After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
💔 After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Full Review + Spoilers
“What happens when love runs out… and you’ve still got a marriage license?”
⚠️ Trigger Warnings
Before we dive in, be aware this book includes:
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Infidelity (emotional + physical)
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Mentally abusive behaviors (verbal fights, gaslighting moments)
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Separation + marital conflict
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Death of a grandparent
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Grief and loneliness
📚 Quick Facts
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Title: After I Do
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Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Published: 2014
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Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
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Vibe: Messy relationships, family drama, “will they/won’t they” tension
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Rating (My Take): ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
🚨 Spoiler Alert!
Full plot details below (including the ending). If you want to be surprised, maybe stop here and add it to your TBR first. 👀
📝 Plot Summary (FULL SPOILERS)
“We Lost the Car and Also Our Marriage”
Lauren and Ryan’s love story starts out dreamy — college sweethearts, Yosemite proposal, cute apartment vibes. Flash forward 11 years: they’re throwing vases over… a lost car in a Dodgers parking lot. Marriage goals?
“We Need Space… Like, a Whole Year of It”
After yet another blow‑up, they agree to separate for one year — zero contact, figure out if love is salvageable. Ryan moves out, Lauren moves into Sad Girl Era™ (wine + crying in her sister’s guest room).
“Grandma’s Advice and Mild Identity Crisis”
Lauren turns to family: her sister Rachel, wise grandma Lois, and mom Leslie. Cue heartfelt chats, unsolicited advice, and mild existential dread. Meanwhile, her best friend Mila encourages Lauren to embrace independence… which mostly means awkward self‑help experiments and eating alone a lot.
“Wait, Did You Just Hack His Email?”
Lauren logs into Ryan’s email (😬) and finds unsent drafts confessing how much he misses her (and also what annoyed him about her). Totally healthy relationship move! She starts writing her own unsent drafts back. They basically… emotionally subtweet each other through drafts.
“Oh, We’re Dating Other People Now? Cool Cool Cool”
Lauren discovers Ryan is seeing other women. So she starts dating David, a divorced guy who becomes her rebound/friends‑with‑benefits. It’s messy, it’s weird, and no one is communicating like an adult.
“Death, Birth, and Email Confessions”
Grandma Lois falls ill. Brother Charlie’s girlfriend gives birth. Lauren realizes she still loves Ryan. They reunite at the hospital, admit they’ve both been snooping each other’s drafts (lol romantic??), and decide to get back together.
Lois passes away the same day baby Jonathan is born — circle of life vibes. Lauren and Ryan reunite with minimal actual therapy or self‑work, but hey, love wins (I guess?).
🎯 My Review
Hooked at First Fight
That opening scene? Hilarious and painfully relatable. I was ready for 5 stars.
But Then… Yikes
Both characters turn out messy. Secret emails? Gaslighting? No growth arc? By the end, it felt like they stayed together because… who else would want them?
Writing Style
Classic Taylor Jenkins Reid: bingeable, funny, and emotional. Even when I wanted to scream at these two, I couldn’t stop reading.
Final Rating
3/5 stars. Fun concept, realistic messiness, frustrating characters.
🌟 If You Liked This, Try…
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One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (romantic + emotional)
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Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren (second‑chance love done right)
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Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score (messy but satisfying small‑town romance)
🛒 Where to Buy
Grab After I Do on Amazon here (affiliate link)
Final Thoughts
After I Do explores what happens after the fairy‑tale ending — and spoiler: it’s messy. Realistic, raw, sometimes funny… and sometimes maddening. If you like your romance with a side of chaos, this is your book.
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