Author: JoJo Moyes
Series: Me Before You
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Drama
Trigger Warning: This novel does contain discussions of rape.
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.
My Thoughts: I am not a huge fan of contemporary romances. I'm not sure why... but the only way I can be tempted to read one is if I know that it's about to become a movie (I grew up in an all-girl household... so romantic comedies are a staple!). So, when I discovered that Me Before You was going to be a blockbuster movie starring two of my favourites, Emilia Clarke and Sam Clafin, I knew I had to give it a read!
Me Before You is about a young English woman called Lou, who has the perfect job at The Buttered Bun in town, that is until it has to close down. Now unemployed, she is facing a lot of pressure from her family to find more work so that they can afford to put food on the table. She flip-flops from job to job, desperate to find the right fit. The Job Centre gives her one last chance, and she is offered a very well paid job to care for a young quadriplegic. She begrudgingly accepts, unaware that she isn't just "caring" for Will... she has to convince him that life is worth living.
I don't say it often, but this is a truly beautiful story. JoJo has not only crafted an incredible story that will have you crying happy, angry and sad tears, but she's also created some of the most wonderful fictional characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It's actually been pretty hard for me to sum up my opinion of this book, because all I want to do is shout:
However... I'm going to try and be professional about this and explain to you why I love this book so much. Firstly, the story is so strong and well designed. It ebbs and flows; I never once felt a lull in the pace of it. I really like that we got P.O.V chapters from Will, Camilla, Steven and Treena in addition to the normal narration from Lou. It really helped the story and characters become more real to me, and it was nice to get into the head of these minor characters and understand their thinking for some of their actions, as well as to get an outside perspective of Lou. The actual storyline was nothing short of perfect in my opinion. You have a young woman with no purpose and direction in life, who is suddenly thrust into the job of trying to find a purpose and direction for a man considering assisted suicide. The story throws up all such of moral and ethical questions, but it's done so in a very tactful manner. I never felt like JoJo was forcing one "correct" opinion on me, as every single character had a different viewpoint on the situation. Not only are these difficult yet important conversations considered in a delicate manner, but it's also done with a lot of humour. This book just radiates warmth, both from its humour and the romance that is so gently threaded into it. It really is a superb example of what chick lit should be.
Long story short, I honestly can't find any flaws with this novel, except that it made me cry more than I want to admit! So, if you're looking for a funny, romantic, moving and compelling read this weekend, then you must check out Me Before You!
(PS, if you want to see what you're missing, check out the trailer for the film! I watched it before reading the book, and not only did it help get me excited for the book, but it also helped me imagine the characters as I read it (they really have cast it perfectly!).)
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