Max and Pip have a strong marriage, but their son Dylan is sick and the doctors recommends that no further treatment be offered, only palliative care. Max finds other treatment options but they disagree and both want different futures for their son. They go to court for the judge to decide what is best for their son. The question becomes right to life verses quality of life.
After the court decision the novel goes into two directions. One is from Pips point of view from what she wanted for her son, and the others is Max if the result went in his favour.

I couldn’t stop reading this novel, it is totally different from what the Author usually writes. I connected with all the characters and were with them all the way, feeling their pain with them. The second half of the book, showing the alternative lives was different and very well written.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for for my honest review.

Have you ever heard about Charlie Gard? I thought so much about that poor baby during reading this book. Couldn't help thinking Mackintosh was inspired by that real life event but I have learned sadly Claire Mackintosh herself lost a child so really felt for her during reading this book and how brave of her to write about this difficult subjects.. Turning her own experience into an eye opening read is definitely worth congratulations.

I am really in between 3 or 4 stars on this one but settled on 3.
I loved the first part of the book. It's a difficult subject, a dilemma, a decision you should never judge unless you're making it yourself. There is the painful reality of losing a child without being able to do anything. The emotions of Pip and Max were so brilliantly portrayed.

As much as I enjoyed "before" I didn't really like "after". Part of my problem with this book was Doctor Leila- I did expect her story to continue in the "after" section- but it really didn't. I thought she was thrown in to make a point- and I respect that- but her sudden fall from the story -despite the special appearance later- wasn't something I enjoyed. I also found the alternate scenarios a bit confusing to read - as there were different point of views- and they really started to drag at one point around 75% also again I didn't get why there were two alternates (I see it's the weight of that decision and what-if's but especially when the story transformed into dating adventures of the parents I questioned that)

Overall this was a good read but I think if the aftermath of the event was a bit shorter I'd have enjoyed this more.

Max and Pip are the strongest couple you know. They’re best friends, lovers, unshakable. But then their son gets sick and the doctors put the question of his survival into their hands. For the first time, Max and Pip can’t agree. They each want a different future for their son.

What if they could have both?

How would you know if the decision you made was the right decision? Would you second guess yourself, would you always wonder 'what if? We get to see the impact that each decision would have on the family here, and follow both potential timelines. This was a really interesting way to write the story, and it had me hooked. The subject matter was difficult to read at times, and certainly caused a fair few tears through the book. Well worth a read.

You just know that whenever you pick up a book written by Clare Mackintosh as a reader you are not going to be disappointed l
Clare has written about such a difficult subject with sensitivity and pure beauty.
It is through yet gentle- raw and honest.
Recommend you to read it with a box of tissues at the ready.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Littlebrownbookgroupuk for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

This was a beautifully written book, regarding a very difficult and heart breaking situation handled with compassion. After the End tells the story of Max and Pip in two parts. The first part tells of their young son Dylan, who is in hospital and so critically ill the hospital conclude they should stop all treatment and let him die in peace. Each parent takes a different view on this decision, and so the courts have to get involved to have the final say. This is where the second part of the story splits in two, and shows us the outcome of each parents scenario. I liked the idea of showing us both sides of the story, although based on the subject matter both were filled with highs and lows. No matter the actual outcome, can there ever really be a happy ending in a story like this?
I also liked how some chapters are from the perspective of Leila, the doctor in charge of Dylan's case in the hospital. Her chapters are very interesting, looking not only at the children in her care but how she views the parents too.
All characters are well written, and I think this book will be a huge success when it is published.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy to review.

There's no doubting that this author writes very intelligently and I have loved all her books.
We see parents Pip and Max with conflicting opinions regarding the future of their very sick Son Dylan. Pip agrees with the hospital's recommendations but Max doesn't. This leads to a face off in court between the couple.
When we read of the verdict and the future of the child is decided, we then are taken down an alternative route and we don't really know what happened to Dylan.
I really enjoyed the book but I do think it would have been a 5 star instead of 4 had there just been one scenario and not the alternative.
The author used her own personal experiences to write this book and that clearly comes across in the way that she creates the atmosphere and the anguish of these parents.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

This book was beautifully heartbreaking. Full of difficult decisions and previously happy relationships strained when their is a choice that has to be made about a child's future.

The writing is wonderful because of a real-life basis around the story; not the same events but the first part feels so real that it could only be by somebody who had lived through similar.

This book was amazing,I found it difficult to put down.there were ups and downs in this book,kinda like a rollercoaster.good holiday read ,I give it five stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for a true and frank review.

What to say about this novel. A difficult subject but handled with compassion and insight. I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days. I have read and loved all of Claire's previous books. This is very different but so well written and constructed.

What would you do if you had to decide - let your child stop treatment and die or go to America for radical treatment to extend his short life with potentially little or no quality of life?
Eventually the Courts have to decide.

This was such a beautifully written heartbreaking story. To begin with I found it a bit difficult to read and it took me a few days to get properly into it.
Pip and Max are facing every parents worst nightmare, their son Dylan is critically Ill and the Drs have advised that the best course of action is stop all treatment and let him go.
Max and Pip initially disagree with this and they begin to look into treatments available in the USA. However after much soul searching Pip decides she cant watch her baby suffer any longer and wants to let him go.
Max and Pip must now face each other in court on opposing sides and let the court decide if their boy should live or die.

This isn’t like anything I've read from Clare before, however it was a nice surprise to find it was a family drama rather than a psychological thriller. It’s probably one of the hardest books I’ve ever read purely because it felt like I was intruding on a parent’s nightmare. I feel really torn with this review as I enjoyed the first part of the book much more than the second. During the first half I was so drawn into the story that I started to feel like I was experiencing the trauma faced by Pip and Max first hand. There were several moments where I had to stop reading and switch to another book just to keep my tears at bay (I read a lot on the bus!). The reason I didn’t enjoy the second half as much was because I found myself having to stop and think which of the alternative endings I was reading and I felt that it spoiled the flow of the story for me. I also found myself confused about the wedding part. I had to go back and re-read a few chapters in case I'd missed something.
I wouldn’t say this was a particularly uplifting book (in fact after reading it I feel like I’m desperately craving a happy story as my next read) however books like this are important as they make you think about your own life. I’m left feeling slightly confused but incredibly blessed.

** spoiler alert ** Quite a different type of story from the author this time,and possibly her best yet.
The heart breaking story of what it is to live with a child with cancer,who's in hospital,the care he needs,the life you feel the family could be having,and the decision if you should prolong his life,and what quality of life that will be.
Then the book takes an unexpected turn,and we see life based on the two outcomes of further treatment,and you (or i did at least) rethink your original idea.
I hope Macintosh writes a few more like this!

A completely different type of book that I normally would read but I’m so glad I did. A powerful and emotional story with a nice twist at the end and a very touching authors note. Pip and Max’s story will stay with me for a long time.

This is not the usual psychological thriller that Clare Mackintosh is renowned for. However, it’s certainly one of the most powerful and thought provoking books I’ve read in some time.

We’re probably familiar with the headline stories about very ill children where there’s a difference of opinion about treatment and the case ends up in court. This book goes right to the heart of of that scenario and deals with highly emotive issues with sensitivity and compassion. I was totally engaged with a heart wrenching tale with a final twist I didn’t expect. An amazing read and the story has stayed with me.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I’m a really big fan of Clare Mackintosh’s work and this book wasn’t quite what I expected.
This story is abou Max and Pip a couple who are made for each other and their terminally ill son Dylan, who they love to bits.
I can’t imagine the heartbreak and the decisions that had to be made by the parents, which was made especially more difficult since they both wanted different outcomes for Dylan.
I gave this book 3 stars since I found it quite difficult to read not just because of the subject matter but because I actually found it confusing to read.
The second half of the book when it starts describing the story for the alternative outcomes, I started getting confused and I’m afraid to say the ending was rather disappointing with no idea how it reached its conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

I can’t wait for the buzz about this book to take off, or to see someone read it on the bus, their eyes flicking as they try to pick a side or imagine what they would do. Does anyone really know if they haven’t been directly affected?

Pip and Max have a very ill son called Dylan, who is suffering from cancer at just two years old. After going through the ups and downs of his treatment, they are told they must make an important decision: remove his life support and let him die or potentially extend his life with treatment abroad.

After The End is very different from Clare Mackintosh’s previous psychological thrillers, but it got my mind racing all the same. I took Pip’s side near the beginning and although I was pushed and pulled all over the place, I kept my view at the end. I think it’d be interesting to discuss with others which side they took, why, and if it changed as the story unfolded.

Structurally, Mackintosh was very clever. Alternating chapters between Pip, Max and Dylan’s doctor Laila bring you up to the halfway mark where the judge is set to decide the course of action. There, the story splits in half. Pip and Max’s chapters reflect the future if they had got their way. Just when one future seems obviously better, they flip, showing that each outcome will have highs and lows. Elizabeth Gilbert said that life is about choosing which shit sandwich you want to eat. I’m sure Pip and Max would agree.

I’d recommend this book to fans of Jodi Picoult and Me Before You.

A really moving and emotional read.
This book details every parents worst nightmare- the serious illness and terminal diagnosis of a child and the subsequent life changing decisions forced upon the family.
Beautifully crafted, after the terminal diagnosis the book divides into two alternative realities based on the two different options presented to and by the family of Dylan following both through several years after the events.
I couldn't put this book down- I need to find out what happened and lived every breath, every choice, every appointment and every tear with Pip and Max.
I also gathered my 3 year old to me extra close as the book really brought home the message of cherishing every moment- even the ones where you just wish for 5 minutes and a hot cuppa.

This is a very emotional story and quite heart-breaking in places. It is completely different from Clare's psychological thriller books but proving what a talented author she is. This is a "must read" book

I loved After the End. It will resonate with anyone who has known someone go through life-prolonging treatment, only to wonder if enough is enough and we can't put them through any more. I thought the sliding doors aspect of the book was brilliant. It is one of those books that will stay with me for a long, long time.

Oh my goodness is there no end to this lady's talents. I wasn't expecting to be reading a book that tore every emotion from me. A truly beautiful and heartbreaking book but one that also made me smile throughout. A very tough subject but written with so much heart and soul from an author that has first hand experience of what it is like to know you are going to lose your child.
One word AMAZING