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A review by charlottereads56
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I love Taylor Jenkins Reid ! Her writing style is brilliant and I devoured this book in one sitting.
I can identify some commonalities in her writing style now. Morally grey/ complicated/ not necessarily immediatly loveable strong female protagonist who finds herself through the situation her romantic relationships pit her through. What I love about these books is that the romantic relationship is often less important than some of the platonic or the relationship to the self. This is no different as despite this novel detailing Lauren and Ryan’s 1 year split it is a positive novel. We see Lauren through highs and lows and it feels so personal. We learn to love her despite her abruptness and selfishness.
Throughout the book I found myself rooting for various endings- Lauren and Ryan together again, each of them with different people , Lauren meeting her new true love. But towards the end I realised as long as they were happy I was happy. corny but it’s true and shows how complex these characters really are.
Reid always writes amazing sibling dynamics and Lauren’s relationship with Charlie and Rachel. Seeing each of their perspectives on love and marriage too was brilliant. A close family unit with their mum and grandma was beautiful. I adored Lois and her advice was so smart and really makes you think about alternate scenarios Lauren’s and Ryan could have taken to fix their relationship. <spoilers> when she died I was devastated and yes it’s very dramatic that little Louis was born on the same night but I’m a sucker for the drama. It didn’t feel forced or overdramatised but felt like it fit in with the familial love and the loves of the past and future all together. <\spoilers>
I adore thumper. Everyone’s relationship with that dog was so lifelike. Rachel has my heart, I want her to succeed with her new business so much. <spoilers> and I’m glad Lauren and Ryan ended up together. It fit. It worked. I loved that I didn’t know if they would until the very end. <\spoilers>
This book has given me a great perspective on long term relationships. The fact the spark may die, but the love hasn’t necessarily. That love takes effort and communication and you need to try as much as you want it. Wanting it isn’t enough. I think this is a book that could benefit so many and I’m really glad I read it.
Having read this I can say I prefer TJR new books where they focus more on the celebrity setting but nonetheless I adore her older stories like this and one true loves where it’s about the romance and the development of a regular person. All her characters are gorgeous and I love them.
I can identify some commonalities in her writing style now. Morally grey/ complicated/ not necessarily immediatly loveable strong female protagonist who finds herself through the situation her romantic relationships pit her through. What I love about these books is that the romantic relationship is often less important than some of the platonic or the relationship to the self. This is no different as despite this novel detailing Lauren and Ryan’s 1 year split it is a positive novel. We see Lauren through highs and lows and it feels so personal. We learn to love her despite her abruptness and selfishness.
Throughout the book I found myself rooting for various endings- Lauren and Ryan together again, each of them with different people , Lauren meeting her new true love. But towards the end I realised as long as they were happy I was happy. corny but it’s true and shows how complex these characters really are.
Reid always writes amazing sibling dynamics and Lauren’s relationship with Charlie and Rachel. Seeing each of their perspectives on love and marriage too was brilliant. A close family unit with their mum and grandma was beautiful. I adored Lois and her advice was so smart and really makes you think about alternate scenarios Lauren’s and Ryan could have taken to fix their relationship. <spoilers> when she died I was devastated and yes it’s very dramatic that little Louis was born on the same night but I’m a sucker for the drama. It didn’t feel forced or overdramatised but felt like it fit in with the familial love and the loves of the past and future all together. <\spoilers>
I adore thumper. Everyone’s relationship with that dog was so lifelike. Rachel has my heart, I want her to succeed with her new business so much. <spoilers> and I’m glad Lauren and Ryan ended up together. It fit. It worked. I loved that I didn’t know if they would until the very end. <\spoilers>
This book has given me a great perspective on long term relationships. The fact the spark may die, but the love hasn’t necessarily. That love takes effort and communication and you need to try as much as you want it. Wanting it isn’t enough. I think this is a book that could benefit so many and I’m really glad I read it.
Having read this I can say I prefer TJR new books where they focus more on the celebrity setting but nonetheless I adore her older stories like this and one true loves where it’s about the romance and the development of a regular person. All her characters are gorgeous and I love them.