“You only get one life. It’s actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.”
― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You
Me Before You is a romantic novel written by Jojo Moyes. Shortly about the book, it centers a young, handsome, successful man, Will Traynor. Then everything changes when he’s hit by a motorcycle and it leaves him quadriplegic. Soon after, his mother hires a second caregiver to help with Will when his primary caregiver is absent. Louisa (Lou) Clark is recently unemployed, twenty-six years old, and has no experience being a caregiver, but she has a very positive, bubbly character and Will’s mother Camilla thinks hiring her would help Will. Except that Will has different plans for his life and Lou will find about it only later.
“All I can say is that you make me… you make me into someone I couldn’t even imagine. You make me happy, even when you’re awful. I would rather be with you – even the you that you seem to think is diminished – than with anyone else in the world.”
― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You
I surprised myself by reading this book. I usually never read romantic novels and I’m annoyed by the whole genre in general. But I’m always caught by the media hype and there was just huge hype around this book… so I read it. I had no idea what this book was about. I refused to read anything about it and I’m very glad I did that.
“Some mistakes… Just have greater consequences than others. But you don’t have to let the result of one mistake be the thing that defines you. You, Clark, have the choice not to let that happen.”
― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You
Me Before You was different. Different from what I expected this to be. I wasn’t disappointed, it was funny and moving (and highly depressing). I liked the characters, Will and Lou who are kind of complete opposites of each other. All these clichéd quotes were a bit annoying but I get it. There’s this theme throughout the book: quality or quantity of life. Will has lived his life to the fullest before the accident, whereas Louisa has lived in small town all her life, she has settled to the life she has. So, of course, Will tells her to live. Live her life to the fullest.
I’m glad this book mentioned and brought more attention to what Dignitas does. Extra points for that. Euthanasia is a very delicate subject and Moyes handled it very elegantly, I think. I liked how both sides are represented. There is no point in living life without quality to it but also there is no point in being stuck in life (like Lou).
“I will never, ever regret the things I’ve done. Because most days, all you have are places in your memory that you can go to.”
― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You
I didn’t like all the angst. I knew how Me Before You would end when I had read half of the book and I didn’t like the predictability and I kept hoping for a different ending. All in all, I adore books that make me feel and this did.
(3,5-4,5?) 4/5 stars
How-To Read Me Before You
1. If you like reading romantic novels & contemporary genre, this should be a perfect read for you. Also if you like authors like Nicholas Sparks and Cecelia Ahern.
2. If you don’t like books by John Green (Fault in Our Stars) or clichéd and annoying tearjerker books, definitely skip this.
3. Depressing, cute and fluffy read. Funny how the author made that combination work.
4. Some have said Me Before You plays a lot on stereotypes and that it doesn’t give a realistic picture disabled people. I didn’t see it like that and, after all, this is a work. fiction.
5. There’s a sequel. Yay? Nay? And a movie adaptation. Which I haven’t been able to watch yet.
“Push yourself. Don’t Settle. Just live well. Just LIVE.”
― Jojo Moyes, Me Before You
Thoughts? Have you read this?
I’ve not yet read it, but I want to! It doesn’t help that I keep seeing the book everywhere😂 I wonder how the movie will compare to the book! 🤔
I know right :D the amount of the hype around this book is unbelievable! Yeah, I like the actors of the movie a lot but haven’t gotten around watching it yet.
Interesting. I’ve been avoiding this one and will probably continue to do so, but it’s interesting to see that you were able to pick out some good points that you enjoyed. :)
Love your diplomatic comment! :D I don’t think you’d like this… Yeah, I have a problem with not liking the books I read. If I don’t like them, I don’t finish them. Otherwise, I always try to find something I like about them XD
That’s a good attitude to take, finding something to like. I should probably try to do that more. I’m really bad about DNF books I don’t really enjoy. :)
Well one does not have time for everything :D so better to read only books you are genuinely interested about, I think.
I’ve not yet read it, but I want to! It doesn’t help that I keep seeing the book everywhere😂 I wonder how the movie will compare to the book! 🤔
I know right :D the amount of the hype around this book is unbelievable! Yeah, I like the actors of the movie a lot but haven’t gotten around watching it yet.
Interesting. I’ve been avoiding this one and will probably continue to do so, but it’s interesting to see that you were able to pick out some good points that you enjoyed. :)
Love your diplomatic comment! :D I don’t think you’d like this… Yeah, I have a problem with not liking the books I read. If I don’t like them, I don’t finish them. Otherwise, I always try to find something I like about them XD
That’s a good attitude to take, finding something to like. I should probably try to do that more. I’m really bad about DNF books I don’t really enjoy. :)
Well one does not have time for everything :D so better to read only books you are genuinely interested about, I think.
I read ABOUT this but I think the article related to the movie.
I think there was a lot of talk about how it doesn’t paint a realistic picture of disabled people and how they cut some parts away (as they usually do).
It’s funny because I really like this book, but I don’t like either A Fault in our Stars or Nicholas Sparks that much. The movie is pretty good, though. The actors do a great job of portraying the characters. As for the second book, I’d say it’s okay to skip. There are parts of it that I enjoyed, but I wouldn’t recommend it enthusiastically.
Great blog post! I really enjoyed the format and the whole “How-to Read” it section. Very creative!
I think this was in a way deeper than Fault in our Stars or Nicholas Sparks and even if there were some romantic elements, perhaps not in a similar way. But all those I mentioned kind of play with your emotions. Okay! Thanks! I think I’ll watch the movie then and skip the sequel. Though it bothers me not to know what happens to Lou…
Thank you! :)
That’s why I had to read the second one! I was so attached to the characters that I wanted to know more! It was good at times, but not as good as the first one. That’s just my opinion. But I have heard of people who love the sequel.
Totally get now why you recommended to skip the second part :D I think I would have been happier to never have met Lily.
I read ABOUT this but I think the article related to the movie.
I think there was a lot of talk about how it doesn’t paint a realistic picture of disabled people and how they cut some parts away (as they usually do).
It’s funny because I really like this book, but I don’t like either A Fault in our Stars or Nicholas Sparks that much. The movie is pretty good, though. The actors do a great job of portraying the characters. As for the second book, I’d say it’s okay to skip. There are parts of it that I enjoyed, but I wouldn’t recommend it enthusiastically.
Great blog post! I really enjoyed the format and the whole “How-to Read” it section. Very creative!
I think this was in a way deeper than Fault in our Stars or Nicholas Sparks and even if there were some romantic elements, perhaps not in a similar way. But all those I mentioned kind of play with your emotions. Okay! Thanks! I think I’ll watch the movie then and skip the sequel. Though it bothers me not to know what happens to Lou…
Thank you! :)
That’s why I had to read the second one! I was so attached to the characters that I wanted to know more! It was good at times, but not as good as the first one. That’s just my opinion. But I have heard of people who love the sequel.
Totally get now why you recommended to skip the second part :D I think I would have been happier to never have met Lily.
I read this book and liked it (didn’t love it hysterically). I now want to see the movie too :) . The second book was pretty decent too, and even though there were some hysterical parts, I kinda liked it too.
Yeah me too because Emilia Clarke & Sam Claflin look really adorable together. Hahaha, hysterical parts! XD Good description! Thank you for commenting :)
I read this book and liked it (didn’t love it hysterically). I now want to see the movie too :) . The second book was pretty decent too, and even though there were some hysterical parts, I kinda liked it too.
Yeah me too because Emilia Clarke & Sam Claflin look really adorable together. Hahaha, hysterical parts! XD Good description! Thank you for commenting :)
This book becomes a bestseller in my city, even there is a long queue for borrowing it. I have been wondering what its attractiveness that entice people to read and I guess it would also be a wonderful book after reading your post.
Yes well, that’s what happens with bestsellers, it’s the same situation here with long queues for it in the library. I think it’s a lovely book but I have a feeling you wouldn’t really enjoy reading this :D And I know very kind when reviewing books.
This book becomes a bestseller in my city, even there is a long queue for borrowing it. I have been wondering what its attractiveness that entice people to read and I guess it would also be a wonderful book after reading your post.
Yes well, that’s what happens with bestsellers, it’s the same situation here with long queues for it in the library. I think it’s a lovely book but I have a feeling you wouldn’t really enjoy reading this :D And I know very kind when reviewing books.
Sain tämän luettua just! En ole ihan varma, haluanko nähdä elokuvaa, mutta jatko-osa tulee varmaan luettua. Testaan vielä jotain muitakin Jojo Moyesin kirjoja, kun tässä ehkä saattaa olla uusi lempparikirjailija käsillä.
Mulla on samat fiilikset sen leffan kanssa, en ole saanut vieläkään katsottua :o Munkin pitäis vähän lukea Moyesin tuotantoa lisää.
Sain tämän luettua just! En ole ihan varma, haluanko nähdä elokuvaa, mutta jatko-osa tulee varmaan luettua. Testaan vielä jotain muitakin Jojo Moyesin kirjoja, kun tässä ehkä saattaa olla uusi lempparikirjailija käsillä.
Mulla on samat fiilikset sen leffan kanssa, en ole saanut vieläkään katsottua :o Munkin pitäis vähän lukea Moyesin tuotantoa lisää.