After You

Tragedy but a heartwarming story evolves around it....

Ellie and Lucy were best friends all through their youth and beyond through their married lives. Lucy married an Englishman and lived in London. Lucy was walking her eight year old daughter, Sophie, to school when she was mugged and murdered in front of her daughter. Ellie jumped on a plane immediately and flew to London to mourn but also she felt needed by Lucy's husband and little girl. She ended up staying for months, leaving her husband adrift. After having lost a baby and now her best friend, who was her last link to life, this need seemed to fill her somehow and she just couldn't leave! This is tragedy but a heartwarming story evolves around it. Others I really enjoyed were I CAN SEE YOU, EXPLOSION IN PARIS, and LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

well written contemporary tale

Since the death of her baby, Bostonian Ellie Lerner has had nothing that turns her on. Neither her marriage to Phillip nor her teaching position matters. Her only tie to the living is Lucy Stafford who moved to England where she married Greg and has a child, Ellie's goddaughter Sophie.

When Lucy is tragically murdered by a mugger, Ellie's apparent last tie to life dies with her. However, something whispers to Ellie to cross the Atlantic to be there for Sophie. While Phillip is confused and Greg is hiding his grief with indifference, Ellie comes for the funeral but stays to take care of the hurting now mute eight years old Sophie who witnessed her mom's death. .

This is a well written contemporary tale starring realistic characters struggling with life after a tragedy. Ellie is terrific as she finds a reason to live in the needs of Sophie whose father has abandoned her as if she mugged and killed his American wife. Her nurturing Sophie through their nightly ritual of reading the Secret garden together brings to her solace that she had not previously found. Whereas the two females forge a deep relationship that helps each move on somewhat beyond their respective trauma by regaining a sense of self, the two males in their live remain bewildered. AFTER YOU is a strong character study that focuses on regaining one's equilibrium after a tragedy has occurred.

Harriet Klausner

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

After You

With her new book, After You, Julie Buxbaum has solidified her position as the new voice of woman's literature. She has written characters that will find their way into your heart and touch you in ways you never thought possible.


Ellie risks losing everything when she receives word that her best friend, Lucy, was brutally murdered walking her daughter to school on the quiet streets of Notting Hill. Ellie takes her duties as Godmother very seriously and takes on the role as surrogate mother, forsaking her husband and her job to help Sophie heal. But are her motives as pure as they sound or is Ellie using her friend's tragedy to escape the tragedies of her own life?

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Heartbreakingly Real

Buxbaum has become one of my new favorite authors. Her latest novel about a terrible tragedy with lasting effects is deeply moving and beautifully written.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Decent Chick Lit

Buxbaum is a great writer with a lot of fun contemporary references. Some of the themes in this book seemed lifted verbatim from "Belong to Me" by Marissa de los Santos, which turned me off.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Moving forward

When Ellie learns of her best friend's, Lucy, tragic death, she puts her life on hold (including her own marital problems) to be with Lucy's husband, Greg and daughter Sophie. As Ellie tries to cope with Lucy's shortened life, she discovers Lucy's hidden secrets that cause Ellie to question their friendship. After You is a book about personal healing after a loss. Whether it's the death of a loved one, end of a relationship or the loss of innocence. After You explores the necessary steps to move forward and begin again where you are.

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