rieriereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-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
3.75
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฏ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ธ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ.
๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ ๐ณ๐ by Taylor Jenkins Reid was such a fun, honest, and heartwarming read. The book follows Lauren and Ryan's marriage as it reaches its breaking point. After so many miscommunications and fights, they end up confessing that they don't love each other anymore. Not ready to give up on their marriage, they came up with a plan to break up for a year with no contact with each other.
ย
At the very start, I was already hooked on TJR's storytelling. It was fun, easy to follow, and fast-paced. Although I found most parts predictable, they fortunately did not ruin my reading experience. I love how I easily navigated my way with Lauren and her dynamics with her family and friends. I love how they supported each other through both highs and lows.
ย
I also really like seeing the different kinds of relationships, opinions, and advice all throughout the book. I didn't agree with some, but I loved how each character was different and had their own personality and perspective on a certain problem.
Aside from being predictable sometimes, what I also didn't love was how much was going on towards the ending. Events pile up on top of each other, which makes it difficult for me to focus. Should I be happy? Sad? Or just be bittersweet?
Overall, I really liked After I Do, and I would without a doubt recommend it. If you're looking for a good, fast-paced book that focuses on the aftermath of falling in love or are just looking for a fun read this August, you should try this out.
โขโขโข
My Rating System
5 ๐ - Life changing, a new favorite read
4 โญ - I loved it
3 โญ - I liked itย
2 โญ - It was okay
1 โญ - I hated it but decided toย not dnf
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I listened to the audiobook, it was okay. I liked the idea of the plot more than the execution and it just felt a little one dimensional, like something was missing from the characters or the plot.ย
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Pregnancy
Minor: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Cancer
laurataylor's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
kelseyfontaine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
I couldnโt put this book down! I read it during a slow weekend in college and really enjoyed it. Iโm used to reading stories about romance and love, but only the kind that youย wantย to hear about; the kind thatโs easy and cute.
Reading about the loss of love in a relationship is new for me. It really opened my eyes to the ugly side of love, which Iโm not really forced to think about in other novels that I read. In addition to the emotional parts, I also loved the more lighthearted parts, like Rachel starting her own bakery, Charlie finding love, and Grandma Loisโ advice.
While some parts of the reasons Lauren and Ryanโs fell apart and the reason they handled the separation the way they did couldโve been developed a bit more, I did enjoy the book overall. It drew me in and made me think!
Reading about the loss of love in a relationship is new for me. It really opened my eyes to the ugly side of love, which Iโm not really forced to think about in other novels that I read. In addition to the emotional parts, I also loved the more lighthearted parts, like Rachel starting her own bakery, Charlie finding love, and Grandma Loisโ advice.
While some parts of the reasons Lauren and Ryanโs fell apart and the reason they handled the separation the way they did couldโve been developed a bit more, I did enjoy the book overall. It drew me in and made me think!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content and Infidelity
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cancer, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment
cdoubet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Abandonment, and Cursing
morganperks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ya know, I wasnโt feeling it at the beginning, but I trusted that TJR had a plan. She most definitely did and it was better than I couldโve imagined. Man, does she know how to tell a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Infidelity
Moderate: Death and Cancer
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual content
bealittlebrave's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Cancer, and Sexual content
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.25
Why was I crying when they had their first fight?!๐ญ This book had me tearing up too much. I'm really a sucker for young fluffy love. And I love when the two lovers especially the male are smitten with each other. It's so cute! I think TJR did a fantastic job of establishing the different elements of marriage. And that it's not just a one size fits all. I love the family aspect of this book and how it handles single motherhood and absent parents. The emotions it book brought out of me were incredible. What a lovely read. My only concern was that I don't we got enough of Lauren and Ryan's relationship when they were in college. I found myself wanting more cute moments with them throughout the book. Also
Spoiler
I also didn't like Lauren encouraging David to go back to his cheating ex wife. I know alot of people view cheating differently so I'm tripping about it. But for me, cheating is an ultimate deal-breaker and shows how much the other person didn't have respect for the relationship. It's just unforgivable in my opinion. I get he was hurting but he was hurting because of her. I don't think I could love my partner the same if they cheated. But that's just me. If David truly feels he can't live without Ashley. Then to each their own I guess.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content