Review: The Next by Stephanie Gangi

The Next

by Stephanie Gangi

Publisher: 

Pages: 

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Is there a right way to die? If so, Joanna DeAngelis has it all wrong. She’s consumed by betrayal, spending her numbered days obsessing over Ned McGowan, her much younger ex, and watching him thrive in the spotlight with someone new, while she wastes away. She’s every woman scorned, fantasizing about revenge … except she’s out of time.

Joanna falls from her life, from the love of her daughters and devoted dog, into an otherworldly landscape, a bleak infinity she can’t escape until she rises up and returns and sets it right―makes Ned pay―so she can truly move on.

From the other side into right this minute, Jo embarks on a sexy, spiritual odyssey. As she travels beyond memory, beyond desire, she is transformed into a fierce female force of life, determined to know how to die, happily ever after. 

Kritters Thoughts:  An interesting read that if I had known what it was about, I may have skipped over it, but going in with no preconceived notions - I ended up liking it.  

So this may be a little spoilerie.  So stop here if you already know that you want to read this one.  Read on if you need a little convincing and are ok with a little spoilers!  

A few chapters into the book Joanna passes away and from there the book took a turn and I was worried I wouldn't go with it, but I ended up loving it.  Her spirit/ghost stays in New York and she decides to haunt and bless those who bugged and loved her in her life.  I loved how she got to come back and mess with people who have wronged her - that part of the book I loved!  

I also loved how the story was told.  The reader gets chapters from almost all of the characters and even from Joanna after she passes.  I loved having the story move along with many perspectives.  

I would say if you avoid books with ghosts and spirits, you may just want to try this one.  Having a ghost/spirit in the book for some reason worked for me in this book and I was entertained by her ability to do things to an ex and get away with it!  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St Martin's Press.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.