Book Review: After You by JOJO MOYES

• Published: 30/06/2016
• Format: Paperback
• 409 pages

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Lou Clark has lots of questions.

Like how it is she’s ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places.

Or why the flat she’s owned for a year still doesn’t feel like home.

Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago.

And will she ever get over the love of her life.

What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change.

Then, one night, it does.

But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for – or just more questions?

Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe.

Open it and she risks everything.

But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she’s going to keep it, she has to invite them in . . .

*BEFORE YOU READ THIS REVIEW, PLEASE BE AWARE THERE MIGHT BE SOME SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK ONE: ME BEFORE YOU*

I’ve waited, what seems like months, to read the sequel to Me Before you, which has left me in quite a state to be absolutely honest. Tears pouring down my face, puffy eyes and totally unable to speak properly. The book that had such a strong emotional impact on me that I didn’t know if or when I will be ready to pick up the second book and follow Lou’s life after heartbreaking events at the end of Me Before You.

But After You felt like coming back to comfort zone somehow. I enjoy the author’s writing style, the emotion, humor and lightness she can give certain situations. I was so pleased to be drawn back to Lou’s crazy life, follow her on the road of recovery, mending her crushed heart.

Lou being such a wild spirit has lost someone who was extremely important, someone who truly showed her what life should be about and pointed her the right way to live it. But Lou finds herself in place, where she wants to learn how to live like she should, but deep down, scars on her heart are still too fresh and pain feels too raw to move on. It’s not about time it takes to get over someone, it’s about taking time until we realize we are ready to let go. And Lou is not ready to do that just yet, there is still something, something that holds her back.

Out of nowhere someone comes into her life and changes her life, someone she feels suddenly responsible for and needs to take care of. Roller-coaster of situations following throws Lou into different places and makes her at times forget her own life and struggles, what is probably just what she needed.

This book is less emotional than the first one but still didn’t fail to make me laugh, shake my head and also cry. The feelings don’t always have to be super powerful and make you feel deflated afterwards, it’s also about feelings that make you just dull and sad sometimes as that’s what grief is about. All its different stages. Desperation and loss of hope that good times will come again. And this book gave it all and more.

I absolutely enjoyed reading it and can’t wait to read follow up of Lou’s adventures in Still me which is already awaiting me on my Kindle.

If you haven't read my review of Me Before you, you can find it here.