Well this was a surprise, albeit a positive one. Based on Clare Mackintosh’s three previous books I had anticipated this would be another thriller but whilst this is certainly a page turner it is a heart wrencher rather than thriller. A book of two halves this is the sad tale of parents Max & Pip faced with an impossible choice regarding their desperately sick son Dylan, unable to agree on what they believe to be the best course of care for him and so they are left with no option but to let a Judge rule on Dylan’s future. The first half of the book tells of Dylan’s illness and struggles and his parents battle to do what is best for him, the second half of the book tells of life after the Judge makes his ruling.

Told alternately from the perspectives of Max & Pip (and on occasion their doctor Leila) this is a very well thought out story, most especially the second half of the book, and Clare Mackintosh has skilfully woven her way through Max & Pip’s lives dealing with an impossible aftermath. The style of the book reminded me of Jodi Picoult and whilst it’s a huge change from Clare Mackintosh’s usual style it’s a very natural fit for her writing, reading the authors note at the end went a huge way to understanding her motivation behind this story too. Not an easy subject to read about however I don’t thing this feels like a negative book, hard going and emotional yes but certainly not depressing, Not one for a light summer read but very much well worth reading.

This is a brave and difficult story to try to tell, looking at what happens if your child is terminally ill and your doctors advise that treatment should be stopped and you should move to palliative care only. What happens if the child's parents disagree about what should be done? In this story it is Max & Pip who face this unbelievably difficult decision, and who end up going to court for a judge to decide on what the outcome for their son, Dylan, will be.
The start of the book is strong - I particularly liked the doctor, Leila. It's fraught and emotional and you feel very engaged in the story.
Halfway through, the book suddenly diverges - at the judge's decision, it splits into two alternate timelines, where we see what the outcome is depending on whether the judge rules that Dylan should continue with his treatment, or whether he should be allowed to die. This initially felt like a very brave and interesting decision to make for the book, but unfortunately I felt it didn't quite work. The story becomes confusing - it's hard to follow which version of Max & Pip we're seeing, and, to be honest, I struggled with the factors that seemed inevitable in each version of the timeline, so Pip's attraction to Lars, and Max's relationship with his old childhood friend. It felt as if they were both being forced away from each other, and there was no possibility of them working their way back together. But then to make matters even more confusing, there appears to be another, third version at the end, that suddenly came out of nowhere, and saw Max and Pip remarry, or at least, I think that's what happened! I had become so muddled by that point that I'm afraid I'd given up on trying to follow and I was just reading...

I also missed the doctor's timeline, so the second half of the book focuses on Max and Pip, but Dr Leila was an interesting character, and I wondered how she was and what was happening to her. We hear snippets, but it didn't feel enough for what I'd invested in the character.

I think there was a lot of potential here, and it's a very, very difficult issue, made more so because the author unfortunately lost her own child. I had wondered, at the start, which option she would choose to seemingly endorse, so the 2 timelines was an interesting choice, but unfortunately I didn't feel it worked very well.
I would have rated this higher as the writing is good, but I found the end very disappointing so I'm afraid it only hits 'it was ok' on my goodreads scoring.

Wow what an emotional book. Full of heartache, joy, tears, hope, sadness, love and so much more, if you can think of an emotion it is probably in this book !!

Having read and loved Clare’s previous psychological thrillers I wasn’t quite sure what this was going to be like as it is so different from the genre I know and love but this is an absolutely beautifully written story.

Max and Pip are faced with an unthinkable decision, one that will decide the future of their young child, Dylan. They are such a strong couple but what happens when for the first time they can’t agree ?

This is truly a heartbreaking story but also shows that love and hope can be found even in the darkest of places and maybe not where you were expecting to find it.

A really think that this showcases Clare’s amazing writing and the characters emotions and thoughts just jump off the pages at you. You really do feel as though you are part of the story and you go through the emotions with them.

If you are looking for a beautiful thought provoking read then this is a must for you. Although the story is heartbreaking it is a stunning emotional book.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

What an incredible book.
This is not the usual book from this author but it will touch you deep inside and make you think about things that you haven’t thought about before

This book is heartwarming and personal. 5 out of 5 just isn’t a high enough rating

Another amazing read by Claire Mackintosh , Couldn't put it down. Truly heartbreaking story of Pip , Max and Dylan. 100 percent recommend this book you wont regret a penny spent on it !

Thanks to NETGALLEY for sending me an advance copy of this book. The subject matter is without doubt heartbreaking and poses many moral and legal quandaries and made for tough reading at times. The main characters were well fleshed out and the book progressed along well - alas only until the final third - where everything got a little fuzzy. I was left feeling a tad confused, to say the least, with the alternate realities. Don't want to say too much more for fear of spoiling things for others! As this was a departure for the author from her usual fare it was nonetheless an emotional and at times tear-jerking read. Just so very disappointed at what I felt was a rushed and incomplete end.

Quite possibly the most affecting and powerful novel I’ve ever read. The kind of novel that requires huge gulps to stem your own heartache. With lines like ‘The heart stretches’ and ‘In grief, I’ve found you have to make your own journey’ which you just know you will quote to others who experience loss. I can’t imagine how painful it was for the author to write, but as a reader I can only express how grateful I am that she was able to. A novel of loss, love and grief, yes, but also of hope, just when I need it most.

An emotional, raw read. This is a difficult subject but Mackintosh handles it with eloquence and grace.

Wow, what a book. Heartbreaking tale of Pip, Max and their ill child Dylan. A nightmare scenario, whichever way you look at it.

The story leaps out at you from the page and at the end you discover that the author lost a child in 2006. That loss and love resonates across the pages, and is illustrated in every word.

I have to admit to getting a bit confused in the middle and clearer signposting to the different outcomes would have helped but ultimately this didn’t detract from this powerful, emotional and raw book.

An absorbing tale that left me sobbing. Another standout book from this talented author

Max and Pip are the strongest couple you know. Only now they're facing the most important decision of their lives - and they don't agree. As the consequences of an impossible choice threaten to devastate them both, nothing will ever be the same again. But anything can happen after the end.

I will admit to being apprehensive about reading this. It is completely different to Mackintosh's other books but it is every bit as perfect. The plot is undeniably beautiful and heart-stoppingly sad too. I was brimming with tears for a lot of the book and could not get the story of Max, Pip and Dylan out of my head.

Despite this being a different genre, this still has twists that ensure you know you are reading a Mackintosh book and they completely spin the book on its head. I have to say, this is very reminiscent of books by Jodi Picoult, so you get the idea of how emotional it is. What I loved about this is Mackintosh does not dwell on any part of the story, instead it is written and we move on, and it works spectacularly.

The characters are of course stunning, they are lovely people who have a gorgeous story to tell. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and following their story was indescribable.

If I could give this a million stars then I would. 'After the End' is the most perfect book I have read in a long time, words cannot do this stunning read justice. I adored everything about this and the ending is just perfect, as well as being a massive shock. You will cry but it is so worth it! Mackintosh, please never stop writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sphere for an advance copy.

Such a hard book to read as it deals with a very difficult subject. I found this very upsetting but enjoyable.

A very beautifully written book about an extremely touching and controversial subject that I absolutely loved.

This is a very moving story that is something entirely different from the author. Clare's writing was as usual beautiful and she managed to keep in all the emotions of her normal books but with a very different subject matter. Absolutely would recommend.

I was a little bit scared from this book because even though I love Clare Mackintosh's books they are totally different than this one.

It was a very sweet and positive disappointment!

When I started to read I felt sad for Dylan and the whole story is sad, on the other hand when the story's timeline slip, and start to tell two different stories as an outcome of two different decision it is just genius.

The story doesnt tell us which decision happened but it is a really eye-opening, how decisions in our life have an effect on it. Doesnt matter what we decide, we will have to live with it even if we have doubts about it.

I just simply loved it
I would give 10 out of 5 star for this book.

Max and Pip are the perfect couple.

At the very start of the book though we are with them in court as their hands touch to hear the verdict about the fate of their child.

The first part of the book leads up to the trial and shows how they have reached this point, This was touching, heart rending and well written.
For me it was the second half of the book after the verdict which gave this book five stars. Told in different voices and in different times, it cleverly shows the consequences of two different verdicts and I loved this. Although it did make me weep.
Great

I started this book on a flight so could not read the blurb so went in blind. I had no idea what was coming. I truly thought I was going to be reading a psychological thriller as Clare's previous amazing books. As I progressed through the story I realised that it was far from that but a family saga and a heartbreaking one at that. A story to make you think and very relevant with recent high profile cases hitting the media. A family torn apart by a heart wrenching decision and who thinks the best for their son should be. Highly emotive and cleverly written with a touch of sliding doors. Will stay with you long after you finish.

This is a review of two halves, much like the book being a book of two halves. Clare Mackintosh writes so compellingly the achingly painful story of parents who have to make the choice no parent should have to make - whether or not to continue treatment for their terminally ill son. The first half of this book was emotional and heartwrenching.

While I understood the concept of the second half of the book, it still jarred at me in going between the two narrators - while the concept gave the book something different from anything else out there, it didn't leave me with the raw feelings and compassion for the characters that the first half did.

An important story to tell nonetheless, but prepare to cuddle your kids extra close after reading - this one stays with you for days after reading.

You'd be forgiven for thinking you'd mistakenly mixed up Clare Mackintosh's latest book, with Jodi Picoult’s, but that's not a bad thing at all.
Sliding doors, the road less travelled, all of these would adequately describe this beautifully written, heart wrenching story of unimaginable loss and what may seem as betrayal at times.
After the end, made me think about my own father's tragic and untimely death and our family's loss a little differently.
This is my book of 2019. It made me cry, laugh and think and I hope to be a little kinder and a little more thoughtful before I comment in future, on things in the media I know nothing about. That said it was very difficult not to pick a side TeamPip or TeamMax. I eventually opted for TeamDylan.

I eeally wanted to read this just because it was written by Clare Mackintosh. It isn't what you would expected after reading her previous book but I enjoyed it non the less. It was a heartbreaking story but very well written and a read page turner. I would reccommend this to anyone wanting to read a touching story.

something completely different from Clare Mackintosh. We enter the lives of Pip and Max and their young son Dylan who is dying of Cancer. A difficult decision must be made and when the parents have differing opinions, the courts must step in to decide what is best for Dylan.
This is a powerful book told from two different perspectives, both during illness and after. What could have happened if different decisions were made.

A fantastic powerful and emotional page turning novel beautifully executed by Claire Mackintosh. It’s very rare that a book has me this emotionally invested and I found myself in tears at several points throughout this novel. Claire Mackintosh told the devastating story of Pip, Max and Dylan with such empathy and compassion that it was effortless to connect with the characters. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.