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Grace After Henry
Grace sees her boyfriend Henry everywhere. In the supermarket, on the street, at the graveyard.
Only Henry is dead. He died two months earlier, leaving a huge hole in Grace's life and in her heart. But then Henry turns up to fix the boiler one evening, and Grace can't decide if she's hallucinating or has suddenly developed psychic powers. Grace isn't going mad - the man in front of her is not Henry at all, but someone else who looks uncannily like him. The hole in Grace's heart grows ever larger.
Grace becomes captivated by this stranger, Andy - to her, he is Henry, and yet he is not. Reminded of everything she once had, can Grace recreate that lost love with Andy, resurrecting Henry in the process, or does loving Andy mean letting go of Henry?
Only Henry is dead. He died two months earlier, leaving a huge hole in Grace's life and in her heart. But then Henry turns up to fix the boiler one evening, and Grace can't decide if she's hallucinating or has suddenly developed psychic powers. Grace isn't going mad - the man in front of her is not Henry at all, but someone else who looks uncannily like him. The hole in Grace's heart grows ever larger.
Grace becomes captivated by this stranger, Andy - to her, he is Henry, and yet he is not. Reminded of everything she once had, can Grace recreate that lost love with Andy, resurrecting Henry in the process, or does loving Andy mean letting go of Henry?
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2018
519 people are currently reading
3887 people want to read
About the author
Eithne Shortall
6 books162 followersEithne Shortall is an author and journalist. Her debut novel, Love in Row 27, was published in June 2017. Her second novel, Grace after Henry, will be published in the UK and Ireland in May 2018 and in the United States in early 2019. She is the chief arts writer with the Irish edition of the Sunday Times newspaper and a regular contributor to RTE Radio.
Eithne was born and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. She studied journalism at Dublin City University and spent four months living in West Virginia. She lived in Paris for a year in her early twenties and vaguely thought about writing. She went to London to write her first novel, Love in Row 27, which is set there. Her follow-up, Grace after Henry, is set in – and is partly a love letter to – Dublin, where she now lives.
Eithne has been a regular contributor to RTE Radio for several years. She has worked as a presenter with RTE, BBC Northern Ireland and she fronted a music series, entitled Ceol ar an Imeall, for TG4.
Love in Row 27 has been sold into 11 territories and nine languages, while Grace after Henry was acquired by Putnam, an imprint of Penguin, in the US in a headline-grabbing deal. NBC Universal has optioned Love in Row 27 for a TV series.
Eithne is an avid cyclist, veracious reader, eater of sweets and lover of radio. Her Mastermind topic would be the life of Lucia Joyce, twentieth century Irish visual art, 1980s teen movies or Dawson’s Creek. It depends on the day.
Eithne was born and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. She studied journalism at Dublin City University and spent four months living in West Virginia. She lived in Paris for a year in her early twenties and vaguely thought about writing. She went to London to write her first novel, Love in Row 27, which is set there. Her follow-up, Grace after Henry, is set in – and is partly a love letter to – Dublin, where she now lives.
Eithne has been a regular contributor to RTE Radio for several years. She has worked as a presenter with RTE, BBC Northern Ireland and she fronted a music series, entitled Ceol ar an Imeall, for TG4.
Love in Row 27 has been sold into 11 territories and nine languages, while Grace after Henry was acquired by Putnam, an imprint of Penguin, in the US in a headline-grabbing deal. NBC Universal has optioned Love in Row 27 for a TV series.
Eithne is an avid cyclist, veracious reader, eater of sweets and lover of radio. Her Mastermind topic would be the life of Lucia Joyce, twentieth century Irish visual art, 1980s teen movies or Dawson’s Creek. It depends on the day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
July 17, 2018
I purchased a copy for my kindle on a daily deal!
T/W- Grief
Before I share my thoughts, let's just say that I am in the minority here and sadly couldn't click with this novel at all. Grace loses her husband Henry in a tragic accident, but still sees him wondering around in the city of Dublin. It isn't until a man that looks the exact mirror reflection of him turns up one day and a big secret is revealed. The pacing was extremely slow as well as events that took place that I personally couldn't relate to. It did say in the blurb that it was a funny laugh out loud book. However, it was quite misleading as grief and death I personally don't find funny topics. The ending also felt rushed and left me with more questions than answers. I won't be re-reading this one!
T/W- Grief
Before I share my thoughts, let's just say that I am in the minority here and sadly couldn't click with this novel at all. Grace loses her husband Henry in a tragic accident, but still sees him wondering around in the city of Dublin. It isn't until a man that looks the exact mirror reflection of him turns up one day and a big secret is revealed. The pacing was extremely slow as well as events that took place that I personally couldn't relate to. It did say in the blurb that it was a funny laugh out loud book. However, it was quite misleading as grief and death I personally don't find funny topics. The ending also felt rushed and left me with more questions than answers. I won't be re-reading this one!
May 30, 2018
I’m going to state right up front that this novel is nothing like what the blurb indicates. It’s so much more and then some, making it a really tricky one to review because I don’t want to give even a hint of a spoiler. I didn’t have one, so you can’t either! This is one of those novels that you want to go into fairly blind.
Irish fiction has long been a favourite of mine, harking back to my twenties when I used to devour Maeve Binchy, Cathy Kelly, and Sheila O’Flannagan like they were my main nourishment. I still love these authors and a few more have been added to my auto-buy list over the years and after reading Grace After Henry, Eithne Shortall has earned her place there as well. Gosh she’s a good author, striking an impeccable balance between Irish humour and the desperately heartbreaking reality of grieving for a loved one as well as coming to terms with a lost future. Her prose is like a string and she knows just when to pull it taut and when to slacken it off.
Grace After Henry is such a strong novel, both in characterisation and story – it really has it all. I laughed, I cried, and then I did both at the same time. Aoife, Grace’s best friend is an absolute crack, as is Betty, her eighty year old neighbour. I loved Grace’s parents, I loved her boss and co-workers, I loved her handyman Larry, I loved The Three Wisemen, and I loved Grace herself. And I especially loved Andy. There was such a vibrant dynamic to the character interactions, a natural flow that was immersive and incredibly atmospheric. I finished this novel quite late at night but I found myself missing these characters while settling down to sleep.
Alongside themes of grief, past practices of forced adoption are examined in detail. I have to say, as outraged as I have been about forced adoption in Australia’s history, it’s not even a patch on Ireland. What a sad and traumatic history. So many young women and so many babies that have grown into adulthood having to come to terms with such a devastating legacy. I really appreciated such sensitive insight into this issue.
Grace After Henry is utterly brilliant. So much so, I sent a friend of mine a picture of it partway through reading, recommending it to her, knowing that she would love it just as much as me. Grace After Henry is a perfect example of UpLit – uplifting literature. Despite its heartbreakingly tragic beginning, it’s such a life affirming read, so uplifting, a series of sparkling serendipitous moments strung together yet grounded in reality, and so uniquely Irish. It was a beautiful reading experience from beginning to end.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Grace After Henry for review.
Irish fiction has long been a favourite of mine, harking back to my twenties when I used to devour Maeve Binchy, Cathy Kelly, and Sheila O’Flannagan like they were my main nourishment. I still love these authors and a few more have been added to my auto-buy list over the years and after reading Grace After Henry, Eithne Shortall has earned her place there as well. Gosh she’s a good author, striking an impeccable balance between Irish humour and the desperately heartbreaking reality of grieving for a loved one as well as coming to terms with a lost future. Her prose is like a string and she knows just when to pull it taut and when to slacken it off.
Grace After Henry is such a strong novel, both in characterisation and story – it really has it all. I laughed, I cried, and then I did both at the same time. Aoife, Grace’s best friend is an absolute crack, as is Betty, her eighty year old neighbour. I loved Grace’s parents, I loved her boss and co-workers, I loved her handyman Larry, I loved The Three Wisemen, and I loved Grace herself. And I especially loved Andy. There was such a vibrant dynamic to the character interactions, a natural flow that was immersive and incredibly atmospheric. I finished this novel quite late at night but I found myself missing these characters while settling down to sleep.
Alongside themes of grief, past practices of forced adoption are examined in detail. I have to say, as outraged as I have been about forced adoption in Australia’s history, it’s not even a patch on Ireland. What a sad and traumatic history. So many young women and so many babies that have grown into adulthood having to come to terms with such a devastating legacy. I really appreciated such sensitive insight into this issue.
Grace After Henry is utterly brilliant. So much so, I sent a friend of mine a picture of it partway through reading, recommending it to her, knowing that she would love it just as much as me. Grace After Henry is a perfect example of UpLit – uplifting literature. Despite its heartbreakingly tragic beginning, it’s such a life affirming read, so uplifting, a series of sparkling serendipitous moments strung together yet grounded in reality, and so uniquely Irish. It was a beautiful reading experience from beginning to end.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Grace After Henry for review.
May 6, 2018
Ten Reasons To Love Grace After Henry by Eithne Shortall
One – The believable and touching portrayal of the impact of losing someone close to you. The regrets – if only you’d said all the things you’d meant to say. The guilt – that if you’d done things differently perhaps events would have taken a different course. The anger – why me? The loneliness and sense of displacement in a world that suddenly seems to be missing a vital part.
Two – How Grace’s memories of the good times with Henry are cleverly evoked through fragments of their conversations that demonstrate their shared sense of humour. She-Ra as boyhood fantasy figure anyone?
Three – How Grace and Henry both loved Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and re-read it often together. (This brought a tear to my eye as my husband and I also share a love of this book, though we’ve never read it aloud to each other doing all the voices…)
Four – The Three Wise Men: the three lovely men Grace meets at the cemetery on her regular visits to tend Henry’s grave. Each of them is mourning someone close to them as well. They provide valuable companionship in love, loss, grief and memory…even if that does mean putting up with the same awful jokes every time.
Five – The incidental characters: Dermot, Grace’s boss and frustrated actor; Betty, Grace’s next door neighbour for whom the word ‘nosy’ is too inadequate a description; and Grace’s Mum and Dad, touchingly delighted by each other’s company (their planned outing to Nando’s had me choking on my tea).
Six – Grace’s dogged belief in the idea that there may be parallel worlds and existences in which there could have been a different outcome , a different life and a future together for her and Henry.
Seven – The possibility of second chances in life and in love. Who isn’t drawn to that idea?
Eight – The interesting way the author explores Grace’s conflicted feelings as she gets to know Andy and what at first seems like a miracle turns out to bring all sorts of complications and unintended consequences.
Nine – The question the novel poses: do we ever really truly know anybody? Grace thought she knew everything about Henry – the way he liked his tea, his favourite film. But it transpires there were things about him she could never have imagined.
Ten – The message of the book (at least for me) that you should cherish every moment you have with a loved one.
One – The believable and touching portrayal of the impact of losing someone close to you. The regrets – if only you’d said all the things you’d meant to say. The guilt – that if you’d done things differently perhaps events would have taken a different course. The anger – why me? The loneliness and sense of displacement in a world that suddenly seems to be missing a vital part.
Two – How Grace’s memories of the good times with Henry are cleverly evoked through fragments of their conversations that demonstrate their shared sense of humour. She-Ra as boyhood fantasy figure anyone?
Three – How Grace and Henry both loved Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and re-read it often together. (This brought a tear to my eye as my husband and I also share a love of this book, though we’ve never read it aloud to each other doing all the voices…)
Four – The Three Wise Men: the three lovely men Grace meets at the cemetery on her regular visits to tend Henry’s grave. Each of them is mourning someone close to them as well. They provide valuable companionship in love, loss, grief and memory…even if that does mean putting up with the same awful jokes every time.
Five – The incidental characters: Dermot, Grace’s boss and frustrated actor; Betty, Grace’s next door neighbour for whom the word ‘nosy’ is too inadequate a description; and Grace’s Mum and Dad, touchingly delighted by each other’s company (their planned outing to Nando’s had me choking on my tea).
Six – Grace’s dogged belief in the idea that there may be parallel worlds and existences in which there could have been a different outcome , a different life and a future together for her and Henry.
Seven – The possibility of second chances in life and in love. Who isn’t drawn to that idea?
Eight – The interesting way the author explores Grace’s conflicted feelings as she gets to know Andy and what at first seems like a miracle turns out to bring all sorts of complications and unintended consequences.
Nine – The question the novel poses: do we ever really truly know anybody? Grace thought she knew everything about Henry – the way he liked his tea, his favourite film. But it transpires there were things about him she could never have imagined.
Ten – The message of the book (at least for me) that you should cherish every moment you have with a loved one.
October 22, 2019
This was a lovely and often heartbreaking book about love and loss. Grace and Henry have just bought a house together when he dies, leaving Grace bereft. She moves into their new home and one day Henry shows up to fix the faulty boiler. Only it isn’t Henry, of course; the look-alike man’s name is Andy, and suddenly Grace’s life is turned upside down.
This is a different sort of story—sometimes predictable but often not. It’s touching and sad and captures grief and love quite wonderfully. Grace is an excellent, real character, and her ache for Henry is so true and honest. There are plenty of funny moments, too; her parents’ battles with the moths in their home was my favorite. The supporting cast is simply wonderful, particularly Grace’s friends from the cemetery (you read that right) and her elderly neighbor, Betty.
This isn’t always the easiest book to read, as it so well portrays grief and heartache, but it’s very well-done, and I appreciated reading such a heartfelt and loving story. Definitely worth picking up.
I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, Paperbackswap.com, where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more).
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
This is a different sort of story—sometimes predictable but often not. It’s touching and sad and captures grief and love quite wonderfully. Grace is an excellent, real character, and her ache for Henry is so true and honest. There are plenty of funny moments, too; her parents’ battles with the moths in their home was my favorite. The supporting cast is simply wonderful, particularly Grace’s friends from the cemetery (you read that right) and her elderly neighbor, Betty.
This isn’t always the easiest book to read, as it so well portrays grief and heartache, but it’s very well-done, and I appreciated reading such a heartfelt and loving story. Definitely worth picking up.
I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, Paperbackswap.com, where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more).
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
April 15, 2019
Enjoyable and full-of heart ❤️I almost had to put it down bc the grief at the beginning was so raw but I’m glad I didn’t stop reading!
FYI for readers like me who are not Irish - the author’s name Eithne is pronounced Enya and the best friend’s name Aoife is pronounced Eefa :-) My daughter and I looked them up bc it was bugging me that I didn’t know their pronunciations.
FYI for readers like me who are not Irish - the author’s name Eithne is pronounced Enya and the best friend’s name Aoife is pronounced Eefa :-) My daughter and I looked them up bc it was bugging me that I didn’t know their pronunciations.
December 25, 2019
A book about love and loss and grief and hope. Grace and Henry are in a relationship - they are young, in love, and have the future ahead of them. They visualize their future together and are making plans to visit real estate for their next step. Only Henry, who is running late and is biking in the rain to meet Grace at a showing, fails to show up. And be prepared to have your heart ache and break as the worst nightmare has just occurred.
Put yourself in Grace’s shoes. Overcome by guilt, grief; she is unable to function. She is unable to feel anything but despair and mourning. Reflections of her and Henry. And now, it’s just her. Gosh, her pain is so deep and is palpable to the reader. But then, she thinks she sees Henry - here, there? That face, the hair, those ears - is she hallucinating? Is it mistaken identity? So many times this happens only to see closer that it is not Henry. That this person is someone else entirely. Is she going mad? The grief consumes her even more.
And then, wait, at the cemetery, there is Henry. Of course there is, he’s in a grave. But, no, it’s someone who DOES look like him! And oh my, the story takes off from there and becomes something I was not expecting. It’s not supernatural or paranormal. It’s very different and while the odds of something like this to happen is astronomical, the truth is revealed. And there is hope. But Henry (memories of him) does not go away.
At this point, I had some very conflicting feelings about what was happening with Grace and her life. I kind of got sucked in for the ride because I was hoping for a happy outcome. I questioned myself as to what would I have done if I was Grace in this circumstance?
Finally, the ending was disappointing - not what I was hoping for, or anticipating. I think many readers felt the same way about that.
Put yourself in Grace’s shoes. Overcome by guilt, grief; she is unable to function. She is unable to feel anything but despair and mourning. Reflections of her and Henry. And now, it’s just her. Gosh, her pain is so deep and is palpable to the reader. But then, she thinks she sees Henry - here, there? That face, the hair, those ears - is she hallucinating? Is it mistaken identity? So many times this happens only to see closer that it is not Henry. That this person is someone else entirely. Is she going mad? The grief consumes her even more.
And then, wait, at the cemetery, there is Henry. Of course there is, he’s in a grave. But, no, it’s someone who DOES look like him! And oh my, the story takes off from there and becomes something I was not expecting. It’s not supernatural or paranormal. It’s very different and while the odds of something like this to happen is astronomical, the truth is revealed. And there is hope. But Henry (memories of him) does not go away.
At this point, I had some very conflicting feelings about what was happening with Grace and her life. I kind of got sucked in for the ride because I was hoping for a happy outcome. I questioned myself as to what would I have done if I was Grace in this circumstance?
Finally, the ending was disappointing - not what I was hoping for, or anticipating. I think many readers felt the same way about that.
August 11, 2019
This book reminded me a little of PS I Love You (I wasn't the greatest fan of that book). It's also a little like After You (I liked that book better though). It was always Grace and Henry now it's Grace After Henry. The plot thickens with the introduction of Andy who is a constant reminder of Henry. It kept my interest at the start but as I got nearer the end it got a little boring for me. The story fell flat. The storyline covers adoption, loss and grief. Not the worst book I've read but I preferred Love on Row 27. I still enjoy the setting of Dublin.
March 20, 2020
Grief is a prevalent theme in this tale of a young woman whose serious boyfriend is killed in a freak accident. It’s not maudlin, however, or even dramatically moving. The components are all there - the suspension of belief, the regrets, the agonizing wish to redo the fateful day, even some wry humor as the protagonist sees some of her eccentric behavior as an observer might. Colorful characters and a clever plot combined to remind me of another Irish author, Maeve Binchy. While this was definitely enjoyable, Good Grief, by Lolly Winston, remains at the top of my list in this genre.
May 23, 2023
Grace After Henry is a beautiful Irish contemporary book about Grace - who, far too young, loses the love of her life Henry in a tragic cycling accident. Now left in the home they bought together alone, Grace doesn't know what to do or how to go on. And then there's a knock on the door from the man whose come to fix her boiler - and appears to be Henry's doppelgänger. Grace welcomes Andy into her life as she tries to deal with her grief but there's a lot of complications on the horizon.
This is a sweet book that is full of love but also full of grief and mourning. It's one that made me smile but also made me want to weep and I really liked all the emotions it made me feel. I think Grace's grief for Henry is so strong in the book, and there's never a point where Andy really replaces Henry, or makes that grief go away for Grace - but he helps her to heal, and helps her to process her emotions without feeling completely alone.
There were times in this book that I wanted a little bit more to the story, and it felt a bit simpler than it had to be but it flowed very well for me, and it had characters that I really enjoyed and could believe existed - like the three wise men in Glasnevin Cemetery.
I would have wanted a bit more to the ending of this book. I didn't feel 100% satisfied.
This is a sweet book that is full of love but also full of grief and mourning. It's one that made me smile but also made me want to weep and I really liked all the emotions it made me feel. I think Grace's grief for Henry is so strong in the book, and there's never a point where Andy really replaces Henry, or makes that grief go away for Grace - but he helps her to heal, and helps her to process her emotions without feeling completely alone.
There were times in this book that I wanted a little bit more to the story, and it felt a bit simpler than it had to be but it flowed very well for me, and it had characters that I really enjoyed and could believe existed - like the three wise men in Glasnevin Cemetery.
I would have wanted a bit more to the ending of this book. I didn't feel 100% satisfied.
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June 20, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (6/20/2018)!💝
Blurb:
Grace sees her boyfriend Henry everywhere. In the supermarket, on the street, at the graveyard.
Only Henry is dead. He died two months earlier, leaving a huge hole in Grace's life and in her heart. But then Henry turns up to fix the boiler one evening, and Grace can't decide if she's hallucinating or has suddenly developed psychic powers. Grace isn't going mad - the man in front of her is not Henry at all, but someone else who looks uncannily like him. The hole in Grace's heart grows ever larger.
Grace becomes captivated by this stranger, Andy - to her, he is Henry, and yet he is not. Reminded of everything she once had, can Grace recreate that lost love with Andy, resurrecting Henry in the process, or does loving Andy mean letting go of Henry?
Blurb:
Grace sees her boyfriend Henry everywhere. In the supermarket, on the street, at the graveyard.
Only Henry is dead. He died two months earlier, leaving a huge hole in Grace's life and in her heart. But then Henry turns up to fix the boiler one evening, and Grace can't decide if she's hallucinating or has suddenly developed psychic powers. Grace isn't going mad - the man in front of her is not Henry at all, but someone else who looks uncannily like him. The hole in Grace's heart grows ever larger.
Grace becomes captivated by this stranger, Andy - to her, he is Henry, and yet he is not. Reminded of everything she once had, can Grace recreate that lost love with Andy, resurrecting Henry in the process, or does loving Andy mean letting go of Henry?
May 5, 2018
Like Grace, I have experienced the pain and shock of a sudden loss. In my case it was my brother who died but there is so much of this wonderful novel that was familiar to me. It's over five years since he died but I remember those times when I would catch a glimpse of somebody driving a car and they'd looked so much like him that I caught my breath for a moment until reality kicked in again and I remembered I had identified his body in the hospital mortuary and stood on a wet and windy hillside when we sprinkled his ashes. Eithne Shortall captures those early days of grief with such poignant accuracy, I physically ached with the pain and loneliness Grace was feeling. She perfectly encapsulates too, the self-centred nature of grief, when all thoughts are turned inwards as you try to make sense of this new actuality. Later in the novel there's a moment where Grace suddenly considers her pain may not have been the greatest; it's a pivotal moment in the story and is written with such a stark and honest beauty that I read it with the tears streaming down my face.
And yet, Grace After Henry is also a brilliantly funny book, I laughed out loud many times. The Three Wise Men at the cemetery with terrible jokes and little nuggets of wisdom deserve a spin-off novel of their own; Grace's irascible neighbour, Betty accuses Grace of being bad luck when she fails to win the Telly Bingo and is a dreadful gossip but her sharp tongue hides a softer side; and her parents dress up for a meal at Nando's, wage a fierce battle against moths and in the case of her mother confuse the term 'love rat' with the far better phrase (and one I'm going to use from now on), 'sex mice'! Grace's memories of her time with Henry are also infused with humour and warmth, their relationship is never rose-tinted, they bickered like any couple but the easy-going teasing between the pair underlines that theirs was a deep love cruelly cut short by a tragic accident.
When Andy comes into Grace's life he seems to be her second chance at happiness and as they grow closer she begins to blur the lines where he begins and Henry ends. She knows he isn't the same man but he fits into the space left behind, he reads A Christmas Carol with her, he wears Henry's slippers and as they both try to make sense of their past and future it is understandable that they cling to one another, driven by a need to belong to someone. This is such a touchingly perceptive novel which examines the swirling mass of emotions which accompany loss - numbness, loneliness, anger, fear - but also the gradual acceptance that comes with time and the realisation that though the memories of a life and love shared are unbearably painful at times, they are also the balm which eases the anguish.
I shed many tears reading this book but they were from laughter as often as they were from sadness - despite the tragic subject matter this never feels a maudlin story. Grace After Henry is quite simply a very special novel. Full of heart, it is an honest, emotional and life-affirming paean to love. Beautifully written with wit, empathy and charm, I adored every word and cannot recommend Grace After Henry highly enough, it is undoubtedly one of my books of the year.
And yet, Grace After Henry is also a brilliantly funny book, I laughed out loud many times. The Three Wise Men at the cemetery with terrible jokes and little nuggets of wisdom deserve a spin-off novel of their own; Grace's irascible neighbour, Betty accuses Grace of being bad luck when she fails to win the Telly Bingo and is a dreadful gossip but her sharp tongue hides a softer side; and her parents dress up for a meal at Nando's, wage a fierce battle against moths and in the case of her mother confuse the term 'love rat' with the far better phrase (and one I'm going to use from now on), 'sex mice'! Grace's memories of her time with Henry are also infused with humour and warmth, their relationship is never rose-tinted, they bickered like any couple but the easy-going teasing between the pair underlines that theirs was a deep love cruelly cut short by a tragic accident.
When Andy comes into Grace's life he seems to be her second chance at happiness and as they grow closer she begins to blur the lines where he begins and Henry ends. She knows he isn't the same man but he fits into the space left behind, he reads A Christmas Carol with her, he wears Henry's slippers and as they both try to make sense of their past and future it is understandable that they cling to one another, driven by a need to belong to someone. This is such a touchingly perceptive novel which examines the swirling mass of emotions which accompany loss - numbness, loneliness, anger, fear - but also the gradual acceptance that comes with time and the realisation that though the memories of a life and love shared are unbearably painful at times, they are also the balm which eases the anguish.
I shed many tears reading this book but they were from laughter as often as they were from sadness - despite the tragic subject matter this never feels a maudlin story. Grace After Henry is quite simply a very special novel. Full of heart, it is an honest, emotional and life-affirming paean to love. Beautifully written with wit, empathy and charm, I adored every word and cannot recommend Grace After Henry highly enough, it is undoubtedly one of my books of the year.
April 1, 2019
Between 3 and 4 stars. As the title implies this is a book about loss as Grace tries to recover from the shocking death of her partner Henry. The book started really well as mixed in with the grief there were some lovely funny moments which made me laugh out loud. There are some fabulous characters who were so easy to imagine such as Grace’s parents, her friend Aoife, the Three Wise Men and her grumpy next door neighbour Betty. I liked the style of writing and enjoyed the use of A Christmas Carol throughout the story. However, I felt when the character of Andy was introduced the book went somewhere else and for me it went off track.
Spoiler alert here if you are planning on reading it and don’t want to know!!
Andy is Henry’s twin. The boys were adopted at birth and Henry’s parents kept him ignorant of that. After Andy appeared I felt the story went off in a different direction. I found it bizarre that Grace and Henry’s mother seemed to replace Henry with Andy although in fairness Grace does recognise this towards the end of the book. It just didn’t have the same vibe for me in the middle section of the book. Overall, it is an interesting exploration of the stages of grief that people feel as they learn to move on in their lives without their loved one. It was well written and I probably would read more by this author.
Spoiler alert here if you are planning on reading it and don’t want to know!!
Andy is Henry’s twin. The boys were adopted at birth and Henry’s parents kept him ignorant of that. After Andy appeared I felt the story went off in a different direction. I found it bizarre that Grace and Henry’s mother seemed to replace Henry with Andy although in fairness Grace does recognise this towards the end of the book. It just didn’t have the same vibe for me in the middle section of the book. Overall, it is an interesting exploration of the stages of grief that people feel as they learn to move on in their lives without their loved one. It was well written and I probably would read more by this author.
December 1, 2019
>>Die Welt bebte wie bei einem Erdbeben, aber um ihn herum schien alles unverändert. Die Räder drehten sich weiter, der Regen strömte herab, und all seine Liebe stürzte mit ihm in die Leere. ...<<
„Weil wir Träume haben“ von Eithne Shortall ist eine Geschichte die sich hin und hergerissen zwischen tiefer Trauer, zerreißenden Schmerz und einer wahrlich sanften, berührenden Leichtigkeit bewegt, dass ich mich als Leser selbst hin und hergerissen fühlte. Grace erlebt einen Schicksalsschlag, den man als Partnerin nur schwer verkraftet und das Leben von einem auf den anderen Moment aus den Fugen gerät. Aber nicht nur ihr Leben, das Leben der ganzen Familie ist innerhalb von wenigen Momenten völlig aus der Bahn geworfen. Wie schwer es ist in den Alltag wiederzukehren wird hier nur zu deutlich, doch trotz all dem Schmerz, zwischen all der Trauer gibt es Menschen, die einen berühren. Menschen und Momente, die die Leere wieder füllen und all das Grau in bunte und wundervolle Momente verwandeln.
Zwischen lachen und weinen findet man hier in diesem Buch eine ziemlich große Spanne an Gefühlen, Momenten. Mich hat diese Geschichte ziemlich für sich eingenommen und letztlich auf sanft und dennoch kraftvoll bewegende Weise berührt! Dieses Buch macht letztlich Mut, denn auch in grauen, gar schwarzen und leeren Zeiten finden sich bunte Tupfen, die das Herz wieder lächeln lassen!
„Weil wir Träume haben“ von Eithne Shortall ist eine Geschichte die sich hin und hergerissen zwischen tiefer Trauer, zerreißenden Schmerz und einer wahrlich sanften, berührenden Leichtigkeit bewegt, dass ich mich als Leser selbst hin und hergerissen fühlte. Grace erlebt einen Schicksalsschlag, den man als Partnerin nur schwer verkraftet und das Leben von einem auf den anderen Moment aus den Fugen gerät. Aber nicht nur ihr Leben, das Leben der ganzen Familie ist innerhalb von wenigen Momenten völlig aus der Bahn geworfen. Wie schwer es ist in den Alltag wiederzukehren wird hier nur zu deutlich, doch trotz all dem Schmerz, zwischen all der Trauer gibt es Menschen, die einen berühren. Menschen und Momente, die die Leere wieder füllen und all das Grau in bunte und wundervolle Momente verwandeln.
Zwischen lachen und weinen findet man hier in diesem Buch eine ziemlich große Spanne an Gefühlen, Momenten. Mich hat diese Geschichte ziemlich für sich eingenommen und letztlich auf sanft und dennoch kraftvoll bewegende Weise berührt! Dieses Buch macht letztlich Mut, denn auch in grauen, gar schwarzen und leeren Zeiten finden sich bunte Tupfen, die das Herz wieder lächeln lassen!
January 5, 2021
I very rarely dislike books as much as I disliked this. It presents as a cute, fluffy rom-com, but the first half truly dragged on SOOO much. Then around the middle it picks up with a big twist and I had hope for a moment - only for it to be ruined by absolutely terribly written characters. I swear, EVERYONE in this book needs such insane levels of therapy that it just isn’t believable. And there are so many coincidences that just make absolutely zero sense because the probability of them happening in real life is slim to none. I think the most fun part of the book for me was the fact that it takes place in Ireland. Otherwise, there were just too many coincidences and characters needing inordinate levels of professional help for me to be able to believe the plot line would happen as it did.
February 15, 2019
Grace After Henry examines what its like to lose someone, still with so much ahead of him. What is it like for Grace - his partner, his parents and a mystery visitor from overseas. There is grief -for Grace who falls to pieces initially, for his parents who also grieve for their only child. His mother cannot move on, she wants at least an apology from the person responsible for the accident.
The story also explores what its like to be adopted and to go in search of parents and family and to find out who you are. Each person must make their journey, surprises abound, yet eventually wise choices are made and life moves on with an optimistic note.
I enjoyed the story, it was well written and explored grief and adoption gently and with some Irish humour.
The story also explores what its like to be adopted and to go in search of parents and family and to find out who you are. Each person must make their journey, surprises abound, yet eventually wise choices are made and life moves on with an optimistic note.
I enjoyed the story, it was well written and explored grief and adoption gently and with some Irish humour.
September 5, 2019
So many feelings!
This book knew how to take a serious topic and make it light hearted!
The characters felt real and well rounded.
I liked seeing so many sides of Grace, you definitely got to see her grow and change.
It also had a lot of plot twists! (I also didn't read the back, and just did, one of the twists in on the back, so maybe don't read all of the description lol)
The ending happened so fast I didn't have time to process it, so that made me a bit sad.
Overall, a fun, very interesting, but normal all at the same time, read <3
This book knew how to take a serious topic and make it light hearted!
The characters felt real and well rounded.
I liked seeing so many sides of Grace, you definitely got to see her grow and change.
It also had a lot of plot twists! (I also didn't read the back, and just did, one of the twists in on the back, so maybe don't read all of the description lol)
The ending happened so fast I didn't have time to process it, so that made me a bit sad.
Overall, a fun, very interesting, but normal all at the same time, read <3
August 16, 2018
This was recommended to me by a friend and I'm so glad I found the time to read it. I struggled to put this down finding it to be an absorbing tale full of emotions of all kinds with some humour thrown in. The only reason it's not a 5* read for me is that I wasn't completely happy with the ending. But don't let that put you off, it is definitely worth the read.
August 16, 2019
Audiobook
4.25 Stars!
4.25 Stars!
June 19, 2025
Loved this, so well written.
It's a story of love, loss, discovery and new beginnings.
Not ashamed to say I shed a tear at the end, beautiful.
It's a story of love, loss, discovery and new beginnings.
Not ashamed to say I shed a tear at the end, beautiful.
June 2, 2018
This was such a delightful book. I mainly read crime fiction, but I'm finding that some of my top reads this year are out of my reading comfort zone. This is right up there with Eleanor Oliphant for me. In fact I actually enjoyed it more. I absolutely loved all the characters, they just leapt off the pages. I laughed, I cried, it's definitely a book that I will be pressing into the hands of everyone I meet who enjoys a good read.
July 27, 2020
Fluff book about a woman whose boyfriend/partner dies. How she navigates life especially when the unexpected happens. Good beach summer read. Four stars for what it is.
May 3, 2018
Grace After Henry is funny and moving all at the same time, not an easy thing to achieve. But Eithne Shortall has definitely cracked it.
Grace's boyfriend, Henry, has died. They were just in the process of embarking on the next stage of their life together when that was it, he was gone. She sees him everywhere, a natural effect of grief. He's in the restaurant where she works, at the graveyard, in the street. But then one day Andy turns up and he looks just like Henry.
How does Grace deal with this? Well I can't say as I would give away major spoilers, but what I can say is that Eithne Shortall deals with it beautifully. Grace goes through a myriad of emotions, as you would imagine. And I just loved her! She's plucky, feisty, funny, she's everything you want a protagonist to be.
Henry is only a character in flashbacks, but Andy is a prominent character and I thought he was great. In fact, there are many likeable, quirky characters in this book. Grace's parents, for instance, are just brilliant, not to mention Aiofe, Grace's arsy mate, Betty, Grace's very contrary and irritable neighbour, and Grace's boss at the restaurant, who is so famously rude to customers that the eatery is a sought after spot.
Grace After Henry took me through all the feelings. I cried, I giggled, I was moved, I was torn between wanting Grace to be able to move on and then thinking she shouldn't. The flashbacks to Grace and Henry's time together are bittersweet, with the knowledge that they don't get their happy ending.
I couldn't help but liken the writing style to Marian Keyes at times. The whole Irish humour, the bonkers family members and friends, and the way the book deals with great sadness without being maudlin were quite similar. But this is a writer with her own style and a fantastic talent. I found Grace After Henry to be a heart-warming and ultimately uplifting read. I think this book is going to be huge.
Grace's boyfriend, Henry, has died. They were just in the process of embarking on the next stage of their life together when that was it, he was gone. She sees him everywhere, a natural effect of grief. He's in the restaurant where she works, at the graveyard, in the street. But then one day Andy turns up and he looks just like Henry.
How does Grace deal with this? Well I can't say as I would give away major spoilers, but what I can say is that Eithne Shortall deals with it beautifully. Grace goes through a myriad of emotions, as you would imagine. And I just loved her! She's plucky, feisty, funny, she's everything you want a protagonist to be.
Henry is only a character in flashbacks, but Andy is a prominent character and I thought he was great. In fact, there are many likeable, quirky characters in this book. Grace's parents, for instance, are just brilliant, not to mention Aiofe, Grace's arsy mate, Betty, Grace's very contrary and irritable neighbour, and Grace's boss at the restaurant, who is so famously rude to customers that the eatery is a sought after spot.
Grace After Henry took me through all the feelings. I cried, I giggled, I was moved, I was torn between wanting Grace to be able to move on and then thinking she shouldn't. The flashbacks to Grace and Henry's time together are bittersweet, with the knowledge that they don't get their happy ending.
I couldn't help but liken the writing style to Marian Keyes at times. The whole Irish humour, the bonkers family members and friends, and the way the book deals with great sadness without being maudlin were quite similar. But this is a writer with her own style and a fantastic talent. I found Grace After Henry to be a heart-warming and ultimately uplifting read. I think this book is going to be huge.
April 27, 2018
I read this one really fast, when I started, I just needed to know that everything would work out.
Grace and Henry are about to buy a house, and then he dies. A horrible accident and she can just not move on. She sees him everywhere and misses him so much. Which is obvious, and so heartbreaking. I liked her and I wanted her to be happy again.
She has a great best friends. She has great parents. But she does not have Henry anymore. And she most learn to live again without him.
Like move into a new house and try to put it to order. Meeting new neighbors. Going back to work. And last, seeing Henry and realising that the person she sees is real. And that was another thing that made me read like crazy! I had to know what was going on and what would happen.
It was light for a book dealing with death. It had me hooked and it was so hard to put down. Grace becomes a friend.
Heartbreaking, and still light and filled with hope. Life moves on. And maybe not always in the way the reader thought.
Grace and Henry are about to buy a house, and then he dies. A horrible accident and she can just not move on. She sees him everywhere and misses him so much. Which is obvious, and so heartbreaking. I liked her and I wanted her to be happy again.
She has a great best friends. She has great parents. But she does not have Henry anymore. And she most learn to live again without him.
Like move into a new house and try to put it to order. Meeting new neighbors. Going back to work. And last, seeing Henry and realising that the person she sees is real. And that was another thing that made me read like crazy! I had to know what was going on and what would happen.
It was light for a book dealing with death. It had me hooked and it was so hard to put down. Grace becomes a friend.
Heartbreaking, and still light and filled with hope. Life moves on. And maybe not always in the way the reader thought.
February 28, 2019
When Grace loses Henry, her fiancé and love of her life, in a freak biking accident, she struggles to pick up the pieces and move on. With the encouragement of her parents and best friend, Grace decides to move into the dream house she had purchased with Henry alone and returns to work. As she continues to grieve and keeps seeing Henry on the streets of Dublin, Grace thinks she is losing her mind. That is until Henry’s long-lost twin brother Andy knocks on her door. Separated at birth, Andy is in Dublin on his own quest for answers. As Grace and Andy become closer, Grace must come to terms with life after Henry and what that means. With a charming set of supporting characters, this novel about grief is also about the power of love, friendship and second chances. Highly recommended for fans of Cecelia Ahern, Jojo Moyes and Jill Santopolo.
December 17, 2018
Grace and Henry were about to purchase their first home when Henry is killed in a traffic accident. Grace is devastated and it takes time to get her life on kilter again. Especially when she thinks she sees Henry everywhere. Then one day he’s standing at her door to fix the boiler....only it’s not Henry.
This was a lovely book that explores the grieving process, adoption, friendship and the chance to get on with life again. I liked both Grace and Andy and there were a number of good supporting characters.
I’m in two minds about the ending though, although I can appreciate it.
Thank you to Edelweiss for a copy to read.
This was a lovely book that explores the grieving process, adoption, friendship and the chance to get on with life again. I liked both Grace and Andy and there were a number of good supporting characters.
I’m in two minds about the ending though, although I can appreciate it.
Thank you to Edelweiss for a copy to read.
January 8, 2021
I hated how Grace didn't give Andy a chance. He could have given her a good life. She ruined the story for me.
August 13, 2019
Didn't like Grace, don't think I would have liked Henry.
April 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, far more than I even expected to. I would compare this book to Me After You (the title even follows the same principle) and P.S. I Love You and is on par with, if not better than those (definitely the former).
I got into the story straight away because the fatal incident is the opening. I was immediately captivated by the story and could already feel the depth of their relationship. Henry dies after an accident on his bike - this played on my emotions even more so because my husband cycles for work... so this really made it real for me.
Grace was a very relatable and likeable character and although she did irritate me sometimes, I still understood and empathised with her. The more the book went on, the more attached I felt to Grace. There were several other characters who also had a big impact on the story and who felt so genuine and were well developed in their own right - particularly Andy.
When Grace first meets Andy, it was a shock for her (and for me as a reader) and from there I did not expect the story to go where it went. This kept it really interesting for me and after that, I did not want to put the book down until I finished it. As the story developed further, it started going in a certain direction... and I was like no, this is not a good idea, this feels wrong. The more it continued, the more I had this internal dialogue with myself. However, when the outcome of this aspect of the storyline meets its moment of truth, I was so saddened by it.
I thought this book was very well written and the way the author interwove Grace's memories of Henry at crucial moments really made it that much more heartbreaking. I will be honest and say that this book made me cry several times and it was a very bittersweet and heartfelt story. I would definitely recommend this book for a light yet emotional read.
I got into the story straight away because the fatal incident is the opening. I was immediately captivated by the story and could already feel the depth of their relationship. Henry dies after an accident on his bike - this played on my emotions even more so because my husband cycles for work... so this really made it real for me.
Grace was a very relatable and likeable character and although she did irritate me sometimes, I still understood and empathised with her. The more the book went on, the more attached I felt to Grace. There were several other characters who also had a big impact on the story and who felt so genuine and were well developed in their own right - particularly Andy.
When Grace first meets Andy, it was a shock for her (and for me as a reader) and from there I did not expect the story to go where it went. This kept it really interesting for me and after that, I did not want to put the book down until I finished it. As the story developed further, it started going in a certain direction... and I was like no, this is not a good idea, this feels wrong. The more it continued, the more I had this internal dialogue with myself. However, when the outcome of this aspect of the storyline meets its moment of truth, I was so saddened by it.
I thought this book was very well written and the way the author interwove Grace's memories of Henry at crucial moments really made it that much more heartbreaking. I will be honest and say that this book made me cry several times and it was a very bittersweet and heartfelt story. I would definitely recommend this book for a light yet emotional read.
May 1, 2018
Ah this was such a good read with lots of humour and heartfelt moments.
After Grace's boyfriend Henry dies in a cycling/traffic accident everything's turned upside down. It's an emotional roller coaster for Grace as she imagines seeing Henry everywhere, in everyone. And then Andy turns up at her door, identical to Henry although with only a few slight differences. Grace keeps him a secret for a long while, but Andy isn't Henry, and can she learn to separate the two?
I love the fact that in this book we get to see the differences between Henry and Andy, for example by showing past conversations/interactions between him and Grace. It also goes switches to Andy's character a couple of times. It's actually a mixture of first person, second person and third person. Though mostly first person as Grace is the main central character here.
There's so much to love about this book, mostly it's the characters. I adore Grace, the Three Wise Men, Aoife, and Grace's parents most of all who are just simply so cute and hilarious.
You end up really feeling for Grace and completely come to understand her fixation on Andy. Also you see the fixation with Isabel also. And that outcome was so good because it wasn't cliché or predictable and something good comes along following the bad. It has a lot of nice, funny, sad and heartfelt moments.
Thanks to ReadersFirst for the copy in return for a fair and honest review.
After Grace's boyfriend Henry dies in a cycling/traffic accident everything's turned upside down. It's an emotional roller coaster for Grace as she imagines seeing Henry everywhere, in everyone. And then Andy turns up at her door, identical to Henry although with only a few slight differences. Grace keeps him a secret for a long while, but Andy isn't Henry, and can she learn to separate the two?
I love the fact that in this book we get to see the differences between Henry and Andy, for example by showing past conversations/interactions between him and Grace. It also goes switches to Andy's character a couple of times. It's actually a mixture of first person, second person and third person. Though mostly first person as Grace is the main central character here.
There's so much to love about this book, mostly it's the characters. I adore Grace, the Three Wise Men, Aoife, and Grace's parents most of all who are just simply so cute and hilarious.
You end up really feeling for Grace and completely come to understand her fixation on Andy. Also you see the fixation with Isabel also. And that outcome was so good because it wasn't cliché or predictable and something good comes along following the bad. It has a lot of nice, funny, sad and heartfelt moments.
Thanks to ReadersFirst for the copy in return for a fair and honest review.
March 11, 2019
Grace After Henry by Eithne Shortall is a poignant yet ultimately uplifting novel of healing from a heartrending loss.
Grace McDonnell and her fiancé Henry Walsh are moving on to the next stage of their lives when he dies in a tragic accident. After retreating from life for a few months at her parents' house, Grace is finally ready to move forward. She moves into the house they purchased before his death and she returns to work. Yet every day remains a struggle for Grace as she thinks she sees Henry everywhere and mourns not just his loss, but the future they planned together. However, when her plumber turns out to be Henry's long lost twin brother, Andy, is Grace finally ready to truly move on?
Grace and Henry are idyllically happy and eager to enter the next stage in their relationship. After Henry's death, Grace is mired in grief and guilt yet with the support of her parents and best friend, she faces her future without him. However, after she moves into their dream home, Grace still finds it difficult to carry on with her day to day tasks. She forces herself to go to work only to return to an empty house that leaves her depressed and missing Henry more than ever. Help arrives in a very unexpected man but is Grace fooling herself as she and Andy grow close?
Andy always knew he was adopted and after his mum passes away, he leaves Australia for Ireland in hopes of finding more information about his birth family. He is aware his birth mother and twin brother are deceased but he craves more details about his birthplace. Through sheer coincidence, he meets Grace and through her, he gets to experience the life he has always missed. But is Andy a little too ready to accept the vestiges of Henry's life?
Grace is comforted by Andy's presence and initially, it is difficult to understand whether she sees him as Andy or her lost fiancé. Their interactions soon have a bit of a familiar feel to them as they slip into easy camaraderie and quiet evenings together. But Grace is not eager to introduce Andy to her family or friends and in fact, she lives in fear that people who knew Henry will see her with Andy. Is their friendship fair to Andy? Is Grace doing to the right thing as becomes deeper enmeshed in his life? Are she and Andy making the right choice after an unexpected complication arises? And most importantly, is Andy settling for less than he deserves as he embraces a life he feels he was denied with his flighty mum?
Grace After Henry is a captivating novel that is deeply affecting and quite impossible to put down. Grace is a very empathetic character as she tries to overcome her grief over Henry's loss. Andy is an amiable, laid back man whose somewhat dysfunctional background leaves him uncomfortably eager to fill in for Henry. Eithne Shortall brings this thoughtful portrait of grief and starting over to a realistic conclusion. An engrossing novel that I absolutely loved and highly recommend to fans of the genre.
Grace McDonnell and her fiancé Henry Walsh are moving on to the next stage of their lives when he dies in a tragic accident. After retreating from life for a few months at her parents' house, Grace is finally ready to move forward. She moves into the house they purchased before his death and she returns to work. Yet every day remains a struggle for Grace as she thinks she sees Henry everywhere and mourns not just his loss, but the future they planned together. However, when her plumber turns out to be Henry's long lost twin brother, Andy, is Grace finally ready to truly move on?
Grace and Henry are idyllically happy and eager to enter the next stage in their relationship. After Henry's death, Grace is mired in grief and guilt yet with the support of her parents and best friend, she faces her future without him. However, after she moves into their dream home, Grace still finds it difficult to carry on with her day to day tasks. She forces herself to go to work only to return to an empty house that leaves her depressed and missing Henry more than ever. Help arrives in a very unexpected man but is Grace fooling herself as she and Andy grow close?
Andy always knew he was adopted and after his mum passes away, he leaves Australia for Ireland in hopes of finding more information about his birth family. He is aware his birth mother and twin brother are deceased but he craves more details about his birthplace. Through sheer coincidence, he meets Grace and through her, he gets to experience the life he has always missed. But is Andy a little too ready to accept the vestiges of Henry's life?
Grace is comforted by Andy's presence and initially, it is difficult to understand whether she sees him as Andy or her lost fiancé. Their interactions soon have a bit of a familiar feel to them as they slip into easy camaraderie and quiet evenings together. But Grace is not eager to introduce Andy to her family or friends and in fact, she lives in fear that people who knew Henry will see her with Andy. Is their friendship fair to Andy? Is Grace doing to the right thing as becomes deeper enmeshed in his life? Are she and Andy making the right choice after an unexpected complication arises? And most importantly, is Andy settling for less than he deserves as he embraces a life he feels he was denied with his flighty mum?
Grace After Henry is a captivating novel that is deeply affecting and quite impossible to put down. Grace is a very empathetic character as she tries to overcome her grief over Henry's loss. Andy is an amiable, laid back man whose somewhat dysfunctional background leaves him uncomfortably eager to fill in for Henry. Eithne Shortall brings this thoughtful portrait of grief and starting over to a realistic conclusion. An engrossing novel that I absolutely loved and highly recommend to fans of the genre.
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