Us in the Before and After (Nominated for Carnegie Medals 2025)

A tear-jerking, heart-breakingly beautiful novel from the award-winning Jenny Valentine, perfect for fans of Adam Silvera, Kathleen Glasgow and Laura Nowlin.

There is one side of that moment, and the other

Before

After

I have dreamed about it ever since

At the start of a long, hot summer best friends Elk and Mab face the fallout of a sudden death, and the lifelong consequences of a single tragic act.

An intensely emotional story that raises questions about love, ghosts, and the unshakeable bonds of friendship.

Praise for Us in the Before and After:

‘A masterpiece. A beautiful and breathtaking story of friendship, love and loss, that will shatter your heart into a thousand tiny pieces and then slowly put it back together again.’ – Danielle Jawando, author of When Our Worlds Collided

‘An ode to life and love and loss and friendship – and the devastating beauty of it all. This is the kind of book that grips you by the heart and doesn’t let go.’ – Katherine Webber, author of Twin Crowns

‘A gorgeous, heartbreaking and lyrical new YA novel from the wonderful Jenny Valentine about grief, friendship and love.’ – Laura Bates, author of Sisters of Sword and Shadow

‘An absolute page-turner from one of our most vital YA voices. Nobody writes like Jenny Valentine – she is a true original.’ – Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls

‘A gorgeous journey on friendship, love and death. Jenny Valentine has written a book that you will want to read over and over again.’ – Abiola Bello, author of Only for the Holidays