Camp Afterlife by Zachary Ryan is a coming-of-age tale that follows seventeen-year-old Gus Osment's story in purgatory for people with tragic deaths. After losing his life to heroin, Gus arrives at Camp Afterlife with considerable baggage. Haunted by his past, Gus soon finds himself shocked when he sees his older brother Neil at the camp. Neil had committed suicide a couple of years ago, leading to the downward spiral of Gus's life. As he navigates his time in Afterlife, he becomes quite enamored with a young man named Luis. However, Luis has a complicated relationship with his on-again-off-again boyfriend David, which makes Gus hesitant. Meanwhile, he watches his friends Lauren and Ashton in the real world as they come to terms with the death of their closest friend.

Author Zachary Ryan tells a gripping tale of a young man whose life turns upside down after suffering a personal tragedy, shifting him to a dark path of drug abuse that ultimately leads to the loss of his life. Camp Afterlife is a coming-of-age story about redemption, about learning to let go and forgive yourself. Ryan handles sensitive topics like drug abuse, assault, and mental illnesses with a mature and nuanced approach. The narrative unflinchingly explores some serious issues, yet it never feels shoved in your face or preachy. The characters are well-realized, with backstories that add layers to their personalities. Although the premise has some similarities with the hit TV show The Good Place, Camp Afterlife feels thoroughly unique. A must-read for readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories.

Camp Afterlife by Zachary Ryan tells the story of one teen's struggle with life and death. Gus awakens after his own tragic death and finds himself as the newest member of Camp Afterlife, a place where he can heal and come to terms with his issues before moving on to the light. From his past drug use to the betrayal of his boyfriend, Gus has a lot to deal with, and it all revolves around his brother's suicide. But Gus's brother is also at Camp Afterlife, struggling with his own life and death as well, and their re-connection isn't making this any easier. Gus is torn between the guilt of his own mistakes in life and the new friendships he has quickly formed at Camp Afterlife, and he isn't sure if he will ever be able to move on.

With themes of suicide, drug use, and overdosing, the contents of Camp Afterlife are not for the innocent or faint of heart, but teenagers dealing with the pressures of young adulthood can certainly relate. Zachary Ryan has taken a series of rather morbid events, most of which no one likes talking about, and placed them in a unique setting that brings awareness to the difficulties that young people face in modern society. I loved the way that so many teenage issues were brought together and taken seriously, without any condescending subtext or preachy moral lessons. Due to the large cast of unforgettable characters, I suspect there are many more stories waiting to be told from Camp Afterlife.