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After You by Jojo Moyes
Jojo Moyes’ After You shows one woman’s journey in discovering herself following a sudden tragedy. Louisa Clark was not only caregiver to but romantic partner with rich quadriplegic Will Traynor who had chosen to end his life by assisted suicide. His death elicits a hole within Louisa and a previously unknown daughter, Lily Houghton-Miller. This turbulent sixteen-year-old delinquent meets her paternal grandparents and learns precious facts about her father all with the help of Louisa. What had already been an intense rollercoaster ride of emotions for Louisa Clark intensifies. When it seems Louisa and Lily have only compacted more stress into their lives, their worlds spin topsy-turvy and both come out on top, loved and optimistic, with indispensable knowledge about life.
29 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 18, 2016
Waste of money
This just regurgitated the entire story versus discussing the topics of character, theme and symbolism. I'm not sure what the point of this publication is unless it's to get some kid out of reading the real novel.
This just regurgitated the entire story versus discussing the topics of character, theme and symbolism. I'm not sure what the point of this publication is unless it's to get some kid out of reading the real novel.
February 18, 2023
This book was wholesome, uplifting, and satisfying. I didn't really feel like I needed another book after the DEVASTATING jewel that was Me Before You, but it was still fun to see what Louisa was up to and become acquainted with Lily. I'm at a point in my life where this book's overall message of living the life you want to have and not letting grief overshadow that really spoke to me personally, so that was enjoyable. I'm not necessarily sure I feel the need to read the third book in this series any time soon, but I love Jojo Moyes and have yet to read a bad book from her!
March 17, 2021
Honestly??
Perhaps some books don't need a sequel, no matter how much you love the character. I think I would have preferred the ambiguity of Louisa's life after Will's death as she walked away from the Parisian café, with the unusual legacy and challenge he'd left her to what evolved in 'After You'. Me Before You, in spite of it's controversial topic, had a dreamy loveliness to it that almost overshadowed Will's "selfishness" to end his life regardless of how it would alter the lives of those he loved. There was a lack of harshness that comes with reality, as it wasn't a realistic story. Through Will's life and death, Louisa grew, blossomed and let go of baggage that held her back from being the extraordinary person Will saw under her glittery facade. And then, she was left with an enabling legacy, which just enhanced this almost fairy-tale like story that left you feeling okay with it all. Not all "happy endings" mean the girl rides off into the sunset with her handsome prince. It was a happy ending of a bittersweet kind, but definitely a sweetness.
'After You' was a disappointment. It was more realistic in a raw and unpleasant way that certainly stirred the senses and in some ways debased Louisa. Her state of grief took her to places that made me wonder if I was reading about the same person. She was void of the inner strength that pushed her to rise up to the challenge of Will Traynor, and his issues. And then there's the whole sexual thing going on with Sam, the paramedic. We come from a story where Louisa falls in love with a man in a deep, soulful way, to a subsequent story where she falls in love with a man who she can hardly look at without drifting into sexual thoughts. I felt this debased a potentially good story. I'm not a prude, I just didn't feel it was necessary.
I do have to say, that I've not read any of Jojo Moyes other books, perhaps this is part of her style of writing. Or perhaps the publishers feel her books won't sell without that "sex appeal".
There were elements of this story I liked. The development of Josie, Louisa's mother. The introduction of Lily, Will's unknown daughter and the way she and her grandmother become each other's 'saviour'.
And I'll probably read the 3rd book, because I hate loose ends and have only once not read a '3-volume novel'. Which is what this sort of is. A modern day 3-volume novel. Emphasis on modern day (not to be confused with classic).
Perhaps some books don't need a sequel, no matter how much you love the character. I think I would have preferred the ambiguity of Louisa's life after Will's death as she walked away from the Parisian café, with the unusual legacy and challenge he'd left her to what evolved in 'After You'. Me Before You, in spite of it's controversial topic, had a dreamy loveliness to it that almost overshadowed Will's "selfishness" to end his life regardless of how it would alter the lives of those he loved. There was a lack of harshness that comes with reality, as it wasn't a realistic story. Through Will's life and death, Louisa grew, blossomed and let go of baggage that held her back from being the extraordinary person Will saw under her glittery facade. And then, she was left with an enabling legacy, which just enhanced this almost fairy-tale like story that left you feeling okay with it all. Not all "happy endings" mean the girl rides off into the sunset with her handsome prince. It was a happy ending of a bittersweet kind, but definitely a sweetness.
'After You' was a disappointment. It was more realistic in a raw and unpleasant way that certainly stirred the senses and in some ways debased Louisa. Her state of grief took her to places that made me wonder if I was reading about the same person. She was void of the inner strength that pushed her to rise up to the challenge of Will Traynor, and his issues. And then there's the whole sexual thing going on with Sam, the paramedic. We come from a story where Louisa falls in love with a man in a deep, soulful way, to a subsequent story where she falls in love with a man who she can hardly look at without drifting into sexual thoughts. I felt this debased a potentially good story. I'm not a prude, I just didn't feel it was necessary.
I do have to say, that I've not read any of Jojo Moyes other books, perhaps this is part of her style of writing. Or perhaps the publishers feel her books won't sell without that "sex appeal".
There were elements of this story I liked. The development of Josie, Louisa's mother. The introduction of Lily, Will's unknown daughter and the way she and her grandmother become each other's 'saviour'.
And I'll probably read the 3rd book, because I hate loose ends and have only once not read a '3-volume novel'. Which is what this sort of is. A modern day 3-volume novel. Emphasis on modern day (not to be confused with classic).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2016
Good conclusion.
If you needed to understand and find a finale to the Will Traymor story, this is a good one. It helps to tell us about Louisa and how she moves on as well as the people that were involved in the first book.
If you needed to understand and find a finale to the Will Traymor story, this is a good one. It helps to tell us about Louisa and how she moves on as well as the people that were involved in the first book.
January 12, 2024
I’m honestly disappointed in the lack of character development for Louisa from book 1 to book 2. We only see the character development within the last 40 pages of what we hoped within the first 40 pages. The plot was good, a bit romantically codependent but still a 3 star book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2016
I think Jojo Moyes is an excellent author. I really love her way of writing. Maybe like everyone else think, the first book was better. But I really enjoyed reading this book, and I've shed many tears through the books' bad and good times (as the emotional reader I am). There were some really exciting moments, but you can still sense Louisas pain even though she found happiness.
May 12, 2024
I like the new characters and the plot and all, but that girl (Lily) sometimes (the first scenes with her on them) made me so fckn maadddd. But I ended up loving her and Lou very much. 3/5 'cause I like the first book better.
Read
August 28, 2021If we could divide people by how they relate to the loss of a loved one, there would be two categories: those who pass more easily by invoking their shared memories and those who cannot overcome trauma too easily and feel lost, failing to find their way. to follow.
* * * * *
Louisa Clark - aka Lou - had no idea how her life would change when she applied for a job as a caregiver for a quadriplegic. Being an explosion of color both in her clothing and in her way of being, Lou tries to change and alleviate a little the monotony of Will's life. And when he finds out about his intentions, Lou makes his rescue a personal mission.
Will had been a madman - in the truest sense of the word. Always ready for adventure, taking everything that was most beautiful from life, he is thrown into the abyss of the deepest depression when he has a motorcycle accident, which leaves him paralyzed. Immobilized, nailed and fed up with this lifestyle, Will promises his parents another 6 months, after which he will go to Switzerland, to the Dignitas clinic for "assisted suicide".
Lou tries to persuade him in various ways to give up his decision, but fails and this is a guilt that weighs on his soul.
* * *
Volume 2 of the series I was looking forward to. I finished it a few minutes ago and my feelings are confused. I may have set the baton too high, it may be my different way of relating to certain situations. I liked the book, but Lou disappointed me.
The book captured well the pain of those left behind (especially the relatives of those who end their days). Those who, in addition to the loss suffered, must also bear the oppressive feeling of guilt - the one who gnaws, grinds and ages prematurely, the one who puts white strands in his hair and wrinkles on his face. I have always been intrigued by the fact that despite the fact that a road stops, a being disappears, new roads open. This strange karma must also have a strange sense of humor.
The end of the first volume brought tears to my eyes, but allowed hope to blossom. I thought Will's end was Lou's beginning.
But Lou disappointed me… as if she didn't want to get out of her comfort zone. In her last letter from Will, she receives valuable advice: she was urged to fight for her dream and live life. 20 months after his death, Lou is the bartender in an airport bar. She loses the course she was enrolled in by Will, lives in an apartment she doesn't feel the need to arrange and doesn't taste life too much.
It is felt that she had not gone over their love or his death, especially since she was still consulting her thoughts with him. She is no longer the same: the colorful clothes are in boxes, jeans and simple T-shirts taking their place.
Her monotonous life is overshadowed by the appearance of a 16-year-old girl, Lily. A rebellious teenager, with behavioral problems, with a difficult relationship with her mother. Lily was Will's daughter. The daughter he knew nothing about, the daughter he hadn't known.
How will the two women influence their lives? Will Lou be able to get out of her square and live her life? Will her parents forgive her? How will the Traynor family get the news that they have a niece?
After I have lost you is the definition of friendship, sacrifice, progress and healing. Although Lou is always under the label of "lifeguard", the action is not centered around her. This volume is like a look at everyone's destinies, like a "look back" on everything that is left behind. I inevitably wondered, what would be Will's decision if he knew about his daughter's existence? What would have been the course of Will's relationship with Lou?
I would have liked to see a more ambitious Lou, a Lou who would create clothes, fill the world with color and optimism, a Lou who, instead of resigning, would have fought to live. Overall, I liked the book, especially because solutions were offered to overcome the losses, in the form of meetings with people who were suffering. Emphasis was placed on friendship, closeness, involvement and feelings.
The book is written in the characteristic way of Jojo Moyes: easy, funny and full of emotions. I recommend!
* * * * *
Louisa Clark - aka Lou - had no idea how her life would change when she applied for a job as a caregiver for a quadriplegic. Being an explosion of color both in her clothing and in her way of being, Lou tries to change and alleviate a little the monotony of Will's life. And when he finds out about his intentions, Lou makes his rescue a personal mission.
Will had been a madman - in the truest sense of the word. Always ready for adventure, taking everything that was most beautiful from life, he is thrown into the abyss of the deepest depression when he has a motorcycle accident, which leaves him paralyzed. Immobilized, nailed and fed up with this lifestyle, Will promises his parents another 6 months, after which he will go to Switzerland, to the Dignitas clinic for "assisted suicide".
Lou tries to persuade him in various ways to give up his decision, but fails and this is a guilt that weighs on his soul.
* * *
Volume 2 of the series I was looking forward to. I finished it a few minutes ago and my feelings are confused. I may have set the baton too high, it may be my different way of relating to certain situations. I liked the book, but Lou disappointed me.
The book captured well the pain of those left behind (especially the relatives of those who end their days). Those who, in addition to the loss suffered, must also bear the oppressive feeling of guilt - the one who gnaws, grinds and ages prematurely, the one who puts white strands in his hair and wrinkles on his face. I have always been intrigued by the fact that despite the fact that a road stops, a being disappears, new roads open. This strange karma must also have a strange sense of humor.
The end of the first volume brought tears to my eyes, but allowed hope to blossom. I thought Will's end was Lou's beginning.
But Lou disappointed me… as if she didn't want to get out of her comfort zone. In her last letter from Will, she receives valuable advice: she was urged to fight for her dream and live life. 20 months after his death, Lou is the bartender in an airport bar. She loses the course she was enrolled in by Will, lives in an apartment she doesn't feel the need to arrange and doesn't taste life too much.
It is felt that she had not gone over their love or his death, especially since she was still consulting her thoughts with him. She is no longer the same: the colorful clothes are in boxes, jeans and simple T-shirts taking their place.
Her monotonous life is overshadowed by the appearance of a 16-year-old girl, Lily. A rebellious teenager, with behavioral problems, with a difficult relationship with her mother. Lily was Will's daughter. The daughter he knew nothing about, the daughter he hadn't known.
How will the two women influence their lives? Will Lou be able to get out of her square and live her life? Will her parents forgive her? How will the Traynor family get the news that they have a niece?
After I have lost you is the definition of friendship, sacrifice, progress and healing. Although Lou is always under the label of "lifeguard", the action is not centered around her. This volume is like a look at everyone's destinies, like a "look back" on everything that is left behind. I inevitably wondered, what would be Will's decision if he knew about his daughter's existence? What would have been the course of Will's relationship with Lou?
I would have liked to see a more ambitious Lou, a Lou who would create clothes, fill the world with color and optimism, a Lou who, instead of resigning, would have fought to live. Overall, I liked the book, especially because solutions were offered to overcome the losses, in the form of meetings with people who were suffering. Emphasis was placed on friendship, closeness, involvement and feelings.
The book is written in the characteristic way of Jojo Moyes: easy, funny and full of emotions. I recommend!
January 31, 2025
Me Before You is a 5 star book for me but a little part in me knew this book didn't really need a sequel and I loved Louisa in the last one so I was a tad disappointed that it didn't live up to my expectations. I know Lily being Will's kid was one of the only ones that Lou would have Lily around or feel somehow indebted to Will to take care of her for him but I just didn't love that plot device as well as Lily being absolutely insufferable it just all didn't work for me. Lou also felt a totally different character, which I also understand is from grief but even at the end with her and Sam being together and her being 'good' again it still didn't really feel like Lou which I guess is a roundabout showing of how grief changes you but I missed the Lou in the first book. I will still read the third book but I'm not exactly thrilled. I also didn't see how Lily making that garden was redeeming and totally resolved Lily of everything, like yeah it was a nice thing to do but I just wasn't blown away, it seemed like the least Lily could have done given what Louisa was doing for her and what Lily was putting her through. I did love that Lou gave up her apartment to her sister and her kid so she could go to New York, I did think that was sweet and I had to drop a few tears for the ending with the moving on circle as they were all saying their goodbyes. I'd give it 2.5/5 stars.
April 1, 2020
Life after Will (quadriplegic) killed himself. Louisa suffers years of depression but finally finds love with Sam (ambulance driver) that treated her after she fell from a rooftop. Wills daughter(her mother was Will's girlfriend before his accident) that Louisa never knew about shows up and is in a mess. Lily finally meets all her family and Louisa takes her under her wing. She straightens up her act and the boy ends with Louisa moving to take her dream job knowing that Sam will still be in her life (from a distance).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2023
My daughter read Me before You when she was 15yrs old and at that time, I was more interested in autobiographies, so never got around reading the book.
When I found After You in the house bookshelf, I was curious and picked it up to read. Oh my, it was a marathon reading as I decided to read the 1st book before this one.
My daughter, now 19yrs, said the first book is better but I like this one more.
When I found After You in the house bookshelf, I was curious and picked it up to read. Oh my, it was a marathon reading as I decided to read the 1st book before this one.
My daughter, now 19yrs, said the first book is better but I like this one more.
July 19, 2022
By far and away one of the best inclusions of grief in an accurate way. It can be really hard to make grief storylines interesting and exciting. Jojo was able to accurately include the journey to finding joy and experiencing love and laughter among heartache and loss. One of my favorite books I’ve ever read.
February 27, 2024
I enjoyed this book Louisa needed to move on after the will trainor. She finds love again she finds will's daughter she makes things great with her family and wills family again! Definitely loved the ending ! I've enjoyed this author alot !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2025
I really love her way of writing. It was very touching that Louisa remembered her lost love every moment she lived. But l think, the first book was better. This book was a quick and enjoyable read for me. I still felt her pain.
January 11, 2020
Love her humor and her stories.
January 13, 2021
Nice read. Wraps up cleanly...maybe too cleanly?...but fun to read and very satisfying.
January 13, 2021
Nice easy read for summer.
Read
February 5, 2021Nice sequel.
September 30, 2021
More literary poetry, great story continues.
Read
August 22, 2023emmmmm, okay....
September 13, 2023
Chic lit. Better ending than I expected. Enjoyable sap!
Want to read
October 13, 2023good
January 26, 2024
I really loved the book, even more than the first one. It is addressing very important topics that are usually not a lot talked about.
March 27, 2024
sodding worse than the first but i love lou so i will read the next book
May 27, 2024
For those who loved Me before you and were left a bit sore , this is the perfect book to dive in.
August 4, 2024
Yllättävän hyvä
February 22, 2025
Enjoyed
July 22, 2025
I really loved this book. The follow up was fantastic. I enjoyed how the author showed how complicated trauma can be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews