Life After Yes by Aidan Donnelley Rowley
Release date: 2010 / 340 pages
Synopsis (from Amazon): Prudence (better known as Quinn) has what many people might think is the perfect life. A wonderful fiance who popped the question in Paris, a fantastic job as a lawyer, a beautiful, perfectly decorated home. But all is not as it appears…
First line: “I’m choking.”
Review: I’m so glad I was not the first in the tour to review Life After Yes and looked forward to reading the other reviews once I had completed my own. I think many — maybe even most — readers will really enjoy Quinn’s heroine journey. She is honest and flawed and desperately wants to be better. She is a privileged New Yorker, desperately grieving her father’s demise from the 9/11 attacks, and hoping her answer to a recent marriage proposal is not a mistake. Her husband-to-be, Sage, is wonderful to experience — kind, loving, yet willing and able to see through Quinn’s insecurities and foibles to the person she might become. Unfortunately, I struggled to give Quinn the same benefit of the doubt…
I knew I was in trouble when the novel started with a dream… the kind that occur while sleeping. While I find my own dreams fascinating (who doesn’t!?), I’m afraid I find others’ dreams a bit tedious, and on page one I hadn’t yet met the dreamer, so my eyes glazed over a bit and I needed to re-read the dream more than once to figure out who the dreamer was and what significance there might be to her dream.
And I’m afraid I never did really connect to Quinn, even after she awoke from her dream. We actually share three significant life events in the past decade — losing a family member suddenly, getting married, and altering our career path – but our reactions were so dissimiliar to all three that I really felt the 13 year age difference between us. One of my college professors stated, “When we read a novel, we read ourselves.” And while I try to maintain a reviewer’s objectivity whenever possible, I do think my reaction to this novel is more a reflection of where I am in my life right now (so happy!), and less about the novel itself.
So, since I am the last on this month’s book tour, I thought I would end my review with a sample of highlights from the other reviewers on tour, to provide a more balanced perspective (please note links to the entire review below):
From Confessions of a Bookaholic:
Quinn was a great character! She was a modern girl who likes her booze – what’s not to love? Besides that, she was a realistic character because her life seemed perfect, but she was struggling as much as any other woman out there. Even though she made some {major} mistakes, she was still a sympathetic character.
From Books Like Breathing:
The characters in Life After Yes were some of the most interesting characters were some of the most interesting that I have come across in my recent reading… I really enjoyed Life After Yes if for nothing more than the characterizations were awesome. I recommend this to anyone looking for a book with really strong characterizations.
From Luxury Reading:
Although Life After Yes
I think this novel might be just perfect for a twenty-something, but didn’t quite hold my attention…
If you are interested in winning a copy, simply leave me a comment and I’ll choose a lucky winner by Saturday!
Here’s the full list of TLC 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
Tuesday, June 1st: Crazy for Books
Wednesday, June 2nd: Cindy’s Love of Books
Thursday, June 3rd: Write Meg
Tuesday, June 8th: Heart 2 Heart
Wednesday, June 9th: Thoughts From an Evil Overload
Thursday, June 10th: Book Club Classics!
I think I know the perfect person to gift this to. Please add me to the running.
Have a great weekend!
This sounds like a great book! I would love to win! Thanks for the chance.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I would like to read this book. Thanks.
caliblue7 at gmail dot com
I am at this same part in my life and think this book would be an interesting one.
violetvortexkm at gmail dot com
I tend to question my decisions in life. I think this book is a right fit for me.
lovelyserenity21 AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for the review and for adding the other reviews. I like books that showcase family’s and their relationships with each other.
ocnwaves32[at]gmai[dot]com
Sounds great! Count me in.
pinkpeonyblossom at gmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway. Hope to win!
dianarod23 at gmail dot com
I’m interested in how Quinn sees her life as it is changing, her perspective.
dakotasky55 at gmail dot com
I would like to be entered for a chance to win this book.
azndrmr2 at gmail dot com
I love the sounds of this book and would love to win it.
Thanks for the chance.
sharon542202gmail.com
This sounds like a great summer read. Please count me in!
lisaglidewell(at)gmail(dot)com
I think your review is the first that is slightly negative… I wonder if I’d feel the same way since I’m older than 20-something
Guess will have to read it to find out!
cytljjb @ gmail . com
btw – I love your quote “When we read a novel, we read ourselves.” SO true.
I had a similar reading/relating experience with a book I read recently. It’s hard to like a character when her life choices and reactions are so directly opposed to our own, don’t you think? Thanks for sharing the other reviews though!