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Me before you, common sense media reviewers.

Moving story of a quadriplegic and his quirky caregiver.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Extensive information on the life of quadriplegics

Push yourself to realize your full potential, even

Louisa has a lot on her shoulders, but she's optim

Man gets hit by a motorcycle, which leaves him a q

Characters kiss a few times. A scene takes place a

Swearing is infrequent. Some British swear words:

All brands and media mentioned are for scene setti

All the adult characters drink socially at various

Parents need to know that Me Before You is about an unlikely relationship between Louisa, a working-class British woman, and Will, a quadriplegic living at his wealthy parents' estate. Will is facing a serious decision about his condition, and Lou, his hired caregiver, tries her best to get him to make the…

Educational Value

Extensive information on the life of quadriplegics, including treatments, medications, pain, deterioration of their condition, difficulties in getting out and about, the way relationships can change, and emotional states. Some discussion of the book The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature by Matt Ridley and theories around sexual selection and the survival of the human species. The issue of death with dignity is an important part of the story, with the pros and cons represented.

Positive Messages

Push yourself to realize your full potential, even if you're afraid to take risks. You can love and support someone, even if you don't agree with his or her choices. Don't let one bad incident define you. Always be open to try new things. Keep an open mind when dealing with difficult people: You never know what emotional battles they're fighting. Never settle for complacency. Note: Will represents a view that life isn't worth living if you're disabled, which many find problematic and/or offensive. But Lou fights hard to promote the opposite message.

Positive Role Models

Louisa has a lot on her shoulders, but she's optimistic and tries to see the best in people. Will is a tough character to like at times, yet he opens himself up to Lou as he hasn't with anyone else. But some readers may find it offensive that he believes that life isn't worth living if you're disabled. Nathan is a good caregiver to Will and a kind coworker to Lou, and he always has an easygoing, understanding attitude. Both sets of parents have their problems, but their hearts are in the right place and they all want what's best for kids and their love for their kids is clear. Treena often annoys Lou, but she comes through when the chips are down.

Violence & Scariness

Man gets hit by a motorcycle, which leaves him a quadriplegic, though the accident isn't shown. Domestic dispute with a woman screaming at her husband and throwing his belongings out a window. During a shouting match between siblings, the dad throws a newspaper at his daughter's head. Character recalls a gang rape, but it is described in general terms and not graphically.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Characters kiss a few times. A scene takes place after two characters clearly have had sex. Sex is discussed a few times but not in detail, including how frequently a couple has sex, whether a quadriplegic can have sex, reference to a lap dance, and brief non-graphic description of one sexual encounter.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Swearing is infrequent. Some British swear words: "arse," "bloody," "bugger," and "wanky." Other profanities include "f--k" and its variations, "s--t" and its variations, "bitch," "Jesus," "God," "damn," "piss," "d--k," "d--khead," "t--s," and "crappy."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

All brands and media mentioned are for scene setting: Blackberry phone, Lego, Marks and Spencer store, Next catalog, Old Spice, Disneyland, and Disney World. Also mentioned are the movies The Little Mermaid , Local Hero , My Fair Lady , The Diving Bell and the Butterfly , and The English Patient ; TV shows The Simpsons and Mastermind; and the play Pygmalion .

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

All the adult characters drink socially at various points: in pubs, in their homes, and at a wine tasting. Characters encounter extremely drunk men at the horse races. Lou has a flashback to getting drunk and smoking pot as a teenager. Lou's dad gets drunk at a birthday dinner. Lou gets drunk inadvertently at a wedding because she didn't know the drinks were alcoholic. Characters drink to excess at a resort.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Me Before You is about an unlikely relationship between Louisa, a working-class British woman, and Will, a quadriplegic living at his wealthy parents' estate. Will is facing a serious decision about his condition, and Lou, his hired caregiver, tries her best to get him to make the choice everyone else wants. The two main characters learn a lot from each other, especially about opening yourself up to different ways of thinking, but many -- especially in the disabled community -- have found the portrayal of Will and his point of view problematic, since he's presented as feeling that life isn't worth living if you're disabled. Although it's not marketed as a young adult book, it has teen appeal, and it's been adapted into a film that many teens will see. All the characters drink socially, including to excess on a few occasions. There's no smoking; marijuana use is mentioned in a flashback; and there's little sexual content beyond flirting and kissing. One character recalls being raped, but it's not described in detail. Characters swear, using British terms such as "arse" and "bloody, as well as "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," "piss," and "d--k."

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (5)
• Kids say (13)

Based on 5 parent reviews

Another movie that gives the message that it is better to be dead than disabled

What's the story.

Louisa Clark has no aspirations to seek a life outside her small British town. She lives with her parents, works at the Buttered Bun, and sees her boyfriend of six years a few times a week. When the cafe closes, she finds herself out of a job. Because of the recession and her limited job experience, she's forced to take jobs that don't appeal to her. One of these is as a companion to a quadriplegic man who lives on his parents' estate near the town's castle. It's only across town, but socially it's a world away. Will, the man she's hired to look after, lived an exciting, successful life in London before an accident left him in a wheelchair. The two get off to a rough start, as Will resents anyone who tries to make decisions for him or doesn't understand the depth of his anguish over his condition. Chatty, quirky, funny Lou eventually breaks through the wall Will has built around himself, and a lovely relationship develops. The biggest issue is a decision Will is making about his life and future.

Is It Any Good?

It's impossible not to fall in love with the characters and story in this deeply emotional and insightful novel . Me Before You tells the story of a man and a woman in a small British town: One is confined there, and one has confined herself there. Readers might think they're getting into a romance, but instead they find themselves enmeshed in a beautiful, emotional, and suspenseful novel. No character in this book is a cliche, not even minor characters, such as an ex-girlfriend of Will's who easily could have been a stereotype. The story's told mostly from Lou's viewpoint, with a few chapters from the viewpoints of other characters, with the notable exception of Will. Lou has a great voice as a character. She has a lot on her shoulders, but she's charming and funny, especially when she babbles nervously. Will is more of a cipher as he confronts major problems: confined to a wheelchair, living with pain, missing his old life, and not knowing when or how badly his condition will deteriorate. Author Jojo Moyes provides an eye-opening look at what quadriplegics have to deal with on a daily basis, physically, emotionally, and socially. Also addressed is the issue of death with dignity. That said, the book has stirred controversy for offering what some consider a stereotypical portrayal of a disabled person who feels that life's not worth living because he's disabled.

Me Before You will move many readers to tears, but not in an overly manipulative way. In addition to the humor and emotion in the book, the suspense is gripping. Moyes doesn't telegraph the ending at all, which will have most readers on the edge of their seat.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Will is portrayed. Do you find his view of being disabled problematic? Can you see why disabled people might? What do you think about how disabled people are portrayed in the media generally? Do disabled characters tend to come off as stereotypes rather than complex individuals?

Stories about characters with serious illnesses are popular. What makes them so appealing? Which others have you read or seen in the movies?

Right-to-die and death-with-dignity laws have been covered in the news. How do you feel about this issue? Do you think people should be able to make those decisions for themselves? What are some instances where you think it's a good idea and some where it might be a bad one?

Book Details

• Author : Jojo Moyes
• Genre : Contemporary Fiction
• Topics : Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Penguin Group
• Publication date : July 30, 2013
• Number of pages : 369
• Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : December 22, 2015

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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By Liesl Schillinger

• Jan. 4, 2013

When I finished this novel, I didn’t want to review it; I wanted to reread it. Which might seem perverse if you know that for most of the last hundred pages I was dissolved in tears. Jojo Moyes, the writer who produced this emotional typhoon, knows very well that “Me Before You” — a novel that has already floated high on Britain’s best-seller lists — is, as British critical consensus affirms, “a real weepy.” And yet, unlike other novels that have achieved their mood-melting powers through calculated infusions of treacle — Erich Segal’s “Love Story” comes immediately to mind — Moyes’s story provokes tears that are redemptive, the opposite of gratuitous. Some situations, she forces the reader to recognize, really are worth crying over.

“Me Before You” is a love story and a family story, but above all it’s a story of the bravery and sustained effort needed to redirect the path of a life once it’s been pushed off course. In the early months of 2009, Louisa (Lou) Clark, a 26-year-old working-class girl, lands a position as a “care assistant” to an intelligent, wealthy and very angry 35-year-old man named Will Traynor, who has spent the past two years as a quadriplegic after being hit by a motorbike. It is Will’s mother, Camilla (with whom he has a chilly relationship), who hires Louisa, and she does so out of desperation. She knows her son is miserable. She already employs a nurse to attend to his medical needs, but she hopes that somehow Louisa might boost his morale.

At the novel’s outset, the prospects for this appear bleak. With his rudeness and his fits of temper, Will resembles Charlotte Brontë’s Mr. Rochester, albeit in a wheelchair. But Louisa Clark is no Jane Eyre, even if, like Brontë’s heroine, she is small, dark-haired and unprepossessing — “one of the invisibles,” as she herself puts it. But being with Will requires backbone. His own no longer works, but for her to keep her job, she will have to acquire one.

Hardly introspective and not at all intellectual, Lou lives in a “sleepy market town” where the largest employer is a National Trust castle with a shrubbery maze. There, at the age of 20, she was spooked by a run-in with boys and beer, an encounter that robbed her of the confidence to explore the world beyond her village. Now, almost seven years later, she still lives at home with her parents, sleeping in a windowless closet so her unemployed younger sister, Katrina, a single mother, can occupy the larger bedroom. Lou works as a waitress in a cafe, a job that allows her to lead a straitened but cozy existence and help to support her family. And although she has a steady boyfriend — a personal trainer named Patrick with “the kind of face that became instantly invisible in crowds” (much like her own) — neither feels the urge to discuss marriage.

When the cafe shuts down, Lou must find a new job. Unskilled as she is, what work can she do? She has the full use of her limbs, but she’s emotionally paralyzed. To take a job caring for a man like Will is terrifying, but her family’s financial difficulties allow her no choice. As she gets to know her combative patient, Lou belatedly wrestles with her own passivity. “Shoved up so hard against someone else’s life,” she reflects, “forces you to rethink your idea of who you are.”

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Book Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 18th August 2019  - Last updated: 12th January 2024

Categories Book Reviews , Books

Me Before You Summary

Me Before You is about Will Traynor, a rich, active businessman, whose life is turned upside down when he is involved in a motorcycle accident and paralysed from the chest downwards.  His mother is desperate to find a full-time day carer for him and finds Louisa Clark, a recently unemployed young woman who doesn’t have any qualifications.

At first, Will and Lou don’t get along at all, but they learn a lot from each other as time goes on. This is a heartbreaking story about two people whose lives are irrevocably changed from the moment they meet.

Me Before You Review

Me Before You is written from the first person perspective of Lou, the female protagonist. Lou is a really likeable character and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her narrative because she’s really funny and fearless but also sensitive and unique.

She is the sort of girl who wears yellow and black striped tights even though she’s twenty-seven and you can’t help but love her. I really connected with her character and felt both her happiness and her pain as I read this book.

There are a couple of chapters which give us an insight into the minds of some other characters including Will, Nathan (Will’s medical carer), Camilla (Will’s mother) and Katrina (Lou’s sister). The book starts off with a small chapter from Will’s perspective on the day of his accident so you really understand what Will was like before his accident and see the tremendous difference afterwards.

The story line of this novel is the most moving I have ever read. It makes you think about what it would really be like to be completely paralysed, which I doubt many people have seriously considered. This book gives you an insight into what life might be like for those with physical disabilities but also those around them.

Obviously I’m still nowhere near truly understanding the life of a quadriplegic, you never can unless if you experience it yourself. However, Me Before You  really inspired me to find about more about how I can help those less fortunate than myself.

This isn’t the sort of book I usually read, in fact, I usually avoid ‘illness’-related books but I seriously regret keeping this book on my shelf, unread, for the past year.

This is a completely different sort of romance to any that I’ve read before because it doesn’t really involve any physical touching. It’s all about Lou and will connecting on an emotional level. You can see a connection developing between the main characters slowly, a real connection mind you, and not the whimsical ones you often find in romance books.

This is, without a doubt, the most beautiful and heartbreaking love story I have ever read in my entire life. This is the sort of love that creeps up on you when you least expect it. There was one moment whilst reading this that I actually started sobbing (full on sobbing) and I had to put the book down for five minutes whilst I got all my emotions out.

This was not the only time I cried whilst reading this novel, oh no, I was pretty much crying not stop for the entirety of the second half and this book touched my heart in a way that no other book has. In some ways, you could call this an adult version of The Fault in Our Stars , as there are similar issues explored, but I was much more moved by Me Before You – if that’s even possible!

Lou and Will learn a lot from each other as the book progresses, so in turn, I learnt a lot too. Me Before You  completely changed perspective on quadriplegics, on life and on love. I cannot recommend this book enough, it is absolutely phenomenal and a must-read for everyone. I didn’t think that this sort of book was for me and now it’s my favourite book, so please give it a chance!

For teenage readers, if you liked TFIOS , then Me Before You is probably also up your street. For adult readers, anyone with a heart will love this book.

Buy Me Before You

Pin now, read again later!

If you liked this post, check out these: Me Before You Film Review A Guide to Paris in Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Paris For One by Jojo Moyes The Break by Marian Keyes The List by Joanna Boluri If I Could Turn Back Time by Nicola Doherty Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

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[First published in 2013, updated in 2019]

Editor of What’s Hot?

Juliette Theureau

Thursday 16th of June 2016

So now that I have read your book review, I can tell that you convinced me to give it a try ;) (btw you're following me on Instagram on my book account @cellequilitdanslanuit so I thought that you might like to know that Instagram made the link to your blog (which I think is quite rear, at least with my blog ^^))

Friday 20th of May 2016

Lovely review!This books sounds like light romantic sunday read!

Loving yourself is the key! This books look like will bring a lot of enlightenment. :)

It sounds great! I'm looking for new books, so I think this is a great option :) Thanks for sharing!

So far so Sabine

I don't know the book, so I haven't read it yet. But i'm not a book person =)

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ME BEFORE YOU

by Jojo Moyes ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 31, 2012

Despite some obviousness in the storyline, this is uplift fiction at its best, with fully drawn characters making difficult...

A young woman finds herself while caring for an embittered quadriplegic in this second novel from British author Moyes ( The Last Letter from Your Lover , 2011).

Louisa has no apparent ambitions. At 26, she lives with her working-class family (portrayed with rollicking energy) in a small English town, carries on a ho-hum relationship with her dull boyfriend and works at a local cafe. Then, the cafe closes, and she must find a job fast to ease her family’s financial stress. Enter Will Traynor, a former world traveler, ladies’ man and business tycoon who’s been a quadriplegic since a traffic accident two years ago. Will’s magistrate mother hires Louisa at a relatively hefty salary to be Will’s caregiver and keep him company for the next six months—easygoing Nathan gives him his medical care and physiotherapy—but really Will’s mother wants Louisa to watch him so he doesn’t try to hurt himself. Will, once handsome and powerful, is not only embittered, but in constant pain. He has some use of one hand but is dependent on others for his basic needs, and recovery is not possible. Louisa, who can’t help speaking her mind and dresses thrift-store eccentric, thinks he hates her, but no surprise, Louisa’s sprightly, no-nonsense charms win him over. He even cheers her up on occasion. When Louisa overhears Will’s mother talking to his sister, she realizes that the Traynors have reluctantly agreed to let Will commit suicide at a facility in six months. Louisa decides to convince him to stay alive with a series of adventures. Meanwhile, Will, who senses something in her past has made Louisa fearful of adventure, is trying to broaden her experience through classical music and books. Their feelings for each other deepen. But Louisa is not Jane Eyre, and Will is not Mr. Rochester in a wheelchair, so don’t expect an easy romantic ending.

Pub Date: Dec. 31, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-670-02660-9

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Pamela Dorman/Viking

Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2012

ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE

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IT ENDS WITH US

by Colleen Hoover ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 2, 2016

Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...

Hoover’s ( November 9 , 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.

At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.

Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Atria

Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016

GENERAL ROMANCE | ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

More by Colleen Hoover

by Colleen Hoover

More About This Book

SEEN & HEARD

LOVE AND OTHER WORDS

by Christina Lauren ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2018

With frank language and patient plotting, this gangly teen crush grows into a confident adult love affair.

Eleven years ago, he broke her heart. But he doesn’t know why she never forgave him.

Toggling between past and present, two love stories unfold simultaneously. In the first, Macy Sorensen meets and falls in love with the boy next door, Elliot Petropoulos, in the closet of her dad’s vacation home, where they hide out to discuss their favorite books. In the second, Macy is working as a doctor and engaged to a single father, and she hasn’t spoken to Elliot since their breakup. But a chance encounter forces her to confront the truth: what happened to make Macy stop speaking to Elliot? Ultimately, they’re separated not by time or physical remoteness but by emotional distance—Elliot and Macy always kept their relationship casual because they went to different schools. And as a teen, Macy has more to worry about than which girl Elliot is taking to the prom. After losing her mother at a young age, Macy is navigating her teenage years without a female role model, relying on the time-stamped notes her mother left in her father’s care for guidance. In the present day, Macy’s father is dead as well. She throws herself into her work and rarely comes up for air, not even to plan her upcoming wedding. Since Macy is still living with her fiance while grappling with her feelings for Elliot, the flashbacks offer steamy moments, tender revelations, and sweetly awkward confessions while Macy makes peace with her past and decides her future.

Pub Date: April 10, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5011-2801-1

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2018

GENERAL ROMANCE | ROMANCE | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

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by Christina Lauren

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Word of Mouth

Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, me before you.

Lou Clark enjoys her life in her small English hometown. Her family, ever teetering on financial disaster, is close. Patrick, her boyfriend and sure to eventually become Lou's husband, is a nice man, even though Lou simply tolerates his continual quest to become a perfect specimen of an athlete. Lou has a sparring yet loving relationship with her brilliant sister, Treena. Unexpectedly pregnant, Treena has returned home from college and now lives in the Clarks' crowded little house with her son. Lou cherishes her job as a waitress in the Buttered Bun Café, where she has formed friendships with her regular customers.

"ME BEFORE YOU has every quality a page-turner should have, in spades.... This is an unusual and emotional love story melded with a satisfying coming-of-age tale that is utterly irresistible."

However, everything changes on the day her boss calls her in to deliver terrible news: He is closing the café for good. Lou is in shock as she returns home. She knows her parents depend on her salary to get by. Her mother looks after Lou's grandfather, who lives with them, so she can't work. Her father's job is in constant jeopardy, with probable lay-offs looming. Typical of their relationship, Lou must literally run laps with Patrick while she confides her worries to him. She is not comforted by Patrick's notion that she could become a beautician because she's "pretty enough."

At the Job Center, the news is grim. Lou spends a few nights as a fill-in at a chicken processing plant and also works for a sketchy company that appears to be bent on selling questionable energy suppliers to seniors. Her job counselor wonders if she would be interested in a career as a pole dancer or "adult chat line supervisor." Lou is aghast at these possibilities, which makes the next open position considerably more appealing than it might have been otherwise: "Care and companionship for a disabled man." It turns out that the employer is a quadriplegic who simply needs someone with him during the day to help him…and the pay is quite good. Of course, Lou has reservations. She is not keen on wiping bottoms, but when offered the job --- as a temporary six-month position --- she can't turn it down.

Lou is off to a bumpy start the day she meets Will Traynor, who is now in a wheelchair, sidelined from his mountain-climbing, bungee-jumping, high-stakes-career life. Will is unhappy and certainly doesn't mind making Lou miserable by either ignoring her or snapping at her. Lou longs to quit the job, but her family is desperate for the paycheck. Eventually Lou discovers shocking news about Will, revelations that make her change her focus. She becomes determined to take him on adventures that will show him what he can still attain in spite of his disability. Meanwhile, as the two draw closer, Will tries to convince Lou that she can change her own future, enlarging it from the pleasant but ordinary fate to which she is resigned.

ME BEFORE YOU has every quality a page-turner should have, in spades. Author Jojo Moyes pulls readers immediately into Lou's world, handily eliminating that "I know if I keep reading, eventually I'll be hooked" phase sometimes encountered in books. Lou is a particularly endearing character with a sassy sense of humor, heavy on the self-deprecation, and readers cannot help but feel for her. This is an unusual and emotional love story melded with a satisfying coming-of-age tale that is utterly irresistible.

Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon on January 10, 2013

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

• Publication Date: April 26, 2016
• Genres: Fiction , Romance
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• ISBN-10: 0143130153
• ISBN-13: 9780143130154

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Me Before You

by Jojo Moyes

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Simply reading the jacket copy of Jojo Moyes's second novel might give readers the impression that it is a kind of romance novel, but Me Before You is, in fact, so much more.

Simply reading the jacket copy of Moyes's second novel might give readers the impression that Me Before You is a traditional "opposites attract" kind of romance novel, the kind of story that proves that love conquers all, even in the most extreme circumstances. Although on one level that may be true, Me Before You is, in fact, so much more. It's a story about personal redemption and self-worth, about finding courage, about knowing what to hold onto and what to let go. It's also a meditation on one of the most controversial and divisive issues of our times. And, lest you think that the novel is merely an inspirational fable or a "problem novel," rest assured that it's also a beautifully and smartly written literary work, full of lovely phrases, complicated characters, and compelling situations. When we first meet Louisa Clark, known as "Lou," she seems to have settled into a predictable pattern. At age twenty-six she still lives at home with her parents and her relationship with her boyfriend seems to have settled into familiarity – or could it be stagnation? She's never had much in the way of ambition – her only real gesture toward originality is her unconventional, adventurous fashion sense. But Lou is about to be shaken out of her complacency when she loses her job at the local bakery. It's 2009, the height of the recession, and Lou's family is relying on her to bring in an income, especially since her dad's job is far from secure. So against her better judgment, Lou applies to be a caregiver for a wealthy quadriplegic man. Much to her surprise, she is offered the job. Even more to her surprise, the middle-aged woman who interviews her is not the man's daughter or wife – she's his mother. Will Traynor is just thirty-five but has been confined to a wheelchair for two years, ever since an accident left him with an inoperable spinal cord injury. Will seems to despise Lou when they first meet, and she feels the same. He is incredibly rude and, more than that, he rejects her. Over time, however, Lou sees beneath Will's gruff demeanor and beyond his injury, and the two form an increasingly tender friendship. But it's a bittersweet one as well, as Lou soon discovers Will's true intentions – to seek suicide rather than to endure decades in a wheelchair – and takes it upon herself to set him on a different path during the short time they may have together. Me Before You is simultaneously whimsical (the descriptions of Lou's wardrobe are particularly delightful) and romantic. It is also intensely serious, as it compels readers to consider powerful questions about freedom, choice, and the value of human life. Both Will's and Lou's choices can, and likely will be, debated and discussed by anyone who reads their story – and the novel's surprisingly uplifting conclusion is bound to prompt more than a few tears. Moyes's novel will appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult and Marian Keyes, as well as readers who appreciate a thoughtful engagement with real-world issues, nestled in a superbly told story.

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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes | Book Review

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 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, and 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.

Jojo Moyes’ novel Me Before You has been labeled a romance novel or chick-lit.

However,  Me Before You tackles some very serious issues: What if your life is irreparably changed in an instant? What if you suddenly have no control over any aspect of your life?

Table of Contents

In me before you, louisa clark and will traynor slowly fall in love.

Louisa Clark gets a job as a caregiver for a quadriplegic, Will Traynor.

Will was a man who lived big – he was a financial wheeler-dealer, he climbed mountains, jumped out of planes, and loved traveling the world. All that changed when he was hit by a speeding motorcycle and his life was changed forever.

At first, Will and Louisa don’t like each other. Will is understandably bitter – the former daredevil now only has very limited use of one arm. He needs care 24/7 and is completely dependent upon others.

Will was a corporate type and Louisa is more of a free spirit, at least in the way outrageous ways she wears clothes, but is far more careful in her personal life where she prefers things to be simple and safe, due to a traumatizing personal incident that happened years earlier.

But as they get to know each other, Will and Louisa learn to understand each other more than they thought they would. Will is intrigued by her kooky dress sense and her warm spirit. Louisa gets to know the charming, playful side of Will that he rarely displays to anyone anymore. They grow to care for each other and depend on each other. But is it enough?

Final Analysis

Even though the subject matter is so sad, I thought that the book was well written and was completely immersed in it right from the start. I was curious to see how the book ended. I liked Louisa very much – she’s spunky and fun, but she does need to expand her horizons.

At first, I didn’t like Will very much. He is very, very bitter, which is completely understandable in his case.

Will has made a certain decision that will not be changed by anyone else.

He also never really tells her how he really feels until the very end.

Will’s mother is rather cold, but that may just be her way of handling trauma. We all have different ways of handling stress and tragedy in our lives, and that just might be her way of handling tough issues.

Also, as some feminists have pointed out, why does Louisa need a male figure to expand her horizons for her? Can’t she do it herself?

However, because of the dark incident in Louisa’s past, she needs to learn to get past that fear and learn to live again – to live big . Will helps her to do just that.

I believe that this book is worth reading. It does raise serious issues that need to be discussed, which is why I believe this book is a favorite of book clubs.

Me Before You was the first book in a trilogy.

If you like this review, please read my review of People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry.

Thank you for reading The Literary Lioness!

About Jojo Moyes

Jojo Moyes is a British novelist.

Moyes studied at Royal Holloway, University of London. She won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to study journalism at City University and subsequently worked for The Independent for 10 years. In 2001 she became a full time novelist.

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I think this book would make a great movie or Television adaptation. The character types and story are just so persuasive. The Summer I Turned Pretty Book Series: A Season of New Love

It was made into a movie in 2016. It was not changed much from the book, which is unusual.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_Before_You_(film)

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Me Before You

By jojo moyes, a disappointing read.

So, this book was all over the bestseller lists and has amazing ratings on Amazon. I’m bewildered. To start, Me Before You is probably more accurately described as Chick Lit rather than actual, you know, literature. I feel a little bad saying this since I’m always loathe to discount female writers just because a story includes a romantic story line, but honestly, the material is pretty thin. But even as someone who has no problem admitting that she loves well-written chick lit and a nice love story, this book is just not very good nor particularly unique.

It’s a straightforward story, free of any subplots or main side characters. Louisa meets Will. She’s poor, plain looking, unemployed and a bad dresser. He’s handsome, wealthy and, sadly, paralyzed due to an accident not too long ago due to his adventurous ways. He’s bitter and she needs work, so she takes a position as his caretaker. He’s mean, but she’s determined. She tries to help him to appreciate life again, they begin to care for one another, etc. The story takes on a more serious tone as he considers ending his life at a assisted suicide facility due to his condition. So, that’s the story, and I won’t ruin the ending for you, but there’s not much else to it.

The book is not badly-written, but it’s not great prose either, it just moves the story along. If you’ve read any chick lit or watched any rom-coms ever, the whole “they-hate-each-other-and-fall-in-love” thing is pretty tired and the way it goes about it is pretty uninspired too.

Still, I think what really bothered me was the fact that Will is so wealthy, successful and handsome, that it prevents the story from being real. Louisa falls for him and tries to help him by planning these elaborate and expensive trips, but that leaves the question in my mind of — what happens if you are paralyzed and not wealthy and good looking? Is your life worthless then? What if you are faced with difficulties and you cannot just throw money at the situation?

If the point of the book was to explore the idea of the value of human life in the face of life-changing disability, then it would have been better off exploring it in the context of more realistic people in real situations. Instead, the author “cheats” in a way by making it the easiest situation ever (e.g. he literally has everything else going for him), and so it is a largely worthless mental exercise to consider it. Without it, all that’s left is a pretty uninspired love story with two uninspired characters. The book focuses a lot on the difficulties of his disability, but its consideration lacked nuance. It made the point that there are a lot of things he cannot do now, but is that really a revelation to anyone? There weren’t any subtleties or surprises for me.

I remember reading a blog post a while back from someone who wrote that a major difficulty that many people living with disabilities encounter is being accused of “faking it. That is, if you don’t have any readily visible signs of your disability, people you meet are unsympathetic and tend to think that you are faking or exaggerating. Alternatively, you might have a visible sign, like being in a wheelchair, but just because you are physically able to stand up straight for a few seconds, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a disability if it causes you excruciating pain, and those people can be accused of “faking it” as well. It was surprising to me and made me think more deeply about the difficulties of physical disabilities. This book had none of that.

I’d seen Me Before You around a lot — appearing on bestseller lists and in the “Recommended Books” section in a number of bookstores — before finally deciding to pick it up because of the hoard of positive reviews it got on Amazon. I honestly have no clue why anyone liked it. People seemed to find it heartbreaking — the idea that an otherwise perfect man becomes disabled. But while the fact that someone becomes disabled is obviously sad, I think any worthwhile book should delve deeper than that, but this book is doesn’t really present a situation that allows it to really explore what it means to become disabled and the value of life.

Me Before You is frankly insipid and glorifies superficial crap. What’s worse, it parades around as literature because he’s so damaged and angry. Kind of like that hot, angsty guy you meet in high school that’s full of existential bullshit. Skip it.

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I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this book or not. I think your review placed me pretty firmly on the ‘not’ side of things, I’m not much of a chick lit reader anyway. Great review, you did a wonderful job articulating what didn’t work for you about the novel. :) Have you seen the movie?

Hey, thanks for dropping by — I think if you’re a chick lit fan and you’re used to the conventions of the genre, you might enjoy it (but honestly Emily Giffin has a new book out and it sounds like people are loving it and The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand sounds really promising, too). I used to read more chick lit a long time ago (loved the Shopaholic Series, etc.) but haven’t in quite some time and I didn’t really realize what I was in for, so I think that had something to do with it too.

I haven’t seen the movie, but I really like both Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke so I will probably see it at some point! Thank you for your comments! :)

Me Before You book review

Posted June 6, 2016 by Jordann @thebookbloglife in 5 star , book reviews / 4 Comments

Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never 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, 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?

Me Before You was a whirlwind of emotion and one that I really enjoyed. Louisa Clark is hired by the Traynor family in order to be a hired help for their quadriplegic son Will.

Who should read Me Before You:

• You like a personal development story
• When there’s an unconventional love story
• Quirky characters with real-life conversations.

Who shouldn’t read Me Before You:

• If you are triggered by thoughts of suicide.
• You just don’t like really sad books.
• A book that offers a different outlook.

This book is one of a kind. There is a honesty throughout this book that is refreshing, the characters have conversations that you yourself would imagine having. Lou Clark offers up unabashed optimism that at times becomes a little overwhelming, but it is undoubtedly her character as part of her as anything else. The thing about this book is even when the optimism becomes cringe worthy, you don’t mind because it’s completely Lou and that’s just the way she is.

Will Traynor is a character that is presented as being completely unlikeable at the beginning but you grow attached to his character and begin to see his side of things and it becomes the biggest inner conflict of the entire book. I really struggled with what was the right thing to happen, and I think that’s why I love this book so much. Even in the end I was still unresolved as to whether I was happy with the ending.

The journey that these two go on is something that is both upsetting but hilarious. The way that the two of them bounce off each other is what makes this book as good as it is. The banter and interactions genuinely made me chuckle, they were just real.

I loved this book and the eventual direction this book went in, the opposing points of view, the way controversial issues were presented, it was all done so cleverly and with a subtle power. This book broke so many of my emotions free, and I would definitely consider rereading it really soon.

If you haven’t picked this book up then please do. I would definitely recommend it to all of my friends.

Have you ever read a book that pulls on all the heart strings and left you an emotional wreck? Let me know in the comments below!

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4 responses to “ me before you book review ”.

This book is very underrated but it only happens in the movies by holly bourne. I was actually sobbing by the end. i definitely recommend that you read it!

Oh I will definitely be checking that one out! Thanks for the recommendation!

No problem! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. If you ever do a review of it, I would definitely be checking it out!

Thank you that means so much <3

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Book Review — Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

July 25, 2014 by Aestas · 34 Comments

“I had a hundred and seventeen days in which to convince Will Traynor that he had a reason to live.”

• Buy ME BEFORE YOU (Kindle)
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What an incredible story!!

When I finished this book, tears were pouring down my face. It was powerful, heart-breaking, and bittersweet but also oddly heartwarming. Absolutely unforgettable. I honestly think it’s impossible to come away from this book without an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the blessings in your life.

I’ll be honest, it’s taken me over a year to work up the courage to read this book. I found out the ending back in 2012 when I first heard about the book and my initial reaction was Noooope, I can’t do this! … but I was still drawn to the story and deeply curious about it. So I kept it at the back of my mind and would think about it from time to time. I’d even open the book, then chicken out and put it back. But I finally came to terms mentally with the story and got to a point where I felt I was ready to read it. And I just want to say that I am  SO glad that I finally decided to go for it because this story will stay in my heart forever.

It’s about a woman, Louisa, who is desperate for a job and accepts a position as private caregiver to a young disabled man, a quadriplegic, from a wealthy family. This man, Will Traynor, had once been on the fast track in life — a high powered business man who pursued a thrilling life of action and adventure. But that all came to a sudden, tragic halt the day he was the victim of an accident that left most of his body paralyzed. Now faced with the medical reality that he was never going to recover, his entire outlook on life changed and he made a shocking, but yet oddly understandable, personal decision which he felt was right for him much to the despair of his family. And that was where Lou came into the picture.

It was truly tragic seeing this guy who had so much mental energy be so strongly and permanently confined. He was trapped inside his own body and, as a reader, I could really feel his hopeless frustration and rage. For the first time since his accident though, Lou brought moments of joy into his life.

Mind you, they didn’t have the smoothest of starts. Will was cranky, moody, and had no desire to establish any kind of friendship with her. But as the days went by, things slowly began to change between them…

This story was quietly captivating. You could almost call it slow-paced and yet I didn’t want to put it down and was constantly thinking about all aspects of the story even when I wasn’t reading it.

I’m at odds with how much I should tell you about it though. On one hand, I fully respect and understand the benefits of going into a story like this blind, but on the flip side, if it was me , I would have wanted to know what to expect so I’m going to split things up here….

If you don’t want to know anything  more about the story before you read, you can just stop here or  click to purchase the book . BUT…. if you want to get an idea of the way everything ends, then read on.

Essentially, prior to the start of the book, Will made an unwavering, clear-minded decision that he did not wish to continue his life in his condition. It was not a rash or unstable decision made out of depression or anger, but rather one based on medical facts and personal choice. Louisa found out about his choice relatively early on and when she did, she was horrified and decided to do everything in her power to convince him to change his mind. I think that it was a very natural reaction to want to cling to hope for a better future and the belief that there  must be a way. I don’t want to directly give the ending away but at the same time I want to warn you that this is not a fairy tale and its a painfully real and honest story.

There is no sudden tragedy or twist at the end. More like a personal choice made by taking a realistic look at life. It’s painfully heartbreaking to admit but I do feel that, given the circumstances of Will’s situation and what he wanted out of his life, it was the right ending for the person to whom it mattered most.

I’m not going to lie, prior to reading this book, I struggled with the morality of it simply based on my natural reaction. But, looking back, that was unfair because I didn’t really know the complexity or details of this exact situation. I think we innately want to fix things, and it’s easier to hold on to imaginary hope when you’re not the person who is trapped. It’s an incredibly selfless act to love someone enough to put their happiness first even at the cost of your own. It makes my heart  ache to say this and I still can’t even think about it without tears coming to my eyes but… it really ended the only way it could have.

There are so many valuable life lessons embedded in this story — to find a purpose in life, to follow your passions, to never waste a single moment — and I feel like this story gives an important reminder to value each minute, and cherish each of the things that we can so easily take for granted.

Everything is precious. Every ability, every minute, all of it.

Count your blessings. Be grateful for each one of them. Read this book.

Rating: 4.5 — 5 stars. Standalone. This is fiction, not romance, even though there is a love story.

This was originally written as a standalone, but the author recently announced a sequel to be released this Fall. Click the cover below for more info on it!

Christy says

July 26, 2014 at 3:46 pm

Lovely review! I’ve had this on my TBR forever too. I’m gonna have to read it soon now!

Aestas says

July 26, 2014 at 4:12 pm

Thanks, Christy! It’s definitely worth bumping up the list 🙂

Sabrina says

July 26, 2014 at 3:53 pm

This book made me cry so hard!!

Jaimie says

July 26, 2014 at 4:27 pm

Loved this book, it made me cry too. Spot on review!

July 28, 2014 at 12:59 am

Thank you!!

Neil N. Wondeland says

July 26, 2014 at 7:44 pm

Once upon a time. I laugh. I smiled. I fell in love. Then I cried. Ugly and Hard. The end. Great review Aestas. Great as always!!!!!!! Hart Hart! <3

Thanks so much 🙂

Sarina Bowen says

July 29, 2014 at 10:31 am

What I adore about this book is the (perfectly acceptable) way it manipulates the reader. You suspect you know how it ends. Your intellect steers you towards a probable outcome. But the whole time, your heart is pulling for the opposite. It’s genius.

July 29, 2014 at 12:37 pm

That’s such an accurate observation. It’s absolutely the way it unfolds. I completely agree!

Sarita says

April 13, 2015 at 3:09 pm

Just finished the book and can not stop tears falling down. I have watched an international movie similar to this novel’s story but did not feel like i am feeling now after reading the book. Till to the end, i was just wishing Will to be alive. I am a nuse and i have worked with Quad people of different age. It was only a few day when i did not cry in the hospital. Life is really hell to be stucked in two wheel chair. I guess they are making the movie on this Novel; i guess i do not have gut to watch the movie. Great job Heart wrenching

Mahina says

April 19, 2015 at 2:00 am

I really enjoyed this novel so much that i read 5 months ago and i still cant see to let it go i keep coming back to the book .

Theresa says

July 10, 2015 at 5:02 am

I just finished read this book, have cried my eye balls out by the end. I hate that the ending had to be like that, but it was only realistic and right that it end that way. I really really love this book, truly unforgettable. Really heartwarming/wrenching and painful, yet beautiful, but I love it. Thank you for your recommendation!

And is After You the second book?

July 10, 2015 at 10:08 am

You’re welcome! And, yes, it appears to be the sequel! If you go to the amazon page for it by clicking the cover above (or just go here http://amzn.to/1Hi35yv ), you’ll see a letter from the author about it!

Michelle Dodd says

January 14, 2016 at 9:02 am

I absolutely loved this story and I didn’t know they were doing a movie for it until recently but I cannot wait. I hope they do the book some justice it was such a beautiful story great review on it!

January 14, 2016 at 12:43 pm

My all time favorite book! Always! <3

January 30, 2016 at 9:03 pm

How much is this in the Philippines?

February 9, 2016 at 11:01 am

Thanks for the review I’m dead excited to read this. I found it by watching the trailer <3 stay happy

Jennifer Taylor says

April 22, 2016 at 8:45 am

I don’t know what took me so long to read this book. But I saw the movie trailer and read about the book on Goodreads and Amazon. I wanted to read the book. My friend let me borrow the book and I just could not put it down. It was a beautiful heartbreaking story. It is one of my all time favorite books. I have watched the movie trailer so many times. I can’t wait to see the movie.

Hannah says

April 26, 2016 at 11:05 am

I really liked reading your review it’s nice to share one’s thoughts and feelings on a book that tugged on my heart so much and so deeply! Have you heard of After You? It’s the next book to Me Before You and I’m excited to read that too as well as watch the movie! Hoping to hear your thoughts on After You too. 🙂 Looking forward to reading more of your lovely reviews!

Katherine says

April 29, 2016 at 4:14 am

This book filled me with so much damn emotion and I cried ugly and hard throughout the last chapter

Esmeralda says

May 21, 2016 at 6:24 pm

Where does the story take place ?

misspiggy says

May 25, 2016 at 6:51 pm

The function his suicide plays in the book is to make her life easier, although he has the resources to have a comfortable life. That’s pretty repugnant when you’re reading it as a disabled person.

May 25, 2016 at 8:19 pm

That’s completely untrue. He made the decision to end his life prior to meeting her. The function wasn’t about making her life better. He made the decision for him.

Also, I don’t think there’s any person (disabled or not) who has the right to judge what someone else considers to be a “comfortable” life. Being rich doesn’t mean you’re comfortable or happy. The only person who could ever decide that was him. And he made his decision before he ever met her.

Jee Hyung Lee says

June 5, 2016 at 3:58 am

Actually, you yourself said “It’s an incredibly selfless act to love someone enough to put their happiness first even at the cost of your own.” You’re the one who portrayed Will’s suicide as being at least partly for Lou’s benefit. That’s a pretty damaging message to say that it’s selfless and loving for a disabled person to is kill themself for the benefit of loved ones. It’s also not respectful to the vast majority of quadriplegic people who love and take joy from their lives to characterize their condition as “confined” or “trapped.” A disabled person committing suicide is not heartwarming or inspiring or the “right ending,” it’s a tragedy that springs from a lack of imagination on what a life with disability can be like. It’s a lack of imagination that is all too widespread, perpetuated in no small part by works like this one.

June 5, 2016 at 8:31 am

No, you’re wrong about what I said. When I said “It’s an incredibly selfless act to love someone enough to put their happiness first even at the cost of your own.” — I was referring to it being selfless of LOU to put WILL’s happiness in front of HER own. Not the other way.

I think you have the entire message and point of the book backward. It’s HIM before HER. Putting his happiness and personal wishes to end his life above HER happiness and desire to keep him in her life.

The reason I said it was the ‘right ending’ is because it was the ending HE wanted. It’s HIS choice. Not because of her, not for her, not anything to do with her… simply because it was what HE wanted, given his situation, for HIM. I was devastated by his death, but the ‘right ending’ was the one HE wanted.

And the reason I used words like ‘confined’ and ‘trapped’ are again because that’s how HE felt. That is not my personal opinion. It’s how HE felt. Every person is different. This isn’t making a statement about all quadriplegic people, it’s making an observation about HIM as an individual being. It has nothing to do with any other person’s situation.

And the book gives a beautiful message about respecting someone’s personal wishes. This isn’t even a little bit about disabled people. That’s not the point at all. It’s just about a PERSON’s wishes, choices, and happiness… and being able to respect that.

Also, I’m concerned that you didn’t fully read the book because when you say “it’s a tragedy that springs from a lack of imagination on what a life with disability can be like” you’re missing the fact that the book showed clearly that he DID try every possible option regarding his life with a disability and the whole point was that it wasn’t a life HE was happy with. Ultimately, the only person who could decide that was HIM. Nobody else has the right to judge anyone else’s quality of life or measure their happiness. You’re absolutely right that it was tragic. But in the end, it was his decision… and it was up to everyone else to put his choice above their own happiness.

Bambi Marasigan says

June 6, 2016 at 1:32 am

It also took me more than 4 months to finally read this book and tears are really flowing. The tears are coupled with hope for Lou. As for the movie, when we watched X-men two Sundays ago there was this poster of the couple and my officemate and me included this in our bucket list, me not knowing that I have a copy of the book or the movie is based on the book. I just knew of the movie when after i read it 2 Sundays ago, I googled the place where Will spent his “peaceful” day. That is when I learned that a movie was created for this book. A real place existed and it is recognized by the government of that country. We really cannot put judgment on the ending but must also know why the place was founded as well. The main lesson is: We have only one life and we must live it to our fullest. We must learn how to go beyond our limit. Life is beautiful. Thanks Jojo Moyes.

p.s. I have also finished reading “Me After You” I hope a 3rd book for Lou’s life in the US and for the new life for Lily and her new family shall be written by Jojo.

June 14, 2016 at 8:54 am

SUCH a moving read! I did a book/film chat on this tooo

velma Wangutusi says

June 30, 2016 at 8:15 pm

Just finished reading the book and I haven’t cried this much since I read fault in our stars,oh Lou, I don’t fancy her life one bit.It’s hard to love someone then lose them,even after trying to save them…I tend to avoid such books especially after reading John Green’s,Jennifer Niven, Tillie Cole’s book…but after watching the trailor on YouTube I knew I had to read it.Was it worth it?Yes

Steven says

July 12, 2016 at 5:31 am

“It’s an incredibly selfless act to love someone enough to put their happiness first even at the cost of your own.” Did someone mention Patrick? She was realy selfless to Patrick…So, while everybody cries about the loss of Will, and poor little Louisa…there isnt anyone here saying “Louisa was in a 7 years relationship with a good guy Patrick, she met the rich and charming Will (yeah he was disabled, but rich and a real pain in the ****), they got close, and Patrick got the boot in the butt…”

July 12, 2016 at 6:51 am

No, I wasn’t referring to Patrick at all. Not even a little. Patrick was clearly not the man for her. He may not have been a bad guy, but that didn’t make him right for her either regardless of Will. Patrick wasn’t mentioned in my review on purpose.

August 15, 2016 at 2:43 pm

I just ugly cried… truly. My heart broke for this couple. The way she wanted him so desperately to see a life could be happy if they had each other. The way he never felt he would be good enough and hold her back from living a full life killed me. I hurt for the man he wished he could still be and I hurt for the love Lou had for him no matter his disability. I hurt for the love he had for her, but was too afraid to show it because he didn’t think he would ever be good enough. I haven’t cried this hard since Fault in Our Stars and in my opinion this was simply sadder, because it was all a choice. Ugh – I now need something trashy and decadent to read that will help my broken little heart move past this…. lordie

Linda Moffitt says

November 29, 2017 at 10:49 pm

I can’t wait to read this book. I just watched the movie not too long ago so I want to read the book and compare though I usually think the books are always better, the movie was pretty good.

Gouthami says

September 13, 2020 at 3:52 pm

Beautiful review Aestas! What a book!! Could you make recommendations about other books that are heart warming and poignant as this one?

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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes: A Comprehensive Book Review

“Me Before You” is a poignant tale penned by Jojo Moyes that delves deep into the intricacies of love, life, and the choices we make. The novel, which has garnered attention from readers worldwide, is not just a love story but an exploration of life’s meaning and the lengths to which one might go to define their own existence.

Check out this article for an overview of all of Jojo Moyes’ books.

Plot Overview

The story revolves around Louisa Clark, an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life in a small town, and Will Traynor, a once-vibrant man now paralyzed from the chest down due to a tragic accident. Their worlds collide when Louisa, in her badly needed job working as a caregiver, meets Will and what ensues is a transformative journey for both.

Character Development

Louisa, an ordinary girl often described as quirky with her unique fashion choices, evolves from a girl with limited aspirations to someone who learns to dream big, largely influenced by her interactions with Will. On the other hand, Will, initially resentful and bitter about his condition, gradually opens up, revealing layers of depth, vulnerability, and wisdom.

Themes and Insights

The novel touches upon several profound themes:

• Life and Its Meaning: Through Will’s perspective, readers are made to ponder the essence of life. What does it mean to truly live? Is mere existence enough, or should one seek a life of purpose and passion?
• Love and Sacrifice: The growing bond between Louisa and Will is not just romantic but deeply emotional. Their relationship underscores the sacrifices one is willing to make for love.
• Choices: Central to the narrative is the controversial topic of assisted suicide. The book doesn’t take a stance but rather presents the complexities surrounding personal choices and their implications.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Review

From the very first page of “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes, I felt an immediate connection. The world of Louisa Clark, with its vibrant colors, quirky outfits, and the bustling life of a small town, drew me in. I could almost hear the chatter of the café where Lou worked, feel the cobblestones beneath my feet, and sense the anticipation of something transformative on the horizon.

As I journeyed deeper into the narrative, I was introduced to Will Traynor, a once active young man now facing a huge life change. His character, once full of life and adventure, now confined to a wheelchair, was a stark contrast to Louisa’s spirited demeanor. Their initial interactions were, to say the least, challenging. The palpable tension, the sharp retorts, and the evident discomfort made their early days together all the more real to me. It was like watching two worlds collide, each with its own set of challenges and dreams.

But as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the transformation in their relationship was nothing short of magical. The walls that Will had built around himself began to crumble, brick by brick, with Louisa’s unwavering persistence and infectious optimism. Their conversations, filled with banter, deep reflections, and shared dreams, became the highlight of my reading journey. I found myself eagerly awaiting their next adventure, be it a simple day out in the town or a grand trip to a far-off place.

Moyes’ portrayal of the challenges faced by quadriplegics was eye-opening. Through Will’s experiences, I felt the weight of the physical limitations, the longing for lost freedoms, and the internal battle between acceptance and hope. Yet, amidst all the pain and despair, there were moments of pure joy, laughter, and genuine connection, reminding me of the resilience of the human spirit.

The transformation of Louisa, the main character who once led an ordinary life, throughout the story was awe-inspiring. From an ordinary girl content with her entire life being in one place to someone who dared to step out of her comfort zone, her journey was a testament to the transformative power of love and friendship. I cheered for her successes, felt her heartbreaks, and celebrated her rediscovery of herself.

The ethical dilemmas the story presented, especially around the topic of assisted suicide, were deeply thought-provoking. It made me pause and reflect, questioning my own beliefs and understanding of life’s true value.

By the time I reached the heart-wrenching conclusion, I was emotionally invested in Louisa and Will’s journey. The tears, the laughter, the moments of introspection – it all felt so personal as if I had lived through their experiences myself.

In the vast landscape of contemporary literature, “Me Before You” stands as a beacon, illuminating the depths of human emotion, the complexities of love, and the profound questions about life and choice. Jojo Moyes has crafted a narrative that is not only engaging but also deeply introspective. 

The journey of Louisa Clark and Will Traynor serves as a mirror, reflecting our own fears, hopes, and the choices we grapple with. It’s a testament to the book’s power that it evokes such a wide range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, from introspection to revelation. 

As readers, we are not merely observers but active participants, feeling every high and low alongside the characters. In essence, “Me Before You” is more than a novel; it’s a reflection on life itself, urging us to cherish every moment, to seek meaning in our existence, and to truly understand the transformative power of love. It’s a book that leaves an indelible mark, long after the final page has been turned.

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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

• Publication Date: April 26, 2016
• Genres: Fiction , Romance
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• ISBN-10: 0143130153
• ISBN-13: 9780143130154
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Me Before You

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Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.

For reviews on Jojo's books click here.

Someone Else’s Shoes

The Giver of Stars

The Peacock Emporium

The Girl You Left Behind

The Last Letter from Your Lover

Paris For One and Other Stories

The Horse Dancer

Night Music

One Plus One

The Ship of Brides

Foreign Fruit

Sheltering Rain

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Movie reviews, Oscar predictions, and more!

Me Before You Book Review — Jojo Moyes constructs a perfect tearjerking romance

I could not help but be drawn to the novel Me Before You after a barrage of positive reviews from family and friends, and I was even more drawn to the novel when a movie adaptation was announced. The author of Me Before You , Jojo Moyes, conjures an idiosyncratic story that revolves around a protagonist, Louisa Clark, who has recently found herself unemployed. Edging closer to thirty, Clark finds a peculiar job as a caregiver to William Traynor who is a C5/C6 quadriplegic in his mid-thirties. Traynor suffered an accident in which he became predominately paralyzed throughout his body. He suffers to efficiently adapt to a life in which he has fallen from his career, lover, and independence.

Moyes creates a story that is capable of filling your heart with pleasant optimism whilst simultaneously tugging on the old heart-strings with a fervor. I constantly found myself jostling between the humorous wit of the protagonist and the maudlin tones within the story. I found myself overcome with quite a few emotions ranging from contentment to heartbroken empathy. This novel sheds the light on the melancholy topic of what life is like for a quadriplegic, and how his accident not only drastically changes his life, but the life of those who love him.

This story may not be for each and every reader, but I certainly recommend this novel to an individual who is appreciative of a medium-paced novel that can truly alter the way you view your daily life. I mean, how would we all feel if tomorrow we were incapable of even doing the most intimate tasks with autonomy? How embarrassed and self-conscious would we all feel if the admiring glances we once knew turned only to pitiful sympathy and eyeing curiosity? Moyes addresses on a fundamental and personal level what it is truly like to live a life where you are a prisoner in your own body. Robbed of his independence, Traynor traverses the emotional trauma he has endured since his accident, and we truly are exposed to a heartbreaking novel that explores the shattered pieces of a man’s life.

I enjoyed reading this novel, and I even found myself smiling like a fool at some points of the story. I think Moyes deftly handles macabre subject matter with a sense of ease, and she is so capable of turning the story on a dime. I truly was unable to predict what emotion Moyes would evoke within me next. Therefore, I constantly found myself oscillating from jubilation to apprehension to sympathy while I read this story.

Finally, what truly struck me as an amazing facet of this novel was the decision that ultimately all the characters were faced with. Following the idiom of “If you love something, set it free,” Moyes leaves the reader with one question. What should you do if what makes the person you love truly happy completely destroys your own happiness and heart? I found this philosophical question to be truly engaging and entertaining throughout the story simply because I would not know what I would do. Is it better to instill happiness in a loved one by going without, or shall you be selfish as long as you are content? It may seem to some like a simple answer, but I truly enjoyed the journey of one woman coming to her own conclusion on this emotionally charged question in Me Before You .

Brian Litterer

Brian is an English and Professional Writing major at East Stroudsburg University. In his spare time, he likes to buy 5 books for every 1 book he has time to read. His favorite novels include And Then There Were None, Savages, Better, The Martian Chronicles, and The Kings of Cool. Brian hopes to pursue a job in editing upon graduation.

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Me Before You – Book Review

Title: me before you author: jojo moyes pages: 368 publication day: december 31st, 2012 publisher: pamela dorman books/viking format: hardcover.

Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never 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,  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?

Booktimistic Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Push yourself. Don’t Settle. Just live well. Just LIVE.

After years of procrastinating and assuming it to be yet another one of those cheesy girl-meets-boy story (proven wrong, hence never assume), I finally read Me Before You and am completely blown away.

I knew this book was essentially an emotional sucker punch, I’ve seen people cry and pull their hair after reading this, I’ve also known a few who have nothing good to say about this, I knew not to expect a happy dance after finishing it, but in spite of all that knowledge, I was still a raging crying mess after having read this. And you know what, I am more than likely to re-read it.

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl with an ordinary life. She has lived her whole life in a small English tourist town and doesn’t demand much from life. Her family and her job at a small cafe keep her contended. Until one day the cafe closes and she’s out of a job. And then there is Will Traynor, adventurer, extreme sports lover, a rich and arrogant finance tycoon living a big life in London, until one day an unfortunate accident brings him on a wheelchair, paralyzing everything below his torso, and he is stuck in his small hometown. Louisa ends up working as caregiver for Will, and so begins a story of these two completely opposite human beings.

The writing is beautiful and flows in a way that you won’t notice the pages flying by, making you laugh and sob at the same time. The characters, their interactions, the family dynamics, it is all laid out with such finesse, that most scenarios and situations in the story seem quite realistic rather than made up.

Me Before You is so much more than a simple love story. There is love, of course and without any cheesiness or cliches, but along with romance, the story focuses on friendship and family, it focuses on the importance of life and more so on being grateful for the things we have rather than on what we don’t. It also tackles the difficult and controversial topic of euthanasia, simultaneously emphasizing on the significance of choice.

So much laughter, so many tears and a multitude of perspectives, Jojo Moyes has convinced me to read more of her works.

Our Souls at Night – Book Review

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Book Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

“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

 Jojo Moyes is the author of the romance book Me Before You. The book was initially released in the UK on January 5, 2012. On September 24, 2015, After You, a sequel, was made available by Pamela Dorman Books. Still Me, the second installment, was released in January 2018.

Me Before You is a heartbreakingly romantic book that asks: What do you do when making the person you love happy also means shattering your own heart? It is a love story for people today and is ideal for readers of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

Synopsis from Goodreads ...

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.

My reaction to this novel...

This novel’s plot is the most touching I’ve read at any time in my life. This book provides insight into what life may be like for individuals who have actual handicaps as well as those who have everyone around them. This is not the type of book I usually read. Indeed, I typically avoid “sickness”-related novels, and I also sought to avoid tales of physical incapacities, because I have a direct family with me who can’t walk, and as a result, I am quite sensitive about the subject. However, I lament holding this book unread on my iBook for up to a year.

Given that there isn’t any actual physical touch in the plot, I might claim that this novel is entirely different in sentiment from anything else I’ve read. Everything revolves around Lou and Will’s ardent friendship. The main characters, rather than the odd ones you typically see in love novels, seem to be growing closer to one another. This is the sensation you have when you no longer dare to hope for a relationship like this. A few times while reading this book, I really burst into tears, and I had to put the book down for a moment so that I could let all of my emotions out, especially in the final chapter.

Me Before You is a superbly emotional tale which will make us read till the early hours of the morning with a stack of folded tissues on our bedside. Effectively, people will perceive people with disabilities in a clearer light than they previously did. I can’t recommend this book enough. It is really astounding and certainly a must-read for anyone. Please give it a chance; I didn’t feel that this sort of book was for me, but it will always be on my list of favorite novels. To all book readers out there, I wholeheartedly suggest this book. 

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)

“I hadn’t realized that music could unlock things in you, could transport you to somewhere even the composer hadn’t predicted. It left an imprint in the air around you, as if you carried its remnants with you when you went.”

True magic exists in music. Just hearing the words and the music you are listening to might trigger memories, whether they are pleasant or unpleasant. It can take us back in time. It may also be a vital component of worshiping God and convincing the person we love. Music has the power to transport us back to a moment when we experienced both joy and sorrow firsthand. 

“It's just that the thing you never understand about being a mother, until you are one, is that it is not the grown man - the galumphing, unshaven, stinking, opinionated off-spring - you see before you, with his parking tickets and unpolished shoes and complicated love life. You see all the people he has ever been all rolled up into one. I look at him and see the baby I held in my arms, dewing besotted, unable to believe that I'd created another human being. I see the toddler, reaching for my hand, the schoolboy weeping tears of fury after being bullied  by some other child. I saw the vulnerabilities, the love, the history.”

This phrase definitely speaks to me even though I am not a mommy yet but I do hope to be one day. A mother finds it extremely difficult to watch their kid suffer. The mother still has memories of the young boy even though he has grown into the man his parents anticipate him to be. Even though the mother is aware that her grownup child would eventually be able to overcome his difficulties, she finds it impossible to imagine not doing anything she can to support him and prevent him from feeling alone. 

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Review | Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes Paperback – April 1, 2016

• Print length 66 pages
• Language English
• Publication date April 1, 2016
• Dimensions 6 x 0.15 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1530847532
• ISBN-13 978-1530847532
• See all details

4 stars and above

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 1, 2016)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 66 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1530847532
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1530847532
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.3 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.15 x 9 inches

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J.t. salrich.

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Cirque du Soleil, Greek Festival, Pete Davidson and more happening this weekend

See a Maine State Ballet performance and get your fill of lobster rolls.

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We know that this weekend’s forecast for the next several days is a bit on the sketchy side, with some rain forecasted.

But will that stop us from getting out there and doing a whole bunch of stuff?

Absolutely not, because it’s still summer in Maine. Plus, we all know that if you want the weather to change here, you just need to give it a minute.

Portland Jazz Orchestra performing with Katie Oberholtzer at Congress Square Park. Photo by Christopher Andrew

Fingers crossed for tonight’s free performance in Congress Square Park from the Portland Jazz Orchestra. The music starts at 6 p.m.

See Portland Jazz Orchestra for free on Thursday

Kal Sugatski, left, and Katherine Liccardo laugh while pausing to remember the next segment of a song while playing their instruments on a forested shoreside trail on Mackworth Island for a portrait. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Vigorous Tenderness immersive performance on Mackworth Island is Friday from 6-7:30 p.m. (Original date was today, change due to weather forecast). Advertisement

Concert series Vigorous Tenderness celebrates the change in seasons and classical music

There’s plenty to eat at the Greek Festival in Portland. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Thankfully, the Greek Festival in Portland is beneath a gigantic tent. The festival started today and runs through Saturday. It’s also the first entry on our annual list of can’t-miss summer events .  The La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival also starts today and runs through Sunday.

Make it your best summer yet with these 17 events

Sole Pane’s brioche knot on the double burger from Kennebec Meat Co. Courtesy of Kennebec Meat Co.

If Greek food isn’t your thing, maybe a burger is. But not just any burger. The Kennebec Meat Co. in Bath makes a legendary one, and it’s only available on Saturdays.

This Bath butcher shop’s burger is worth planning your Saturday around

The lobster roll at Red’s Eats in Wiscasset. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Still not satisfied? We’ve got two words for you: Lobster rolls! Here are seven places to get a great one, including Red’s Eats in Wiscasset and the White Barn Inn in Kennebunk.

What do you look for in a lobster roll? Here are 7 of Maine’s best, for all different reasons

A scene from Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo show. Photo by Maja Prgomet

Let’s shift from food to Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo show at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Performances start tonight and run through Sunday. Other weekend options include Pete Davidson Friday at Merrill Auditorium and “Dancer’s Choice” tonight and tomorrow at Maine State Ballet.

See Cirque du Soleil, Maine State Ballet and Pete Davidson, all this weekend

Lagers clink at Argenta Brewing. Photo by Amanda Bizzaro

Quench your thirst this weekend (or anytime) with a cold lager. We’ve got several ideas of where to enjoy one including Bissell Brothers, Argenta Brewery and Batson River. Cheers!

Lagers gain in popularity at Maine’s craft breweries. Here’s where to find them.

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