Review: After You (Me Before You #2) by Jojo Moyes

3 stars for After You (Me Before You book 2) by Jojo Moyes.

It seems like yesterday that I cry my heart out when I flip to the last page of the highly acclaimed novel, Me Before You. At that time, I feel as if a part of me has died alongside the ending of a story that revolves around a quadriplegic. No, it is not simply a case of suffering from a book hangover, it is much more; it is the emotional trauma – sadness, helplessness and loneliness - of being forced to accept the cruel reality of an ending which until today, I still find hard to accept.

Since finishing said novel, I have - more than anything - gladly added author Jojo Moyes to my list of favourite writers. From then on, I have been keeping tabs on this journalist turned novelist with regard to any of her new and upcoming book releases. When I first perceive news of a sequel to Me Before You, I am like 'OMG! A sequel!! There will be a sequel!!!'; the certainty that the author is turning - and has for real, made - the standalone novel into a series is like a dream come true for me.

After You is very much a story about moving on and having second chances. It is a soul searching, heart touching first person account of the same protagonist, 26-year old Louisa Clark aka Lou, of how she attempts to make peace and pick up the broken pieces of what remains of her life ever since the catastrophic, life-changing event 18 months past.

No journey out of grief is straightforward. There are good days and bad days to be had. Lou needs to ask herself what she wants with her life and figure out what needs to be done to achieving it. But instead, she finds herself asking the - real - question: how long does it take to get over the departure of someone she really loves?

Having read and finished After You, I am not sure if I am as happy as I am supposed to be before I even touch the book. Perhaps it is the setting or the storyline or the way a particular new character is introduced and thrust into the spotlight to create story continuity or all of the above, I feel as if I am watching the follow-up to a Taiwanese romance drama where the bombshell which is the equivalent of the new character designed to create continuity and chaos is revealed.

In all honesty, I have an awful lot of mixed feelings regarding this sequel to Me Before You. On one hand, I am ecstatic that the author continues with the telling of Lou's story, on the other hand, I am sorely disappointed that this story is not as intense as I have expected it to be. The way I see it, this sequel is written with the fans of Me Before You in mind, more so to satisfy their whims and curiosity of what happen to Lou in the aftermath of the life-altering event.

Truth be told, right before I read book 2 After You, I secretly harbor the thought of taking back what I have previously written in my review: how is the author going to be able to write another story that can excel Me Before You? The fact that I even think about swallowing my words goes to show what high hopes I have for this sequel. That said, in the end, I stay true to my earlier review that the author has indeed set the bar so high up when she pens Me Before You that she has yet - in my opinion - to outdo her own writing.

Very often, the story that leaves the deepest imprint in its wake, is not one where there is a happily ever after but one that encompasses a sad love story where it brings home the painful reality that sometimes love alone is not enough. In that sense, I cannot help but keep thinking that it may have been for the best if the author has simply left it at that; a standalone novel instead of expanding on the thereafter.

My sentiments aside, in all fairness, the author has done a great job with seeing, feeling and dealing with grief through Lou. Likewise, the writing is fluid; it blows life into each of the characters as they come alive and leap out of the pages in unison.

Precisely because of all of the above, I find it exceptionally challenging to give my two pennies' worth of star rating. It is only after much deliberation – where I think I actually manage to kill off my brain cells – that I finally decide to settle on 3 stars.

One and a half years ago, I will never have imagined myself reading a sequel, much less giving the book a star rating less than 4. Much as I love the idea of having a follow-up story, why fix it if it ain't broken? Well, I suppose if the fix can be as intense as the previous, if not mind-blowing sequel of epic proportions, then by all means Yes! If not, it will only break the heart of a fan (me) who so loves the story of Lou and Will.

Heart-rending as it is, I rather choose to live with the devastation in having to accept Will's choice towards the end of Me Before You over a sequel with Lou alone. True.. the Earth will not stop rotating, life will still go on and Lou deserves the chance to pursue her own happiness and move on but it just seems so wrong to have the story continuing in a world without Will.

Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: 24 Sep 2015

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When one story ends, another begins . . .

Lou Clark has lots of questions.

Like how it is she’s ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift 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 close-knit 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 . . .

*Blurb from author's website*

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