After I Do is the second novel written by New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, released in 2014.
As I’ve never read a single Taylor Jenkins Reid book I haven’t loved, I’ve been working my way through every book she has written.
There are obviously the bestsellers such as Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I’ve read all of those and loved them all but I was intrigued to read her earlier novels which aren’t as well known.
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Plot
Lauren and Ryan’s marriage is at breaking point. After finally admitting they no longer know how to make each other happy, they decide to take a break. For one whole year, Lauren and Ryan will live apart and lead their own lives. There’s only one rule – no contact whatsoever for the full year.
Devastated that her marriage might be coming to an end, Lauren finds it difficult to accept her new reality. However as time goes on, Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Both her family and friends have their own idea of what a marriage should look like and Lauren realises it’s time to figure out what she wants from her own. Is love enough to make a marriage work? Or have they simply grown too far apart?
After I Do Book Review
After I Do felt quite different to Taylor Jenkins Reid other novels. While her more recent books focus on successful, celebrity women, this is the story of an every day couple struggling with the trials of married life.
I really liked both characters in this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid always creates characters that are flawed and relatable and I liked how neither Lauren or Ryan were completely in the wrong. I could understand their frustrations and it showed how easy it can be to struggle in a marriage, especially if communication isn’t there.
It’s quite a simple story but one that so many could probably relate to. The emotions felt real and authentic and I enjoyed the character development.
Taylor Jenkins Reid really seems to understand people and their emotions. So often as I read her books I find myself empathising with the characters and acknowledging that I would react the exact same way in the same situation. I find this so refreshing compared to some books where the characters seem to behave in an implausible manner.
The book is an exploration of marriage and all it entails; the love, the romance, and the potential heartbreak. It shows the importance of communication in a marriage especially when moving from the romantic fairy-tale of being newly weds, to the mundane minutiae of daily life. You have to work at marriage, sometimes love just isn’t enough.
I really enjoyed the story. It was sad and poignant in places but also uplifting and thought provoking. I particularly liked the ending and how the characters came to their decision.
What to read next
If you enjoyed After I Do I’d definitely suggest reading more Taylor Jenkins Reid books. I’d personally recommend some of her earlier works, such as Forever Interrupted and One True Loves.
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