After I Do

A Novel

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo comes an all-new audio production read by Julia Whelan, including a bonus conversation with Julia Whelan and Taylor Jenkins Reid, recorded exclusively for this edition.

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.

Critic reviews

"Julia Whelan narrates the story of a couple who are struggling with a rough patch in their marriage. Lauren and Ryan met at 19, and married at 24. Now 29, they are struggling to remember why — or even if — they still love each other, so they decide to take a year-long break. Whelan perfectly captures the arc of their relationship, which moves from awkward college flirting to the caustic sniping of a marital fight over something truly stupid. Her skill at narrating the everyday is both a strength and a flaw: For some this performance might be too uncomfortably like their own lives laid bare, while for others it could be deeply cathartic. Whelan also gives depth and personality to secondary characters, who are generally underdeveloped in the text."

Love this book!

I usually only listen to thrillers but I couldn’t stop listening to this book, it grabbed my attention immediately, and I didn’t want it to end. I absolutely loved it and I want to listen to this on repeat ❤️

Have more dinner parties…./

Good romance on not giving up and giving it your all to save your message. I guess I should have more dinner parties. Also love all things performed by Julia Whelan. Not my favorite, but quick read for a weekend

Great story

Loved how this story told the story of a couple going through a difficult time from both of their sides. I don’t want to say much more because I don’t want to spoil it for future readers but very good story!

Needed this story

My heart needed this story, I didn’t want it to end. Some parts were predictable, but somehow still beautiful in the way it unfolds.

Missed opportunity

The ending feels rushed and lacking the depth. The books main plot could have produced more growth in the characters. Felt more romance novel in the last third. Missed opportunity.