Influence Digest: After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell

In our recent book club meeting, we explored After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell. This novel took us on an emotional rollercoaster of family secrets, loss, and self-discovery. During our discussion, we had a blast unpacking its clever structure and getting to know its unforgettable characters, all while chatting about the powerful themes of grief and love that make the story so compelling.

One of the hot topics in our book club was the book’s non-linear structure, which had us all a bit puzzled at first with the time jumps and shifting perspectives. O'Farrell’s storytelling is both layered and complex—kind of like a mystery that slowly starts to make sense. It was a little confusing at first, but we all ended up loving how the structure mirrors the chaos of memory and the slow reveal of hidden truths.

The characters, especially Alice, definitely got a lot of attention in our discussion as well. Her struggles with love and family hit home for many of us, who expressed sympathy for her challenging journey. Opinions on John, however, were really mixed—some saw him as a solid support for Alice, while others felt he was a bit distant and hard to connect with. But overall, Alice’s character depth and vulnerability made her one of the most memorable protagonists we’ve come across.

O’Farrell’s portrayal of grief was also something we all found incredibly moving; it really captured the complicated nature of loss. Many of us felt the novel showed how family secrets shape not only who we are but also the choices we make. This theme sparked some great conversations about our own family histories, as well as the universal struggle to find closure.

By the end of our book club meeting, ratings ranged from three to five stars. One of the most memorable moments came from Lauren Kennedy. While she initially gave the book a lower rating, Lauren ended up bumping it up to five stars after reflecting on how much the story actually stayed with her. It had an impact few books do—definitely a shoutout to O’Farrell’s storytelling skills.

For our next book club pick, we’re switch things up with a thriller! We’re excited for the change in tone and can’t wait to see how what this new genre will bring to our next meeting. 

If you haven’t read After You’d Gone yet, it’s definitely worth picking up. This is the kind of story that will leave you reflecting long after you’ve turned the final page. Trust us, it’s worth the read.