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Quick answer: If you liked After I Do, read Taylor Jenkins Reid's Maybe in Another Life and One True Loves, then Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Happy Place and One Day. All are emotional, readable novels about love, marriage and the choices that shape a life.
Taylor Jenkins Reid's 2014 novel follows Lauren and Ryan, a couple who have been together for years but have fallen out of love, and decide to take a year apart to see what they really want. It is honest, funny and sad. The books below offer similar stories about relationships, second chances and the work of staying or leaving.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maybe in Another Life | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | two possible lives |
| One True Loves | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | love triangle |
| Forever, Interrupted | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | grief and love |
| Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | rock band |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | Hollywood secrets |
| Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | siblings and a party |
| Carrie Soto Is Back | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | sports drama |
| Happy Place | Emily Henry | Adult | exes pretending |
| Beach Read | Emily Henry | Adult | writers in love |
| Fleishman Is in Trouble | Taffy Brodesser-Akner | Adult | modern marriage |
| Big Little Lies | Liane Moriarty | Adult | suburban secrets |
| Heartburn | Nora Ephron | Adult | funny betrayal |
| One Day | David Nicholls | Adult | love over decades |
| Me Before You | Jojo Moyes | Adult | emotional romance |
| The Light Between Oceans | M. L. Stedman | Adult | marriage and moral choice |
1. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A woman's life splits in two on the night she returns to Los Angeles. A light, romantic what-if.
Best for: two possible lives.
2. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A woman remarries after her husband is presumed dead, and then he returns. Emotional and quick.
Best for: love triangle.
3. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A young widow meets her husband's mother. Moving and honest.
Best for: grief and love.
4. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A fictional 1970s band told in interview form. Addictive and bittersweet.
Best for: rock band.
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
An ageing film star tells a young journalist the truth about her marriages. A page-turner.
Best for: Hollywood secrets.
6. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Four siblings throw a legendary party in 1983. Breezy and emotional.
Best for: siblings and a party.
7. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A retired tennis champion returns to the court. Fierce and moving.
Best for: sports drama.
8. Happy Place by Emily Henry
A broken-up couple hides the truth from their friends on a holiday. Heartfelt and funny.
Best for: exes pretending.
9. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two rival authors swap genres for a summer. Sharp and sweet.
Best for: writers in love.
10. Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
A divorced doctor is left with his children, and the story shifts to a surprising point of view. Sharp and honest.
Best for: modern marriage.
11. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Three mothers are drawn into a death. Funny, sharp and full of twists.
Best for: suburban secrets.
12. Heartburn by Nora Ephron
A cookbook writer discovers her husband's affair. Witty and delicious.
Best for: funny betrayal.
13. One Day by David Nicholls
Two friends meet on the same date each year across twenty years. Funny and sad.
Best for: love over decades.
14. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
A quirky young woman becomes a carer for a man who has given up on life. Unforgettable.
Best for: emotional romance.
15. The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
A lighthouse keeper and his wife find a baby in a boat. Moving and difficult.
Best for: marriage and moral choice.
How to Choose
For more Reid begin with Maybe in Another Life or One True Loves. For her bigger hits choose Daisy Jones & The Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. For modern romance pick Happy Place or Beach Read. For marriage stories read Fleishman Is in Trouble, Heartburn or One Day. After I Do is quick and honest, so these picks suit readers who like emotional realism. After I Do was one of Reid's earlier novels, and some readers prefer it to her later bestsellers for its quieter honesty. It reads quickly, and many people finish it in a weekend. If you prefer Reid's glamour, move on to Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo. If you prefer a quieter, relationship-focused story, One True Loves and Forever, Interrupted are close. Audiobooks make these quick reads even quicker. Book clubs often choose them for the questions they raise about commitment.
Related: 15 Best Books to Read After Being Laid Off · 15 Best Books to Read After a Miscarriage
Frequently Asked Questions
What is After I Do about?
A couple takes a year apart to decide whether to stay together.
Who wrote it?
Taylor Jenkins Reid.
When was it published?
2014.
Is it a romance?
Yes, but it is also about marriage and self-discovery.
Does it have a happy ending?
It is hopeful but realistic.
Is it a quick read?
Yes, about 300 pages.
Is it related to her other books?
No, it is a standalone.
What should I read next?
Try Maybe in Another Life or One True Loves.
Is After I Do a good book club pick?
Yes, it raises questions about marriage, individuality and communication.
Is it light or serious?
A mix of both, with humour and emotional honesty.