Book Review: Jojo Moyes’ “After You”

Jojo Moyes’ “Me Before You” left the reader sad, lost, confused, and unsure where to turn next. And that is exactly where the sequel to this bestseller picks up as we find Louisa Clark struggling 18 months following Will Traynor’s death.

Not surprisingly, as “Me after You,” unfolds, Lou is, well, a wreck. After the loss of Will, she is consumed by guilt and sadness, and is stuck in a mediocre waitressing job in London.
Despite Will urging her to travel and to live life to the fullest, it takes a series of unrelated events, including a freak accident of falling off the roof, the entrance of two new strangers into her life, and the help of a Moving-On Support Group, for Louisa to finally get back on her feet again.

“After You” is a beautifully written story about the journey of moving on and what it takes to keep going after the loss of a loved one. Moyes crafts a very realistic and relatable tale about the obstacles Lou faces and her struggles to find the strength to adjust to the new normal.  Although it is not quite the page-turner of the first novel, “After You” nicely ties the story together and provides the reader with closure. It also gives the reader an opportunity to revisit the lovable Louisa Clark and the Traynor family.