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The Years After You
An affair. Wife, mistress, the man in the middle. Laugh it off only to lie awake worrying later. Is this really happening? When it implodes, what then?
The assistant didn’t mean to fall in love and become “the other woman.” The wife was just venturing her first steps into life beyond the roles of mother and partner when her suspicions about another woman took root.
When the well-respected man sinks deeper into mental illness, each person’s next move isn’t a question of blame alone, but of the ethics of love—of unapologetic decisions and confronting the aftermath.
Juxtaposing the minute and sweeping effects of life after tragedy, The Years After You explores the complicated dance of intimacy and relationships in the tradition of Emily Giffin (All We Ever Wanted) and Anne Tyler (Clock Dance).
The assistant didn’t mean to fall in love and become “the other woman.” The wife was just venturing her first steps into life beyond the roles of mother and partner when her suspicions about another woman took root.
When the well-respected man sinks deeper into mental illness, each person’s next move isn’t a question of blame alone, but of the ethics of love—of unapologetic decisions and confronting the aftermath.
Juxtaposing the minute and sweeping effects of life after tragedy, The Years After You explores the complicated dance of intimacy and relationships in the tradition of Emily Giffin (All We Ever Wanted) and Anne Tyler (Clock Dance).
423 pages, ebook
First published July 2, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 16, 2019
The Years After You by Emma Wolfe was a quick Sunday afternoon read for me. The story is told in 3 points of view and it was certainly a page turner. I enjoyed the story but I think I was expecting more. Some parts were quite predictable and others were a bit far fetched. Overall I did like it but there was something missing to make it great for me.
This is story of an affair.. The Wife Pippa, the assistant Lily and the husband/boss in the middle Harry. It is told from the points of view of all involved and you get a real sense of the relationships and how it was affecting them all. It is not a tale of a scorned wife, or a jealous mistress. Things are all rosy and perfect for any of them. I don't want to spoil the story so can't really say much more. I was hoping that around the halfway point when everything changed to see a different path for Lily in particular. Not to be.
Thanks to Amberjack Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
This is story of an affair.. The Wife Pippa, the assistant Lily and the husband/boss in the middle Harry. It is told from the points of view of all involved and you get a real sense of the relationships and how it was affecting them all. It is not a tale of a scorned wife, or a jealous mistress. Things are all rosy and perfect for any of them. I don't want to spoil the story so can't really say much more. I was hoping that around the halfway point when everything changed to see a different path for Lily in particular. Not to be.
Thanks to Amberjack Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
July 24, 2020
A story that started off strong but then lost its mojo about mid way through. I had high hopes of this being the type of women’s fiction that pulls at your heart strings and makes you feel a million different emotions. But no...didn’t do that for me. And I think the reason was because I couldn’t connect with Lily, the mistress. I found her segments incredibly dull and tended to skim through them. As the book focused more heavily on her, I lost interest completely. I felt connection with the wife and husband but Lily...there was something lacking there.
The writing was good but the plot took a turn that I wasn’t expecting and it didn’t work for me. Given that it is also more of a character driven plot, and the characters lacked depth, it was a challenge to invest in the story.
I think the original plot line had a lot of promise if it had kept on track with the love triangle and lived up to the description. A story that may appeal to other readers more than me.
September 25, 2019
3.5 stars. There is nothing earth shattering here - nothing so profound or disturbing or mind-blowing. This is just life and how decisions and actions (or inactions) have ripple effects into so many lives around you. Lily and Harry are having an affair. Harry is desperately in love with Lily, unhealthily so, and done with his marriage but sticking around "for the kids". Lily doesn't want to be the other woman and has no illusion about a happily ever after with Harry. She loves him, but she doesn't want him to leave his wife. But Harry is obsessed with his relationship with Lily and doesn't know what to do with the thought that Lily doesn't really want to be with him. It unhinges him and sends him spiraling deeper into a depression that already existed. Harry does the only thing he can think of to end his pain, and those left behind have to work out how to navigate their lives. The story is told from three points of view - Harry, Lily and Harry's wife, Pippa. It is more Lily's story than anyone's. Everything comes full circle by the end, and it has a poignancy to it that makes one wistful.
May 22, 2019
Lily is 30 years old and single. Well, sort of single. She’s been involved in a long term affair with her boss Harry. It’s not really a secret. Most of her coworkers suspect and her family knows, in fact, he’s even attended some family events. But his wife only suspects. Yes, his wife Pippa is suspicious, but as yet doesn’t have any hard proof of the affair. Just Harry’s bizarre behavior and constant absences. Not to mention when he is present, he’s not really present, always on his mobile phone.
When Lily runs into an old flame, David, they strike up a friendship again. Lily and David both wonder, what if? However, David is going through a sudden and emotional divorce, and of course Lily has Harry. Harry starts to suspect that maybe Lily is pulling away, which sends him into a tizzy. Yet, Harry doesn’t want to leave his boys. Pippa yes, but not the two children they’ve had. So now what?
The Years After You faces marital affairs from all three sides. The primary part of the book is from Lily’s point of view. There are parts from Harry’s as well. And then Pippa tells her story through her blog. It is an interesting format for viewing each character’s rationalization and situation. Lily knows that the affair is wrong, but she’s madly in love with Harry and can’t imagine life without him. Harry is also in love with Lily, but can’t see his way to breaking with his family. And poor Pippa, she’s just caught in the mess.
I found this book interesting in the way that it addressed the affair and how it affected the three parties involved. It’s very easy to see the wife’s view, as she is the aggrieved party, but you don’t always hear all three sides in one place. The way this book is presented allowed you to have compassion for all three people in the affair. The only ones passing judgement are the characters themselves. It’s an interesting approach.
The book was a rather quick read for me. I’m not sure if that’s because I was waiting for the next shoe to drop, or if it was a simple read. Either way, I finished it rather quickly and enjoyed it thoroughly. While the publication date is well past summer, it is definitely one of those beach or hammock reads that is hard to put down.
This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com close to publication date.
When Lily runs into an old flame, David, they strike up a friendship again. Lily and David both wonder, what if? However, David is going through a sudden and emotional divorce, and of course Lily has Harry. Harry starts to suspect that maybe Lily is pulling away, which sends him into a tizzy. Yet, Harry doesn’t want to leave his boys. Pippa yes, but not the two children they’ve had. So now what?
The Years After You faces marital affairs from all three sides. The primary part of the book is from Lily’s point of view. There are parts from Harry’s as well. And then Pippa tells her story through her blog. It is an interesting format for viewing each character’s rationalization and situation. Lily knows that the affair is wrong, but she’s madly in love with Harry and can’t imagine life without him. Harry is also in love with Lily, but can’t see his way to breaking with his family. And poor Pippa, she’s just caught in the mess.
I found this book interesting in the way that it addressed the affair and how it affected the three parties involved. It’s very easy to see the wife’s view, as she is the aggrieved party, but you don’t always hear all three sides in one place. The way this book is presented allowed you to have compassion for all three people in the affair. The only ones passing judgement are the characters themselves. It’s an interesting approach.
The book was a rather quick read for me. I’m not sure if that’s because I was waiting for the next shoe to drop, or if it was a simple read. Either way, I finished it rather quickly and enjoyed it thoroughly. While the publication date is well past summer, it is definitely one of those beach or hammock reads that is hard to put down.
This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com close to publication date.
June 28, 2019
I have been known to ugly cry over a book; however, this one was more a teary-eyed weepy kind of crying for me. The husband, the mistress, the jilted wife, the father who left his family years ago. These are the main characters, and even though this may seem like a plot you've read before, it's definitely NOT. Told from multiple perspectives, the novel relates the bittersweet moments between Lily and Harry; Harry's fallen out of love with his wife and his assistant Lily never meant to fall in love with him. Yes, the affair was wrong and both of them know it, but things spiral out of control when Pippa, Harry's wife discovers their secret. Somehow, we see all sides and sympathize with all of the characters. It's beautifully written as Woolf explores the nuances of relationships, desires, guilt, love, and heartbreak. Poignant and heartbreaking, this novel will resonate with me for a long time.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
September 30, 2018
As advertised, "ENGLAND'S LANE" is a modern love story, with London by and large figuring
prominently as the backdrop. The reader is witness to an affair and its effects on all persons involved. The novel also showcases the highs and lows of love, loss, betrayal, the bonds of family and friendship --- as well as redemption and love rediscovered. I'm glad I took the journey.
prominently as the backdrop. The reader is witness to an affair and its effects on all persons involved. The novel also showcases the highs and lows of love, loss, betrayal, the bonds of family and friendship --- as well as redemption and love rediscovered. I'm glad I took the journey.
October 10, 2019
The Years After You tells the story of an extramarital affair from the viewpoint of each party - the wife, the husband and the mistress. Regardless of your opinion going in, it's easy to be pulled into each character's thoughts and feelings and in doing so, you find at least a little bit of empathy for their situation.
Harry has fallen "out of love" with his wife, Pippa. This is made all the easier when he falls "in love" with his assistant, Lily. However, when it comes down to it, he doesn't want to disrupt his family - basically for his children. So, he stays in his marriage but it's haunting him that he can't be with Lily on an ongoing basis. Couple this with his deteriorating mental stability and Harry can't pull himself out of the quagmire that he's slipped into.
I found myself feeling a full array of emotions for each of the three main characters that ranged from frustration to sadness. They each made mistakes that led to the breakdown in their relationships but it's easy to see that when you're looking at a situation from the outside. It's much more difficult to pick up on something like that when you are living it yourself.
Overall, I felt like this book left me with a few lasting thoughts. First of all, you have to communicate and can't be nonchalant with your major life decisions. You should always err on the side of love and don't wait for tomorrow because it is never guaranteed. There is so much to life that is truly bittersweet and cannot be helped. When you are able to somewhat control things, then try to make wise choices and don't waste those opportunities. This is definitely a story that I will ponder for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Harry has fallen "out of love" with his wife, Pippa. This is made all the easier when he falls "in love" with his assistant, Lily. However, when it comes down to it, he doesn't want to disrupt his family - basically for his children. So, he stays in his marriage but it's haunting him that he can't be with Lily on an ongoing basis. Couple this with his deteriorating mental stability and Harry can't pull himself out of the quagmire that he's slipped into.
I found myself feeling a full array of emotions for each of the three main characters that ranged from frustration to sadness. They each made mistakes that led to the breakdown in their relationships but it's easy to see that when you're looking at a situation from the outside. It's much more difficult to pick up on something like that when you are living it yourself.
Overall, I felt like this book left me with a few lasting thoughts. First of all, you have to communicate and can't be nonchalant with your major life decisions. You should always err on the side of love and don't wait for tomorrow because it is never guaranteed. There is so much to life that is truly bittersweet and cannot be helped. When you are able to somewhat control things, then try to make wise choices and don't waste those opportunities. This is definitely a story that I will ponder for a while.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2019
The Years After You surprised me, it was different than I expected based on the summary, it was much better than I predicted! It is unlike other novels that have similar storylines, and the characters and relationships turn what could have been predictable into something unexpected. I was deeply drawn to the characters and felt such emotion during many scenes, which made putting the book down almost impossible. I was completely engrossed while reading this book and I even loved how it ended.
August 26, 2018
Lily’s affair with Harry will have an impact far wider than she could have imagined.
England’s Lane is a book of such deep emotion and introspection for its three main characters that I felt it was a bit like reading a literary Venn diagram as their lives are affected by one another’s behaviours. Love, grief and obsession are so incisively observed that I almost felt quite voyeuristic at times. I had to read England’s Lane in short bursts as it is incredibly claustrophobic and intense and I needed to give myself time to reflect as I read.
Indeed, the structure of England’s Lane lends itself to episodic reading as it is slightly fragmented. This means that the reader experiences similar information, obfuscation and half-truths in the same way as do the main characters; Pippa in particular. I thought it was inspired to give Pippa a first person account as she could so easily have been less significant than Harry and Lily.
In England’s Lane Emma Woolf has got straight to the heart of what makes us human, of how we are frequently selfish, self-deceptive and inward looking. She illustrates with unerring accuracy the ways in which one person’s actions reverberate across the lives of others in subsequent weeks, months and years. I felt that the way the similarities between the initially seemingly disparate characters were brought together was so well attuned and although I didn’t much warm to Lily, Pippa or, especially, Harry I still found myself caring about what happened to them, understanding them and empathising with them completely.
England’s Lane is a brilliant title because, although this is the road where Lily lives, it could be any road in England where characters like these could, and probably do, live, making the reader sometimes uncomfortably aware of just how similar our own lives could so easily become. Whilst there is a clear plot to England’s Lane and I enjoyed the narrative as both as a love story and a microcosmic portrait of modern society, it was the exploration of the themes that appealed most to me. Grief, love, mental health, family relationships, guilt, jealousy and despair, passion and hope thrum through the pages of England’s Lane. I’d defy anyone to read it and not find there is something they can relate to.
I think England’s Lane may polarise readers as it feels quite oppressive at times, but I found it affecting, intense, incredibly interesting and, which surprised me, very uplifting. It’s a book to savour and reflect upon.
England’s Lane is a book of such deep emotion and introspection for its three main characters that I felt it was a bit like reading a literary Venn diagram as their lives are affected by one another’s behaviours. Love, grief and obsession are so incisively observed that I almost felt quite voyeuristic at times. I had to read England’s Lane in short bursts as it is incredibly claustrophobic and intense and I needed to give myself time to reflect as I read.
Indeed, the structure of England’s Lane lends itself to episodic reading as it is slightly fragmented. This means that the reader experiences similar information, obfuscation and half-truths in the same way as do the main characters; Pippa in particular. I thought it was inspired to give Pippa a first person account as she could so easily have been less significant than Harry and Lily.
In England’s Lane Emma Woolf has got straight to the heart of what makes us human, of how we are frequently selfish, self-deceptive and inward looking. She illustrates with unerring accuracy the ways in which one person’s actions reverberate across the lives of others in subsequent weeks, months and years. I felt that the way the similarities between the initially seemingly disparate characters were brought together was so well attuned and although I didn’t much warm to Lily, Pippa or, especially, Harry I still found myself caring about what happened to them, understanding them and empathising with them completely.
England’s Lane is a brilliant title because, although this is the road where Lily lives, it could be any road in England where characters like these could, and probably do, live, making the reader sometimes uncomfortably aware of just how similar our own lives could so easily become. Whilst there is a clear plot to England’s Lane and I enjoyed the narrative as both as a love story and a microcosmic portrait of modern society, it was the exploration of the themes that appealed most to me. Grief, love, mental health, family relationships, guilt, jealousy and despair, passion and hope thrum through the pages of England’s Lane. I’d defy anyone to read it and not find there is something they can relate to.
I think England’s Lane may polarise readers as it feels quite oppressive at times, but I found it affecting, intense, incredibly interesting and, which surprised me, very uplifting. It’s a book to savour and reflect upon.
May 29, 2018
I should start by saying that, although I am a reader of more popular fiction, I usually prefer more literary books. However, I liked the title, the fact the author is a woman and the cover so decided to give this book a go. I read the book in a day, whilst travelling back from holiday and it held by attention for the duration. Although at the start it felt cliched, the story went to unexpected places, the characters developed in a suitably rounded way. I admired the way that the author dealt with issues around suicide, grief, parental loss and family, whilst still maintaining an intensely readable and easy tone. The book did exactly what I needed it to do, and entertained me whilst I was in transit. A good holiday read - there are lots on the market, but this is up there with the best of the genre. The rating reflects my personal preference, but if this is your favoured genre you'll probably love it - and it's still enjoyable even if it isn't quite your cup of tea.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
June 28, 2019
I have been known to ugly cry over a book; however, this one was more a teary-eyed weepy kind of crying for me. The husband, the mistress, the jilted wife, the father who left his family years ago. These are the main characters, and even though this may seem like a plot you've read before, it's definitely NOT. Told from multiple perspectives, the novel relates the bittersweet moments between Lily and Harry; Harry's fallen out of love with his wife and his assistant Lily never meant to fall in love with him. Yes, the affair was wrong and both of them know it, but things spiral out of control when Pippa, Harry's wife discovers their secret. Somehow, we see all sides and sympathize with all of the characters. It's beautifully written as Woolf explores the nuances of relationships, desires, guilt, love, and heartbreak. Poignant and heartbreaking, this novel will resonate with me for a long time.
November 29, 2019
I loved the book. I read England's Lane, by Emma Woolf some time a month ago, maybe two. I loved the storyline inside the story of the loss. It touches very carefully many a nowadays' challenges. I loved the characters, I wish it was more detailed. I hope Emma did not tell 'us' everything, maybe it needs to ripe, maybe it is on purpose. I think I will be waiting for the sequel.
April 19, 2020
Through a cheating storyline, the author takes you through the aftermath of untreated depression. Well written and very emotional.
November 29, 2025
I was irritated the entire time I was reading this book. Right from the get go, I couldn’t stand the MMC. He has a wife, two sons, and guess what… a 20-something girlfriend he met at work. Oh, and he hired her to work at his company because…. He had to have her. Blech. His wife finds more and more evidence against him and guess what.. ‘no you’re crazy.. let’s move past this’. While he continues to promise his mistress the world, while simultaneously telling her he doesn’t want to leave his sons, he’s also growing more and more weary from his double life. He’s ask alcoholic, abusing his pain meds, and disregarding the advice his therapist is giving him. Surprisingly, he is honest with his therapist, so I guess there’s that.
He keeps growing closer to a mental snap until one day, he starts stalking his mistress. And not the kind of stalking that TikTok thinks is sexy. The mistress runs into an old flame who’s going through a divorce and they decide to catch up. Ding Dong see a man at mistresses house and decides to initiate a physical altercation. Later, wife approaches him with a dream come true for him. She says: ‘I know about what’s her name, you can go. I’m keeping the house and the kids, but we don’t have to fight. You’re never here anyways, so Just go be happy.’ He can’t accept that she’s actually figured it out and instead of accepting the gift she’s giving, decides that continuing to gaslight her is the best option. Except.. now the unhappiness, and the deceit, and the weight of his affair is catching up to him. His wife knows and wants out. He believes that his young mistress who deserves to have a full relationship is looking for one. And he just can’t bear it. So, instead of taking any accountability for any of his actions, he flings himself off a cliff to leave the mess for everyone else to clean up. His wife and two kids. His mistress who, to add a cliche to the rest of the cliches, finds out she’s pregnant after he dies. All having to learn to live without him. And while I believe they’ll be better for it, everyone will still have to grieve him. There’s a whole lot of healing, learning, and forgiveness that comes after this part of the book. New loves and happily ever Afters. But I can’t stand a cheater. And knowing he didn’t have to look his wife in the faces and tell her he got another woman pregnant is dissatisfying. This is why I read fantasy. Someone will love this book. I didn’t care for any of the characters except the kids. And the only reason I even finished this book is because I needed to know that the wife got closure.
He keeps growing closer to a mental snap until one day, he starts stalking his mistress. And not the kind of stalking that TikTok thinks is sexy. The mistress runs into an old flame who’s going through a divorce and they decide to catch up. Ding Dong see a man at mistresses house and decides to initiate a physical altercation. Later, wife approaches him with a dream come true for him. She says: ‘I know about what’s her name, you can go. I’m keeping the house and the kids, but we don’t have to fight. You’re never here anyways, so Just go be happy.’ He can’t accept that she’s actually figured it out and instead of accepting the gift she’s giving, decides that continuing to gaslight her is the best option. Except.. now the unhappiness, and the deceit, and the weight of his affair is catching up to him. His wife knows and wants out. He believes that his young mistress who deserves to have a full relationship is looking for one. And he just can’t bear it. So, instead of taking any accountability for any of his actions, he flings himself off a cliff to leave the mess for everyone else to clean up. His wife and two kids. His mistress who, to add a cliche to the rest of the cliches, finds out she’s pregnant after he dies. All having to learn to live without him. And while I believe they’ll be better for it, everyone will still have to grieve him. There’s a whole lot of healing, learning, and forgiveness that comes after this part of the book. New loves and happily ever Afters. But I can’t stand a cheater. And knowing he didn’t have to look his wife in the faces and tell her he got another woman pregnant is dissatisfying. This is why I read fantasy. Someone will love this book. I didn’t care for any of the characters except the kids. And the only reason I even finished this book is because I needed to know that the wife got closure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2019
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'There’s something going on. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but Harry’s been acting weird all evening. And there’s something else- the house feels different.'
Relationships truly are a mystery, Lily’s is that much more complicated as ‘the other woman’. Desire takes us where it will, Lily knows this better than anyone when she falls in love with her boss married Harry, twenty years her senior. He isn’t in love with his wife anymore, she isn’t giving him what he needs anymore but isn’t it always ease to poke another person’s ‘dead’ marriage with a stick, to commiserate with your lover, doesn’t it act as a spell to ward off logic? Pippa is Harry’s wife, Pippa who is in her mid forties and feels every bit of her age, who senses what she doesn’t know, feels Harry pulling away, checked out emotionally, going through the motions. She knows something is off but isn’t seeing the whole puzzle, not yet. Isn’t sure of her doubts, but they are growing. Inside Harry resents Pippa, posting about their ‘happy’ family on social media, his marriage feels like a web he is caught in, desperate to understand where the carefree, beautiful woman she once was went. Of course here I think, she grew older, life’s demands pull at us, in any long term relationship, married or not, it’s hard to keep things fresh, the intimacy in living together pulls us close but too, it can be very unromantic, that’s life. When you have children, of course attention is divided and time is harder to corral.
Harry wants to be a good man, he loves his children but he feels alive again with Lily. He fell for the much younger Lily against his will, it isn’t some cheap thrill for him, and it’s taking an emotional toll. This love he has for her is enough to risk being caught, bringing her into his own home! All I could think was, does he want a confrontation, in a sense forcing Lily into solidifying her feelings, their relationship? This time they get away with it, but Harry doesn’t want to get away with it. He would give up everything for her. For Harry there must be a painful ending to reach the joyful beginning if he is to have Lily in his life, he must give up his wife, but what about his boys? Harry does torture himself, Lily soon becomes all he can feel!
Pippa is tracking Harry’s lies, people don’t lie unless there are secrets. He is no longer making an effort in their family. She has become the invisible wife, it can’t possibly be her insecurities, she sees him on the phone late at night, he is more often than not late from work, she can no longer ignore what is right in front of her face. But there is fear too in facing the ugly, brutal truth of no longer being wanted, loved. When the confrontation comes, he won’t be able to blame her, to tell her she is just ‘overeating’. Her words drift over cyberspace, her only comfort is through the followers of her blog who check on her. Just how much of her life, her marriage to Harry has been a lie? Is she to see things end? How much time does she need to get used to the idea of divorce? She isn’t the one who wants her family destroyed! She didn’t sign up for that. Should she just remain on the periphery of her own marriage hoping against hope that Harry will love her again, should she allow herself to die inside because he is unhappy and just get used to the idea?
Lily has allowed her life to revolve around her beloved Harry and stealing any time she can with him, always at his convenience, because it isn’t easy for a married father to get away. But what will happen if/when she has him fully to herself? Isn’t there safety too in a relationship that offers you freedom, the refreshing comfort of distance? What happens when you realize you don’t fully know the man you’ve entered into an affair with? That you aren’t privy to the same man as his wife is?
We stumble into love, fall in and out of it… it’s always thrilling at the start, when the dew hasn’t been wiped from our eyes, before we’ve uncovered flaws, and with affairs like Harry and Lily’s, you are not fully engaged in each other’s lives, there is protection in the bubble of your love. It’s not being tested in the way of family, friends, children and outside influences chipping away at your love for each other. Some do stay when they fall out of love in their own marriages, be it for the children, due to finances, their own inertia, their cowardice, out of loyalty and sometimes they fall back in love. Sometimes it’s not about your spouse, it’s your own funk that distorts reality. Even if you leave for another woman/man, if it’s internal suffering, that goes with you too.
In Lily’s case, her sister tells her ‘you’re the free agent’ but in reality, that’s not true when you get entangled in another’s life, and allow them to help you. You have involved yourself, there is always the risk of it all coming crashing down when other people can be hurt.
For Harry he doesn’t see a solution, stay… leave… nothing is as it could be. He carries a heavy depression, but maybe it isn’t about Lily or Pippa maybe an affair is a catalyst. He is conflicted to the point of breakdown. His emotions are running away from him, he isn’t maintaining his calm, and there will be consequences for them all.
This is more about what remains in the aftermath of an affair. How things fall apart, or come together, what happens to those left behind to salvage whatever they can from the person they loved. It is an exploration of where we place blame and how we move on. I feel the story somehow is more about Lily, particularly towards the middle when we learn about her own abandoned family and her father Claude. Part two feels like another life entirely, and maybe that’s the point.
Can you answer the question “why do some people just pick up an leave”? Hmmm. Human beings are complicated wrecks sometimes. We often go against our better judgement and let our hearts take the lead. Love is a risk like anything else, even the best relationships can wither and die as much as the most ill advised ones can surprise us all and last a lifetime. Love can be found in the most unexpected places, even after you’ve lost hope.
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
Amberjack Publishing
'There’s something going on. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but Harry’s been acting weird all evening. And there’s something else- the house feels different.'
Relationships truly are a mystery, Lily’s is that much more complicated as ‘the other woman’. Desire takes us where it will, Lily knows this better than anyone when she falls in love with her boss married Harry, twenty years her senior. He isn’t in love with his wife anymore, she isn’t giving him what he needs anymore but isn’t it always ease to poke another person’s ‘dead’ marriage with a stick, to commiserate with your lover, doesn’t it act as a spell to ward off logic? Pippa is Harry’s wife, Pippa who is in her mid forties and feels every bit of her age, who senses what she doesn’t know, feels Harry pulling away, checked out emotionally, going through the motions. She knows something is off but isn’t seeing the whole puzzle, not yet. Isn’t sure of her doubts, but they are growing. Inside Harry resents Pippa, posting about their ‘happy’ family on social media, his marriage feels like a web he is caught in, desperate to understand where the carefree, beautiful woman she once was went. Of course here I think, she grew older, life’s demands pull at us, in any long term relationship, married or not, it’s hard to keep things fresh, the intimacy in living together pulls us close but too, it can be very unromantic, that’s life. When you have children, of course attention is divided and time is harder to corral.
Harry wants to be a good man, he loves his children but he feels alive again with Lily. He fell for the much younger Lily against his will, it isn’t some cheap thrill for him, and it’s taking an emotional toll. This love he has for her is enough to risk being caught, bringing her into his own home! All I could think was, does he want a confrontation, in a sense forcing Lily into solidifying her feelings, their relationship? This time they get away with it, but Harry doesn’t want to get away with it. He would give up everything for her. For Harry there must be a painful ending to reach the joyful beginning if he is to have Lily in his life, he must give up his wife, but what about his boys? Harry does torture himself, Lily soon becomes all he can feel!
Pippa is tracking Harry’s lies, people don’t lie unless there are secrets. He is no longer making an effort in their family. She has become the invisible wife, it can’t possibly be her insecurities, she sees him on the phone late at night, he is more often than not late from work, she can no longer ignore what is right in front of her face. But there is fear too in facing the ugly, brutal truth of no longer being wanted, loved. When the confrontation comes, he won’t be able to blame her, to tell her she is just ‘overeating’. Her words drift over cyberspace, her only comfort is through the followers of her blog who check on her. Just how much of her life, her marriage to Harry has been a lie? Is she to see things end? How much time does she need to get used to the idea of divorce? She isn’t the one who wants her family destroyed! She didn’t sign up for that. Should she just remain on the periphery of her own marriage hoping against hope that Harry will love her again, should she allow herself to die inside because he is unhappy and just get used to the idea?
Lily has allowed her life to revolve around her beloved Harry and stealing any time she can with him, always at his convenience, because it isn’t easy for a married father to get away. But what will happen if/when she has him fully to herself? Isn’t there safety too in a relationship that offers you freedom, the refreshing comfort of distance? What happens when you realize you don’t fully know the man you’ve entered into an affair with? That you aren’t privy to the same man as his wife is?
We stumble into love, fall in and out of it… it’s always thrilling at the start, when the dew hasn’t been wiped from our eyes, before we’ve uncovered flaws, and with affairs like Harry and Lily’s, you are not fully engaged in each other’s lives, there is protection in the bubble of your love. It’s not being tested in the way of family, friends, children and outside influences chipping away at your love for each other. Some do stay when they fall out of love in their own marriages, be it for the children, due to finances, their own inertia, their cowardice, out of loyalty and sometimes they fall back in love. Sometimes it’s not about your spouse, it’s your own funk that distorts reality. Even if you leave for another woman/man, if it’s internal suffering, that goes with you too.
In Lily’s case, her sister tells her ‘you’re the free agent’ but in reality, that’s not true when you get entangled in another’s life, and allow them to help you. You have involved yourself, there is always the risk of it all coming crashing down when other people can be hurt.
For Harry he doesn’t see a solution, stay… leave… nothing is as it could be. He carries a heavy depression, but maybe it isn’t about Lily or Pippa maybe an affair is a catalyst. He is conflicted to the point of breakdown. His emotions are running away from him, he isn’t maintaining his calm, and there will be consequences for them all.
This is more about what remains in the aftermath of an affair. How things fall apart, or come together, what happens to those left behind to salvage whatever they can from the person they loved. It is an exploration of where we place blame and how we move on. I feel the story somehow is more about Lily, particularly towards the middle when we learn about her own abandoned family and her father Claude. Part two feels like another life entirely, and maybe that’s the point.
Can you answer the question “why do some people just pick up an leave”? Hmmm. Human beings are complicated wrecks sometimes. We often go against our better judgement and let our hearts take the lead. Love is a risk like anything else, even the best relationships can wither and die as much as the most ill advised ones can surprise us all and last a lifetime. Love can be found in the most unexpected places, even after you’ve lost hope.
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
Amberjack Publishing
September 10, 2019
Stuck with indecision, Harry falls in love with a woman he hired while still married to Pippa. He’s torn between destroying one woman’s life and destroying his own family.
Harry’s not the man Lily thinks he is. When he’s with her he’s alive and thriving. When he’s away he’s riddled with jealousy and loneliness.
Pippa and the boys have noticed him drifting away with excuses of work and travel. Pippa senses something else.
Lily’s happy in her little bubble with Harry perfectly content to keep their relationship on the down low.
Overall:
I struggled with this story due to its beginning. The affair completely threw me. I was focused on an entirely different story with different outcomes. I wish I had known this wasn’t about the affair.
It felt choppy and too matter-of-fact. The story begins with the affair then weaves into the wife and some personal issues regarding back pain. No other indicators regarding Harry’s intentions. I didn’t feel like I knew these characters. The author only touched upon superficial aspects of their characteristics not delving too deep.
I thought this was going to be a story about an affair, but it turned into a story about depression. Then after Harry’s situation I thought Pippa and Lily would meetup and talk about Harry, but that didn’t happen.
It wasn’t until part two that I gained a better understanding for what the plot concept was. By then the minute details of coping with the loss was tedious.
I appreciated how Pippa’s blog posts were set apart with italics. Her posts help illustrate where her feelings and concerns rest.
I do like how all parties involved in this arrangement had a voice. Pippa, the wife, blogs her concerns. Lily expresses her concerns with her sister. Harry speaks with a doctor regarding his feelings. Everyone’s feelings are accounted for, yet I’m waiting for something monumental to happen.
The beginning started off so strong then it went downhill after Harry’s situation. It was like two separate stories in one. I lost interest in part two. Part one was more interesting.
Harry’s not the man Lily thinks he is. When he’s with her he’s alive and thriving. When he’s away he’s riddled with jealousy and loneliness.
Pippa and the boys have noticed him drifting away with excuses of work and travel. Pippa senses something else.
Lily’s happy in her little bubble with Harry perfectly content to keep their relationship on the down low.
Overall:
I struggled with this story due to its beginning. The affair completely threw me. I was focused on an entirely different story with different outcomes. I wish I had known this wasn’t about the affair.
It felt choppy and too matter-of-fact. The story begins with the affair then weaves into the wife and some personal issues regarding back pain. No other indicators regarding Harry’s intentions. I didn’t feel like I knew these characters. The author only touched upon superficial aspects of their characteristics not delving too deep.
I thought this was going to be a story about an affair, but it turned into a story about depression. Then after Harry’s situation I thought Pippa and Lily would meetup and talk about Harry, but that didn’t happen.
It wasn’t until part two that I gained a better understanding for what the plot concept was. By then the minute details of coping with the loss was tedious.
I appreciated how Pippa’s blog posts were set apart with italics. Her posts help illustrate where her feelings and concerns rest.
I do like how all parties involved in this arrangement had a voice. Pippa, the wife, blogs her concerns. Lily expresses her concerns with her sister. Harry speaks with a doctor regarding his feelings. Everyone’s feelings are accounted for, yet I’m waiting for something monumental to happen.
The beginning started off so strong then it went downhill after Harry’s situation. It was like two separate stories in one. I lost interest in part two. Part one was more interesting.
May 19, 2019
This is a beautiful story, written in an easy, flowing, style which brings everything to life. Lily is 'the other woman' and Pippa 'the wronged wife', roles neither of them saw in their futures when they met Harry. This is the story of how those three lives merge together, move apart, and eventually affect not only those three but also those who love them most.
Pippa's story is written as a blog of her life, a smaller part but as devastating as both Lisa and Harry's which are written in the third person. This is not a story of jealousy, revenge, or bunny boiling hatred, instead it shows how when betrayal, dishonesty and infidelity enters a relationship it destroys it from the inside out and everything else pales into insignificance. Gradually though people find a way to deal with things and that is the heart of this sympathetically written novel.
With hindsight, now I have finished this book, I realise there were a lot of people in it but never once did any of them feel unnecessary or false in any way. They all had a place, a meaningful importance to one of the main characters and their stories would have been incomplete without them.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thoughtful novel where actions have consequences and the results are as realistically drawn as the characters they happen to.
Pippa's story is written as a blog of her life, a smaller part but as devastating as both Lisa and Harry's which are written in the third person. This is not a story of jealousy, revenge, or bunny boiling hatred, instead it shows how when betrayal, dishonesty and infidelity enters a relationship it destroys it from the inside out and everything else pales into insignificance. Gradually though people find a way to deal with things and that is the heart of this sympathetically written novel.
With hindsight, now I have finished this book, I realise there were a lot of people in it but never once did any of them feel unnecessary or false in any way. They all had a place, a meaningful importance to one of the main characters and their stories would have been incomplete without them.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thoughtful novel where actions have consequences and the results are as realistically drawn as the characters they happen to.
June 19, 2019
The opening of The Years After You finds us witnessing Lily and her boss Harry making love on the floor of his study in the marital home. When his wife Pippa returns unexpectedly, Lily is forced to escape through the back door. Our introduction to Lily gives a false impression of a selfish, foolish young woman but the unfolding story reveals the truth of her nature.
Lily is in love with Harry, but does not want to wreak his marriage and hurt his two sons. For his part, Harry is over his head captivated by Lily. He is charismatic, successful, works hard but suffers from debilitating back pain. When he witnesses Lily with another man, his mind goes into overdrive with jealousy, even though the encounter is innocent. What follows is tragic, leaving Pippa and Lily to deal with the outcome and the effects on their respective families and how they move on.
A very gentle read although a little non-challenging. My heart went out to Harry, less so to Pippa – although by rights she should have all the sympathy.
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
Lily is in love with Harry, but does not want to wreak his marriage and hurt his two sons. For his part, Harry is over his head captivated by Lily. He is charismatic, successful, works hard but suffers from debilitating back pain. When he witnesses Lily with another man, his mind goes into overdrive with jealousy, even though the encounter is innocent. What follows is tragic, leaving Pippa and Lily to deal with the outcome and the effects on their respective families and how they move on.
A very gentle read although a little non-challenging. My heart went out to Harry, less so to Pippa – although by rights she should have all the sympathy.
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
July 13, 2019
This is my first read by Emma Woolf. It took me a little while to get into the story line, but then I was hooked. Lily and Harry are having a affair after meeting at work. Harry's wife, Pippa, has worried something was happening with Harry but just can't put her finger on what is happening. But she finally figured out Lily was more than a colleague. This book is so much more than a book about an affair. It delves into what happens with the wife and the mistress after a suicide. How do the parties cope and what becomes of his memory? This is about grief and moving on. Pippa's last letter to Harry had me in tears, such a moving piece. There is a romantic component to this piece, as well as family drama. I found this book to be a fairly easy read. I finished it very quickly, over the period of a few days. I highly recommend this book to others and will be looking for other works by Emma Woolf. Special thanks to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
#TheYearsAfterYou #NetGalley
#TheYearsAfterYou #NetGalley
July 25, 2019
The Years after You is about illicit romance, suicide, healing, and moving on. Harry is married but having an affair with coworker Lily. His wife suspects and then finds out for certain. And then she does nothing, which makes her character wishy washy. Harry takes matters into his own hands which changes everyone's lives. Lily encounters a surprise of her own and also reconnects with her long lost father, adding more change to her life.
The writing was decent. I thought many of the characters were just one dimensional. The novel is very casual about Harry and Lily's affair, like it was of no consequence. I also thought the reintroduction of the father, who'd just walked out on his family, to be reunited many years later with acceptance and forgiveness by the abandoned children was pretty unbelievable. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.
The writing was decent. I thought many of the characters were just one dimensional. The novel is very casual about Harry and Lily's affair, like it was of no consequence. I also thought the reintroduction of the father, who'd just walked out on his family, to be reunited many years later with acceptance and forgiveness by the abandoned children was pretty unbelievable. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.
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September 9, 2019Reading this book demonstrates the fraility of human nature and how love and control are intertwined. Although I found the book well written and it certainly captured my imagination i also found it disturbing. The charaters are all very real and the reader gets the sense that they all know where they are going in life. How wrong can you be?
The author shows how mental illness can easily be disguised and how it is so easy to misread the signs of others every day behaviour. Mistaking neediness for love i guess is a common human failing. Although at one stage the reader gets a sense that several lives have been ripped apart it is interesting to read how they all manage to rebuild their lives after the death of the central character.
Overall I enjoyed the book but it isn't a read for escapism!
Don'
The author shows how mental illness can easily be disguised and how it is so easy to misread the signs of others every day behaviour. Mistaking neediness for love i guess is a common human failing. Although at one stage the reader gets a sense that several lives have been ripped apart it is interesting to read how they all manage to rebuild their lives after the death of the central character.
Overall I enjoyed the book but it isn't a read for escapism!
Don'
October 18, 2019
Emma Woolf’s novel The Years after You is a moving story about love, family, infidelity and death. The book shows a marital affair from all three sides: Lily, Harry and Harry's wife, Pippa. Rarely are there books that show you point-of-view of each of the involved characters, this was done so well. The way this book is presented allowed you to have sympathy for all three people in the affair. The only ones passing judgement were the characters themselves. Like the expression says there are three sides to every story and Woolf presented them very well here.
It is more Lily's story than anyone else’s. Everything comes full circle in the end and it has a poignancy to it that makes one reflective.
The Years After You is that rare book, beautifully written a sad and thoughtful story about choices and the effect it has on everyone around you.
It is more Lily's story than anyone else’s. Everything comes full circle in the end and it has a poignancy to it that makes one reflective.
The Years After You is that rare book, beautifully written a sad and thoughtful story about choices and the effect it has on everyone around you.
February 23, 2020
This book is about heated affairs, love, heartbreak, loss and rebuilding. It was a quick read told in a triple narrative between Lily, Pippa and Harry. It also deals with some darker topics like depression and suicide. It was a good drama and it flowed well.
An affair. Wife, mistress, the man in the middle. Laugh it off only to lie awake worrying later. Is this really happening? When it implodes, what then?
The assistant didn’t mean to fall in love and become “the other woman.” The wife was just venturing her first steps into life beyond the roles of mother and partner when her suspicions about another woman took root.
When the well-respected man sinks deeper into mental illness, each person’s next move isn’t a question of blame alone, but of the ethics of love—of unapologetic decisions and confronting the aftermath.
An affair. Wife, mistress, the man in the middle. Laugh it off only to lie awake worrying later. Is this really happening? When it implodes, what then?
The assistant didn’t mean to fall in love and become “the other woman.” The wife was just venturing her first steps into life beyond the roles of mother and partner when her suspicions about another woman took root.
When the well-respected man sinks deeper into mental illness, each person’s next move isn’t a question of blame alone, but of the ethics of love—of unapologetic decisions and confronting the aftermath.
June 10, 2019
When Lily finds herself romantically involved with her "married" boss Harry, she knows she is getting in over her head. She tries to keep things as "uncomplicated" as she "hopes" is possible under the circumstances, but Harry, can not be without her. He becomes obsessed with Lily. Meanwhile, Harry's wife, Pippa, discovers Harry's affair, but her love and faith in her husband leads her to believe that it is just a "phase", a "mid-life crisis", so she leaves it be, hoping it will resolve itself. Harry believes he could handle the situation, he was always so strong. But the pressure on Harry is more then he could handle, and he makes some drastic decisions. The ramifications of Harry's affair not only affect Lily and Pippa,( and Pippa's kids), but also their extended families, and everyone around them.
I don't want to have spoilers, but The Years After You is about loss, recovery from loss, and the role of friends and family for support during the stressful times. Emma Woolf describes the consequences of adultery on Lily and Pippa, each through their own eyes, which I really appreciated. Overall, it is a very relevant and topical book that I highly recommend. Thank You #netgalley for letting me read #theyearsafteryou by @emmawoolf1. 5 stars! Available Sept. 10th, 2019.
I don't want to have spoilers, but The Years After You is about loss, recovery from loss, and the role of friends and family for support during the stressful times. Emma Woolf describes the consequences of adultery on Lily and Pippa, each through their own eyes, which I really appreciated. Overall, it is a very relevant and topical book that I highly recommend. Thank You #netgalley for letting me read #theyearsafteryou by @emmawoolf1. 5 stars! Available Sept. 10th, 2019.
July 30, 2019
First, thank you the NetGalley, Emma Woolf, and Amberjack Publishing for the advanced copy of The Years After You. Not to give to much away, but never did I think that I would enjoy reading a story about a couple having an affair, let alone end up rooting for the mistress. The way that Emma Woolf tells the story of main character Lily, you can’t but help but understand her position and want to see the best turn out for her. Also, as much as the reader should probably not like Harry, the man in the middle, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. This story takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and up and downs with the characters, but in the end definitely gives everyone a much deserved and satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book.
August 19, 2019
Affairs never end well do they? Anyway you spin it, someone will be on the losing end. The story begins with Harry having an affair with his assistant. His wife Pippa takes awhile to catch on. The story is told mostly in the voice of Lily but perspectives are told by Harry and Pippa as well, giving a rounded view of how each is affected by the transgression.
The writing was good, clear and concise. Without giving anything away, I feel Ms. Wolf lost an opportunity to detail the hardships that follow losses of all types. The fairytale wrap up was disappointing and an easy way out. I wanted so much more from a book titled “The Years After You”.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
The writing was good, clear and concise. Without giving anything away, I feel Ms. Wolf lost an opportunity to detail the hardships that follow losses of all types. The fairytale wrap up was disappointing and an easy way out. I wanted so much more from a book titled “The Years After You”.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
October 3, 2019
Lily, Pippa, and Harry are in a triangle of a relationship. Told from each of their perspectives, this is about an affair- between Lily and Harry- that ends in both tragedy and renewal. Pippa's known that Harry and Lily are involved; she writes about in on her blog. Lily is deeply in love with Harry but she doesn't want him to leave Pippa and then she meets someone else. This sends Harry into a tailspin and ultimately to his suicide. Lily's unexpected pregnancy leaves her thinking about how she was raised without a dad - and to a new place in her life. While this is mostly Lily's story, Woolf has balanced the three characters so that you have a sense of each. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.
May 26, 2020
I have some mixed feelings about this one. For starters, it's the first book I have read with no chapters. I wouldn't have thought that would bother me, but it did. It felt like a run-on sentence the whole way through.
The story itself had a good premise. Love. Affairs. Betrayal. I enjoyed Part 1. The build up was a good one. Then Harry took his own life. Part 2 felt like a separate story. It was told from two perspectives, the wife and the mistress. However, their stories no longer intertwined. There's a moment, when you think things could get complicated, and then they don't.
I enjoyed reading about Lily's journey. But this one fell a bit flat for me.
Thanks #Netgalley for a copy of this ARC. Sorry my review's a little late.
The story itself had a good premise. Love. Affairs. Betrayal. I enjoyed Part 1. The build up was a good one. Then Harry took his own life. Part 2 felt like a separate story. It was told from two perspectives, the wife and the mistress. However, their stories no longer intertwined. There's a moment, when you think things could get complicated, and then they don't.
I enjoyed reading about Lily's journey. But this one fell a bit flat for me.
Thanks #Netgalley for a copy of this ARC. Sorry my review's a little late.
May 17, 2019
The Years After You by Emma Woolf is a standalone full length novel. It's an emotional read that had me in knots.
I really truly liked the writing, it's excellent by the way and I easily connected with the characters. It's the storyline that gave me some head - and heart - ache.
The Years After You is a book that gave me all the feels. I was sad, I laughed and at some point I was angry at the characters. My heart was bleeding for the characters and I wanted to love them, but their actions prevented it, sorry not sorry, no spoilers here. What I can say is the book is worth reading. I was glad I gave this new to me author a try. I give 4,75 heartwrenchingly beautiful stars.
I really truly liked the writing, it's excellent by the way and I easily connected with the characters. It's the storyline that gave me some head - and heart - ache.
The Years After You is a book that gave me all the feels. I was sad, I laughed and at some point I was angry at the characters. My heart was bleeding for the characters and I wanted to love them, but their actions prevented it, sorry not sorry, no spoilers here. What I can say is the book is worth reading. I was glad I gave this new to me author a try. I give 4,75 heartwrenchingly beautiful stars.
September 18, 2023
I really was gripped by the beginning of this story. It was an emotional read for me and it shows the grey in what most people see as a black and white situation. It definitely a story that makes you think.
A real story about life and consequences to our actions and the ripple effect it can have, The story is told in 3 viewpoints which I always enjoy and found it interesting with the topic. However some parts were a little predictable for me. It was a quick read for me so it is a page turner.
I would recommend this one to anyone who feels like a bit of a cry.
Thank you to Emma Woolf, NetGalley and the publishers.
A real story about life and consequences to our actions and the ripple effect it can have, The story is told in 3 viewpoints which I always enjoy and found it interesting with the topic. However some parts were a little predictable for me. It was a quick read for me so it is a page turner.
I would recommend this one to anyone who feels like a bit of a cry.
Thank you to Emma Woolf, NetGalley and the publishers.
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