Press for What Comes After
One of O, The Oprah Magazine’s MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS.
Named a Best New Book by Parade, Time, Good Housekeeping, Barnes & Noble, Bustle and more!
“[A] nail-biting wallop of a debut novel… Powerful and inspiring… a thoughtful, unexpectedly optimistic tale.”
— New York Times
“If you enjoyed The Searcher by Tana French, read What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins.… a mystery — and a gritty meditation on loss and redemption, drenched in stillness and grief.”
— The Washington Post
“Atmospheric, propulsive... a grieving community grapples with two slain teenaged boys and the young pregnant girl who may hold the key to the their tragic fates. An American Tana French, Tompkins is a writer to watch.”
— O, The Oprah Magazine
“JoAnne Tompkins’ gripping debut novel… reveal[s] the heartbreaking intersections of her characters’ lives. What Comes After is equal parts thrilling mystery and aching examination of grief and guilt.”
— Time
“One of the most moving, challenging, and unique novels of 2021 introduces a cast of characters marred with trauma and subsequently clinging to a very unexpected hope.”
— Shondaland
“While there’s mystery at the heart of this book, Tompkins creates a relatable thrill with reflections on suffering, loss, anger and the powerful effects of forgiveness.”
— Parade
“At once a mystery and a meditation on how to move forward in the wake of a tragedy, What Comes After by Joanne Tompkins is a moving tale of two parents grappling after the sudden deaths of their teenage sons.”
— Popsugar
“[A] reflective tale of grief and redemption.”
— E! Online
“Like Anne Tyler and Marilynne Robinson, who explore similar territories of the heart, Tompkins sensitively portrays her characters’ pain, isolation, and hard path to redemption. A graceful debut.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Deftly handled… readers coming to know [the characters] almost better than they know themselves… exceptional literary thriller.”
— Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“While there’s mystery at the heart of this book, Tompkins creates a relatable thrill with reflections on suffering, loss, anger and the powerful effects of forgiveness.”
— Parade
“One of the most moving, challenging, and unique novels of 2021 introduces a cast of characters marred with trauma and subsequently clinging to a very unexpected hope…a novel about grief, forgiveness, and unexpected human connection.”
— Popsugar
“In JoAnne Tompkins’ debut novel, faith is simply part of life, a reality that is rarely so sensitively portrayed in fiction.”
— BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
“What Comes After is truly beautiful… Rich in characters, atmosphere, and storytelling, this book has it all… If you are looking for something deeply emotional, full of memorable characters, this is it.”
— San Francisco Book Review