Book Review: After You by Jojo Moyes

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“After You” is the second book of the “Me Before You” series by Jojo Moyes. I highly highly recommend you read the first book (which is truly amazing and as emotionally moving as this one) before picking up this book!

See Also: Book Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Buy “After You”

“After You” follows Lou (Louisa Clark) after the passing of her paraplegic boyfriend Will Traynor. She is struggling with the grief of her loss. In the first book, she had spent 6 full months of knowing and loving Will, as well as caring for him.

This story starts off with a weird, extraordinary accident that Lou survives. Shortly after this ner-tragic turn of events, Lou is brought back to her family home where she has to face her grief.

She joins a Moving On support group. A group – full of people like her – that shares both laughter and frustration. Lou also forms a relationship with a handsome paramedic called Sam Fielding. He is the only one that seems to truly understand her.

But that’s not all… an unknown person of Will’s past emerges and Lou uncovers new facets of the deceased man she loves and mourns. Once again, Lou’s future is shaping up to be something she never expected.

At first, I was hesitant to delve into “After You”; it being a sequel of a first heartbreaking and heavy topic book. But I’m so glad I picked it up. It was not what I had expected/anticipated at all. It took the themes of the first book and extended them way beyond.

{MILD SPOILERS AHEAD}

The introduction of new characters – especially Lily and Sam – made Louisa’s character stronger and grow further. She found it within herself to be whole and to move on even as she undergoes the many stages of grief. We get to see her courageousness shine through and appreciate her bold side as it resurfaces once more despite it having been tamed by the grief of Will Traynor’s passing.

Honestly, this book truly dealt with topics like grief, fate, love, and second chances, to a whole new level. A realistic, brilliant portrayal of traumatic and heart-wrenching life and death-related events that one has the misfortune to go through in their lifetime.

This book was simply an impactful read and one that shouldn’t be neglected. The messages portrayed are important and the characters portrayed are so incredibly real and relatable.

P-S: If you cried in “Me Before You”; you might want to keep some tissues on hand for this one as well!

“You don’t have to let that one thing be the thing that defines you.” 

“Sometimes I felt as if we were all wading around in grief, reluctant to admit to others how far we were waving or drowning.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐