There are some authors whose books you just want to read without even finding out what it’s about, because they wrote it. For me, Clare Mackintosh is one of those authors. I found her three previous books to be really gripping page-turners which I found hard to put down. This book is very different, which was something of a surprise as I hadn’t read the book details. Rather than being a psychological thriller like the others, this is more of an emotional family drama.

When I first started reading and realised what the book was about, I must admit that I was a bit worried I would find it just too difficult. At the heart of the story is a very sick little boy, Dylan, whose parents Pip and Max disagree about the best course of treatment for him. With the hospital trust agreeing with one of them, the case goes before the court. The book follows the family as Dylan’s illness progresses and in the aftermath of the court’s decision.

I don’t really want to say much more about the story as it really is a book you have to read for yourself. It is very cleverly written and one of these books that makes you think what you would do in the same situation. And the thing is, as I think comes across in the book, it is a virtually impossible decision to make. I could completely understand why both Pip and Max felt they were doing the right thing for their son. Clare Mackintosh has written so convincingly about their convictions and feelings that as I read their chapters, I was totally on their side, whoever’s side I was reading about. It was also interesting to read about the thoughts of the doctor involved in the care of their little boy and to realise the effect that the case had on her both while she was caring for him and after the court case.

This is an utterly heart-breaking story yet so compelling and ultimately hopeful. It is a powerful portrayal of a couple pushed to breaking point in a devastating situation and how life goes works out for them afterwards. A gripping and convincing story of loss and of love, After The End shows that Clare Mackintosh is just as skilled at as writing about a sensitive and emotive subject as she is at writing a psychological thriller.

After having read Clare's previous books and enjoying them all I was really looking forward to reading this one. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much and felt it was different to her previous work. I nearly gave up after a few chapters in but felt there was going to be a twist like the previous ones and there was a sort of twist and I liked the theme of the parallel futures but the story just didn't hold enough substance or suspension for me and it all got quite boring. Was a shame as I was really expecting to love this book

An absolutely fantastic book from Clare Mackintosh. I have been a fan of the author for years and have loved her previous thrillers. After the End is very different from anything Mackintosh has published before, It centres around the heartbreaking decision of two parents, Pip and Max and what is the best course of action for their son Dylan in the face of an incurable disease, This difficult story is so well told that I simply couldn't put it the down. The story has remained in my thoughts for days afterwards.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

It's not often I read a book at the speed in which I read this. After the End tells the heartbreaking story of parents Pip and Max and the consequences of the decisions they make in relation to their terminally ill son.

Spilt into three parts, this is not an easy read. The subject matter will break you especially if you have children, or there are children in your lives you love as your own. Clare Mackintosh gives this subject the sensitive touch relating from her own experiences which adds the depth to this story.

I love the fact that especially in the first half of the book, it shows that any decision not only affects the parents but also those caring, such as the doctors, nurses, grandparents etc. There have been well known cases in the news of a similar nature but After The End explores what happens when its all over and the news cameras stop rolling. This is something that I feel is needed. No one knows what happens to a family in this situation but this book gives you an insight into what could happen.

Like I said this is not an easy read. Its heartbreaking, tragic but ultimately brilliant.

Thank you to Little Brown and Clare Mackintosh for not only an advance copy in exchange for an honest review but for also allowing me to read this amazing work.

After the End Clare Mackintosh
I’ve been waiting a while to mull over my thoughts and get them in order before writing a review. It blew me away and I needed thinking time! What a brave book to write!
This book is really emotive and well-written, dealing with a sensitive subject compassionately. It is giving no secrets away to say that it is about Dylan, a very sick little boy and the enormity of the decisions the grief-stricken parents have to make, and how these decisions affect the rest of their lives.
I feel the main theme of the book is how we deal with the consequences of our decisions and how we decide to live our lives. The 2nd half of the book deals with parallel stories of what might have been, the ‘if only’s’ we all consider. I was certainly gripped and willing Pip and Max on, empathising with them. There is a ‘Mackintosh’ traditional twist which blindsided me. After (I reached) the end, I went back through the 2nd half, following the timelines separately to help the story ‘settle’ in my mind. And make sure you read the ’Acknowledgements and Authors notes’ - that really brought it all home to me! Brilliant! More than a 5*!

LOVE this book! Split into two section, Before and After, this book tells the story of Pip and Max who disagree over the treatment of their terminally ill son Dylan. Beautifully, sensitively written. This was well worth staying up till 3am to finish in one sitting. Simply unable to put it down. A haunting tale that will remain with you long after the final pages.

Thank you to Clare Mackintosh and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Max and Pip are parents to nearly 3 year old Dylan, a terminally ill child in the pediatric intensive care unit of St. Elizabeth's Hospital. In the first half of the book, we are told the story through narratives of Max, Pip and Dylan's doctor, Laila. Dylan's parents ultimately disagree on his future care and end up in Court, on opposing sides, to decide his best treatment going forward.

After the End is a book so completely different to anything Clare Mackintosh has written before, that if you had told me Jodi Picoult had written it I would have believed it, such is the storyline and the style of writing itself.

The first half of this book is very good. The emotions and toll of life with a terminally ill child on Dylan's parents, his grandparents and even his doctor are portrayed touchingly and heartbreakingly. This is an extremely painful subject written with empathy, tenderness and sensitivity.

However, part 2 of this book deals with the "what ifs" following the outcome of the Court case in both Max and Pip's lives and while it was interesting to see what happened in both scenarios of the outcome, I found it very confusing as to whose narrative I was reading, and the years in which the chapters were set.

After the End by Clare Mackintosh is a touching and controversial book that is extremely well written. Max and Pippa face an extreme emotionally heart wrenching time, that the author tackles with such passion and care. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue reading this book, in places as it was upsetting and I was expecting a psychological thriller, which it isn’t, but I’m really glad that I finished the book. I found it a insightful, compassionate and thought provoking.

If you're expecting more of the same from Ms Mackintosh with respect to the psychological thriller genre, be warned that this book is not that. It's the story of two people torn apart from the tragedy of a sick child and the decision they have to make regarding his ongoing care. It's all the emotions and then some and fraught with all the things that go hand in hand with dealing with a life that is out of their control.
Max and Pip have a very strong relationship. Their family is complete when Dylan is born but then their world is torn apart when he starts to get sick. He deteriorates quite quickly and it soon becomes obvious that decisions regarding his ongoing care have to be made. To stop the treatment and let him go or to carry on regardless of what quality of life he may have afterwards. You already know from the start of the book how things develop there but, as we find out, that's just the start of things to come...
As with one of her earlier books, this book is a book of two halves. The second half leading nicely on from what happens and told alternately by Max and Pip. It's hard to say much more about it as you will find out yourself when you get to that point but I will say that it really gave me food for thought about the whole thing and both voices tugged on my heartstrings.
I remember the recent story about Ashya King, a young boy, and his family going through a similar thing near to me. How his parents defied the hospital and took him abroad for treatment. This case was front and centre in my local paper for quite a while. The story in this book does not follow this case so it's no spoiler but I am mentioning it as it speaks to an understanding and appreciation of what the author is writing about here and gives a lot of credence to what I read. I also understand that the story in this book has personal connections for the author and the parts that are not autobiographical have obviously been very well researched.
Gosh, it all sounds a bit dark doesn't it. Well, yes it is a bit along the way, but the author has managed to inject lighter moments within the book so it never gets too depressing. A tricky balance to maintain but also an important one and here her skill as an author really shines through.
It's a book about a journey, one taken by a loving couple who differ on one important outcome. It's also about that outcome and how the aftermath shapes the rest of their lives. The way the book progresses really makes it an incredible read but I can't go into that here for reasons which will become evident. It's a book that I feel privileged to have read and one that will stay with me for a while yet. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Wow, this book was such an emotional read. I don't think I have ever read anything that was this emotional and powerful. So cleverly written. Had me hooked from the first page. I sympathised with both Max and Pip and I honestly don't know what I would do if I had to face a decision like theirs. There is no wrong or right answer. Each decision is made out of the love for their child. I was so emotionally wrapped up in this book I did not want this to end. I have read all of Clare Macintosh's books and they each in their own way are the best books I have ever read. This book will live on in my soul forever and has taught me never to take life for granted. Thank you Clare for the amazing opportunity to have the wonderful opportunity of an advance reading of this new book.

Any book that has the ability to make me cry is, weirdly, a hit with me and this one made me cry more than once. Such a heartbreaking story that sadly is all too familiar for many families and while I can't imagine the pain of these poor families, this book manages to capture some of that heartbreak and gives a glimse into the feelings and story's of those involved both during and after such tragedies. Definitely a 5 star from me.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Usually love her books this was really not my cup of tea it's not a bad book just not for me

Pip and Max Adams have a little boy, Dylan, who is rising three. He is dying from cancer. Devoted parents, they are spending all the time that they can at his hospital bedside tending to him and talking to him month after month whilst he remains unresponsive. Eventually their doctor, Leila Khalili, informs them that prolonging Dylan’s life is not in his best interest. They disagree and so begins their battle with the hospital – at least that’s where Clare Mackintosh appears to be heading. However, after visiting a mother who has been caring for her severely disabled daughter for many years, Pip decides that keeping Dylan alive is selfish; he has suffered more than enough in his short life. Meanwhile, her husband, determined that his son should live for as long as possible, has been researching new treatments in the US. The couple end up battling for their preferred outcomes in court.
The first half of the novel, with the focus on life at the hospital contrasted with memories of their energetic toddler at home, feels really authentic, perhaps because, very sadly, Clare Mackintosh has first-hand knowledge of life in a NICU which she writes about in her Afterward. The experience is every parent’s nightmare and the events are written about very movingly, without sensationalism or sentimentality, but with a profound sense of suffering and a deep understanding of how all parents react differently to such tragedies.
In the second half of ‘After the End’, the author explores how life changes for the family because of their child’s terminal illness. Using the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost as inspiration, Mackintosh takes the concept of lives moving forward because of a decision taken at a certain moment and gives the reader different possible scenarios for the once happily married Pip and Max. Most of these feel entirely plausible; life can never again be pain free even though they will become more able to bear their suffering as time passes. However, the ‘final version’ – Chapter 52, set in 2019 – reminds me of one of those happy-ever-after chapters demanded by Victorian readers (think Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’) which does not fit with the overall tone of the novel. Better to have left it out!
My thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

If you’re a fan of Clare Mackintosh’s previous books this may not be what you are expecting. However, this was a gripping and thought-provoking book which had me gripped from the start. I’m sure this will be as successful as her previous books but it also takes the author beyond the psychological thriller genre and into the upper echelons of contemporary authors.

Having read Clare Mackintosh’s books before I was fully expecting a psychological thriller, especially as I read the first chapter. (I hadn’t actually read the synopsis, just dived straight in!) Of course I then realised it wasn’t a thriller, but an extremely sad but well written and clever book. You wonder how authors sometimes write such books, and after I read the authors notes it made the whole book even more emotional and thought provoking.

Having read Clare Mackintosh previous novels, I was aware that this was not her usual psychological thriller, and wondered if I would enjoy this as much. However, this is another of her books which is well-deserved of 5 stars! This novel is highly emotional at times, exploring the tragic issue no parent ever wants to be faced with; being given the devastating news that your child has terminal cancer. The book is based around our two main characters, Pip and Max, the parents of young Dylan, who has a cancerous brain tumour. When they are told the news this is terminal, they are faced with some life changing decisions, which they will continue to reflect and continually dwell upon over the passing years. Through the unfolding of events, Mackintosh explores the options that these parents have, which they tragically cannot agree on, resulting in an impasse that the courts are finally left to decide. Whilst the book presents some extremely emotional events at times, you find yourself as a reader considering the same difficult plight and what you yourself feel should be the best outcome. Mackintosh cleverly deals with the expression in life we may find ourselves at times asking of various situations ‘what if…???’ She presents almost a ‘Sliding doors’ offer of events, where one decision can change the whole course of history. As the events evolve, it keeps you continually wondering about the decisions and questions the parents are faced with, but also keeps you gripped wanting to know more and how the novel will finally end – and in true Mackintosh style, doesn’t finish without a slight twist! As Mackintosh acknowledges in the Afterward, this is something that is very personal to her and so enables her to write from the heart in a powerful and creative way, but with such sensitivity and emotion. My thanks go to netgalley and Little Brown Books for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this.

After The End is unlike anything I have read before and the story of Pip and Max and their baby Dylan is a complete departure from the Psychological Thrillers that I have read by Clare Mackintosh. After the End was brilliantly written (I wouldn’t expect anything less from Clare Mackintosh) and is a very special, sensitive book that was sometimes hard to read and tugged at my heart strings. Dylan’s story will stay with me for a long time. I give this book 5 stars. A big thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for letting me read this for an honest review, I can’t wait for the publication date so that I can recommend After The End to friends and family.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long while. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am a fan of Clare MacIntosh and I have enjoyed her thrillers. This is a departure. A story of love and loss, and I am very impressed.
The illness and potential death of a child is such a hard subject matter, but one that is tackled with sensitivity and understanding by the author. I was engrossed and felt so privileged to share the story of Dylan, his parents, and his doctor.
The book is very well written. To manage the time differences in part 2 could not have been easy and it was done really well. I was never lost or confused (sometimes I do struggle to keep up when a book has a ‘sliding door’ type concept.). I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the way the book is structured is very clever and works beautifully.
The main characters are believable, flawed, and so very human. I wanted to be their friend and to give them a massive hug. I found it so emotional - It is probably not a book for public transport.
I highly recommend this book and do not hesitate to give it 5 stars. I can’t wait to see what Clare MacIntosh writes next.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is certainly a different style of writing from this author and I personally found this really emotional and hit home in a couple of parts

This book was so moving. At the centre is one poorly little boy surrounded by love but what happens when parents don’t agree on a way forward. You follow the parents through there turmoil where there is no right or wrong path. This book grabs you and holds you till you turn the last page.