The newest release from Lauren James, The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker, is just around the corner (September 3rd) and I'm SO excited for everyone else to have the chance to read this because, as has been the case with Lauren's other books, The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker is a gripping, page-turning, twisty ride of a book. 

Going into this book I wasn't really sure what to expect, purely because Lauren has such a gift for turning those expectations on their heads (see The Loneliest Girl in the Universe particularly) and I was excited to let this book just take me where it would and somehow it still took me by surprise over and over again. This book sends you hurling through a ton of different emotions at every turn and in my opinion and a whole cast of characters bursting with personality (not all of them 'good') that it's impossible not to become invested to some degree quite easily. 

One of my favourite things about this book is that it features a female main character who is kind of unapologetic and chaotic, Harriet isn't a character that I think everyone will like and honestly, I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to but I do love the idea of a character who once they know what they want, goes after it and does what needs to be done. The rest of the cast is fantastic and I really enjoyed that we got to see events from the points of view of all of them as well as an interesting kind of past perspective from the narrator. 

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker features some interesting themes, as do most of Laurens's books, this one in particular however focuses on the bonds of friends and family and allows us to take a closer look at morality as it pertains to right and wrong, good and evil and just how much we can realistically forgive while keeping or morals intact. It really got me thinking while also utterly entertaining me and I enjoyed utterly devouring this book. If you've read and enjoyed any of Lauren's previous books this is a must-read and if you're looking for somewhere to start with her work this is a great jumping-on point.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

OMG, this book!! I don't even know how to explain how freaking good it was.

Everyone knows I'm a slow reader because I can't focus on a book for too long, but I read +400 pages in three days, which is like super impressive for me, considering that I usually take this long to read novels with half the pages.

Harriet Stoker dies while visiting an abandoned hall of residence and doesn't expect waking up again as a ghost, surrounded by others like her. The young group quickly welcomes her but she's not interested in making friends, she wants to leave this place and go back to her grandmother who's stranded at home. She will do whatever it takes to make that happen, even compromise herself.

This book completely sucked me in and I'm honestly on book hangover right now. I could totally see it being adapted to a TV show, please make it happen!

I don't read a lot of books where the main character is the antagonist so that really intrigued me! I felt some serious Vicious vibes.

I loved the Muslim, black and LGTBQ representation, every character was well-rounded and compelling.

I enjoyed the fast pacing, there was never a dull moment and it all felt real and gripping.

I honestly recommend this to anyone who's looking for a YA thriller with a great diverse set of characters and some of my favorite tropes (found family, pining, etc.)

I really look forward to reading more of Lauren James, because she's so freaking talented and I'm completely obsessed with her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Imagine a situation like the one in BBC's Ghosts, only with a lot more drama, higher stakes and a protagonist (for although Harriet is the title character, hers is not the only pointof view we see the story from) whose moral code is a bit...skewed. The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker is a great read, full of well-written/well-defined characters (though it would have been nice if we got see a bit more of one or two of them), including some really creepy villains, and a plot that's a little twistier than it may first appear. My only minor niggle is that there is a character revelation that, whilst subtle hints had been dropped beforehand, the realisation itself did come across a little rushed. But, as I said, minor niggle. The coda at the end also leaves the door open for the story to continue.
So if you've read and enjoyed James's previous novels or if you're looking for something spooky, I would definitely recommend this.

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker follows Harriet after she dies and becomes a ghost, after the discovery that ghosts have special powers, Harriet is desperate for her own and will take any steps necessary.

This book was not for me, I did not like the writing style so I could not connect to any of the characters and I found the book boring and bland. The book is a quick read and the plot is interesting in the sense that I did not know what direction the book was going in, the book tried to incorporate a lot of things/be a lot and for me it did not work out.

Harriet is a very closed off person and really annoying/whiny which made me uninterested in her and her perspective. The book is also told from the perspective of the other ghosts and for me it did not add much to the story, I just was not invested into the characters and the plot. The plot was weird and the plot twists were meant to be shocking but I was just confused on the direction the book was taking.

The book also has the perspective of an unknown character who narrates a bit of story, at the start of the book it added to the mystery of what was going to happen but after the first few bits, I found this part useless too.

1/5

Rated 3.5 really.

First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Walker Books for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

THE THRILL OF IT

As anyone who knows me is well-aware of by now, I have a fascination for books about dead characters (whether set in the actual afterlife or having ghosts as protagonists), so I can honestly deem myself an expert on the subject. Thus, believe me when I say TRAOHS is one of the most original takes on "what comes after" that I've ever read - and I'll leave it at that, because I don't want to spoil the fun for you. Since the blurb itself mentions ghostly powers though, yep, they are part of this book's charm - but not the only one, albeit the plot is largely driven by those powers, their use and/or misuse (or lack thereof) and the consequences that come with it. But it doesn't end here. This novel piles up twist after twist and reveal after reveal, and though some of them you start to smell out before they become manifest, there are still plenty that you won't see coming. Not to mention, there's a mystery narrator who kept me on my toes for a long time, and who ended up being NOT the person I thought they were... [...]

DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME)

Besides being an entertaining afterlife special with cool world-building, TRAOHS is a story about found families and toxic environments, hidden truths and real selves, ill-advised choices and redemption. Also, all the kids (if you can call "kid" a ghost who's been around since the '90s...or much earlier) have distinct personalities and interesting powers - somehow related to those - and I enjoyed their dynamics...though I could have done without the love triangle and the instalove (well, actually, two instances of it), and though there's a sex scene that rubbed me the wrong way (I do understand that it helps define a certain character's nature, but while not overly graphic, it was a bit crude). I also wish that the diversity was a little more fleshed out when it comes to Rima (who we're told wears a hijab, and that's the extent of it) and Harriet (who casually mentions being pan). But I'm sure that all the protagonists will stay with me, because each and every one of them put something special on the table.

COME CLOSER

So, why the 3.5 stars, you ask? Besides the pet-peeves I mentioned above, I felt like the writing was keeping me at an arm's length from the characters sometimes. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I kept experiencing this sense of disconnection, even while I was liking them and finding them interesting and rooting for them. It's not what I would call a case of telling-not-showing, but most of the time I was very aware that I was seeing Harriet and the others from the author's perspective - which could partly be ascribed to the third-person narrative, but then again, I've read plenty of books using that device, and I've never failed to feel like I was in the character's head, without any filters.

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER

There were a handful more small problems I had with the story, though they didn't necessarily impact my final judgment:

- Harriet's phone plays a huge part in the plot, since apparently she's able to unlock it via vocal command - but how is it possible that she can't touch it and still it responds to her voice? The author herself has one of the characters ask the question, but it's immediately filed away under "things that can't be explained", which is kind of lazy if you ask me. If you raise - or better, create - an issue, you should be able to provide a solution, as opposed to having it happen for mysterious reasons.

- Also phone-related...it seems like a few of the ghosts are using it in order to go online, while they 1) can't actually touch it or give it orders (unless Harriet taught them, which isn't mentioned - plus, she should be the only one who can activate the phone vocally) and 2) weren't even alive when the internet became a thing, so how do they know what they're doing?

- Finally, the thing that puzzles me the most: when Harriet enters the building where she will die, the ghosts have been in a semi-dormant state for years (technically, they are Shells, close to disintegrate for good), because they need the energy of a new death to properly awaken. But later they're aware of stuff like what day it is and how old Felix's brother is...

Then again, I'm only mentioning these quibbles out of honesty, but they didn't taint my enjoyment of the story (much). I still recommend TRAOHS to all the ghost lovers looking for an original, surprise-ridden afterlife story with solid (ha! see what I did here?) characters, a bit of action and a touch of romance.

Okay, so I kind of don’t know how to feel about this book, but at the same time I think I kind of loved it. I think part of the reason I feel weird about it is because I was getting confused between this book and The Afterlife of Holly Chase, so I really wasn’t expecting the direction the story went in.

First thing I really didn’t expect is that Harriet is a really unlikable character, which I probably would have known if I had read the synopsis. I really liked the way it was done. I have read and not really enjoyed unlikable characters before, so I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I also liked her character arc.

Felix, Kasper, Rima and Leah were all really nice characters to read about. I really liked them all, and I really liked their friendship dynamic. They had a bit of banter, but it was also really obvious that they cared for each other and I just love reading about friendship groups.

I also really liked the way it was narrated, if that’s the right word. I was expecting it to be mostly, if not entirely, told from Harriet’s point of view, but that wasn’t the case. It is told from Harriet, Leah, Felix, Kasper and Rima’s points of view in 3rd person, and then there are parts that are in first person and from the point of view of a mysterious narrator (who I did NOT correctly guess the identity of.)

I wasn’t always sure about the writing style. It seemed a bit simple and straightforward at times, and some of the dialogue was a bit unrealistic, but overall I was fine with the writing. It was a nice easy writing style to read, so I was able to get through it really quickly.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker, and it really cemented Lauren James’s place on my auto-buy authors list.

Lauren James is an essential part of my most loved shelves. Her ability to create stories that are truly incredible never ceases to amaze me and ‘The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker,’ is another stellar addition to her repertoire. Harriet Stoker inadvertently crashes into the afterlife when she decides to explore a derelict and apparently haunted building, the site of an unexplained death of a group of students at her university. She quickly realises that death is just the beginning as she meets the ghostly inhabitants of the former halls of residence who all have magical powers. Welcomed into their world, the ghost are keen to make friends with Harriet but she wants more than friendship, she wants power. She needs to get back to her frail grandmother and is willing to sacrifice anything to get her own way. But there is a mysterious force at work, a force beyond Harriet's control. Even when you're dead, the afterlife can be a dangerous place to live. Lauren yet again manages to surprise and astound the reader with the most unexpected of twists which disturb the very foundations of everything you held up to be the truth.  A truly compelling and extraordinary story that dazzled me with its brilliance.

Plot:
When Harriet Stoker falls and dies in a tragic accident while exploring an abandoned halls of residence, she doesn’t expect to wake up again as a ghost. She definitely doesn't expect to be surrounded by the ghosts of others who have died there, including the dozens who all mysteriously died in their sleep one night twenty five years before. She’s determined to learn all about being a ghost, unlock her powers and leave to visit her grandmother and the ghosts of her parents. She’ll do anything it takes.

My thoughts:
This thriller perfectly combined spookiness, an exploration of morally grey characters and found family in a fun story about life after death. This book was gripping and immersive and just so so good; I can't wait to read more from Lauren James!

This book was so easy to just slip into and found myself reading a hundred pages without even noticing which was just perfect for getting me out of a reading slump. I found everything about it incredibly immersive, from the atmosphere to the characters to the plot. The characters, in particular, were my favourite part of the book. I loved their authenticity and connections with each other and really enjoyed reading from their different perspectives. I also loved the diversity of this book, with characters of colour and LGBTQ+ characters at the forefront of this book, including a pansexual main character!

This book was an unpredictable blend of horror and thriller with haunting supernatural elements. I loved that the horror not only stemmed from outside forces but also Harriet’s own character and determination. This book explores humanity and doesn’t shy away from the horror humans create, even with a supernatural cast of characters. The exploration of morally grey characters, family and the dangers of too much power were really interesting and these themes were so well developed. Additionally, the mystery of the omniscient narrator was really engaging and its perspective built tension and suspense very effectively.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker and am looking forward to reading more from the author. This book had so many elements I love in a book and managed to combine them perfectly into an incredible read. I don’t want to say too much more and spoil it because I think it’s best to go into this book not knowing much and just let it blow your mind but I will say that it gets dark and it will have you on the edge of your seat!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this very strange book

harriet..well what can one say about a girl that has no friends and though she tries she just doesnt get the friends she wants around her

so whilst out doing her course work photography..she investigates a really old place, that isnt structurally sound...and whilst she is walking along taking photos and not really paying attention...she falls and kills herself...

and thats where the fun begins....she is surrounded by ghosts....those that had died in that very building, there are friendly ghosts and some bad ghosts...and the best bit she finds out that once you die a ghost gets a special power......

now harriets main concern is her grandmother and the shock its going to be when she finds out that harriet is now dead...

but what is harriets power gonna be....

there is also another voice adding to the story and at first it isnt clear who it is and they tell a very old story...

bit of a strange one this one..and i have to admit that i didnt like harriet at all...but the concept of this book kept me reading

Thank you to Netgalley and @WalkerBooksUK for the opportunity to review this book. This is the first story from Lauren James I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and wow, what a story.
The story introduces us to Harriet. You have to feel for her as she’s not having a good day (a clue being in the title), but as you read on, your feelings towards Harriet will be thrown into turmoil. As she struggles with the ups and downs of her afterlife, we also glimpse into some other characters, and a mysterious narrative that guides us through the story. Great characters and an interesting plot.
This is a remarkable story, an idea that is original and I can’t wait to read other stories that Lauren James has to offer.
#RecklessAfterlife

Another amazing story from Lauren James, which kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker is incredibly tense, and I raced through it, desperate to know what would happen next. This story is full of twists and turns. It has a complicated, non linear plot which it was so fun to follow, and is something I've come to expect from a Lauren James book, after the time travel and distorted space time of previous novels I have read by her! So much thought and planning must go into her novels, and it really shows in the complexity and brilliance of the finished work.

This story is made up of fantastic multiple POVs. I loved all the characters and was never disappointed when the viewpoint shifted, as everyone was so interesting. The friendship between the characters was very special, and I loved the found-family feel to this story. Harriet herself is a complex character who is often hard to like, but very understandable. James develops her really well.

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker also explores death, the afterlife, and what makes us human. Fear, love and acceptance are all vital to the story's progression and the characters' growth.

I also loved the setting - as a Warwick grad especially! I'm not sure this a story I'd want to read right before moving into student halls though. Although, if I was going to move into university accommodation that was already occupied, I'd want it to be by Rima and her friends!

Thank you to NetGalley & Walker Books for the ARC - as a big Lauren James fan I was so excited to read this, especially given the concept. I have to admit I didn't know much about it going in; the twists and turns really surprised me, as well as Harriet's character given James's main characters are usually much more sympathetic. I was really pleasantly surprised by her characterisation and it was really well done, and masterfully twisted my empathy towards Harriet throughout. I also loved the rest of the gang, especially Rima & Felix. My only criticism is that ending! I'm hoping this is the beginning of a series as it left me with so many questions. Overall, a really gripping read and great world building. Though they should really demolish Mulcture Hall, it's a death trap.

To call this an interesting book would be a bit of an understatement. It's the strangest book of hers that I've read, as it's all the interpersonal drama of a houseful of ghosts interrupted by the whirlwind arrival of a new ghost.

Trying to genre characterise this book is a nightmare. Sci-fi? Horror? Fantasy? The ghosts with powers is certainly blurring across speculative fiction boundaries.

I was debating between making this a 3.5 star read after the sheer level of bizarre that is the ending (everything that happens once Norma arrives on the scene, basically), but I'd really enjoyed the first two acts, so ultimately decided on 4 stars.

Harriet is a very interesting main character. She's so self-centred and single-minded, willing to use and discard anyone to get her own way. It made her really hard to like, because she was just causing so much chaos - hurting basically everyone she touched.

She's what is often called an unlikable character. This does prompt the question of would she be considered more likeable if the character was a Harold? Frankly, I wouldn't; her motivations and morals are so shaky, and actions pretty reprehensible. Her excuses are flimsy too (which is shown).

Having an unlikable lead is no bad thing - it allows for a very complex lead who is their own worst enemy. Most of the problems are instigated or fuelled by Harriet. There are other antagonists who use the chaos she creates to build to the sheer horror of the ending, but they couldn't have planned her actions better.

Alongside Harriet, the story is also told by the ghosts she falls in with. There's also a mystery POV who talks directly to the reader. It's a pretty omniscient POV, with a lot of information about how it's going to play out. I loved the mystery of this POV, trying to work out who was talking and how they knew everything.

Just like Lauren James’ other books, I loved this one! She is such a brilliant YA writer and I cannot fault her work.

I loved the story.

Harriet dies in an abandoned building inhabited by the ghosts of students who all mysteriously died in the night. Upon her death and the release of her spirit, an energy awakens the ghosts from hibernation.

They all have some type of magical power and the spirit of a person/animal is a source of energy.

Harriet is intent on finding out her power and getting out of the building no matter the cost.

There are so many twists and turns and mystery. It took me more than half the book to figure out the narrator, and it made perfect sense!

This is a brilliant world the author has written and I devoured it. I can’t wait for more of James’ work!

was that what friendship was supposed to be like, when you found people who really understood you?

This book was so, so, so incredible it’s going to be hard to actually put into words how much I truly loved this book. Lauren’s books can be slightly hit or miss for me but this was most definitely a HIT. I just loved this so so so so so much.

The characters are all my kids especially Kaspar, my main son but I loved Felix, Rima and Leah so much too and their development over the book was a pleasure to watch. Harriet was such an interesting character too, the decisions she makes and the way she goes about things is wrong but also you can’t help but have a small part of you that is routing for her. She is hands down one of my favourite female anti heroes that I’ve read about for a while. Obviously though, Claudia. What. Everything about her was interesting and just had me so shook. Also, a disaster bisexual, a disaster gay AND a chaotic pansexual I mean what could go wrong?😂

The plot was so interesting and had me hooked from chapter one till the end. I wanted to know what was happening, I wanted to find out about what had happened to all of these people, this building. I honestly did not see a single plot twist coming and I was just so unbelievably shook throughout most of the book.

Basically, I loved this book with my entire heart and I want to be able to read it for the first time again and I’m sad that I can’t. I’m also so sad it’s over I need fifty more books in the series.

Every time I read a new Lauren James book, I say it's her best yet. And then she writes another and I stand corrected. The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker is gripping, moving and brilliantly plotted.

Harriet is the most fascinating main character. It was so fun trying to work out what she'd get up to next and how I'd feel about her by the end.

The plot of this book is incredibly fresh and inventive, and I found it impossible to predict. Most books I read seem to have their roots in others, but this is completely its own thing! The darker exploration of the afterlife is balanced out by sweetness and humour. Incorporating supernatural elements is a new dimension for Lauren James, and it really works.

Another amazing element is the setting. Basing a book in one location can be hard to pull off, but in this story it created at times a lovely, close-knit community for the ghosts and at others a tense, claustrophobic environment that they can't escape.

Lauren James is one of my favourite authors, and I think this is her best book yet.

Thanks to Netgalley and Walker Books for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James is a very original paranormal fantasy. The story grips you from the moment Harriet meets her untimely end (this is definitely *not* a spoiler, it mentions her afterlife in the title specifically). It seems Lauren James is great at creating characters that you really fall for and want to root for. Sadly, Harriet was super annoying (although I think you're definitely meant to feel that way for some of the novel) but the group already there are just amazingly well rounded. I especially love the villain duo, the way James writes them with such malice and apathy towards those in need feels real and adds a sinister believable level of dread throughout the story that doesn't shy away from grim imagery and serious issues. The end of the novel is certainly interesting and definitely leaves it open for a sequel.

Definitely a read for fans of Cinderella is Dead and GIrl, Serpent, Thorn. The afterlife is real and it's such a drag...

Lauren James is, in my eyes, the queen of Sci-Fi YA. With this, her latest novel, she continues this reign with style. The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker is a gripping romp, packed full of twists and turns. The story starts with Harriet, who dies in an abandoned university halls of residence. She 'awakes' only to be greeted by a group of friends who are also ghosts, they serve as her tour guides to this new world of ghosts with magical powers. Harriet is a quick learner, adapting to everything far quicker than new friends Felix, Kasper, Rima & Leah could ever have anticipated - but could Harriet's desperate desire for omnipotence and omniscience destroy everything around her...?
The book alternates between multiple perspectives making a compelling story become truly gripping and un-put-down-able. Following Lauren on Twitter heightened the experience of reading exponentially, with her dream casting posts viscerally adding to the world building - a proper cherry on the icing on top of the wonderful cake.
A must-read supernatural thriller.

Harriet is trying to finish her assignment for Photography class, snapping photos in one abandoned building renowned for haunting ghost stories. She is just too focused on getting the right photo, so she can get a good grade for the project and she doesn’t notice the danger signs, and regretfully she falls off a balcony and dies. Harriet discovers that there is an afterlife as a ghost and the building is actually full of other ghosts. Between the struggles to accept her death and getting accepted into a group of ghost friends, she is determined to find a way to come back home.

This book was a hell of a hangover. I am not a massive fan of paranormal or ghost stories, even if I spent my high school period watching X-Files like Rima, one of the characters in the book. However, this book was amazing. I really couldn’t put it down and I still keep thinking about it. I enjoyed the plot twist of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe. With The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker, Lauren James proved herself again to be a brilliant mastermind. Seriously, the revelation at the end dropped my jaw and that last chapter got me wishing for more. I loved all the well developed characters, and I loved that I got to read this story from different perspectives. The story kept me guessing the identity of the mysterious/omnipresent POV until the very last moment. It gets really dark as you get to see Harriet's story arc, and it explores the grey area between being good and bad, how our past and actions of our close family members can dangerously impact our present choices.

If you are looking for a scary, chilling ghost story to keep you on the edge all the time, this story is perfect – and it will kill you. I am only gutted that I found out about Lauren James’s fancast and playlist after finishing this book!! Knowing that Rufus would look like Rami Malek would have massively improved my reading experience.

Absolutely brilliant!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Lauren James book and I can say that I'm impressed. I really enjoyed the ride she took us on and the well-crafted story about the afterlife.
I loved how the characters were described and how much I cared for them. I have to say it is hard for me to not hate a certain character, but I loved all this cast, I take my hat off to the author.
I'd most definitely like to read more from this author and recommend her books. Her writing style is so easy to read.