Title: After You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Series/Standalone: Me Before You (Book #2)
Genre: Adult Fiction, Chicklit, Contemporary
Pages: 353
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Year Published: 2015
Format: Audiobook
"How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
Louisa CLark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can't help but feel she's right back where she started.
Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding- the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will's past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future...
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await."
My Rating: 3.75/5
I am so unsure whether this is a 4 star or a lower rating read. The audiobook made me so happy and made me happy that I had chosen to continue on with the series, but the physical copy (I just finished the last 100 pages in a physical book) was just as addicting. That being said there are some flaws with this book, I found that the family dynamic was interesting but also chaotic to a point that wasn't necessary. I also found that some things were very dramatic, so if you're ok with those aspects you would probably enjoy this story. That being said, I loved seeing Lou grow and change in ways that we didn't get to see in the first book. Especially learning to live with Will's loss.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I was really glad that I continued this series with an audiobook. It helped me to get through the first half of the story but by the second half of the story picked up and sucked me in. In the best possible way, I needed to know what Lou would do, where life would take and what choices she would make based on those in her life. The family antics where also entertaining but there were points where they got a little overdramatic to say the least.
Characters:
Lou: I think that she had a whole lot to overcome in this second book. I'm sure people are quick to judge about how she used the money that Will left her. But to an extent, I understand what she did and why she did it. I also am kind of glad that she took time to feel what she was feeling, and to take time for herself to heal. I'm curious to see how her next endeavour goes in the final book (as far as I know it's the final book... right?).
Sam: I loved his character especially the way he treats Lou. I respect his job and the crap he probably has to deal with. That being said, the shooting was more than a little overdramatic. I think that the fact that Lou was the one who had to hold in his blood was a little much for me. That being said, I'm curious to see how they'll do with distance due to their relationship being so physically based.
Lily: She was possibly my least favourite character in this whole book. I understand that she had a lot going on, but that again was very dramatic and seemed to be blown up repeatedly. I do wonder what she will do with her Granny now that they are getting closer.
Bernard: His final hope to win back his wife made me laugh so hard. The fact that he sat through having his legs waxed to prove a point was fantastic. Also, the fact that he didn't act like he was the man through it all was hilarious.
Josie: Good on her for making a change and seeing that she needed to take time for herself and explore her future. I think it was also important to point out that no matter your age your relationship will go through struggles.
Richard: I wish that he hadn't smartened up in the end. It was kind of nice to have a jerk to pin something on.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
