Book Review: After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

After Obsession
Authors: Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel
Pages: 320 Hardcover
Reading Level: YA
Published: September 13th 2011
Review Source: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

I was hesitant to read this at first, since the beginning of the book started to creep me out. I am a little sensitive to stories with ghosts and demons in them due to an overactive imagination. My thoughts go rampant when I'm up reading in the middle of the night, in the dark and I hear strange sounds somewhere in the house. Yes, I know it is only the heat kicking in or the ice maker preparing a fresh batch of ice. But when I read books like this, my imagination gets the best of me. That being said, I really starting enjoying this book as the romance between Aimee and Alan started and began to pick up. And the more I got into the story, it was more of an exorcist type book with demon possession than a ghost story, although there are ghosts, or perhaps spirits is a better word. I also enjoyed the Native American elements to the story and how connected Alan was to the spirit world, as was Aimee but in a different way. At times I found the change in point of view from Aimee to Alan confusing, but I did enjoy hearing their differing perspectives. All in all, I think the authors did a good job of collaborating on this book.

There were parts of this book that just weren't for me: some violence, but not super graphic, just sort of icky and gross. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would when I first started reading it...after I got past the initial creepiness. I really liked the ending, too...and you know I'm a sucker for a happy ending.