After (Todd novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Anna Todd |
| Products | Young adult romance novel |
| Parent | Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster) |
After is a 2014 young adult romance novel authored by American writer Anna Todd and published through Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. This book marks the beginning of the After series.
The story was adapted into a feature film, which premiered on April 12, 2019.
Background
The origins of After trace back to a fanfiction posted on Wattpad, drawing inspiration from the music and fan culture surrounding One Direction. Anna Todd created the narrative based on singer Harry Styles, writing under the Wattpad pseudonym Imaginator1D.
Plot
Tessa Young starts her college journey accompanied by her traditional mother, Carol, and her boyfriend, Noah. Despite Carol’s reservations about Tessa’s unconventional roommate and social activities, Tessa forms a friendship with upperclassman Steph Jones and encounters Hardin Scott, a defiant student known for his tattoos. Hardin soon becomes a pivotal part of Tessa’s university life, complicated further by his future stepbrother Landon Gibson’s close relationship with Tessa.
The dynamic between Tessa and Hardin shifts from animosity to romantic interest amid parties, challenges, and emotional turmoil. Although Hardin initially avoids commitment, he gradually develops feelings for Tessa. Concurrently, Tessa endures pressure from her mother to break off the relationship and reunite with Noah.
Ken Scott, Hardin’s father and the college chancellor, uses his position to arrange an internship for Tessa at Vance's Publishing, asking her to persuade Hardin to attend his wedding. The volatility in Hardin’s conduct causes tension between them, especially after Tessa discovers a disturbing wager he made regarding her virginity. Despite Hardin professing his love, this disclosure leads Tessa to doubt their future as she grapples with feelings of betrayal and seeks clarity about Hardin’s true intentions.
Characters
- Theresa "Tessa" Young – An eighteen-year-old freshman who becomes romantically involved with Hardin Scott.
- Hardin Scott – A rebellious British student who captures Tessa’s interest.
- Landon Gibson – Best friend to Tessa and Hardin’s future stepbrother.
- Ken Scott – Hardin’s presumed father and chancellor of Washington State University.
- Karen Scott – Ken’s spouse and Landon’s mother.
- Carol Young – Tessa’s mother who disapproves of her relationship with Hardin.
- Noah Porter – Tessa’s boyfriend from high school.
- Zed Evans – A college friend of Hardin who shows interest in Tessa.
- Steph Jones – Tessa’s edgy roommate with red hair.
- Molly Samuels – A mean-spirited girl with a complex history involving Hardin.
- Christian Vance - The biological father of Hardin.
Reception
Critics have pointed out that the novel tends to romanticize abusive dynamics, features underdeveloped characters, and exhibits subpar writing quality. Comparisons to Fifty Shades of Grey were frequent, often casting After in an unfavorable light. Kelly Faircloth from Jezebel dismissed it as "sloppy fan fiction" marked by inferior prose, while Sara Dobie Bauer at SheKnows criticized its lack of originality and awkward dialogue, describing it as an "innocent version of Fifty Shades" but still flawed.
Film
The cinematic version stars Josephine Langford portraying Tessa Young alongside Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Hardin Scott and was distributed by Aviron Pictures on April 12, 2019.
Graphic Novel
In July 2021, it was revealed that the novel series would be transformed into graphic novel format, with artist Pablo Andrés leading the adaptation. The first installment, titled After: The Graphic Novel, became available on May 3, 2022.