Afterthoughts

This book grabbed me from the first line and refused to let go. Afterthoughts is dark, tense, and quietly heartbreaking in all the right ways. It’s part psychological thriller, part speculative mystery, and part character study of a girl who’s already shattered—and still has more breaking to do.

Kanara is not your typical heroine, and that’s what makes her so compelling. She’s been through something horrifying—something she doesn’t even fully understand herself—and the book doesn’t shy away from the weight of that trauma. Her inner world is messy, raw, and painful. But it’s also smart and defiant and laced with a kind of quiet vulnerability that made me care about her even when I wasn’t sure I should.

The setting of show more Zylen Mental Hospital is creepy in the best possible way. It has that One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest meets Shutter Island kind of vibe, where you’re never quite sure who to trust, or if what you’re seeing is real. The mystery unfolds slowly, with layers of tension and just enough breadcrumbs to keep you second-guessing. There’s a code only she and her sister could understand. A voice in her head that shouldn’t be there. And a hospital staff that definitely knows more than they’re letting on.

And then there’s Eliot. The intern. Kind, patient, maybe a little too perfect—but in a place like Zylen, even kindness can start to feel suspicious. The dynamic between him and Kanara is slow-burning and complicated, and I appreciated that it didn’t try to force a love story in where it didn’t belong.

By the end, I was left unsettled, but in the way that means the story did its job. Afterthoughts doesn’t wrap everything up neatly—and honestly, it shouldn’t. It’s a story about fractured people in a fractured place, and sometimes the most powerful thing a book can do is just sit with that brokenness.

If you like your books haunting, atmospheric, and emotionally layered, with a strong thread of psychological suspense—this one’s worth your time. show less

Wow, this was insanely good. This is one of those stories that the world around you just disappears when you are reading it and you feel like you are right there with the characters. So many mysteries wrapped into one. What do the clues mean? Who left them? Who are the voices? What is really going on at this establishment? Having to solve parts of the riddle elevated this story to a level that takes a hold of you and doesn't let go, not even at the end.
This book/series can definitely compete with the Divergent and Fourth Wing series.
Part of my 2025 reading challenge is to read a book that stays with you after you are done. This book checks that box, I will be thinking about this for a while, or at least until the prequel comes out!

Our heroine is accused of murdering her mother, but instead of going to jail, she is sent to a mental institution. There she meets other teenagers like herself and they all quickly realize their situation is not what it seems. They spend the rest of the story trying to figure it out.

The story is told practically all through dialogue. So much dialogue. Sometimes it has our characters asking stupid questions or saying obvious things just so the other character can explain something that would be better told by exposition. This really really bugged me. I liked the story, but it would have been better if the characters had said less and the narrator had done its job. I am looking forward to the sequel.

Afterthoughts by Justine Alexi. The story follows the main character Kanara Jenson, a prisoner being transported to a mental hospital after her trial for third degree murder of her mother. The reader gets to discover all of the twists and turns as Kanara navigates the strange occurrences in the hospital, and nothing is as it seems. I absolutely devoured this book! The premise was intriguing and the pacing kept you engaged. It reminded me of the feeling I'd get from playing The Nonary Games computer games. It'll make you question everything you think you know in the story. As a warning, this does take place in a mental institute, and therefore does touch on subjects that may be uncomfortable, such as self-harm. There is a planned sequel show more called Afterimages, planned for release in December 2025 and I'm looking forward to reading it. 5/5 stars.
I also had the privilege of reading a short prequel story, called Foresight, that covers some of the events before the story, giving some additional background from a different perspective. show less

If you’re into young adult/sci-fi/mystery, this may be the perfect book for you. The story is really unique and it left me wondering what would happen next after every chapter. I thought it was paced really well, and the writing was excellent. Some of the dialogue between characters was perhaps a bit stale, but for me that’s less a critique of this book specifically than of most young adult books (it’s not exactly my #1 genre). That being said, though, I really did like this one. It kept me entertained throughout and I am interested in seeing what happens in the sequel that will be released later in 2025!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the exploration of memory and trust. Also there's a nice mystery going on that our protagonist is trying to figure out. The science details are a little slim which took me out of the story a few times when I felt like things didn't really make sense. Overall a good read.

With one punch Kanara knocks out and kills her mother. After her trial, the judge sentences her to ten years at Zylen Mental Hospital. Relieved not to be in prison, and scared that she will be judged, Kanara reluctantly gets to know her fellow patients, and Eliot, the intern assigned to her case. But, something feels off. Kanara has a voice in her head, which predicts the future. The hospital has a series of duct works that allow access throughout the building. The staff, seems odd.

I don’t want to give away any of the plot, so I kept my description a bit vague. This book was very engaging. I had a hard time putting it down! The story unraveled nicely, and the secondary characters were well developed. I look forward to reading more show more from this author! show less