Hi Munchworms!
I finished After You by Jojo Moyes yesterday, so tadah! Review-time!
As you probably all know, this is the sequel to Me Before You. I advise you not to read this review if you haven’t read it yet, since it might contain spoilers. In saying that, I’m going to start my actual review, so if you don’t want spoilers: stop reading now! Now!
I loved Me Before You. Jojo Moyes had me hooked all the way through. I shared all frustrations, relief, laughter and – lots and lots of – tears. It made me crave the sequel, even though I knew there was a huge chance of crying again.
When picking up the book, I was kind of disappointed by the cover, though. It looks so simple. Too simple for my liking. But we all know that’s really personal and subjective anyway.
Reading the blurb immediately encourages me to dive back into Lou’s head and world. Somehow I remember so much of Me Before You that I’m just wondering what else Lou’s going to go through. I seriously couldn’t think of any possible scenario that would fill an entire book!
Lou Clark has lots of questions.
Like how it is she’s ended up working in an airport bar, 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 family can ever 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…
Once again, Moyes succeeds in making you go through all the emotions together with Lou. After losing someone, we all go through the same movements in our own way and those are beautifully portrayed in After You.
It has to be said, that Jojo Moyes also is a hero in describing the typical teenage hormones. All the outbursts, hurtful comments, mood swings and (fairly typical) incapability to simply thank someone and not take everything for granted… Yup, sounds about right. [Should I be ashamed to admit I was a teenager on the loose like that as well? Haha.]
Both Me Before You and After You are perfect examples of how every single person has a past, a story to tell. Even when – maybe especially when – it doesn’t seem like it at first. Nobody has had an easy life; we all have our hardships and Moyes makes an art of showcasing exactly that.
Both books have tugged on my heartstrings. I have to say that I’ve sat in my armchair not only laughing [out loud, might I add], being angry but also crying. Not a lot, just a bit. But enough to know that Jojo Moyes did it again.
She pulled me into Lou’s head, made me go through everything with her, reminded me how people each have their own way of dealing with grief.
Most importantly, she gave me another book to reread and enjoy.
“And what we learn through sharing our memories and our sadnesses and our little victories with each other is that it’s okay to feel sad. Or lost. Or angry. It’s okay to feel a whole host of things that other people might not understand, and often for a long time. Everyone has his or her own journey.”
Maybe it’s because I’m such a fan of her stories, her writing and the subjects she tackles, but I cannot for the life of me give this book any less than a 5/5.
This book asked for a whole load of comfort food on my part! So I’ve picked out the meal I enjoyed most when Lou was down and I was right there with her. Rice with a yum – and maybe a bit too spicy – curry! [I have to say the quality of this picture really is… bad. Just bad. But I didn’t have my camera on me so my phone had to do. Sorry!]
Kathy
I paid full-price for this book and this is my honest review for which I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
I’ve been telling myself not to purchase After You *yet* because it might ruin Me Before You for me by not being just as good but reading your review makes me want to read it right nowww
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I don’t think it ruins Me Before You! If anything, I was actually glad to find out how Lou was doing after everything. 😀
Curious to find out what you think if you end up reading it!
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As pathetic as this is, since reading Me Before You I have avoided the sequel at all costs simply because I didn’t want to read about Lou with another man! But your review is starting to make me reconsider 🙂
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That was one of my reasons for avoiding it as well. That and I didn’t feel like being a crybaby again, haha.
But in the end I just figured “what the hell” and went with it. In a way it’s good to see her with someone else though. I wouldn’t want anyone to keep pining over someone who isn’t even there anymore so at least I got some closure on how Lou ended up after all. 🙂
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Ah! I’m so glad you did this review. I’ve been postponing reading this because I loved Me Before You and Will Trainor so much. I might have to pick it up now. Lou was such a fun and loveable character.
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You’re welcome!
I also was a bit hesitant at first because I didn’t have a clue what would happen to Lou after Will but it was well worth the read! Hope you enjoy it as well if and when you read it. 😊
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Yay another person who completely loved the two books as much as I did! Such beautiful stories and Lou is such a wonderful character.
Did you watch the me before you film? 🙂
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Haha, yay!
No, I haven’t honestly. I’ve been meaning to, but every time I think of it I’m like “Nope, so not in the mood to be a crying baby right now.” >-<
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That’s how I was at first but I love Emilia Clarke so I had to watch it. I cried watching it!!
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I’m so going to cry as well.. I’m going to keep it for an evening when I’m home alone, haha. [Should check first if it’s on Netflix though..]
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You’ve definitely got me interested in this sequel. I loved the first book ALOT and honestly didn’t know if I could read After You but I sure will after your review!
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Yay! Glad I persuaded you!
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Glad you did too!!
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Fun to read the review, I´m trying to gather my thoughts and emotions a bit before writing my review. But I was so so so scared of this book but when I started it gosh it was so good!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it! ^-^
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