Reviews

After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell

akyw's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0


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taniagatz's review against another edition

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3.0

3*5

Maggie O'Farrell is just out of this world - as somebody else said, I would read her shopping list and still be mesmerized by it. The book itself maybe wasn't what I was hoping for (as I wasn't very surprised by any of the twist and turns), but After You'd Gone is a magnificent tale of love and grief.

lifeandliterature's review against another edition

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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

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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 against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

3.75

svdk's review against another edition

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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

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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 against another edition

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5.0

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

anniekenway's review against another edition

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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 against another edition

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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.