After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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Lauren and Ryan have reached a point in their relationship where they no longer bother telling the other what is important to them. Communication is stifled, and they become so withdrawn they begin despising the other for their own shortcomings.⁠

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“𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 … 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬.”⁠

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What I loved most about this book was its genuine feel. From dialogue to circumstance, everything felt entirely realistic. Although Lauren is separated from her husband for the majority of the read, the plot moves rather quickly and can easily be swallowed up in one sitting.⁠

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“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐍𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞.”⁠

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Whether you are married or not, it is easy to relate to what happens and the characters. I loved the character development, but mostly Laurens. I adored her initial honesty and ignorance within her marriage, and admired the person she became during time spent on her own. It was as though she was remembering herself in the process.⁠

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“𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭?”⁠

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After I Do emphasizes that there are no rules in life; no standard formula to follow for love to work. There is nothing forced or unnatural about this book. As uplifting as the story becomes, "life" happens regardless, and that's what makes this a unique and refreshing read.⁠

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“𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭.”⁠

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This book is filled with hope and it will make you laugh, cry and warm your heart. Whether you’re married or single, go read this! It’s worth it. 💗💍