can help each move forward, and how hope can occur after a terrible situation. Some of the many themes include: mental health, child abuse, abandonment, bullying, anger, coping with loss, grief, compassion, growth, acceptance, and forgiveness. 

I was very engrossed in this multilayered and complex story, but it was not an easy read because of the heavy issues, which could be intense and melancholy at times. People who have certain triggers should know ahead of time that some of the scenes may be difficult to read, especially scenes involving violence, and also some of the animal scenes. I needed to take some emotional breaks from the novel. This was an incredible and beautiful debut novel by this author. I feel this book deserves more recognition than it has gotten. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. Review by Guest Fairy Ronna W. 

Quotes I liked:

Picture each worry like a gift. Put them in order, from the mildest to the most intense. Imagine yourself picking up each one and wrapping it with care. Picture yourself placing the gift under a tree, and then walking away.”

“How lucky I was to be surrounded by those who believed that loving presence and listening hearts saved far more souls than the millions of words written by man in God’s name.”