The plot of this book is so sensitive that it feels somewhat wrong to describe it as enjoyable. It’s so well written and I really enjoyed the different POVs. I will admit that the second to last chapter confused me so I’m not entirely sure how this book ended! But then when you read the last chapter, I think that perhaps that’s the point.

This was an incredible book. I had to wait a few days before I reviewed this to allow myself time to absorb it completely, particularly after I read Claire’s postscript notes. I did get a little confused halfway through when the time changed, and the two storylines ran together, but I soon got my head around it and just enjoyed the flow of the plot. Tragic tale for all concerned. Had a touch of Jodi Picault about it; in that it is a hard subject to write and think about. Let alone imagine what it would be like if it happened to you.

Would highly recommend this book, but would be mindful of personal circumstances before doing so.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin books.

Max and Pip are facing the worst thing thing that can happen to parents. What will happen to their little family unit and how will this affect their relationship and their lives? A distinct departure from Clare Mackintosh's psychological thrillers, this is a far more emotional book which will tug at your heartstrings.

This was such an emotional book and I liked how it switched between the two main characters giving each of their points of view.
It was very well written and thought provoking.
Not a situation any parent wants to find themself in.

This book was different to what I expected, having read Clare Mackintosh's previous novels. I found it really difficult to read as it's not the sort of story I usually enjoy. The characters felt so real and my heart broke for them. It is a really thought-provoking book and a scenario everyone thinks 'will never happen to me'. It touches on real world scenarios and explores the impact decisions can have on people's lives and relationships. Although I really enjoyed the book I do hope Mackintosh returns to her usual crime thrillers!

Having read some of Clare's previous novels, I was expecting another pyschological thriller, but After The End reads very differently. It's much more of a character-driven, ‘what would I do?’ type of novel which reminded me of some of Jodi Picoult's releases. Apparently it’s based on the author’s own experiences and this grief and devastation comes right through the pages; I can't even imagine how it must have felt to write all this down - I suppose that's why it took her so many years to start it, understandably. It’s very raw and emotional to read, but also completely gripping. I couldn’t put it down...

The story is so very sad, not just for young Dylan's awful situation and the absolute unjustness of someone so young being so ill, but also for the heartbreak of Pip and Max as their marriage struggles. As the book says, there's so much at stake here.

I don’t want to give much away, so I won’t mention lots of specifics in the story and it’s structure (as there were parts that completely surprised me and really adds to the story), but the fact that it explores ‘what ifs’ so beautifully and heart-wrenchingly. This had me completely absorbed in the story. We hear from both Pip and Max and also, at times, from Dylan’s doctor, Leila. The fact that Dr Leila is Iranian (as am I - well, half Iranian anyway) struck an extra chord with me as I enjoyed reading about her Iranian mother and their relationship and life, something I don't often see.

I can’t put into words how emotional this story made me. I was in floods of tears for a good third of it, but it never felt like the writing was trying to force the reader to feel one way of the other. What it was so incredibly powerful at doing was making the reader think ‘what if - ‘what if that happened to me; what would I do’, what if Things had worked out one way or the other or what if that had happened to another family. I can only imagine the anguish and utter devastation if that was happening to your child and you were forced to choose. Very thought provoking and very emotional, After The End is beautifully written and incredibly powerful.

What a powerful and emotive story so it was no surprise to find that this book was inspired by the death of the author's own child.

Pip and Max's son had cancer and sadly the treatment to cure the cancer has itself caused other problems for poor Dylan's health. At the heart of the story are two parents, both who want the best for Dylan, the problem is they don't agree on what that is.

There are many elements to the storyline, the reality of living with a sick child are laid out during the first half of the book with Pip staying by her son's bedside while Max works hard to keep the money coming in and seeing his family less frequently because of that. We see what life in paediatric intensive care is like and the author gives the care professionals a real voice, they are not simply background characters.

In the second half of the book we get to play the what if game along with Max and Pip in that we have a storyline for each of their wishes for Dylan - if anything this is where my tears would fall unbidden. It is hard because we are conditioned to want the happily ever after in our storylines and not that there isn't a measure of hope, but what I found this book did so brilliantly is to absolutely lay out that after the death of a child, life can never be quite the same again.

Clare Mackintosh clinched her spot as one of my favorite authors as soon as I read 'I Let You Go and 'I See You.' I couldn't request this one sooner when I saw it on NetGalley. Despite the complete 180 in genre, I am so glad she changed direction to tell this poignant tale of unwavering love, devastating heartbreak, and renewal of hope.

The story alternates between three points of view - Pip, Max and Dr. Khalili. Pip and Max's almost 3-year old son Dylan is terminally ill. The hospital advises palliative care in preparation for Dylan's inevitable death. Both parents disagree and carry out intensive research into other options that could extend their son's life. Max is determined to take Dylon for treatment in America whereas Pip changes her mind and believes additional treatment would cause more pain and discomfort for Dylan. Firmly rooted on opposite sides, the case is taken court where a judge will rule the best outcome for Dylan. Whatever happens, the family will never be the same again.

I really admired the direction this story took. Without giving too much away, the insight into how Pip and Max dealt with the decision from different sides was sensitively tackled and brilliantly done. It wasn't what I expected and I rarely find open-ended decisions work in a book (often feels lazy as the reader has to do all the work) but this was a huge exception. You could feel the author's emotions through the words and this added another layer of reality and depth to the story and characters. I sided with Pip throughout but also felt the strain the Max was under and his sometimes irrational thoughts that were focused solely on keeping Dylan alive. I liked the underlying theme of hope woven throughout the story and this stayed with me through the toughest parts. It is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. A beautiful tribute to the author's personal experience.

Having read previous work by Clare i wasn't 100% sure what to expect from this (having now read it) can be described as an emotional kick in the teeth. This was heartbreaking, lovely and just something else. With echos of the feels from My Sisters Keeper & the hysterics i get from the notebook this is not one for those who cant handle emotions.



We meet Max & Pip, one of the strongest couples going, their little boy is sick, seriously sick but they have each other and they have him and that's all that matters. So when the couple for the first ever time cant agree on a course of action for Dylan, we look at how it affects them.



As we get further on, we follow the story down to paths, one if Max had the outcome he wished for, and one if Pip did (i had to check this because i was so confused when reading what was actually happening) We follow a journey of what ifs and see how life pans out.



This book was raw, the scenes were so clear especially the hospital setting (you can tell its something Clare has been through and it translates beautifully into the writing) It sticks with you long after you have finished and even as i was reading it i couldn't even begin to comprehend how i would handle something like this.



This book was beautiful, poignant and well written. It left my heart in pieces but i loved the fact we got to consider alot of the what ifs and see what could of happened. This book is a real tear jerker and i simply adored it (obviously the subject matter was a hard and heavy one but because of how it was tackled). Simply beautiful

This was a very different book from Clare Mackintosh. It very difficult to review because although it's good it's not really enjoyable as it is a difficult, very emotional and heartbreaking in places read.

You know when you are reading a fantastic book when you feel so emotional when reading it, and After The End did just that. It was so moving; it captured my heart and broke me. It is definitely a parent’s worst nightmare and although it was very sad I had to continue reading.

Well where to start with this book, I literally cried my eyes all the way through , such a raw heartbreaking story of love, loss and sorrow.
The story was divided into two parts which at first I found a little confusing but I was soon swept away. A truly brilliant story. I give this an easy five stars!

If you love a tear jerker then this is the book for you. Seriously I have just spent the whole afternoon crying on the shores of Lake Garda as I blubbered my way through the book. The book is played out with both outcomes to a difficult decision which is perfect for me who hates “but, what if” questions.

I was interested to see what Clare had done with this book as her others have been great but also a very different genre. It was overall a good read but I do think she does thrillers best. This book was an easy read, I really liked the characters and the story held me in. Would recommend but also would recommend her other stuff more!

This is unlike any of Clare Mackintosh's other books! It is the heartbreaking story of two parents that have to decide whether or not to end their terminally ill child's life.

What made it even more powerful was reading that the author and her husband had to make the same decision with their child.

The second half confused me at first until I realised it had been written as a sliding doors moment for both decisions of ending treatment and carrying on.

I think this book will be permanently sealed in heart and will never forget it

A thought provoking book well told.. happy and sad especially as i watched a programme on TV on subject few days after I finished.

I absolutely loved the first couple of books by Clare Macintosh. This one was really different to her other books.

Took me a while to start reading it, but once I picked it up I simply didn’t put it down and finished it over a couple of sittings.

Clare tells the story of an impossible choice faced by Max and Pip when their 2 year old is terminally ill.
Pip accepts the situation as presented by the hospital and agrees its time to let Dylan go, but Max wants to send Dylan for further treatment in America. The family is pushed to breaking point in the aftermath of the courts decision...

Big thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this novel. It’s a fantastic read.

Words are failing me in light if the utter brilliance that is this book. My emotions have taken a complete pounding and you really are left with food for thought.

After all who knows how you would react if it was your decision, your child, your impossible choice.

And this is a book that looks not just at the choices, but also how life may play out afterwards.

It is moving, compassionate and a completely immersive story, and it's one that I feel very privileged to have read.

Having read Clare Mackintosh's previous books and loved them, I had been concerned about this change of direction, until I started reading. At which point I came to the conclusion that she is just simply a brilliant writer and can grip a reader over assorted subjects.

What a powerful book and certainly not one I'll forget in a hurry. One of the best books I've read this year.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sphere for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily

I started reading this and found the subject matter so sad that I had to walk away from it for a while and the author acknowledges that it may not be a subject matter that many find easy to read. However, once I returned to it I couldn’t put it down as the sad story of Dylan is followed up with a story of hope and love.

Dylan is in intensive care after surgery for a brain tumour has left him fighting for his life. What follows are the choices faced when deciding to provide life sustaining treatment that may or may not lead to a cure and a good quality of life or allow nature to take its course and provide palliative care. What makes this so sad is that Dylan, is 2 and his parents cannot agree on the best course of action. Max, his dad wants to take him to America for proton beam therapy and his mum Pip, supported by the hospital staff caring for him, want Dylan to have a dignified and peaceful death.

I won’t give any spoilers away but what follows are stories of what happens next. Told in short, alternating chapters the writing is sharp and emotive. Each character was so clearly portrayed and the minutiae of every day life in the midst of suffering was exceptional.

My only criticism is some little inaccuracies/inconsistencies but I am sure these will be addressed in further edited versions.

The authors note at the end puts this book into another perspective, which I won’t reveal, but definitely brought a tear to my eye.

I knew this book was different to the author’s usual genre, and after reading the author’s note (I always read these before the book) I also realised it would be a heart-wrenching story. What I wasn’t prepared for was putting everything on hold as I found myself gripped for hours on end as the characters worked their way into my heart.

Split into two parts, part one has a triple narrative that draws the reader into the shoes of Pip, Max, and Leila. Pip and Max are a happily married couple whose lives are turned upside down when their two-year-old son, Dylan, is diagnosed with a brain tumour; Leila is Dylan’s paediatric neurologist. As the main bread earner, Max juggles his demanding career (and unforgiving wanker of a boss), whilst Pip gives up her job to spend every waking moment at Dylan’s bedside. Geographically the couple are miles apart for the best part of the week, but the bond between them is stronger than ever as they hold each other together, willing their boy to get well. As well as Pip and Max both having their own voice through first-person narratives, we also see how they are perceived from the outside world through the limited third-person perspective of Leila. Leila is a well-drawn out character where we also see how the everyday strain of working as a doctor for the NHS impacts on her life and relationships as a young woman.

But when Dylan’s condition takes a turn for the worse, Pip and Max’s relationship is put to the test when they have different ideas of what the best treatment options are for their son, and when the couple aren’t able to agree, the hospital steps in and takes the case to court. With Pip, Max, and Leila, each having individual voices through their own designated chapters, this allows the reader to empathise with their different perspectives: what it is like to be them and how they reach the decision they have regarding what is best for Dylan. Part one of the narrative ends as the judge gives his verdict.

With the world and his wife having a view on what the right decision should be, part two of the story is where the author really ups her game. Although a bit confusing at first, this part of the narrative has a sliding doors structure where the different outcome scenarios of the court-case are played out. It is these kind of stories where I do prefer a real book rather than an e-book, so I can flick back and work out what’s going on. Anyway, once I’d figured out that this was actually a sliding-doors structure, and that I wasn’t going mad, this made the story all the more compelling. During this part of the story, chapters alternate between the perspectives of Pip and Max, and there are different time periods as the cleverly structured plot, addresses the question as to whether one decision is any better than the other. It also makes you consider whether fate is a factor: no matter what route you take will you end up in the same place?

The story also explores the theme of unconditional love. Not just the love between Pip, Max, and Dylan; but maternal love between Max and his mother, Pip and her mother, Leila and her mother, Blair (no spoilers as to who she is!) and her children.

One of the first things I was taught as part of my English Literature and Creative Writing degree was to ‘write what you know’ in a fictionalised way, adding elements of ‘what if’. After the End by Clare Mackintosh is an absolute masterclass in this, and should be considered essential reading material for every serious creative writing student. I’ve long admired the work of Clare Mackintosh, her first book I Let You go, in particular, is one that years later has still stayed with me; After the End will be no exception.

As I said earlier, After the End is very different to the author’s usual style of writing, and this beautifully written narrative reminded me of Carol Mason, Kit de Waal, and Emma Cooper.