Lord of the Mysteries 04

From the author of Forever, Interrupted—hailed by Sarah Jio as “moving, gorgeous, and at times heart-wrenching”—comes a breathtaking new novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both.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.\*\*From BooklistIt all started out so well for Lauren Spencer and Ryan Cooper—an all-consuming college romance, a perfectly imperfect proposal, a lovely wedding, and a rustic honeymoon. Now, almost 10 years later, Lauren and Ryan find themselves rehashing the same arguments with increasing vehemence. In a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, Lauren and Ryan decide to take a yearlong break from each other, abstain from all communication, and figure out how they’d like to move forward. Once Ryan moves out, Lauren spends the next year learning more about herself, her marriage, and the foundations of good relationships than she ever imagined. Reid’s second novel (after Forever, Interrupted, 2013) contrasts the heady bliss of courtship with the smothering familiarity of a long-term partnership. Written in a breezy, humorous style familiar to fans of Jane Green and Elin Hilderbrand, After I Do focuses on Lauren’s journey of self-discovery. The novel’s pacing is a bit slow at times, but the intriguing premise and well-drawn supporting characters contribute to an emotionally uplifting and inspiring story. — Stephanie TurzaReview"Taylor Jenkins Reid offers an entirely fresh and new perspective on what can happen after the "happily ever after." With characters who feel like friends and a narrative that hooked me from the first page, After I Do takes an elegant and incisively emotional look at the endings and beginnings of love. Put this book at the top of your must read list!" (Jen Lancaster, New York Times bestselling author)“Written in a breezy, humorous style familiar to fans of Jane Green and Elin Hilderbrand, After I Do focuses on Lauren’s journey of self-discovery. The intriguing premise and well-drawn characters contribute to an emotionally uplifting and inspiring story.” (Booklist)"Touching and powerful...Reid masterfully grabs hold of the heartstrings and doesn't let go. A stunning first novel." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)"Moving, gorgeous and, at times, heart-wrenching. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes with wit and true emotion that you can feel. Read it, savor it, share it." (Sarah Jio, New York Times bestselling author of The Violets of March)"Taylor Jenkins Reid writes with ruthless honesty, displaying an innate understanding of human emotion and creating characters and relationships so real I’m finding it impossible to let them go. After I Do is a raw, unflinching exploration of the realities of marriage, the delicate nature of love, and the enduring strength of family. Simultaneously funny and sad, heartbreaking and hopeful, Reid has crafted a story of love lost and found that is as timely as it is timeless." (Katja Millay, author of The Sea of Tranquility)“A moving novel about life and death.” (Kirkus)"You'll laugh, weep and fly through each crazy-readable page." (Redbook)"Sweet, heartfelt, and surprising, Forever Interrupted is a story about a young woman struggling to find her way after losing her husband. These characters made me laugh as well as cry, and I ended up falling in love with them, too." (Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Best of Us)“Taylor Jenkins Reid has written a poignant and heartfelt exploration of love and commitment in the absence of shared time that asks, what does it take to be the love of someone's life?” (Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, New York Times bestselling authors)"This beautifully rendered story explores the brilliance and rarity of finding true love, and how to find our way back through the painful aftermath of losing it. These characters will leap right off the page and into your heart." (Amy Hatvany, author of Heart Like Mine)"As uplifting as it is brutally honest—a must-read." (Kirkus) From the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo "A seductive twist on the timeless tale of a couple trying to rediscover love in a marriage brought low by the challenges of domestic togetherness...touching, perceptive, and achingly honest." #8212;Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author 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#8212;and searching for a new road to happily ever after "From the author of Forever, Interrupted--hailed by Sarah Jio as "moving, gorgeous, and at times heart-wrenching"--Comes a breathtaking new novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both. 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"-- Provided by publisher From The Author Of Forever, Interrupted--hailed By Sarah Jio As Moving, Gorgeous, And At Times Heart-wrenching--comes A Breathtaking New Novel About Modern Marriage, The Depth Of Family Ties, And The Year That One Remarkable Heroine Spends Exploring Both. 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-- Taylor Jenkins Reid. Dedication Epigraph Part One Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Part Two Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Part Three Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Part Four Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Part Five Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Acknowledgments Readers Club Guide About the Author