
"Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes is a heartfelt and emotional story that follows the unexpected love story between Louisa Clark, a quirky and compassionate caregiver, and Will Traynor, a sarcastic quadriplegic man. The book explores complex emotions, class and social issues, and the theme of living life to the fullest. With a slow-paced beginning that picks up momentum, the novel keeps readers emotionally invested with its witty writing, realistic characters, and unpredictable plot twists.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include discussions of assisted suicide, disability, and themes of depression.
Has Romance?
The romance in the book is a central element, exploring emotional and physical connections.
From The Publisher:
USA Today's top 100 books to read while stuck at home social distancing
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Giver of Stars, discover the love story that captured over 20 million hearts in Me Before You, After You, and Still Me.
They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .
Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life-steady boyfriend, close family-who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life-big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel-and now he's pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.
Will is acerbic, moody, bossy-but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.
A Love Story for this generation and perfect for fans of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn't have less in common-a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?
Ratings (94)
Incredible (23) | |
Loved It (45) | |
Liked It (14) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (2) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (156):
Read It (105) | |
Want To Read (34) | |
Not Interested (17) |
6 comment(s)
I thought it was very well written and a quick read, but that is about the extent of what I enjoyed. The story was very predictable, and I couldn't stand most of the characters. Sorry, this book just didn't do it for me.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that resonates deeply with readers due to its exploration of love, choice, and the complexities of human emotion. The story centers on Louisa Clark, an optimistic and quirky young woman, and Will Traynor, a once-adventurous man who becomes paralyzed after an accident. Their unlikely relationship unfolds in a way that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, tackling profound themes of life, dignity, and personal freedom.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its richly developed characters. Louisa, with her colorful fashion sense and zest for life, is relatable and endearing. Her journey of self-discovery, prompted by her role as Will’s caregiver, allows readers to see her growth as she grapples with the limitations of her small-town life and the broader possibilities that await her. Will, in contrast, is intelligent, witty, and deeply frustrated with his physical limitations. His struggle with his new reality as a quadriplegic is portrayed with authenticity and sensitivity, giving voice to the emotional and psychological challenges faced by those with disabilities.
The dynamic between Louisa and Will is what truly makes Me Before You a compelling read. Their relationship challenges both of them: Louisa learns to push past her comfort zones, while Will begins to see life through her eyes. The novel is filled with moments of humor, tenderness, and raw honesty, making their connection feel genuine. Their interactions highlight the importance of empathy, understanding, and the transformative power of human connection.
The story also delves into difficult ethical questions regarding quality of life and the right to make personal choices, even when those choices are painful or controversial. Will’s decision about his future is handled with care, and Moyes does not offer easy answers. This moral complexity invites readers to reflect on their own beliefs about autonomy, love, and sacrifice.
Me Before You is ultimately a story about the impact we have on one another and the ways we can inspire change, even when faced with heartbreaking realities. It is a reminder that love is not always about saving someone, but sometimes about giving them the freedom to make their own choices. With its emotional depth, memorable characters, and thought-provoking themes, Me Before You is a book that captivates, challenges, and moves readers, making it a truly worthwhile read.
I really liked this book. I stayed up too late to finish it, which usually means I end up re-reading the end because I can't remember what I read the night before. Not this time!
Louisa Clark is a working class twenty-something living with her parents, supporting her complicated family, when she loses her job and after much job-hopping hilarity, she becomes a caretaker for Will Traynor, a wealthy quadriplegic man. Will was a high-powered business man in mergers and acquisitions before his accident, who enjoyed extreme sports and travel, none of which is available to him now. Will is angry at life, mean to everyone, and his mother hires Louisa to be not his medical caretaker but his companion, someone to cheer him up (with an agenda, of course).
Lou's straight-forward, no-nonsense attitude quickly breaks through Will's top layer of bitter anger, and they strike up a relationship built on sardonic jokes and mutual respect. When she finds out why she only has a six-month contract for this job, she falls deeper into Will's world, deeper than her family and boyfriend can understand. Will's happiness becomes deeply tied to her own, and they come to love each other.
There's a lot going on in this book, and I did like it, but there's a major issue that I can't quite get my head around. Light spoilers follow.
For me, the biggest issue was the question of choice. Will is miserable, locked in his body, in pain every day, prone to infection, and unable to lead the life he wanted. Athleticism, business, sex - all these things are lost to him, even though his family has money to provide him with the best care and there are opportunities for quadriplegics to experience things like bungee jumping, horse riding, even scuba diving, as Louisa discovers in her research. But having had his choice of life taken away from him, Will makes another choice. One that none of his loved ones want to accept, but that I think readers are meant to accept by the end of the book.
Louisa has also had a choice taken away from her before the events of the book. That event led her to create a safe, quiet life for herself, living at home to support her parents and dating a kind of boring but totally safe guy for seven years. She doesn't leave her home town, and she doesn't want to until she meets Will and becomes determined to inspire him. But then Will makes a choice, and in doing so he encourages her to change her life - to make a different choice, leave the past behind and become the woman she always wanted to be.
Will is about eight years older than Louisa. They are both unhappy with their lives at the beginning of the book. But while Will makes peace with his choice, Louisa is guided to do it and feels obligated to do it because of Will. Did she really make a choice at the end of the book, or is she just fulfilling Will's wish? What is the value in choice here, and who gets to make one? Is it all right for one character to choose death while encouraging another to choose life to the fullest? I don't know. I can't figure out the message, whether there is something I'm missing or if I've been Nicholas Sparks'ed. Like, is there something here or is this just emotional manipulation? Someone explain life to me please. Which is actually why I read.
Of course, I'll be reading the sequel because how can't I.
I couldn't stop once i started this book. I never thought this cheesy covered book will have such an amazing story inside.
Louisa Clark, who is from a middle class family gets herself a job at the house of one of the richest family's in the town. She is forced to keep her new job even though she missed her old one badly and to support her family. Lou, doesn't dream of being someone, of being out of that small town or of freedom. Her new job lets her meet Will Traynor, the one she was supposed to take care of, the one who is a quadriplegic, the one who had dreams, adventure and now lost the interest in life.
But together they find a life, a dream and an adventure with a sad melody behind.
Wonderful story, wonderfully written.
Você tem apenas uma vida. É seu dever vivê-la o tanto quanto possível.
deus, o que foi esse livro? eu não esperava nada por ele, não tinha nenhuma expectativa, mas ele conseguiu me prender desde a primeira página. eu ri, eu chorei, fiquei com raiva, eu li de uma forma indescritível, eu me apaixonei por eles. o jeito do will me conquistou, tanto quanto o da lou; eu admirei o crescimento deles (os quais me fizeram pensar sobre
minha vida diversas vezes).
acho que não tenho nem energia pra ler os outros dois livros que fazem continuidade a esse, até porque tenho uma opinião forte sobre eles (papo pra outra hora), não por agora, pelo menos. mas, com certeza, quero ver o crescimento da lou, como o will mudou a vida dela e alguns personagens depois desse livro.
esse livro com certeza entra na lista daqueles que me mudaram e que eu vou carregar no coração pra sempre.
Você está marcada no meu coração, Clark. Desde o dia em que chegou, com suas roupas ridículas, suas piadas ruins e sua total incapacidade de disfarçar o que sente. Você mudou a minha vida (...).
p.s.: deus do céu, como eu vou sobreviver depois desse livro?
Broke my heart
About the Author:
Jojo Moyes is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Giver of Stars, Still Me, Paris for One and Other Stories, After You, One Plus One, The Girl You Left Behind, Me Before You, The Last Letter from…
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.