After Obsession

By Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

Aimee and Alan have unusual pasts and secrets they prefer to keep hidden. Aimee's deceased mother struggled with mental illness and hallucinations, and Aimee thinks it could be hereditary. After all, she sees a shadowy river man where there isn't one. And then there was that time she and her best friend Courtney tried to conjure a spirit with a Ouija board . . .

Alan is Courtney's cousin. His family moved to Maine when Courtney's father went missing. It's not just Alan's dark good looks that make him attractive. He is also totally in touch with a kind of spiritual mysticism from his Native American heritage. And it's not long before Aimee has broken up with her boyfriend . . .

But it's not Aimee or Alan who is truly haunted - it's Courtney. In a desperate plea to find her father, Courtney invites a demonic presence into her life. Together, Aimee and Alan must exorcise the ghost, before it devours Courtney - and everything around her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Sep 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781408821435

Carrie Jones

Carrie Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of the Need series—which includes Need, Captivate, and Entice—as well as Girl, Hero; Love (and Other Uses for Duct Tape); and Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend. She is the coauthor, with Steven E. Wedel, of After Obsession. Carrie lives in Maine with a scrawny cat, an obese cat, two tremendously large white dogs, and occasional pixies.

Reviews for After Obsession

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher at Book Expo America. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not given the premise on the back of the book which was a bit corny. Ignore the premise (which includes the phrase "bye, bye boyfriend"), this was actually a very good book. It is creepy but the mystery really drew me in.The book is told from two alternating perspectives. Aimee has prophetic dreams and healing powers; she also has a dark history. Aimee's mother killed herself and now Aimee, her dad, bother, and grandpa all live together trying to move on. Then Alan and his mother come to town to live with Aimee's best friend, Courtney. Alan has strange powers of his own. Courtney's dad was lost at sea and Courtney still expects him to come back. When Courtney starts acting strangely and strange things happen in both Aimee's and Courtney's houses; Aimee and Alan team up to try to use their powers to figure out what is going on. There are four stages of possession and it looks like Courtney might be the one possessed.I had never read anything by Carrie Jones because her Need series just sounded like typical teen paranormal romance triangle and I've had enough of that. I may have to reconsider though because this book was not typical anything and was actually very creative and interesting.Both Aimee and Alan are wonderful and complex characters. Their relationship is sweet and they both have a lot of baggage to deal with. Their "magic" powers are subtle and interesting too. Courtney is another wonderful character; she struggles so hard to fight possession but her need for her dad to be alive puts her in a vulnerable position. I loved that both Aimee's and Alan's families are part of the story and become involved in the struggles that are taking place.There is a lot of mystery in this book. Lots of time is spent trying to solve the mystery behind the river deaths and the River Man. This book is seriously creepy at times too; there was a knife spinning on the counter scene that seriously creeped me out. Just the fact that Aimee and Alan are dealing with hauntings adds to the creepiness..not to mention the whole possession thing, which was really well done. It is undeniably creepy though to have Courtney spouting craziness in evil voices. That being said, I am a total wuss about scary books and this book never got too scary for me. It was creepy and creative and interesting, without ever being super duper scary.The different viewpoints of Aimee and Alan were done really well. Each character's viewpoint has a distinct tone (maybe because of two authors writing this book). The romance throughout the book is steamy but relatively chaste, the best kind in my opinion. It is the kind of romance where you are desperately hoping the characters will make things work out somehow.Overall a very well done novel. Much better than I thought it was going to be. The book does an excellent job of writing the story from two viewpoints; the viewpoints are distinct and yet flow together nicely. I love the creepy mystery surrounding the hauntings in this book. The book also did an excellent job dealing with possession, in fact one of the better books with this topic that I have read. There is some teen high school drama in here, but not a ton; mostly the book is full of mystery, some creepy hauntings and possessions, some great action scenes, and an adorably sweet love story between the two main characters. A great read for young adults and adults; both male and female. Those who love ghost stories and paranormal creepiness will find a lot to love here.

[bookappeal · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good blend of teen romance, paranormal abilities, and horror.

[lillibrary · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Aimee and Alan share connections. There's Courtney, who's Aimee's best friend and Alan's cousin. There's the dreams Aimee has with Alan as her mysterious savior. And there's the forboding sense of evil that both feel taking over their town. It occurs to the reader a lot quicker than it does to these two "gifted" ones that Courtney is possessed, and that's just one flaw of this book. Characters never seem to act sensibly, the romance feels overwrought, the exorcism is not at all compelling. Told in alternating voices, Alan's half Native American heritage is a mildly interesting note but the book is a lackluster and predictable read.

[tristan_bruce_2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was a little disappointing, I like Carrie Jones, I love the cover and I've heard great things about Steven E. Wedel but the combination just didn't work for me. Now the story itself was pretty cool, possession freaks the hell out of me so I was definitely creeped out, and the back story was original. Carrie writes from Aimee's perspective and Steven from Alan's and I liked both characters, liked not loved. There were things about them that were extraordinary but they themselves were not. Take away their abilities and you were left with two boring people. But that's not even what killed it for me, it was the alternating POV. Normally this isn't a problem , if it's well written I don't care if the POV bounces around or if it's written first or third person as long as it entertains me. In this instance it killed the excitement and disrupted my attention. At the start of the book when your getting the lay of the land and learning about the characters it's not so bothersome, when the plot picks up and the action starts it just irritates. You can't maintain a readers attention if you swap POV's in the middle of an action scene, or maybe you can, I just know it didn't happen here. I'd be all "OMG this is crazy" then bam! Now your reading from Alan's POV and the suspense and interest has to be rebuilt. Not fun. The ending was also a little anti-climactic. Anyway After Obsession gets only 2 stars from me.

[sarljohn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The River Man has been infesting people in a small town for generations, and is now trying to take over Alan's cousins body. With his Navajo heritage and determination, can he beat the River Man?

[jwitt33 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book!!! It was especially interesting because the story was told from two points of view, Aimee's and Alan's, and Aimee's views were written by Carrie Jones, while Alan's were written by Steven E. Wedel! They both had very distinctive voices, with the male parts just being more male and the female more female! I know that sounds pretty obvious, but think about it! It really works well here. And to make it even better, the story is awesome! 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."Basically, when someone is being possessed, there are 4 stages: The first is invitation. The second is infestation, usually involving poltergeist activity. Third is obsession. And after obsession is full possession. (Get it? That's where the title comes in! I love that!!)The book grabs you from the beginning and never lets go! There's lots of action, but there's also the very sweet romance between Aimee and Alan. They're just so cute!In summary, I loved it, and I highly, highly recommend it to all YA paranormal lovers!!

[harkiquinn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jones and Wedel craft a tale of possession in a small town in Maine. The alternating point of view between main characters Aimee and Alan makes the story telling interesting and is a definite plus. I'm sorry that I do not feel as strongly regarding any other aspects of the book. The writing style was very definitive which I thought was interesting given the first person point of view. Everything was very black and white regarding these kids, not a lot of room for doubt even though they were dealing with a demonic possession. The style, however; did make the haunt creepier and spookier. There were some scenes were I regretted reading at night. Regarding the characters, they were okay. There were some instances that were a bit hard to agree with, say Aimee's assertion that a character is being a sexist and racist when really he is just being dumb. There is nothing to hate, they are very solid characters throughout the novel but there is nothing genuinely special about them.The love story was a bit far-fetched. Given her voice, Aimee did not seem like the girl to delete her faithful boyfriend for the first new boy to step foot on campus, but yet she does, and with the worst excuse ever. It was an interesting read, I would have loved more story about how the haunting came to be, and I could nitpick on a bunch of small things but I will not. This novel was a solid three throughout.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG! I loved this book! I picked up this book as soon as I got it and read it in under a few hours. The book is really gripping. I really adored how the authors grabbed me from the very first page!!The plot line of this book is what I enjoyed the most. I loved that the authors amazed me with a great plot that had so much in it. The elements used in the book made me so excited that I knew that I could not put down the book. What I like the most is how the authors used paranormal elements along with Indian traditions. What shocked me most about this book is the possession. I literally got goosebumps while reading this book. I was taken back by the amazing descriptions of the plot as well as the characters.The characters of this book were not only unique but so strong. I love the voice in the book! Both characters Amiee and Alan, were well developed as well as flawed. I like that the reader gets to go along on the adventure with them in defeating the darkness. The readers learns so much with the characters that it keeps the reader entertain till the very last page. I adored that even the minor characters has more insight of what is really going on than what I thought. I was really surprised to learn how it all began at the end!The love interest in this book held me tightly! I loved seeing Amiee and Alan love grow for each other. The authors did not rush the love, but let it progress with the plot line and readers. Well done! This is what I like to see in books! Not a insta-love! But let me tell you ladies, Alan will have you swooning from the minute he is introduced!This is one amazing book! I loved reading every moment of it. I can definitely say that I am now obsession with these authors! A dark, pleasurable, unstoppable read, After Obsession is a book you want your hands on! Go now and get it!

[mt256 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The concept of this novel is really interesting to me. I haven't read a lot of books about demon possession because it fascinates and terrifies me at the same time. I also must admit that the cover of this novel really intrigued me also.I love that this story is told from two different points of view. The first point of view is told by Aimee. She is a smart, fun loving girl with a special gift. She has the gift of precognition. She sees things in her dreams that end up coming true. She dreams of Alan before she even meets him and knows that they have to work together. Alan has just moved to town with his mother to help his cousin deal with the death of her father. He is part Navajo. He has a special gift also. He dreams of Aimee and he knows that she needs his help. Together they must try to stop the demonic spirit that is infecting the town and is trying to possess Courtney, Alan's cousin and Aimee's best friend.Aimee and Alan are great characters. They both have to find a way to defeat an unknown evil. I like that they both are afraid but they would do anything to save Courtney. Alan and Aimee share a mutual attraction toward each other that grows over the course of the novel. I like how the authors wrote Courtney. You can see the progression of her gradual downfall. I couldn't dislike Courtney for her actions because I completely could understand her motivation. I liked seeing the internal struggle she was having. I thought the story line in this book was pretty good. It was dark and eerie at times. I really enjoyed the Native American folklore that was incorporated throughout the novel. I think it brings an interesting motif to the story line. Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel did a great job building the suspense. There are times I got chills from the descriptions. I also enjoyed the characters relationships with each other. Aimee's family and Courtney's family are both dealing with the loss of a parent. I think the way the families reacted with each other is really realistic. I also liked the bit about the Cheeto. Overall I liked this book. I read the whole book in one sitting. The story line kept me interested from start to finish. I think they could have turned up the creepy factor a bit. However it was still a good book. If you're into a paranormal thriller with a splash of romance, I recommend this book.

[lauramoore_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Now unlike the norm I wasn't a huge fan of the Need series by Carrie Jones, BUT I read the synopsis of this book and knew I had never read anything with such a premise before, and I knew I needed to get my hands on a copy of it! After Obsession follows a boy named Alan who after the death of his uncle moves across the country with his mother to live with his Aunt and cousin Courney. The storyline alternates between the perspective of Alan and Courtney's best friend Aimee. There's something not right with Courtney and both Aimee and Alan realize it soon into the book, Alan feels a weird prescence in his aunt's house soon after moving in, Was this the reason he really came here?I'm not going to get into great detail about the book because I feel like there was so much going on that it would be hard to really get into detail without spoiling something, but this book is creepy, and very unique. While I did enjoy this book I almost was hoping for more of a creepy-ness factor and kind of had quite a few that's it? moments and moments that the story just dragged on for me, Which is why I gave it the three star rating. I didn't dislike this book at all, I just wish it went a little further into the creepyness, and that I was hoping for more from the story. This book is def. a great book for Halloween so if you like creepy books with a unique twist you should def. pick it up this coming Oct.Oh and I don't think i'll ever look at cheetos again without looking for Marilyn Monroe! (you'll understand when you read the book)

[maryinhb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story is told by Aimee and Alan in alternating chapters and each provide a unique voice which is made all the better by the two authors lending their talents to the story. You can easily guess which author writes the male/female perspective. Aimee starts to notice her friend, Courtney is acting strange. Things really get weird when Courtney's cousin, Alan and his mother moves in with her family to help ends meet after her father dies.. Alan is searching for his American Indian roots and discovers he has a connection with the supernatural. Aimee has a few gifts of her own, but only when Aimee and Alan meet do they began to put the pieces together in order to help Courtney and whatever is haunting her. Using his Native American ties, Alan finds the source of Courtney's problem with Aimee's help. Courtney, in her quest to reconnect with her father does something that has repercussions for the whole village. Along the way, they both discover that the love in their hearts can conquer all.I really enjoyed how the authors brought to life this seriously creepy tale based on folklore and demonic possession. I am a huge fan of Carrie's Need series, so this one is a natural for me. I was really impressed with Steven Wedels and the charming voice he gives to Alan. The alternating chapters and the collaborations between the authors just really worked for me since there is cohesive story telling through out, but each major character having a unique voice. I am really trying to keep my comments spoiler free and it is very hard! At parts, I felt like this was a Disney story gone wrong since there are so many dead or missing parents, but when you get into the story - that is the way it needs to be for it to work. Demonic possession is a nice change from the normal Young Adult vampire/werewolf stories that abound and the Native American folktale that provides the basis for the story.

[tvaleros_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't know what better way I can put this but just to come out and say that After Obsession was just OKAY. I don't hate it, but I also don't "really" like it. There wasn't that certain "something" that can make me say I really enjoyed the read. After Obsession was not engaging but was still an amusing story. It's told in two separate point of views. One of Aimee, the female protagonist who has dreams of the past and of certain moments of the future that comes true. Aimee also possesses that ability to heal other people when they're hurt, a trait that she inherited by her deceased mother. The other point of view (POV) is of Alan, a football jock whose also Aimee's best friend's cousin who is half Navajo and has the ability to have vision quest with his totem cougar, Onawa. When I first started reading After Obsession, it was hard to understand what was going on. I felt like everything was all over the place, but it got better once I hit around the fourth chapter. It switches back and forth from Aimee to Alan, but at times I catch myself reading Alan when I thought it was Aimee. They both seem to have the same voice, so there was a bit of confusion.The concept of the whole story is intriguing but it was just predictable and bland for me. I really like how pure Aimee is, but I was caught off guard on how easily she moved on after breaking up with Blake considering she knew what was causing him to act the way he was. So, it's basically an "I like this, BUT I didn't like that" love hate kind of read. I will still recommend it, but I can't stay that it will be on my list of Must Reads. 3.5 Stars. I liked it.

[ishanella · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I might have loved this book, really loved it, if it wasn’t for the love story.

After Obsession is written by two authors and the story is told from two perspective - Alan and Aimee. Aimee has visions, she sees the future and it’s never pretty. Alan, half Native American, is labeled a Spirit Warrior by his spirit guide and is in touch with the spiritual aspects of his Native American heritage. Aimee’s view is written in the odd numbered chapters while Alan’s view picks up in the even numbered chapter.

In the beginning, it was a little disorienting switching between views, however, both characters are so differently written that it was easy to slip into a rhythm and figure out who is who without needing to know which chapter you were reading. While Aimee was a fun character, I liked reading Alan’s perspective, mostly because he went into things I haven’t read much off - his Native American heritage.

The possession story itself, while not completely scary, was still suspenseful enough to leave me biting my nails as I turned the page (but, I’m a bit of a scaredy cat, so I might not be the best judge of these things). Courtney is being possessed by an evil spirit, however, I can’t say that I cared too much about what happened to Courtney, and I wish this was different. I might have rooted for her some more, if there was more story around why Courtney did and believed as she did.

The biggest issue I had with this story was Blake. Or more precisely Aimee’s relationship with Blake. Blake was a great source of conflict for Alan, however, every thing he did to Alan could have happened without him being to be Aimee’s boyfriend. Aimee’s excuse for breaking up with Blake - though a good excuse - seemed convenient. Her entire relationship with him seemed unnecessary. Along the same lines, the relationship that developed between Alan and Aimee seemed convenient and rushed. I couldn’t believe in their sudden connection to each other, so whenever the romantic story line came up I couldn’t help but feel a bit cheated, as though it was just there to be there.

The love story aside, After Obsession was a quick and fun read and will be good for those who enjoy a little bit of suspense.

[wilowraven · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Told from 2 points of view, After Obsession is the story of a girl with healing powers and a Native American boy with a powerful spirit guide. Together they fight a demonic river being who has been killing people for years and is in the process of possessing their friend. Simply stated, this story line just really did not work for me. There are a lot of reasons I did not connect with this book. The characters for one, were a big problem for me. Aimee is psychic...maybe? She has these dreams that come true but as cool as that is, it's not really important to the story. She can also heal people with her touch - which is never explained and really again, doesn't add anything to the story. Alan follows the ways of his Navajo people. Only, he's not even sure he is Navajo as his mother didn't know his father or his real name. And as far as I can tell, Alan never sought out other Navajos - he learns everything about 'his' culture from the Internet and books. Not really a big deal, but Alan's Navajo heritage plays such a big part of the story that the fact that it might not even be true makes a lot of what happens very unrealistic and unfounded. And of course, they fall in love. In about a week. While fighting a demonic river spirit who has been killing townspeople for centuries. It just really didn’t work for me. Too many paranormal elements - Aimee's abilities and Alan's spirit guide and this demonic being who's origin's are never explained. A little over the top for my tastes. Those were the major problems I had. There were others but it's just my personal preferences. I like character with a lot of depth and I didn't really see that here. I like settings that are original and unique and this small Maine town with a river people happen to die in just didn't appeal to me. I was very much reminded of Carrie's Need series while reading After Obsession. The same small town setting in rural Maine, the same types of characters and I think since I'm not a huge fan of Need, I can't say that I'm a huge fan of After Obsession.BUT! With that said, if you are a fan of the Need series and of Carrie's writing in general I think you would really enjoy this book. I've never read anything by Steve and I was a little surprised to find out that every chapter written from Alan's POV was all Steve and every chapter from Aimee's was Carrie's because it all very much felt the same. I think this is a strength of the book. The fact that these two writers, coming from very different professional backgrounds, wrote a book that flowed well from chapter to chapter speaks to the strengths both writers possess. The fact that all the pieces of the story fit together nicely (even if I didn't like those pieces) makes for a very well put together story. So, would I recommend After Obsession? Perhaps with a few caveats but yes, I would say I would. Another, 'not for me but I do think others will really enjoy it' book! I would recommend After Obsession to fans of Carrie's who enjoy more then one paranormal element in their stories. And I have to say, I would pick up another book written by this duo.

[renkellym · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jones and Wedel join forces to craft a haunting, shudder-inducing paranormal that will grip readers from the very beginning. Luckily, this standalone delivers everything in a single volume—those tired of the “series syndrome” will be pleased to know that After Obsession leaves no plot thread left untied. The story is fast-paced and well written; it’s impossible to tell where Jones’s writing ends and Wedel’s begins—their chapters blend perfectly. The dual perspective gives distinct voices to both Aimee and Alan, but the writing style is still fluid. Aimee’s character is not quite as strong as Alan’s, but they are both truly likable protagonists.After Obsession features possession as its paranormal aspect, but it also delves into Native American rituals, a subject rarely (if ever) explored in YA. This more traditional side of the paranormal explores the Spirit World, totems, and meditation, and it really serves to ground the story. The possessions that occur in After Obsession seem almost over-the-top, but when countered with Alan’s Native American practices, they are somehow more believable.Speaking of possessions, After Obsession has an enormous creep-factor. If you read this book at night, you may end up leaving the light on. The central villain in the story personifies all the things that go bump in the night, and Jones and Wedel succeed in utilizing various creaks and shadows to scare the pants off the reader. The fear that the characters feel, too, is very well done, and it’s easy for the reader to become uneasy right along with Alan and Aimee.Worried After Obsession will be too scary? Don’t sweat: Jones and Wedel balance the creepy with some lighter things, too; the best of which is an ongoing gag involving a Cheeto shaped like Marilyn Monroe.Though certain parts of the book are slow and confusing, After Obsession is ultimately enjoyable. The unique story and the creepy atmosphere are sure to entice fans of paranormal YA. I certainly had a tough time putting After Obsession down, and I know others will, too.

[pollywannabook · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyParanormal YA veteran Carrie Jones brings her romantic sensibilities and supernatural flare to a joint writing effort with horror scribe Steven E. Wedel in the standalone novel AFTER OBSESSION, a sort of teen version of Paranormal Activity meets interracial love story. Two authors means twice the talent and double the fun, right? Sadly not in this case. Carrie and Steven each created a character and took turns telling chapters from their POV. Carrie’s Aimee is a rather innocuous teenager whose most distinguishing characteristic is that she has red hair. Steven’s Alan is slightly more interesting as a part Native American forced to relocate during his Junior year of high school. Courtney is the link between these two. She’s Aimee’s best friend and Alan’s cousin who we learn is in the process of being possessed by a demon. I can’t really think of a less appropriate time to strike up a romance than when your friend/cousin is well on her way to vomiting green soup (or in this case oozing acne). Aimee and Alan don’t share my reticence and are sneaking away and sharing smoldering glances whenever they can. Meanwhile most of the student body is erupting into fights and hurling vile insults. Putrid odors permeate their houses, they see a shadowy man lurking in windows, and new information comes to light about the death of Aimee’s mother.Alan has his spirit cougar to guide him and Aimee has ghostly messages from her mother. There are also cryptic references to Spirit Warriors and Aimee’s unexplained ability to heal by touching. Unfortunately, nothing really works in AFTER OBSESSION. The writing is expressive and the character of Alan had potential, but the story dragged and there were numerous plot holes. The romance felt rushed and completely inappropriate given what they were dealing with. I wanted so much to enjoy this book since I’m a fan of Carrie’s Need series, but I can’t recommend this one.Sexual Content:Kissing