Book Review: Me Before You.

Last Friday, I asked people on my Instagram story what they’d like to read on my blog and about four of them said they’d like to read book reviews and summaries and I’ll be reviewing “Me Before You”, a book by Jojo Moyes published in 2012. It was adapted to a movie in 2016. How cool is that?

Um… I have a confession to make – I’ve never done this before, I’m a virgin to book reviews and I’m shy lol. There’s a reason for this tho’. Reading has always been a means of escape from reality because, with these books, I develop my vocabulary and I’m free to allow my imaginations to run wild. Also, reading books is something I do because I want to and not because I’m being told to do so. I think that’s what takes the fun out of school books. We read them because we have to and not necessarily because we want to. I read random genres which often include romance, thrillers, mystery, and the usual teen fiction.

In a way, I feel like writing a book review means that I have to explain what I’ve read to you and it’s low-key like an exam because I’d just give you a link to where I downloaded the books instead of explaining but what kind of person would I be if I didn’t give you what you asked for?

Let’s get to it, shall we?

ME BEFORE YOU

“Me Before You”, published in 2012 by Jojo Moyes is a novel about two characters who under normal circumstances would not have met but Louisa Clark, a simple but quirky woman who has just lost her job and is looking for another finds herself as a caregiver in the home of Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who gives the first impression as rude and utterly cynical.

However, both of them slowly find a balance and develop a friendship. Will encourages Louisa to come out of her bubble and try new things. Louisa, although hesitant begins to learn about new stuff and lets loose a little and this puts a smile on Will’s face.

In the course of her caregiving, she finds out that Will has plans of his own – he has decided that his suffering is too much and this is not the life he wants to live, especially since he was adventurous by nature, someone who had previously climbed mountains, skydived and traveled the world for fun. Will cannot reconcile his present life with his previous one as he’s stuck in a wheelchair and has to depend on people to do things for him all the time.

When Louisa finds out that he plans to take his life through assisted suicide at a set date, she does all she can to ensure that she changes his mind. She puts effort into planning different activities to show Will that he can be paralyzed and still have a life worth living. She tries to give him some of her happiness but her efforts may not be enough to change his mind.

I saw the movie before I read the book (Me Before You was adapted into a movie in 2016) and I loved every bit of it. This book is not your typical romance novel but to a great extent, it teaches you to appreciate life in every form because there are people who do not have the choice that most of us have. Also, Jojo Moyes shows us that we don’t have to settle because there’s a whole world in front of us. Also, that mediocrity never conquers much.

Jojo Moyes portrays the characters in Me Before You in a way that you can relate to them on many levels and although the novel is mostly written in Louisa’s POV, she adds points of view from other characters to give clarity. She also portrays the wars of quadriplegia, as well as the psychological toll it takes on its victims, straightforwardly. She doesn’t represent life the way we want it to be, but she portrays it as it is – with harsh realities.

This book may cause controversy in the sense that some people do not believe that suicide is acceptable, no matter what. Also, it might seem that all hope is lost to people who are in the same situation as Will. I mean, imagine a quadriplegic having to go through the various emotions caused by “Me Before You”. It will probably depress his/her depression.

However, it was realistic and I cried. A lot. But it was a great read and I’ll probably read it again, seeing as I’ve seen the movie at least three times since 2016.

The book has sequels:

AFTER YOU

STILL ME

I downloaded “Me Before You” from this site. You should read it if you liked this review.

Love,

‘Ruona ❤️.

P.S:

How are you doing?

What did you think of my first attempt at reviewing a book?

Have you read “Me Before You” or seen the movie?

Do you think you’d like to read the book?

Please let me know in the comment section. Your responses give me joy! 💜

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