I recently read and enjoyed one of Sian’s previous books so when I was offered the chance to read and review her latest book called ‘Life After You’, I knew that I just couldn’t refuse! The book just sounded like my kind of read. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Life After You’ even if it was a bit of an emotional read for reasons that I will explain shortly.
I absolutely loved the character of Milly and I really felt for her. She has well and truly had the rug pulled from under her. Her father died suddenly and on the day of his funeral her boyfriend left to live elsewhere. She misses her father desperately, which is understandable. She is also grieving the end of the relationship, which in a way is a bereavement in itself. I warmed to the character of Milly from the start and I felt empathy towards her. My Dad died suddenly and unexpectedly nearly 16 years ago so I could understand the difficulties Milly was having in accepting her Dad’s death and all the emotions that came with it. Milly is a junior lawyer in a large company. To say that she works hard is an understatement. She often goes above and beyond the call of duty as it were. Her boss is woman called Catriona, who sounds like a bit of a dragon to start with. Milly does start a new relationship but to be honest he sounds like a nightmare and as for his mother, well let’s just say that I would love to jump inside the pages of the book to slap her silly with a wet flip flop for the rude way in which she treats Milly. Milly tries hard to get her life back on track. Does she manage it? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the story for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It took me no time at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to find it increasingly difficult to put the book down for any length of time. I think part of the appeal of this book was Milly and how well I had taken to her. I just had to know if she got the happy ever after ending that she so deserved. The pages turned at a fast pace as I worked my way through the story. At one point the pages were turning that quickly that the page numbers became a blur. I found ‘Life After You’ to be an absorbing, emotional tale with the odd funny moment- usually from the character of Catriona and the shenanigans that she got up to. I reached the end of the book, which I had mixed feelings about. I wasn’t displeased with the way in which the story ended but I had been enjoying the story and the characters so much that I just didn’t want the story to end.
‘Life After You’ is really well written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Reading one of Sian’s books is more like a chat between friends than an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Sian grabbed my attention and drew me into the story pretty quickly. Once Sian had my attention there was no way that she would let me have it back until the moment I read the last word on the last page. Not that I wanted it back I hasten to add. Sian uses such vivid and realistic storytelling that I felt as though I was part of the story myself. I also found that I went through every emotion that the different characters yet. The characters were so well described that they seemed just as real as you and I.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Life After You’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will be reading more of Sian’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I always love reading a book written by a true storyteller and this one of those. Milly is not coping, no one would know, but she's still crippled with grief after losing her father five years ago, has a ruthless career that demands all her time and offends her moral code and was abandoned by her soulmate at the lowest point in her life. When her old lover returns, it forces her to look at her life and decide what she truly wants it to be.

Milly is a likeable and relatable protagonist. You want her to overcome her anxiety, learn to live with her grief and be happy. A diverse cast of characters both hinder and support Milly in this quest. Everyone is authentic and adds something to this enjoyable story.

The story explores how Milly and her family members experience, both anxiety and grief believably.

The story is heartbreaking and humorous in equal measure but ultimately heartwarming.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Gosh, what a sad story. I felt quite overwhelmed by the time I had finished it and in desperate need of a hug. There’s a lot of sadness in this story and, despite the happy ending, I still felt lost and miserable at the end.

Milly, working as a corporate lawyer, has a lot of sadness in her life. She is miserable with her current boyfriend, Ryan, and has also run into her ex – who suddenly abandoned her just after her father died. Milly continues to grieve for both her dad and ex-boyfriend; five years down the line and she suffers from excruciating anxiety and  panic attacks. On the flip side, she seeks escapism in her legal work and rushes around after her boss who, despite going into labour, somehow returns to the office the next day! I found Catriona’s character an entertaining caricature that exaggerated the trials of motherhood whilst simultaneously breaking the sombre narrative; she is just what was needed in this story.

The characters are colourful in this novel and are all very easy to like or despise. Milly’s legal case with Mary was endearing and helped Milly channel her grief. On the other hand, I enjoyed disliking Ryan and his awful mother; I was rooting for Milly to find her voice and stand up to them both.

Plot-wise, it was a little predictable. I would have liked to have seen the narrative perspective shift to break the depressing atmosphere of the book. Focusing on Milly’s ex-boyfriend to see his side of the story would have added more depth and helped me understand both characters even more.

I love books that are set in Ireland and could vividly picture the Dublin streets. It added to the charm of the narrative and made me want to re-visit this amazing city. Apart from the weather and some geography references, I do think this book could have been set anywhere for it to be just an enjoyable, but I appreciated the links made between here and Italy – two wonderful countries in one book!

This was an enjoyable read, despite its sad mood. I grew to love the characters and wanted to be part of Milly’s close circle of friends. The writer explores the meaning of loss – not just in terms of death, but also relationships and identity – which makes this a book that I think many readers could identify with. However, I do think a more upbeat read should be considered after completing, just to counteract the heavy atmosphere in this novel.

With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Milly Bryne lost her father and boyfriend, I did also but not at the same time. Losing a parent and a boyfriend, are so different. I loved this book, I laughed I cried. I really like all the characters.

This is a portion of the review on my blog https://trails-of-tales.com/

....I am impressed and happy that author Sian O’Gorman has put her wholehearted focus on her characters learning to deal with their grief. The elements of romance and drama do not even once distract you from the struggles of coping with loss. Meanwhile, the story of Life after You addresses the issues of the tendency to resist change when dealing with grief.
Life after you however, isn’t just fill of motivational words or advice as one might tend to think at the outset. In fact, Sian O’Gorman has made sure that the story offers her readers enough practical and effective strategies. The book shows how the characters deal with daily struggles and anxiety that arise when coping with grief.

....I want to especially recommend this book to everyone dealing with any loss or heartbreak. Life After You will share your loneliness and hopefully, give you a few reasons to smile.

Milly Byrne had been on her own for five years when she met Ryan.

Her father had passed away and her boyfriend Darragh moved to Italy just days after her father's death leaving her with her grief.

When her boss unexpectedly gives birth she is thrown into depths of work that gives her confidence a shake.

Her boyfriend is materialistic, her best friend and roommate is desperate for more from her relationship with her boyfriend George and her ex boyfriend Darragh moves back to the area.

Molly's journey is courageous and beautiful. It's a true case of following your heart.

A slow starter, this book was an enjoyable easy read.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

This book, in one word, is just adorable! It’s heartwarming, sweet and just brightens your mood.

The author wrote the story in such a manner that you immediately fall in love with the characters. Milly is adorable in the role. My heart immediately went out to her right from the start as she tries to find stability in her life. She misses her father, has to deal with people like Jarleth, and you just want things to get better for her.

Moreover, the author wrote the supporting characters in a wonderful manner too! Catriona (love the name) was hilarious in the role. I loved her no-nonsense attitude and the way she controls everything, including her pregnancy. Similarly, Siobhan is also adorable and I really enjoyed her connecting people with their astrological star signs. Even the scenes where Milly meets her Auntie, Mom and Sarah for their catch-ups was so cute.

However, my favorite supporting character was Mrs. Murphy. I just loved the scenes where she talks to Milly about love and introduces her to Frederick. Even though she appears for a few scenes, she makes the story so memorable! The author also paints the negative characters in a delightful way. I really disliked Ryan and wanted to shake Milly to stay away from him. Moreover, Carole played the villain perfectly and I just loved to hate. The author wrote her in such a despicable manner. I was engrossed with the characters that I could not put this book down.

The author will take you on a ride and make you laugh, cry and get angry at the characters and their story-lines. Overall, this was a delightful story that talks about love, family, strength and hope and was a wonderful read!

A lovely story where we meet Milly and her family, this story takes you on the journey as Milly is trying to come to terms with the loss of her father.

I really liked Milly as a character and how she was learning to cope with her grief and the ever increasing demands of her job. I loved the passion she had for when she met Mrs Murphy and how this caused a chain reaction of events in her life.

A story that highlights imposter syndrome in new mums and how the people who seem to have it the most together often aren't showing a true reflection. A book that highlights loss, mental health and with a touch of romance amongst the glasses of grappa.

Thank you Net galley for the advanced copy. This is a lovely story that shows how people deal with grief in their different ways. Bit slow to start but persevere

Five years ago Milly’s life turned upside down when her Dad passed away. Now, she is a corporate lawyer, working all hours, and has a very wealthy boyfriend whom she knows isn’t the love of her life, because that title belonged to the man who left her a week after the death of her Dad.

Imagine her surprise when a new wine bar opens up in her neighbourhood and the owner is the “one who got away”.

This story is not just a love story, it’s about how we handle grief. Women and the glass ceiling in big business and mental health issues.

I really enjoyed this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Did I like this book yes and no but I have to say I did like it a few of the characters I wanted to shut them up it deals with grief it show who we all cope so differently which was good to read it show you how people cope with things so different I got pulled into the plot it did take me a while to get hooked but it good read

This book is really, rather special. It tells the story of Milly Byrne, whose life was set adrift when her Dad died and then her boyfriend walked out on her. Milly has thrown herself into work as a corporate lawyer and is satisfied to accept her unexciting relationship with mummy’s boy Ryan.
Her boss, Catriona, is a workaholic who won’t let something as trivial as childbirth interfere with her professional commitments. Siobhan, Milly’s childhood best friend, is stuck in a boring relationship with the loyal and dependable George. Mary Murphy has lived in her flat since marrying; Frederick may be dead, but Mary wants to keep her flat and all the memories that it holds for her. No amount of bullying from Alpha Holdings will move her!
When a new wine bar opens in the neighbourhood, nobody could imagine the changes that life is about to witness.
I found this story to be lovely. The friendly interactions between Milly and Catriona reminded me of my school friendships. There is a special fondness when someone has known you for years. Darragh and Lorenzo brought the love interests in spades and I cried when Darragh spoke about his decision to leave her.
Mary and her cat brought a special layer to the tale with the identity of Alpha Holdings being revealed and the uncanny incarnation of Frederick, the cat.
There’s a lot going on in this story and Sian manages to balance all of the different elements beautifully. This is a book that will make you laugh out loud and, if you’re a sap like me, it may even bring a few tears.

You know some books come at the right time in your life. And some come at the worst possible point. Could i give an honest opinion about this book right now or in the near future. Probably not. This book deals with Grief, this book deals with how people differently grieves. I liked the characters in this book very much. Even though i wanted to throttle some of them.i would recommend this book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

It takes time to get past the grief of losing a loved one, and Milly Bryne is finding it more difficult than most, in part because the love of her life suddenly left shortly after her father's death. Seven years later, she finds herself with a new man in her life, and a successful career as a lawyer.. But it's not really enough to make her really happy. A few events serve to help her to see where, and with whom, her future is.

I read Friends Like Us by this author 4 years ago. Although I can’t honestly remember the story from that book, I do remember enjoying it and the authors name had stuck with me so I was thrilled to see she had a new book out.

There are interesting plot lines along with some very likeable characters. There’s Milly’s mum who’s met someone new after the death of her husband five years ago. Milly and her sister whilst certainly not expecting their mum to live alone the rest of her life, still can’t help thinking about their Dad and wondering if their mum should be moving on. Milly’s sister is having a tough time, still grieving for her Dad, working hard as a nurse in a care home, where it doesn’t help seeing death on a regular basis. Then Milly herself, still struggling very much over the loss of her Dad, and not helped by the fact that her boyfriend abandoned her too, just days after her fathers death.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, there’s Milly’s house mate and long term friend Siobhan who brings a bit of light relief into Milly’s otherwise stressful life. Then there’s Catriona, Milly’s boss. A high flying lawyer, determined to break through that glass ceiling in what is very much still a man’s world; that is until she has a baby with hilarious consequences (though not quite so hilarious for Catriona).

There’s just loads going on in the story, always something to keep the reader interested and turning the pages. Much of it along the theme of coming to terms with grief in respect of the loss of a much loved parent, and also anxiety and dealing with that. Sensitively written and all wrapped in a compelling tale of love lost and found.

I enjoyed it very much and give four stars here and on Amazon.

I greatly enjoyed this book, thank you for giving me a preview copy. The plot was interesting and fast paced and I sympathised with the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but I hope it will not be the last!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Milly Bryne’s whole world has come down around her, she’s lost her dad and her boyfriend in amatter of weeks.

Her family is broken after the lose of her dad. But losing her boyfriend, Milly looks like she’s given up on life as well as love.

But after going from stability in her life to chaos, Milly, thinks she’s got her life finally back on track. An old familiar face comes to Ireland and again, her life is thrown into a spin, making her think whether her new life is really for her or if there’s another way she can go which will bring not only greater joy, but maybe excitement and fun into her life., her world that’s better than what she’s got now.

A meaningful and beautifully written l book. Sometimes life just isn’t worth living if your heart isn’t in it, is it????

Recommend it.

A lovely story about coming to terms with grief. Very moving and sweet.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The first impression of Milly is that she has a great fun friend in Siobhán but her boyfriend Ryan is a creep! Her boss Catriona is hilariously delusional about the impact a baby will have on her life and it’s hard to determine how Milly views herself at work. This has some great characters in it, they are what makes this work so well and Milly herself is intriguing as she has almost been on hold for five years since losing her dad and boyfriend in such a short space of time. The gentle plots within this tie together well and with the strong characters this makes for a thoughtful but cosy read.