Reviews

After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell

lifeandliterature's review against another edition

5.0

I fell in love with Maggie O’Farrell’s writing when I read Hamnet, and wanted to read everything else she’d written. But I waited because I was scared that the beauty of Hamnet might well be a one off hit. Gosh I’m so silly because I adored After You’d Gone, and I adore Maggie O’Farrell’s words. Excuse me while I go and buy all of her books!

bookswithboo's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad 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? No

4.0

veerahja's review

emotional sad medium-paced

3.75

svdk's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

ouiouiba_qoui's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

juliachilver's review

5.0

I’m a Maggie O’Farrell fan. She writes emotions so well. Sad, sad story.

anniekenway's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A lovely reread. She describes young grief so well. She handles the timelines and slow reveals so deftly. She is witty and emotional and I just love her writing. 

bethaniekay's review

3.0

I guess I'm in the minority about this book, because I didn't think it was that great.

The story was somewhat captivating, and it was written in a way that made me want to keep reading (but really only to find out what would happen). In a way, it was an easy read - I finished it in one day.

However, there were just way too many negative things about this book for me to have truly enjoyed it. There were a few aspects designed to hook you -- What did Maggie see in the train station that was so life-altering? What was John's huge secret? (both of those fell flat, to me. I was like "That's it? So what!"), and of course, what happened ultimately to John and Maggie (that one actually did tug at my heartstrings).

I also was terribly annoyed by the way this book was written. Call me a Scrooge, but I really didn't need to read about three generations of familial strife that didn't necessarily have anything to do with the main plot. Also, I could NOT stand the continually changing POV, with zero information about who was speaking or what year/time frame it was. I had to re-read far too many chapter beginnings, which is just annoying.

In the end, the reader gets answers, which I suppose makes me happy - but as I turned the last page, I just felt blah. Don't think I'll be recommending this one.

haz_bookshelf's review

emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lenin_lover_69's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I've never read a MOF book before but I know a lot of people love her so was really excited. This book left me pretty cold, I'm going to try one of her later ones. 

I enjoyed the writing a lot more

after John dies and the writing about grief felt soooo much more authentic than anyhing prior to that.

The main character Alice unfortunately was giving borderline manic pixie dream girl/not like other girls and I'm extremely turned off about female characters for who the primary part of their personality is that they are hot and damaged and therefore men constantly fall in love with them in spite of a pretty unpleasant and annoying personality. The writing around

her and John falling in love and having sex made me cringe sooo much esp when they go to the lake district. Why does this adult man have the inner diallogue of a 12 year old seeing a naked woman for the first time!!!!!

.

I enjoyed the storyline that related to Alice's family much more on the whole, especially her maternal grandmother. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Self harm, and Grief

Moderate: Stalking