When Clara meets Elias, she isn't looking for love. Widowed and wary of being hurt again, she has built a careful life of work and quiet independence. Elias, an actor in his thirties, is trapped in a relationship that no longer feels real, more at ease slipping into a role than being himself. Yet from the moment they meet, something genuine sparks between them – something neither has felt in years.
They fall into step easily, sharing secrets, laughter and the sense of being seen. But there is the age difference, the miles between their worlds, and the lingering guilt that ties Clara to her past. When a new job takes her to another part of the country, she ends the relationship before he can – certain that love like theirs cannot last. And then Elias falls ill, forcing them both to confront what truly matters.
Told with warmth, gentle humour and quiet insight, Love, After All is a luminous portrait of two people finding the courage to open their hearts again – proof that love, at any age, can still take us by surprise.
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Love, After All by Ewald Arenz was published on 18 June 2026 by Orenda Books and is translated by Rachel Ward. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Virtual Book Tour
My first experience of reading Ewald Arenz was in 2022 when Orenda published Tasting Sunlight - I was totally smitten by that book and it remains a favourite of mine. This was followed in 2024 by Grand Summer; another compassionate, joyful book. And here we are, two years later with Love, After All, and I haven't been disappointed at all. What a fabulous author, what amazing stories he tells.
Love, After All is a tender novel about the unexpected ways love can find us when we least expect it. Already a million-copy bestseller in its home country, it is easy to understand why this story has been loved by so many readers. This author doesn't rely on grand romantic gestures; he explores love with warmth, honesty and such emotional depth, he creates characters who feel so very real.
Clara and Elias are both carrying their own personal troubles, and their relationship unfolds with quietly and slowly. This is not just a romance, it is a story about grief, family, responsibility and the courage it takes to let someone in after life has left its marks. The age difference between them adds another layer without ever being the whole focus of the novel, that focus is totally on the emotional connection they share.
Arenz's writing is beautifully evocative, with nature and the German landscape woven seamlessly into the story, giving many scenes an almost cinematic quality. Congratulations are also due to translator Rachel Ward, whose elegant translation captures both the emotional subtlety and lyrical beauty of the original, making it feel effortless in English.
Gentle and moving, Love, After All is a novel that lingers long after the final page. The emotional richness and beautifully drawn characters make this a deeply rewarding read. Highly recommended.
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history. He is a teacher at a secondary school in Nürnberg. His novels and plays have received many awards. Ewald lives near Fürth with his family.
Rachel Ward is a freelance translator of literary and creative texts from German and French to English. Having always been an avid reader and enjoyed word games and puzzles, she discovered a flair for languages at school and went on to study modern languages at the University of East Anglia. She spent the third year working as a language assistant at two grammar schools in Saaebrücken, Germany. During her final year, she realised that she wanted to put these skills and passions to use professionally and applied for UEA’s MA in Literary Translation, which she completed in 2002. Her published translations include Traitor by Gudrun Pausewang and Red Rage by Brigitte Blobel, and she is a Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting.
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