Title: Life After Yes
Author: Aidan Donnelley Rowley (website, Twitter, Facebook)
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publication Date: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Avon (an imprint of Harper Collins)
340 pages
“Music plays. Dad appears. I walk with him, eyes fastened to the floor. When I look up, something is very wrong. There are three grooms.”This is the story of Quinn—born Prudence Quinn O’Malley—a confused young Manhattan attorney who loses her father on that tragic September morning that changed everything. Now, at an existential crossroads in her life, Quinn must confront impossible questions about commitment and career, love and loss. Her idealistic beau desperately wants a wedding, and whisks her away to Paris just to propose. But then Quinn has a dream featuring judges and handcuffs and Nietzsche and Britney . . . and far too many grooms. Suddenly, her future isn’t so clear. Quinn’s world has become a minefield of men—some living, some gone, and traversing it safely is going to take a lot more than numerous glasses of pinot grigio.
Life After Yes is a blisteringly honest, thoroughly modern tale of life and love in chaos, marking the arrival of a truly exciting new voice in contemporary fiction.
Do you ever feel like a book comes into your life at a time when you really need it? It’s like some force in the world told me that I needed to read Aidan Donnelley Rowley’s book, Life After Yes, at this point in my life. The main character, Prudence (aka Quinn) recently lost her father in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and has now found herself newly engaged to her man, Sage (interesting name, btw!). I felt so deeply connected to Quinn’s story; I could feel her ups and downs as she tries to figure out who she is in her life and if her life is going where she wants it to. I related so intensely to this book and to Quinn’s character – her confusion, her insecurity, her relationships with her friends and family.
The Setting: The book takes place in the year follow the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was incredibly moving to read a fictional story about this time and about a character who lost her father in the attacks. It added an additional element to the story that really struck me.
The Characters: I loved Quinn. She’s unsure, insecure, and unhappy in her life. Her journey is one of hope and one that I connected to. I felt like Quinn was a friend and that she was sitting right next to me telling me the story. She is full of flaws, but that is what makes her so interesting. Her fiancee, Sage, is the stereotypical great guy who I found myself rooting for through the book. You can tell that he really loves Quinn, flaws and all, and their love story felt very true and real. There are also other characters who show up in the story: Quinn’s friends Kayla and Avery, her brother, Michael, her mother, Sage’s mother, Quinn’s personal trainer, and Quinn’s ex-boyfriend. All of them add depth to the story and make it very real.
The Plot: Quinn is struggling with life after she accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Sage. She has a crazy dream that makes her start questioning her choices. She reminisces about her past with her ex-boyfriend, who also happens to pop back into her life during this confusing time. The plot basically revolves around Quinn finding her way through life post-9/11, and post-engagement. I was able to relate very well with her and I imagine that many other women will be able to as well. Who hasn’t had confusing moments of: Am I doing the right thing? What is life all about?
To sum up: This book is very easy to read and the author writes very well. The story moves quickly and I was able to read it in about a day. I can’t rave enough about this book and I encourage you to go and find your own copy asap!! I am eagerly anticipating more from this author in the future!! This book whole-heartedly deserves the Five Star CRAZY AMAZING review!
Aidan Donnelley Rowley TOUR STOPS:
Tuesday, May 18th: Life and Times of a “New” New Yorker
Thursday, May 20th: Confessions of a Bookaholic
Monday, May 24th: Books Like Breathing
Wednesday, May 26th: Luxury Reading
Thursday, May 27th: Rundpinne
Wednesday, June 2nd: Cindy’s Love of Books
Thursday, June 3rd: Write Meg
Monday, June 7th: Crazy for Books
Tuesday, June 8th: Heart 2 Heart
Wednesday, June 9th: Thoughts From an Evil Overload
Thursday, June 10th: Book Club Classics!
Book provided by TLC Book Tours for participation in a virtual book tour.
content and was taken without permission from Crazy-for-Books.
Ahhhh I've heard soo many good things about this book, and your review, especially, really makes me want to read this!! I think this needs to be in my soon TBR pile.
Nope.
I think that's a good idea! Especially since it's so popular. I wonder if maybe you should wait until the TLC tour is over so they're not going at the same time?
Wow! With a review like that I am definitely adding this to my TBR list!
Usually I don't read a whole lot chicklit or woman's fiction, but I do appreciate fast-paced and easy to read books! There seems to be lots of good reviews! Do you think for someone who doesn't like chicklit much would like it? What I don't usually like about chicklit is that they tend to be predictable… having it on the tour site sounds good
Usually I don't read a whole lot chicklit or woman's fiction, but I do appreciate fast-paced and easy to read books! There seems to be lots of good reviews! Do you think for someone who doesn't like chicklit much would like it? What I don't usually like about chicklit is that they tend to be predictable…
having it on the tour site sounds good
Adding this to my ever growing TBR list. It is up to nearly 300! Goodness.
i look this site so i look this site!
I just discovered this book. I immediately added it to my TBR List. Great review!