I still haven’t seen the film version of Me Before You, but I loved the book. I had pre-ordered the sequel last year, after the rave reviews, but after reading MBY I wasn’t really sure how JoJo Moyes could continue with this story.
From the blurb:
Lou Clark has lots of questions.
Like how is it 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 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…
Lou’s life has gone a bit off-piste. She had planned out a whole new life, starting with a design course, but losing the love of her life has sent her spiraling.
Now working at an awful Irish themed airport bar, Lou is struggling to move on. An accident makes her start to think about what she’s going to do with her life, when she makes a dramatic discovery; a girl called Lilly shows up on her doorstep claiming to be Will’s daughter.
I don’t want to say anything else, as it might ruin it for you. I know a lot of readers weren’t happy with this book, but Jojo Moyes was really brave to write.a sequel to such a beloved novel. The Lou in this book is in a much darker place than in Me Before You, and is clearly having difficulties bouncing back from losing Will.
After You is more of a traditional chick lit story than MBY, and I really enjoyed it. Lou’s family are as amusing as ever, and the subplot of her mum discovering feminism was hilarious. Lily is quite sweet underneath everything. I hate Treena. If my sister talked to me in such a judgey, unsupportive way I’d never speak to her again (luckily my sister is brilliant). The love interest in this book isn’t Will, will never be Will, but in many ways is a better fit for Lou. Lou wasn’t enough to make Will want to live, but the new love interest (I’m not saying who it is!) chooses her, she is enough for him. I’m really happy that Lou gets some sort of closure in this book.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments to below – will you be reading this book or are you happy to leave things at the end of Me Before You?
Cheerio!
Stephani Xxx
Stephani Michelle 