I found this to be a tricky read, perhaps not too surprising as it's main theme is grief and the far reaching effect it can have. On this occasion we meet the Weil family, coming together for the surprise wedding of Benji and Morgan - it turns out the last big family occasion where everyone met up was Alice's funeral - his sister and her childhood best friend. On what should be a happy celebration we get to see how grief and its effects have impacted and in some cases still affect the other characters.

I didn't always enjoy this book, there were definitely parts I liked and was able to get into more than others. The story is well written, but for me at times felt a bit try-hard - simpler language could have been used throughout to greater effect.

None of the characters were particularly likeable, which I guess was partly the point - everyone has flaws and these were front-and-centre as we got to know the different characters and learned about their pasts and how they cam to be where they are now. We only ever get snippets on Alice - what happened to bring her to that decision on that fateful evening? We're never entirely sure and nothing is made explicitly clear, again I am sure on purpose to make the reader ponder.

There is not much of a plot as such, the wedding is the focal point and we get to see the character's reaction to it but there is not much development of either story or characters. I would have liked to see more of what happened after the event as I think this would have made for a much more interesting read.

I really enjoyed reading The World After Alice. There are enough different characters that you get to dive into emotions and insights in different minds, but they all intertwine. You get different "truths" of the same events from different characters' perspectives, and instead of being made to feel on one person's side vs another's, we get to see each person as the complex being they are.
The book switches between two main times, the present day wedding and the funeral of Alice. However as characters recall memories, they take us further afield, and near the end we get to go into the future as well.
I would recommend and would want to talk to people about it.

This was a tremendously good book which I found very difficult to put down. It was touching and funny at times. I was enjoying it so much I couldn't wait for the end but didn't want it to end either - this story will stay with me for a long time it was so powerful.

A bit slow and confusing, I found it difficult to get into. And the author often used such impenetrable and obscure words, I had to continually look them up!
A difficult read at times, with the subject matter, but it was good to see how much Linnie had learnt, and how much she’d matured, over the book’s period.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

Sixteen year old Alice died, devastating and changing her loved ones lives forever. Twelve years on her Brother Benji, and best friend Morgan surprise everyone by announcing that they are getting married. The wedding is the first time that everyone has got together since the funeral, and so unravels secrets, and lies, and guilt and blame, and things that went unsaid, and penance, and amendments....'How does someone survive this?'...Read it!

I really enjoy books about relationships, stories that let us see the nitty gritty and the thoughts that most people conceal. This most definitely ticks those boxes.

A wedding brings together strands of families all broken in some way. All with secrets and shame, all with regrets and anger. The death of Alice divided their worlds into before and after and this is a heavy book. There isn't light relief but there is resolution and the writing is sublime. Families are complex and trauma is insidious. It needs to be brought out of the darkness of our minds to release its power over us. And this book captures that brilliantly.

This was an emotional and thoughtful book. Quite a tough read, very heartfelt. At times I didn't enjoy it and others I did. Not my usual read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The World After Alice by Lauren Aliza Green is a remarkable debut that swept me up from the very first page. It's one of those books that you can't help but devour, not just because it’s so captivating, but because it feels real—the kind of novel that digs into the heart of family, loss, and the messy aftermath of grief.

The story centers around Morgan and Benji, a couple who are trying to bring together their fractured families for their wedding in Maine. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Except their relationship comes with some serious baggage, because twelve years earlier, Benji’s sister Alice—their shared best friend—died in a tragedy that shook both families to their core. The event still casts a long shadow over everyone, and as the families come together for the wedding, old wounds are inevitably reopened.

The way Green weaves this drama is so cleverly done. You know that feeling when you’re at a family gathering and everyone’s pretending things are fine, but underneath it all, tensions are bubbling? That’s exactly the vibe here, but it’s layered with emotional depth. The characters are so human, so messy, and so relatable. I found myself thinking about the secrets people hide, the things left unsaid, and how the past never really stays buried.

I loved how Green balanced the heavy stuff with humor and insight. The book is deeply moving, but there are moments that will make you laugh out loud. One minute, you’re rooting for the characters to overcome their flaws, and the next, you’re holding your breath, waiting for the next family drama to unfold. It’s a tragi-comedy in the best sense of the word—a family saga that captures both the heartbreaking and the hilarious sides of life.

But what really made this book stand out for me was its focus on resilience. The characters are dealing with so much—grief, guilt, regrets—and yet, you never feel like they’re beyond hope. The wedding weekend, which is supposed to be a time of joy, becomes a pressure cooker for all of these unspoken feelings. It’s clear that everyone is still figuring out how to move forward, and as the layers of the past start to peel away, the characters are forced to face some tough truths.

The World After Alice is a beautifully written, heartfelt, and thoughtful novel that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a book about family, love, loss, and the messy, wonderful, painful way we try to make sense of it all. If you’re a fan of books that explore the complexity of relationships with honesty and humor, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Green has definitely set the bar high with this debut, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Highly recommend!

Hmm... not sure about this one at all. I kept reading, hoping that something was going to happen but it didn't.

What happened to Alice? Who knows! Certainly this book did not divulge any answers.

All rather odd.

Unfortunately I didn’t finish this book. I found it to be a very slow read and it failed to hold my interest and attention.

My thanks to the author, to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

Lauren Eliza Green's *The World After Alice* is a tender and beautifully crafted exploration of grief, family dynamics, and the lasting effects of loss. The heart of the novel revolves around the wedding of Benji and Morgan, a moment that should be filled with joy but is overshadowed by the absence of Alice, Benji's sister and Morgan's best friend, who tragically took her own life twelve years ago.

Green compassionately weaves together the perspectives of various family members and friends, each grappling with their own unresolved grief and the complexities of their relationships. The narrative delicately shifts between the present-day celebration and poignant flashbacks, gradually revealing the events leading up to Alice's death and the deep impact it has had on those who loved her.

Although the themes are heavy, Green's prose remains lyrical and evocative, inviting readers to experience a profound sense of intimacy and emotional resonance. The characters are beautifully flawed and relatable; their struggles with love, loss, and the quest for forgiveness are depicted with raw honesty that many will find moving.

*The World After Alice* leaves a lasting impression, serving as a heartfelt tribute to the enduring power of love and the intricate nature of human connections. It offers a glimmer of hope even amid the heaviness of grief, making this book an essential read for anyone who has navigated the waters of loss or cherishes narratives that delve into the profound complexities of human emotion.

Grief and all that comes with it can be a peculiar thing. For the Weil family, one tragic moment in time will have far reaching consequences for the rest of their lives. On the biggest day of Benji Weil's life, we see those consequences and the effect his sister's tragic death has had on family and friends.

I gave this book 3 to 3.5 stars. There is no doubt that this is a beautifully written book, however, at times the author's prose came across as trying too hard. I usually enjoy this type of writing especially in literay fiction but I just don't think it worked here in this context.

Every character is unlikeable which I quite enjoyed but if you want a book where characters have some redeeming qualities, you will not find it here. I feel like we didn't see enough character development from Morgan's character and Nick's mother, Judith. I think these character arcs could have been developed better.

There isn't too much plot, it's really all about the characters which I enjoy. I do think the story is interesting but I felt like it wasn't developed as much I would like. The conclusion of Alice's character didn't really feel fully fleshed out.

If you like slow paced, slice of life books, I would recommend you to check this out.

Really enjoyed this book! It was a good and enjoyable read. I would read more by this author. Thanks to netgalley for letting me read it in turn for a review.

Alice dies by suicide as a teenager and a decade or so later her brother and her best friend surprise everyone with an invite to their wedding. This novel works in two timelines, shortly before Alice’s death and the present of the wedding, and head hops between various characters’ perspectives a lot, so I felt like I couldn’t quite get a grasp on what was really important.

A good book, well plotted and compelling. liked the storytelling and the characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed reading this book, the author is new to me and I have to say I enjoy her style, A recommended read.

Unfortunately I have not been able to connect with this book and found it to be too slow paced for my liking.

Life after death.
An emotional story that I enjoyed, I found it was quite slow paced
A good debut

Two healing families brought together celebrate an unexpected marriage
It’s a heartwarming story about moving on after an unspeakable tragedy and learning how to love again
This fabulous debut is beautifully written, full of emotion and you’re immediately invested right from the first chapter
Thanks @laurenalizagreen @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the emotional read

A bride freaking out over her seating plan and a groom who thinks the glass is permanently full. Coming up to their wedding, we examine life after the grooms sister has died. It is a bit of a family drama but there was something a little underdeveloped about it.