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calyxconcision's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I don't remember much of the book, since the last time I read it was years ago, but I remember it following Louisa's life back home after Will's death in Switzerland. I loved the exploration of Louisa's grief and knowing she has to accept Will's death as it was his choice, following along with her as she tried to move on from him to a life with more of a future, but at the same time, resenting him for that choice.
The only thing I have a gripe about is the use and insertion of Lily. Will's biological daughter he never met, and I can't remember if he knew about her or not, but I'm pretty sure the two never knew each other, nor did they have any relationship, but Louisa notes how much Lily acts like Will, if I remember correctly which, if they never met each other, left me confused. Not to mention, I'm not a fan of the secret child plot device anyway, but I feel like she was only put in Louisa's life to remind her of Will as she grapples with letting go and holding on to her grief. I can't help but believe Louisa's memories of Will and her life with the Traynors should have been enough since he was, essentially, the love of her life.
I think it would have been nice to see her try to move on with Sam while struggling to accept he would never be Will, and she could and would never ask Sam to change himself for Lou so she can hang on to a ghost. I understand the use of Lily, I understand what Moyes was going for, but eh, not a fan.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book.
I don't remember much of the book, since the last time I read it was years ago, but I remember it following Louisa's life back home after Will's death in Switzerland. I loved the exploration of Louisa's grief and knowing she has to accept Will's death as it was his choice, following along with her as she tried to move on from him to a life with more of a future, but at the same time, resenting him for that choice.
The only thing I have a gripe about is the use and insertion of Lily. Will's biological daughter he never met, and I can't remember if he knew about her or not, but I'm pretty sure the two never knew each other, nor did they have any relationship, but Louisa notes how much Lily acts like Will, if I remember correctly which, if they never met each other, left me confused. Not to mention, I'm not a fan of the secret child plot device anyway, but I feel like she was only put in Louisa's life to remind her of Will as she grapples with letting go and holding on to her grief. I can't help but believe Louisa's memories of Will and her life with the Traynors should have been enough since he was, essentially, the love of her life.
I think it would have been nice to see her try to move on with Sam while struggling to accept he would never be Will, and she could and would never ask Sam to change himself for Lou so she can hang on to a ghost. I understand the use of Lily, I understand what Moyes was going for, but eh, not a fan.
Other than that, I enjoyed the book.
areadingrose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
After reading some of the other reviews I want to emphasize I was underwhelmed by the first book and I felt this sequel redeemed it for me.
Additionally some say that Lou is completely different and this book doesn’t feel like the same series but I think that’s the point. I think if you were completely happy with the choices the characters made in this book then JoJo Moues would not be writing about grief and general life development correctly.
Also this review really is just a general overview of themes of the book. If I focus too much on the actual character actions I’ll probably just continue to lower the rating.
This book gave me emotional whiplash. At times I hated it and thought it’d be generous if I gave it two stars. And then the other times I loved it and I cried. It felt like I was Lou trying to figure out my emotions and instead of understanding grief I was trying to understand my feelings about this book.
At times I was so frustrated with Lou and all the characters. They felt stuck and repetitive and I wanted to scream this is a fictional book “JUST MOVE ON”. But I think that’s what is so beautiful about JoJo Moyes writing. It’s honest and brutal and frustrating.
Also, I don’t like Lilly. I think she was TOLERABLE at best by the end of the book. But I wasn’t really reading it for her and I think my general disdain for her added to my overall enjoyment of the book. I think it was necessary to show her development of grieving someone she never knew because Lou learned as much as she could from the experience.
By the end of the book I felt nothing but joy with the way things ended for each character. Despite the fact I was incredibly frustrated by their journeys and development to get to that point.
This book is a beautiful story about the comfort of staying in the same place and growing pains can be incredibly challenging.
Will told Lou to “just live”. She took it so literally and wanted to great things with her life that I think she overlooked the simple fact Will was just telling her to keep moving forward. That when you experience grief and loss it’s so much easier to shut down and to stay still than it is to continue on with the life you have been given. So I think when Lou thought she wasn’t living up to expectations they were her own expectations because what more could the dead want from the living other than for them to just keep moving.
Additionally some say that Lou is completely different and this book doesn’t feel like the same series but I think that’s the point. I think if you were completely happy with the choices the characters made in this book then JoJo Moues would not be writing about grief and general life development correctly.
Also this review really is just a general overview of themes of the book. If I focus too much on the actual character actions I’ll probably just continue to lower the rating.
This book gave me emotional whiplash. At times I hated it and thought it’d be generous if I gave it two stars. And then the other times I loved it and I cried. It felt like I was Lou trying to figure out my emotions and instead of understanding grief I was trying to understand my feelings about this book.
At times I was so frustrated with Lou and all the characters. They felt stuck and repetitive and I wanted to scream this is a fictional book “JUST MOVE ON”. But I think that’s what is so beautiful about JoJo Moyes writing. It’s honest and brutal and frustrating.
Also, I don’t like Lilly. I think she was TOLERABLE at best by the end of the book. But I wasn’t really reading it for her and I think my general disdain for her added to my overall enjoyment of the book. I think it was necessary to show her development of grieving someone she never knew because Lou learned as much as she could from the experience.
By the end of the book I felt nothing but joy with the way things ended for each character. Despite the fact I was incredibly frustrated by their journeys and development to get to that point.
This book is a beautiful story about the comfort of staying in the same place and growing pains can be incredibly challenging.
Will told Lou to “just live”. She took it so literally and wanted to great things with her life that I think she overlooked the simple fact Will was just telling her to keep moving forward. That when you experience grief and loss it’s so much easier to shut down and to stay still than it is to continue on with the life you have been given. So I think when Lou thought she wasn’t living up to expectations they were her own expectations because what more could the dead want from the living other than for them to just keep moving.
campreadkarin's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
asilannabell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
molly_burton05's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ahgeak's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
guiwalden's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like it. I hated it so bad.
Will and Lou mean so much to me and to be honest, it took me a whole year to finally give this a go; knowing very well that my appreciation for this story would never be the same with the first book.
Will and Lou mean so much to me and to be honest, it took me a whole year to finally give this a go; knowing very well that my appreciation for this story would never be the same with the first book.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
This year, after Harper Lee’s much-anticipated work, this novel is probably the most eagerly awaited book of 2015. Like that book, most readers will probably be concerned that the author takes their beloved protagonists in directions they feared. Well - have no fear!
Me Before You was a book that struck a chord with so many readers. I can’t imagine that anyone reading either this review, or the sequel will be doing so with no knowledge of its predecessor (but if so, this review will contain a SERIOUS spoiler).
Moyes states in her introduction that she wrote After You for all those readers who have questioned her since first reading about Will and Louisa – what happened next? It was one of those books that had a definite ending, but also begged the question – what WOULD happen after the end of the story?
It’s now two years on since Will’s assisted suicide. Louisa Clark, his carer, is still grieving terribly for the man she grew to love. She has been unable to move on with her life; is working a dead-end job in a airport theme-bar (with possibly the world’s worst uniform) and living in an empty flat. An accident, requiring paramedics to come to her aid, sees Lou falling back on her family for a time, and giving her a chance to see how Will's death has affected more than just herself. It also leads to a grief support group.
Moyes’ characteristic style brings a sad smile with the eccentric, the loveable and the strange at the Moving On support group. One teenager there strikes a chord with Lou, and when she meets his dad, Sam, she feels the first stirring of connection since Will…
We revisit Lou and her family in After You. It was never going to be an “After the ‘happily ever after’”, it couldn’t possibly be that. But they are all still there, moving on with their lives. Will’s parents have moved on, in very different ways. Lou’s more so, we see her sister and parents two years on, and what change can happen in that time. I didn't find her parents' situation as funny as I think I was meant to, a little stereotypical, but that's just me.
Surprises abound (don't worry - no spoilers!), taking the story in unexpected directions. There’s also some unexpected (and uncharacteristic) excitement and action. This could make an excellent TV series or film.
And Will’s voice is still here, in Lou’s mind. Moyes has created a very moving and realistic grieving woman in Lou: she can’t forget Will at times when you want her to make changes, take opportunities. Her support group is full of characters telling stories that are also very emotional – I wonder if Moyes visited support groups to research this area.
Moyes vacillates between the sad and the amusing, very successfully. Lou finds herself slowly connecting again with the world, though the story does show us that it’s only the individual themselves that can break through the barriers and change their lives – it won’t happen by itself.
I instantly felt calmed when Sam enters the story, I could see that Will has a worthy successor as a potential romantic interest for Lou, and their story has its ups and down (and twists), as only half of the whole plot.
The guilt of being the one left behind, the sorrow at living without a loved one, and the way life continues on regardless and that we must pick up the pieces and carry on is a major theme of the book. That's life after all, as every one of us will one day experience.
You'll relish meeting old cherished faces again, and hopefully feel at home quite quickly with a few new ones.
Moyes has carefully crafted a sequel that should both appeal to her fans and satisfy their thirst for a conclusion for Lou, one that takes its time in getting to a point at which you feel you can leave her to her own devices.
I loved it. The same tone and style, lots of humour and pathos, and a very fitting denouement to Will and Lou's story.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
Me Before You was a book that struck a chord with so many readers. I can’t imagine that anyone reading either this review, or the sequel will be doing so with no knowledge of its predecessor (but if so, this review will contain a SERIOUS spoiler).
Moyes states in her introduction that she wrote After You for all those readers who have questioned her since first reading about Will and Louisa – what happened next? It was one of those books that had a definite ending, but also begged the question – what WOULD happen after the end of the story?
It’s now two years on since Will’s assisted suicide. Louisa Clark, his carer, is still grieving terribly for the man she grew to love. She has been unable to move on with her life; is working a dead-end job in a airport theme-bar (with possibly the world’s worst uniform) and living in an empty flat. An accident, requiring paramedics to come to her aid, sees Lou falling back on her family for a time, and giving her a chance to see how Will's death has affected more than just herself. It also leads to a grief support group.
Moyes’ characteristic style brings a sad smile with the eccentric, the loveable and the strange at the Moving On support group. One teenager there strikes a chord with Lou, and when she meets his dad, Sam, she feels the first stirring of connection since Will…
We revisit Lou and her family in After You. It was never going to be an “After the ‘happily ever after’”, it couldn’t possibly be that. But they are all still there, moving on with their lives. Will’s parents have moved on, in very different ways. Lou’s more so, we see her sister and parents two years on, and what change can happen in that time. I didn't find her parents' situation as funny as I think I was meant to, a little stereotypical, but that's just me.
Surprises abound (don't worry - no spoilers!), taking the story in unexpected directions. There’s also some unexpected (and uncharacteristic) excitement and action. This could make an excellent TV series or film.
And Will’s voice is still here, in Lou’s mind. Moyes has created a very moving and realistic grieving woman in Lou: she can’t forget Will at times when you want her to make changes, take opportunities. Her support group is full of characters telling stories that are also very emotional – I wonder if Moyes visited support groups to research this area.
Moyes vacillates between the sad and the amusing, very successfully. Lou finds herself slowly connecting again with the world, though the story does show us that it’s only the individual themselves that can break through the barriers and change their lives – it won’t happen by itself.
I instantly felt calmed when Sam enters the story, I could see that Will has a worthy successor as a potential romantic interest for Lou, and their story has its ups and down (and twists), as only half of the whole plot.
The guilt of being the one left behind, the sorrow at living without a loved one, and the way life continues on regardless and that we must pick up the pieces and carry on is a major theme of the book. That's life after all, as every one of us will one day experience.
You'll relish meeting old cherished faces again, and hopefully feel at home quite quickly with a few new ones.
Moyes has carefully crafted a sequel that should both appeal to her fans and satisfy their thirst for a conclusion for Lou, one that takes its time in getting to a point at which you feel you can leave her to her own devices.
I loved it. The same tone and style, lots of humour and pathos, and a very fitting denouement to Will and Lou's story.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.