‘I took up the book I was halfway through and settled in for the afternoon. If I couldn’t lose away with a good book I think I would go loco.’

Genre: Literary Fiction

Published: March 31, 2020

Pages: 409

Rate: 5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Meet the Ramdin-Chetan family: forged through loneliness, broken by secrets, saved by love.
Irrepressible Betty Ramdin, her shy son Solo and their marvellous lodger, Mr Chetan, form an unconventional household, happy in their differences, as they build a home together. Home: the place where your navel string is buried, keeping these three safe from an increasingly dangerous world. Happy and loving they are, until the night when a glass of rum, a heart to heart and a terrible truth explodes the family unit, driving them apart.
Brave and brilliant, steeped in affection, Love After Love asks us to consider what happens at the very brink of human forgiveness, and offers hope to anyone who has loved and lost and has yet to find their way back.

My Take

When I think about the best books I have ever read, Love After Love definitely makes the list. I have read this book twice now and I think I loved it even more the second time round.

Ingrid Persaud has written a book that is so rich in storytelling. Her writing draws you in from the first scene. She has managed to capture happiness, sadness, joy, sorrows, hope and heartache beautifully. It translates so well on the page that I as the reader felt it alongside the characters. The book brings out beautifully the importance of family and the lengths we would go for them.

Set against the background of Trinidad, Love After Love has a strong sense of place with the author vivid descriptions that transported me to the place. She writes so well I have to say not a word was wasted.

‘You don’t own shame.’

Love After Love is a character based book which means it focuses more on the people and I actually think that is what makes it even better. The characters are well written, with distinct personality that have them coming alive on the page. From the good, the bad and the morally grey, you got them all. I enjoyed following along in their decisions and choices they make. Some had me feeling quite introspective. I loved it!

Love After Love is a book that wins in both the story telling and the writing. It’s a book that took me on a rollercoaster of emotion and I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend it.

Have you read Love After Love? What did you think about it?