This book definitely exceeded all my expectations for it. In fact, it was one of the most refreshing and realistic novels I've read in a long time! Highly recommended! So we meet Laurel, who, not only her family, but her neighbor's mother, perishes in a terrible car accident. This novel consists of the aftermath of this event (like the title says) and takes us all the way to the end of Laurel's senior year without having her family, living with her grandmother. It deals with the fact that her best friend, Meg, grows apart from her, even though Meg had truly done her best to be there for Laurel, which at times Laurel failed to repay her with. Joe, who was Laurel's longtime crush, suddenly becomes interested and soon spurs a sweet, awkward friendship/casual relationship. We watch as her grandmother deals with the loss of her own son, but does everything in her power to be there for Laurel, and as Laurel herself comes to terms with everything, and struggles with the pain of losing them all and the loss of normality. And then there is David, the son of the neighbors who were driving Laurel's family that night, who lost a mother, and a father in a coma. He struggled seemingly much more openly with his loss then Laurel, but naturally, they both find comfort and normality which each other. I truly liked the pace of everything in the book. With David and Laurel's friendship/romance, it took a long time to build and happen, but perfectly. Never rushed, and beautifully honest. With Joe and Laurel, their relationship (though in the end it never went anywhere) was also delicate, never wanting to step to far. In the end, this is an amazing novel that I believe everyone will truly enjoy.