Here (On the Otherside) [Kindle Edition]

Denise Grover Swank (Author)

Book Description

Sixteen year old Julia Phillips buries herself in guilt after killing her best friend Monica in a car accident. Julia awoke in the hospital with a broken leg, a new talent for drawing and false memories of the accident, in which she dies and Monica lives. The doctors attribute this to her head injury, but no one can explain how a bracelet engraved with her name ended up at the scene of the accident. A bracelet no one has ever seen before.

Classmate Evan Whittaker paid Julia no attention before the accident, let alone after. Now suddenly he’s volunteering to tutor her and offering to drive her home. She can't ignore that his new obsession started after his two-day disappearance last week and that he wears a pendant she’s been drawing for months. When the police show up one night looking for Evan, he begs Julia to run with him, convincing her that Monica is still alive. Julia agrees to go, never guessing where he’s really from.

Product Details

• File Size: 511 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1466394579
• Publisher: Bramagioia Enterprises (November 7, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0064S8D9W
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,015 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for Dystopian lovers and YA alike December 7, 2011

By Regina_Linton

Format:Kindle Edition

I follow Denise's blog and was so happy to get my hands on this book. I read right through it to the end. What a great story and it has potential to continue, which gets me more excited.

Julia is consumed by guilt by thinking she killed her best friend Monica in a car accident. Her repetitive dreams of the accident have a different ending making it seem as if that is Julia's coping mechanism to feel as if she should have taken her friends place.

Before the accident, Julia was not able to catch the attention of the most popular boy in school, but now that she is so withdrawn and depressed that she is on her way to getting kicked out of school. Her teachers are willing to work with her and give her some tutors to work with to improve her grades. One of those volunteers is Evan Whittaker, the most popular boy in school.

The strange occurrences and similes that Julia notice between her new artistic ability and Evan wearing a necklace that she has sketched over and over again have her wondering if she is really going crazy. Evan keeps devoting more and more time to Julia as if he has withheld his feeling from her since they were in grade school. When there is a moment of uncertainty and no Evan in sight, Julia has to begin her new life.
Family issues and being transferred to an alternative school has her reeling. On her last day of her public school, she gets a ride from Reece. Someone that she has bumped into in the hallway just days before she is transferred. Evan states his distaste for Reece and tell Julia he is trouble.

Julia's confusion surges when the police are searching for Evan for questioning and then he turns up at her door begging her to run away with him.... He is insistent that he never wants to leave her again and even promises her that she will be able to see Monica again. Her love and her curiosity have her glued to Evan's every move. Take this journey and see where Evan takes Julia. You won't regret it.

Bone chilling and heart racing, this book is easily one of my new favorites.

Highly recommended for Dystopian lovers and YA readers.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars From Paranormal Indulgence blog: Despite the summary, I honestly didn't know what to expect with Here... April 18, 2012

By Asher Knight

Format:Paperback

What began with an interesting and alarming opening in which what, at first glance, appears to be an average citizen caught in the throes of panic produced by the Cuban Missile Crisis, Here by Denise Grover Swank drives a fist of fear into our guts as we wait for a sign that will help us understand what's happening even as we pray for a solution. Quickly following that, we are thrust back into the present and into the miserable mind of Julia Phillips, a teenage girl with no fight left after the tragic accident that killed her best friend even as she rode in the driver's seat. With no memory of the incident, and strange clues that strike us with little logic--like a bracelet engraved with her name and a symbol of someone else's deep love for the person it's meant for, Julia is in for a whirlwind of surprises that will defy normality and have her waver in her beliefs about the world and, what she soon discovers, it's many hidden pockets.

At first, sympathy seems like a small and inconsequential comfort to offer the poor girl weighed down by so much guilt and despair. The accident that's dug such a hole in her life happened not too long ago and yet the people around her insist she move on, try harder to let go and achieve better things. Her personality is buried deep, although her innate sarcasm remains and is only sharpened by her loss, and the disappointment from her parents and teachers she works to ignore are inflicting even more pain onto her. She wishes to throw the life she shouldn't have away, and that is deeply frightening and wrenching. Initially. But, when Evan Whittaker, the popular boy at school who suddenly captures her attention and appears captured by her, rolls into the picture, I couldn't help but lose a little respect for her....

The romance strikes as puzzling and, frankly, a little creepy. It begins with stares that don't coincide with Evan's usual behavior, and when he begins cropping up in random instances, seeming to know things about her, habits and thoughts that she's never shared, my first impression and initial suspicion was his being a stalker. And a clever one at that, to appear normal everywhere else besides his strange interest in Julia. Really, every moment they are together it's difficult not to be wary and cast suspicion onto this guy, who, although he has been in the background of Julia's life for so long, virtually appears out of nowhere. The mystery behind this unusual interest is explained and well-done later in the story, but it didn't relieve me of my lack of attraction to his character. And Julia's hastily given trust and swiftly growing feelings could be irritating for some. Their chemistry wasn't all that believable, and Evan never truly felt like real.

The most fascinating, and inventive, element of the Here is the plot and the developments that lead to a startling revelation that I would have never suspected. And the ensuing threat to Julia's way of life and her actual existence adds enough tension and fear and anticipation to give this story an edge, sucking us in further. Her fast friendship with Reece is well-welcomed as he is a character I could dig. Guarded and full of attitude, our connection with him is nearly as quick, as Reece seems to have much more personality than the other boy creeping into Julia's heart.

While I'm not sure I'd set out to read any sequels to this book, I wouldn't mind picking up another book written by Swank. Her writing is pleasantly simple and straightforward, her characters are likable enough, but it's the plot and whatever else she plans to do to expand and twist it that would draw me back for more. In Julia's relatively normal life, so much action and adrenaline dashes through the story line, and that was enough to hold my attention. A nice surprise, Here by Denise Grover Swank is mellow one moment and exciting the next, and I enjoyed the story for it. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard To Wait For The Sequel January 7, 2012

By Jenn Booksessed

Format:Paperback

It is no secret that I adore Denise Grover Swank, I have participated in several blog tours featuring her novels, so when the chance to read her first YA title came, I was excited to take it.

This is one of those books that will emit strong emotions from people. I can see it being a book that people either love or hate. I loved it, but somewhat dislike that it's part of a series. (IMPATIENT!!) I thought that the premise of the novel was really great and it was a hard book to put down.

Julia's parents made me so angry. They were just horrible. Julia's sister doesn't get any points from me either. What really bothered me was that Julia's family really started to irritate me after it became clear that Julia was making improvements. I didn't really get that, but I guess since I didn't like them to begin with, it's all moot.

There was some insta-love and that always irks me, but it was actually important to the plot, which never happens. So it didn't bother me that much in this title.

Overall, the plot was really great and I never would have seen any of it coming in a million years. I loved that. I also liked all the action at the end. Swank is the master of cliffhangers. I'm going to have a really hard time waiting for the sequel.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review From Gypsy Book Reviews December 7, 2011

By Ashelynn Hetland

Format:Paperback

HERE is a story of loses and aching and romance. It's such a gorgeous book, from the cover to the words inside, that all I really want to do is stare at the cover. (Somebody has said she's hovering OVER the water, but I think she's standing on top of the water. What do you think?)

Julia is broken in the beginning of this book. It's been six months of the car accident that killed her best friend Monica, and I'm glad Denise didn't start the story right before the accident happened because it would have made it be less of a mystery. For one, Julia doesn't think she caused the accident, but the police do. But there's no proof that Julia caused the accident. It just... happened.

And because Denise started the story where she did, readers get to know the new Julia, not the old Julia that everybody wants back. And I think that gives the readers an easier time for connecting with Julia and what she's going through.

Evan. Oh, sweet Evan. And Reece. Can't forget Reece. I don't even know what to say about these boys except GIRD YOUR LOINS. Both are equally hot, equally sweet, and I am dying to know which one Julia chooses so I can have the other! (But I'm voting for Evan. I like Evans.)

There is a prologue--but I think it's so freaking necessary. For one, it starts with cold war and the Cuban Missile Crisis. It's important because the sci-fi part of this book is there's an alternate universe... and in that alternate universe, Monica is alive and Julia is dead. I love the alternate universe. It's horrible and damaged because there the Cuban Missile Crisis did happen. The government trends on the dystopian type (overruling and in control, so the citizens have no freedom.) I just love how Denise builds the world. Nothing gets me faster than fantastic worldbuilding.... *_*

The book is fantastic. It grabbed me right away and didn't let me go--even after I flipped the last page. It ends on a cliffhanger (GAH!), and although I knew the ending was coming, I flipped the page to continue reading!

It's so brilliantly written and amazing. The characters grow, especially Julia, and I'm dying to find out what happens in THERE, the sequel! Read more ›

More About the Author

Denise Grover Swank is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes urban fantasies without vampires and werewolves, romantic comedy mysteries set in the south, and sexy new adult contemporary romances. Denise has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.

You can find out more about Denise at www.denisegroverswank.com or email her at [e-mail]