Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Unavailable
After the Party
Unavailable
After the Party
Unavailable
After the Party
Audiobook14 hours

After the Party

Written by Lisa Jewell

Narrated by Helen Duff

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

In this irresistible novel from the author of Then She Was Gone, Jem and Ralph discover the power of starting over after eleven years together have left them drifting apart.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 5, 2018
ISBN9781974924295
Unavailable
After the Party
Author

Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell is a British author of popular fiction. She was born and raised in north London, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. She is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of twelve novels, including The House We Grew Up In and The Third Wife. For more information, visit her on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial, or follow her on Twitter @LisaJewellUK.

More audiobooks from Lisa Jewell

Related to After the Party

Contemporary Romance For You

View More

Reviews for After the Party

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5

21 ratings9 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Frustrating.This was my first Lisa Jewell book and I was listening to the unabridged audio version.Right from the start we know that Ralph and Jem have parted ways, they share the care of the kids, passing them over on a Wednesday and back on Sunday - but have lost the vital spark of their relationship. Then we jump back in time to happier days, their romantic meeting, getting to know each other, and the early years before baby Blake. This was a couple that was destined to be together. So what went wrong? The majority of the book answers this question, which I found rather depressing, especially as I often wanted to bang their heads together and say "no, don't be such a pair of idiots!". The story is well told and the characterisations were good, but the book wasn't an enjoyable read. It entertained me as I walked round the park but didn't demand that I buy more from this author.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    After the party is the first book I read written by Lisa Jewell and I admit I didn't know this author or any of her previous works, so when this book came into my possession, it was an absolute mystery to me. I didn't know what I was going to find in these pages and if I would like her writing style, or hate it. But, I'm glad I read it, because I have met a really talented writer. After The Party is the sequel to one of her earlier books, Ralph's Party. This time the book begins more than eleven years later, taking up again the life of the main characters, Jem and Ralph, who, after living together for eleven years and after having given birth to two beautiful babies, they start bumping into problems and changes that will make them think seriously about whether this is the life they want or not; and at the same time it will make us think if there really exist happy endings.Jewel with her wonderful writing style, teaches us in a comprehensive way how distrust, lies and insecurity can kill a relationship of several years. It also tells us how a couple's life changes when children arrive, and other issues such as abortion, infidelity, and second chances. The book that is told from two different perspectives, makes us understand the feelings and the behavior of the two main characters.The characters are more than realistic. From the very first moment we see Jem as a mother occupied with her two babies and how her life has changed considerably. She is not the young and fun woman she was eleven years ago, she has matured. But we also see Ralph's side, who does not understand yet what having children means, and he is still unable to complete the process of becoming a parent, and operate and behave as such. So that is when we see their relationship deteriorate due to changes and lack of communication. Their relationship and their problems are more than real, and I'm sure most of the readers, even if they are married with children or not, will feel sympathy, or just remember friends or relatives who have been or gone through similar situations.It's difficult to me to find in this book something that I didn't like or enjoy. From the very first page the story caught my attention, and I am more than satisfied with the development of the plot because it fulfills its promise. This book kept me on the edge of my seat several times, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Even though sometimes I hated Ralph and Jem, respectively, for the things that they did, or the way they behaved, I finished understanding and liking them. I have read several comments about this book; some of them really good, and other not so good. I personally recommend it to those who like stories that describe what's behind "the happy ending" and those who like realistic stories. To those who prefer romantic themes, with first glances and true love may not be able to enjoy one hundred percent the teaching of this book. But as always, I recommend to give it a try. I like that kind of romantic stories, and I'm not married and I don't have kids… but I really liked this book.After the Party as I said before is the sequel to Ralph's Party. Although this book can be read as one and it can be understood perfectly well, I recommend you reading Ralph's Party first... because after finishing this one you'll want to know how their story began eleven years ago…. And I said this from own experience… I loved it! 5 stars!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    not as good as the original ralphs party but a nice wander back to familiar friends
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "AFTER THE PARTY" BY LISA JEWELLA couple that's shared a passionate love for so long start to question the life they have chosen once marriage and a family enters the equation.A wonderful and exciting story about true love and how doubt is always a factor in even the best of relationships. This was a great book, completely beautiful, having the ability to teach valuable life lessons.-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Lisa Jewell's latest book, After the Party picks up about 10 years after Ralph's Party ended. You don't necessarily have to read that one first, but it helps set the stage. Jem and Ralph now have a boy and a girl after several miscarriages and they should be happy, but both of them find the spark is gone and something is not quite right in their relationship. Jem never did get a proper wedding since Ralph never believed in a big production to define their relationship which is a sore point for Jem. The story is told be each character with their own insecurities shining through and coloring each chapter. So one day, Ralph decides he need to go capture his artistic spirit, leaves his family and runs away to Los Angeles to visit Smith, his and Jem's old flatmate. Jem is left in turmoil, questions her very existence and has her own mini mid life crisis. Ralph has a spiritual awakening while Jem finds strength. They both meet a member of the opposite sex that either help or hinder the situation. The main questions is: will they work it out without these outside forces?I talk to my books when I read. I yell at the characters, I cry with them, I laugh with them. You don't want to be around me when I read since when I like a book, I have noisy conversations with them. I had several yelling sessions while reading After the Party, telling Ralph and Jem to just grow up and behave since they are now parents. Every time the couple was just about to be on the same page, there would be a misunderstanding and causes them both to soar out of control. I kept thinking "this is so real - I know couples who have had these same issues". This is just a wonderfully written story full of emotions that is perfect for this time of year! If you enjoy Madeleine Wickham, Harriet Evans or Hester Browne, you are going to adore this author as well.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    After the Party is a sequel, and I suppose it’s possible that if I’d read the first one, I would have enjoyed this more – but I find it unlikely.There really wasn’t much for me to like here. I imagine that Lisa Jewell was trying to write a book about a couple with two kids, who found themselves drifting apart, but really it was just a gossipy, ridiculous, and not terribly amusing story about a family unit that wasn’t functioning very well.The writing style certainly wasn’t prize-winning, but it wasn’t terrible either. She managed to turn a few phrases that I found endearing. “He was the sort of man who made no first impression at all but climbed his way slowly inside your consciousness, grew outlines and texture and color like a photo in a tray of developing film.”There were several main problems running throughout the narrative:1) I disliked all the characters from the beginning, and grew to hate them by the end.2) It appeared that the author consulted a book of possible plot devices, and instead of choosing one or two, she crammed every one into this story. Abortions, miscarriages, infidelity, indifference, stalking, abandonment, being stood up at the alter etc.3) There were numerous inconsistencies that were jarring as hell. For example, on one page, a guy shows up for dinner with some beer, and says, “I thought, curry, it should really be beer.” On the very next page, the woman to whom he just handed the beer says, “I hope you don’t mind but I got a bit inspired in the new and improved Sainsbury’s and thought I’d cook rather than order out. Are you okay with Thai food?” Also, she’d invited him for dinner via text, and specifically mentioned that they were having Thai food. This happens several other times in the book; a character will say something as though it’s never been discussed before, even though it was just covered. I suspect the author wrote this book in a few sittings and didn’t bother to go back and re-read it for the sake of consistency.4) It’s clearly supposed to be Chick-Lit, but I’d prefer my Chick-Lit to not have numerous instances of shitty misogyny. For example, “Jem was taking a masculine approach to the situation, a practical, realistic approach.” Ah, so men are practical and realistic, while women are totally irrational at all times. Good to know!Overall, I obviously wouldn’t recommend this to anyone, and though I do appreciate receiving a free copy from the GoodReads First Reads program, I will be donating it to my local thrift store. My apologies in advance to whomever unwittingly reads it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I’ve read almost all of her books and this by far is my favorite. It definitely is worth reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A long look at a relationship falling apart ... it felt slower than it should have, and I kept wanting to slap both of them for not saying what they really felt. So often relationships falter because of fear when a little honesty could make everything better.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I love Lisa Jewell's book and as per usual, it was very well written, however, I did find this book lacking of any excitement throughout the story, it was almost boring, but I suppose life can sometimes be boring, and this book was about real-life situations. I stuck with it all the way through, although I sped the play up to finish the book sooner, which is something I never do. Looking forward to what her next book will offer.