3.5 stars

Mostly this book was great.... talking about families,friendship,grief,trust... and what it means to be human.
iRachel became more and more like a person as the weeks went on,and was treated as such,so it really was an interesting idea on what happened to her when the labs found out. . Did she have a right to be treated like a person?

Occasionally it felt lime a teen romance novel,that felt a bit odd,and I constantly wondered at the idea is sending your grieving family an android that looks and sounds like you...

Overall though,a lovely book.

I can't actually liken this book to any other due to the story line. It did remind me very much of the film Bicentennial Man starring the late Robin Williams. Not only was I sobbing my heart out by the end of that film, I also sobbed my heart out at the end of this book too. Not that this is an overly sad book as it isn't. Yes it does deal with death as well as other life issues but it just moved me and touched my heart in a way I had not foreseen. 

None of us can ever imagine what to expect when the time comes to lose a loved one. Especially when they are taken away so suddenly. This is what Aiden and his daughter Chloe find themselves having to deal with and my heart went out to them both. There is no doubting the love that Rachel and Aiden had for each other. Even though they both threw themselves into work, they were still like love struck teenagers years later. It certainly melted my heart seeing Aiden struggling through each day.

Chloe I just loved. She is a strong and determined young lady who was so grown up in many ways, yet very much a child in others. I just wanted to give her a big hug for what she was going through.

Without a doubt iRachel is the star of this book. I don't want to say to much as I think it is best left for the reader to discover but in a world full of technology this gives a glimpse of what may be possible in the future. I have no clue whether it would be a good or bad thing but it's certainly a wonderful idea.

The story itself flicks between the characters so you really get the rawness of their emotions and feelings and what they are going through. It makes it such a personal yet wonderful reading experience and one that will stay with me for a long time to come.

The After Wife is a beautiful, emotive and gentle read that I well and truly lost myself into. This is a family whose lives will capture your heart never letting it go. One of my favourite reads this year by far.