This is probably the most charming tongue-in-cheek tale of the afterlife and angels and demons I’ve ever read, except for maybe the famous one we’re not talking about right now because the still-living author has been accused of being quite rude.
About the Book
Three teens take the journey of an afterlifetime, traveling to Hell and back, looking for meaning in great art, bakery-fresh éclairs, and, of course, their relationships with each other.
When a freak bathroom accident cuts his Earthly life short, academic bowl team captain Martin Van Assen is surprised to find himself languishing in the waiting room of the Soul Reassignment Office with only the overly dramatic Zelda Kozikowski and her maybe-ex-boyfriend, the oft-reincarnated Zeke Zabar, for company. The unlikely trio gets tired of sitting around with nothing to do but bicker while they wait to start new lives, and sneaks through a portal that takes them back to Earth in ghostly form. The search for meaning in their previous lives takes these three lost souls on the journey of an afterlifetime, all the way to the infernally warm intake office of Hell itself. Martin, Zelda, and Zeke might figure a few things out along the way, but none of it will matter much if they have to spend eternity in a pit of fire. Or worse.
My Thoughts
This book was equal parts adorable, cheeky, and heartfelt. Following three recently deceased teens, we get a peek into the afterlife. Through this interesting and slightly absurd premise, the author builds a world ripe with lore, action, romance, friendship, and so much more.
I could relate to all of our MCs in different ways despite being (quite) a few years past graduation – showing the author’s top character-building skills. The growth each of them saw was so special, and I really enjoyed going on this journey with them. Y’all know I love a good character story, and despite being quite plot-led, this was also a really good character story.
But any great fantasy needs a good dose of world-building. While this is clearly set in our world or at least our world adjacent, the trappings of the afterlife and the ethereal supernatural otherworld are very well built. I really enjoyed learning about the bureaucracy of the Soul Reassignment Offices and “Downstairs.” It was such a wild adventure from start to finish!
Of course, because this is a book set in the afterlife of three teenagers, it has some potentially disturbing topics like death, grief, religious ideation, suicide, and more that I’ve listed below. But if you have a particularly mature teen, I really think they’ll enjoy this book – as I feel you will, too. It really explores some great themes, like love, sacrifice, the meaning of life, and so much more. Some real meaty topics and social commentary are wrapped up in the comedic barbs and situational comedy the author has delivered so well. I’ve often waxed poetic about how much I love the ability of good fantasy and the ability to wrap up big swaths of socially impactful commentary.
I am so grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this tour. I look forward to reading more from this author – especially more comedy!
Who’s It For?
If you love some good social commentary wrapped up in realistic fantasy that almost smacks of satire, this is a great read for you. The book is about teenagers – older ones, late teens, if you will, but I’m uncertain how appropriate it is for actual teenagers. I feel like older teens – absolutely. Younger teens, you’d need to use your judgment based on the warnings and subject matter. In addition to all the mentioned content warnings, there are discussions of sex, but they aren’t really graphic.
Content Warnings: Suicide/Suicidal Ideation, Religious Ideation, Adult Language/Situations, Grief, Self-Image, Dysfunctional Family Life, Disturbing Imagery, Death, Murder, Sexism.
Question of the Day
What’s the funniest book you’ve read recently?
About the Author
A.L. Glennon has a Master of Arts degree from the Communication, Culture, and Technology Program at Georgetown University. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and three sons.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/daNgugu
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/a5TslYM
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781947578289
Bookshop UK: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/wait-for-it-a-l-glennon/4036793?ean=9781947578289
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73833375-wait-for-it
Author Website: https://www.alglennon.com
Publisher Website: www.ink-smith.com
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Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.