After You by Jojo Moyes

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to preface this by saying that I would read anything by Jojo Moyes. Yes, anything. She could retype the phone book and I would still read it.  I adore her, I adore her writing. 

After reading a book that you love, like Me Before You, you always want more. You are left with so many burning questions about the characters and what will happen to them. But sometimes those questions should just be left unanswered and let the reader speculate or cherish those characters by imagining their own sequel. These questions probably followed the author around, as did the countless questions about Lou, and what she is doing now, but I don't think that this necessarily means that Moyes should've wrote a sequel. I'm not saying I didn't adore parts of this, but for me it almost read like it was written by another author, in fact, the introduction of Lily felt very much like About a Boy—a lonely thirty-something finds purpose in big-sister type relationship. I simply didn't feel the same connection and affinity to Lou, and the rest of the character and story really lacked in depth and emotion.  

I found the subplot about Lou's parents unnecessary. What was the relevance of her mum's newfound feminist ways? And her poor sister...    

For those of you that are fans of Me Before You, I get it, you will read it. At best, it's a good book, there are some funny bits, and some touching bits, but all-in-all I expected so much more. That being said, I am looking forward to whatever Ms. Moyes writes next.

JOJO MOYES is the New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You, The Horse Dancer, One Plus One, The Girl You Left Behind, The Last Letter from Your Lover, Silver Bay, and The Ship of Brides. 

Moyes lives in Essex, England with her husband and three children.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts off completely delightful with a great hook.  Sara arrives in small town USA to meet her elderly pen pal, Amy.  When Amy fails to show, Sara is taken to Amy's house where her wake is in progress.  Sara decides to stay at Amy's house, and inspired by her vast book collection, Sara opens a bookstore in the despondent town. 

My complaints about this book are that it gives away the ending for Jane Eyre, so if you haven't already read it, I would suggest doing so in place of this one, and that it was too long, it could've easily been 80-100 pages shorter to tighten up the story.  The story itself was interesting enough without all of the romantic subplots.  I was more interested in Sara’s personal journey, her discoveries about Amy and her immersion in Broken Wheel and the quirky collection of characters that call Broken Wheel home.  

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

A special thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Allende's novel takes a closer look at relationships, family, and love.  Irina, an immigrant from Poland accepts a job at a retirement home where we are introduced to Alma.  Alma and Irina fall into an unexpected friendship that stems from Irina working as her assistant.  This is also how Irina meets Alma's grandson, Seth.  Irina and Seth bond over their mutual interest in Alma’s past which is slowly revealed through letters and mysterious flower deliveries.

Alma's backstory involves Ichimei, a boy she meets when her parents send her from Poland to the United States during the Nazis rise to power.  Ichimei and Alma are close friends until his family is sent to an internment camp.  The two initially exchanged letters but eventually lost contact when the government censors stopped forwarding mail.  They continue to be reunited over the years, their love a constant.  

The relationship of Alma and Ichimei is mirrored with Irina and Seth.  Alma and Irena, both immigrants and slaves to tradition and Ichimei and Seth bound by family.  I thought this was an unnecessary comparison, Alma's story was interesting enough to carry the book.  Overall, there was some really beautiful writing and lovely passages.