Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Book Review

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes  (Me Before You #1)

Publication Date: July 30th 2013

Publisher: Penguin Books

Format: 369 pages; Paperback

Source: Bought

Summary: Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl 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?

Spoiler Free

If you are looking for a book that is funny and light, this is NOT for you.

To be honest, I discovered this book because I watched the movie trailer first (which I do not recommend because you will be spoiled!) After watching the trailer, I immediately read the book. And oh my gosh, boy it made me laugh and cry!

You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.

This book talks about a very serious issue, Quadriplegia. I searched it and quadriplegia means  paralysis caused by illness or injury that results in the partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso (Wikipedia). One of our main characters, Will Traynor, has this. And with him, we get to see the situation of quadriplegic victims. It gave me a punch of reality that there are people in the world that has this case and what maybe some of them are going through.

But despite Will's situation, he still has a charismatic character. He maybe hopeless but he is funny and intelligent.

This book is devastatingly beautiful. I loved how each character was wonderfully developed. Especially Lou. I loved how Lou was so real. She loved her family so much that she forgot herself and her happiness.

But I guess the thing that bugs me is the slow pacing of this book. It took me a while to really get into the story and connect to the characters. Maybe because of the setting of the book. One thing I would like is the clearer back story of Will. I really didn't know much about him before the accident. I was just told that he was adventurous and "flirty".

I loved Jojo's writing but I will not read the sequel of this book. Maybe because I think that was the best ending for the story. Even if it wasn't the happiest ending, it was satisfying. It was an ending appropriate for the story.

I just want to give you a tip. If you haven't read the book, DO NOT READ THE END IN  PUBLIC EYES. I have made that mistake. I was reading it in school and oh boy I had some curious eyes on why this girl is crying. Maybe they thought my boyfriend broke up  with me. But then again I don't have a boyfriend. So...

4 out of 5 stars.

Are you excited of the movie as I am? Comment down.

MICH xx