After Math (Off the Subject, #1)

by Denise Grover Swank

Scarlett Goodwin’s world is divided into Before and After.

Before she agreed to tutor Tucker Price, college junior Scarlett was introvert, struggling with her social anxiety disorder and determined to not end up living in a trailer park like her mother and her younger sister. A mathematics major, she goes to her classes, to her job in the tutoring lab, and then hides in the apartment she shares with her friend, Caroline.

After junior Tucker Price, Southern University’s star soccer player enters the equation, her carefully plotted life is thrown off its axis. Tucker’s failing his required College Algebra class. With his eligibility is at risk, the university chancellor dangles an expensive piece of computer software for the math department if Scarlett agrees to privately tutor him. Tucker’s bad boy, womanizer reputation makes Scarlett wary of any contact, let alone spending several hours a week in close proximity.

But from her first encounter, she realizes Tucker isn’t the person everyone else sees. He carries a mountain of secrets which she suspects hold the reason to his self-destructive behavior. But the deeper she delves into the cause of his pain, the deeper she gets sucked into his chaos. Will Scarlett find the happiness she’s looking for, or will she be caught in Tucker’s aftermath?

• ISBN10: 148265864X
• ISBN13: 9781482658644
• Publish Date: 10 March 2013
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 250
• Language: English

Reviews

[Berls]

Review first appeared at Fantasy is More Fun.

3.5 stars.
I’ve had After Math for a while – I’m pretty sure I picked it up for free as a kindle deal because it seemed like it could be one of the better New Adult books. I actually decided to read it as part of a challenge requiring me to read a book where math figured prominently, and I ended up enjoying it for the most part.

The thing about After Math is that its your standard formula for a New Adult book – boy and girl meet in college. Boy and girl are both broken, in their own ways. Girl gets stuck with boy and despite being so wrong for each other -because she’s responsible and reserved and he’s a partier headed for academic disaster – he morphs into a different person (who he REALLY is) around her and she’s inexplicably able to open up around him. Suddenly they both begin to heal. Did I miss anything?

So yes, After Math is incredibly predictable. But that doesn’t make it bad – I liked the characters and the story was a quick, enjoyable read.

Scarlett has a bit of social anxiety and is very introverted. She likes to lose herself in math problems and avoid people. So getting stuck tutoring Tucker Price – party boy, loud, rude, and obnoxious – makes her cringe and her anxiety spirals, until she starts to really get to know him.

I think what I liked most about After Math was that their relationship wasn’t easy. Scarlett doesn’t want anything to do with Tucker at first and after that she is very wary of him. He keeps secrets. They fight. So basically – its most definitely not insta-love, their relationship makes sense, and it takes work.

If you don’t like the predictable story line and are tired of broken characters fixing each other through love, I’d skip it. But if you like New Adult I definitely recommend After Math – the characters are well written and the story is a quick, fun read.

[Sam@WLABB]

This is a very sweet new adult romance. Two damaged college students are thrown together by chance and reluctantly become friends and then lovers. In the process, they learn to come to terms with their past, present and future. I swooned and awwwwed and squeed and all sorts of other happy chick lit stuff. Made me warm and fuzzy.

[nitzan_schwarz]

Originally posted on my blog June 17, 2013. Please consider popping by :)

To be quite honest, if I hadn't read Pushing the Limits (which I feel is similar to After Math in the general vibe) just before picking this up, I feel pretty certain I would've given this book 5 freakin' stars. But between the two, Pushing the Limits had the edge. However, if you liked one I dare say you'll love the other. 

The story is told from the eyes of Scarlett Goodwin's. Scarlett strongly reminds me of myself about a year and a half ago; painfully shy, bad with crowds and being in the spotlight. But at the same time, afraid that no one sees her, that's she's invisible. She's also a serious and dedicated student (who actually likes Math), a sweet girl, and a good friend. It was easy to relate to her and feel she was real.  

Scarlett doesn't date, as everyone know. She also doesn't deal with cocky, disrespecting football stars. Mostly because she's terrified of speaking to them, but still. She doesn't tolerate those kind of things, nor is she impressed by them. But Tucker Price specifically wants her to tutor him on Algebra, and when her teacher comes and asks her to take the job, she has no choice but to agree. 

Only, from their first meeting Scarlett senses that Tucker isn't who the rumor mill--or even his own past record--says he is. And she'd be right. Because on the inside, Tucker is nothing like he seems outside. He's sensitive, serious, apologetic and mostly - extremely lonely.  

I simply adored both characters. Tucker is such an awesome person, especially with his sweet, unguarded side. You know, the one he only shows Scarlett *melt*  

The two of them together were quite amazing. First, they started of as friends, and they were great as friends because they really talked to one another and understood one another and could read one another. They were also very honest with each other, and didn't really beat around the bush, which was refreshing and lovely to watch. 

Then, their relationship wasn't really angst filled. Sure, there were the issues and troubles, but it also felt right and it fit, and you knew they'd get together since you could tell they both loved one another greatly - and it was easy to see why they loved each other. The only thing I can possibly say against them is that I felt like maybe the sex came a bit too quickly after they entered the relationship stage.  

The ending was great, but I really wanted to know what happened after Tucker made his decision. I have this vision in my mind of him and Scarlett walking back to where Caroline is to retrieve her things and everyone doing the double take and being generally shocked to the core. Part of me really wants to know exactly what happened, and is disappointed we didn't get to see that, and the other part enjoys coming up with the possibilities.  

Lastly, I love the original cover, the one shown in the linked review. I loved the color scheme (grey and green), loved how the title could be read both as After Math and Aftermath (which would fit) and generally loved the design. The new cover (both of them) is, for me, just so dull and uninteresting and all that *sigh*

Can't wait to read the next book, which tells Caroline's story.

Originally posted on my blog June 17, 2013. Please consider popping by :)