Our review copy of Aidan Donnelley Rowley's debut novel, Life After Yes (out yesterday from Avon), came stamped with a big, red disclaimer: "Warning: This is NOT a Fairytale." It's true—despite the dreamy wedding dress on the cover, the engagement-themed story, and the seemingly picture-perfect life of the author (Yale- and Columbia Law-educated, married with two blue-eyed darlings, living on the Upper West Side where she was born and raised), Rowley's book is far from the starry-eyed "happily ever after" you might expect.
Life After Yes is the story of Quinn O'Malley, a Manhattan born and bred attorney (sound familiar?) thrust into confusion and indecision after she accepts her Prince Charming of a boyfriend's romantic proposal in Paris. Suddenly she's surrounded by temptation—in the forms of ex-boyfriends, charming coworkers, even her personal trainer. And, despite the gravity of her romantic situation, it all seems somewhat insignificant in the context of her family life: It's 2002, and Quinn's father was having breakfast on the top floor of Tower One on the morning of September 11, 2001.
Quinn's grief and the toll it takes on her personal life and health (in the form of semblant gallons of white wine) provide a realistic and heart-wrenching backdrop for the rest of the story, but that remainder falls flat. We found Quinn's infidelities and dishonesty, well, icky, as there seemed to be no real repercussions, and the takeaway was "monogamy is hard." And while we enjoy Rowley's contemplative writing style (particularly on her cheesy-in-a-good-way blog, ivyleagueinsecurities.com), in novel form it comes across as heavy-handed, overly earnest, and unrealistic (the characters communicate almost exclusively in Sex and the City-style quips).
We've got our eye on Rowley, and we look forward to a more subtle, nuanced sophomore effort—in the meantime, save Life After Yes for a lazy weekend when you're feeling down on marriage and aren't necessarily in the mood to be proved wrong.
-
Inside One of the Most Exclusive and Dazzling Health Spas in the U.S.The Golden Door in Southern California costs tens of thousands of dollars for a weeklong stay—and donates 100 percent of its proceeds to nonprofits.
-
Kendall Jenner’s Hair at the Schiaparelli Fashion Show Was Easily Six Inches Tall
The model and 818 founder closed the runway.
-
Red Is the Color for Fall Fashion, But It Also Belongs in Your Makeup Routine
Red lipstick is just the beginning.
-
The Best Bollywood Movies of 2023 (So Far)
Including one that just might fill the Riverdale-shaped hole in your heart.
-
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ 2023: Everything We Know
Cue up Mike Reno and Ann Wilson’s “Almost Paradise."
-
Who Is Gerry Turner, the ‘Golden Bachelor’?
The Indiana native is the first senior citizen to join Bachelor Nation.
-
‘Virgin River’ Season 6: Everything We Know
The cast and crew are pausing the hit show in support of the writers' strike.
-
The 56 Best Musical Movies of All Time: Iconic Movie Musicals
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
-
Jo Piazza and Christine Pride Tackle the Complicated Topic of Motherhood in 'You Were Always Mine'
The forthcoming book from 'We Are Not Like Them' authors Jo Piazza and Christine Pride asks the question: Who gets to make the choice to be a mom?
-
36 Nude Movies With Porn-Level Nudity
Lots of steamy nudity ahead.
