I put off reading this widely acclaimed novel for a few years as I knew the subject was going to be emotive and affecting. However, when the sequel was published I felt I could read the book and deal with the undoubtedly sad ending knowing the characters weren’t just left in suspended animation.
Lou loses her job at a local cafe in a small town and after signing on for the job seekers allowance is manoeuvred to take a job as a carer for a quadriplegic man, Will Traynor. Will is 34 and suffered a C5/6 spinal injury after a motorcycle vs pedestrian accident in London, leading to the loss of his successful city career and life, leaving him to face the darkest depths of a living nightmare. They couldn’t have been more different from each other but attained a bond that changed them both forever.
Throughout this book is a commentary which has been topical for years now about assisted suicide and the various characters in the book have differing emotive views about Will and his life. Jojo Moyles has fastidiously represented the hurdles of living with severe disability and the spectrum of views about the right to choose. I have never felt so deeply conflicted about an issue as I did when I read this book.
From the very start of this book you cannot help but invest and root for Will and Lou, but it is also impossible to ignore the change in quality of life Will has had to undergo and the burden of illness his quadriplegia affords him. However, as much as I wanted this to be the ultimate love story, it was very unlikely to have the happy forever after.
I don’t think such a multifaceted complex issue could have been done more justice, a truly beautiful and haunting read.
Links To Book:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads
Ajoobacats Blog 
Great review! Me Before You is on my reading list of the week. I had been putting off reading it too, first because of all the hype around it. I prefer to let it wear off before starting an acclaimed book to really give it a chance and not be influenced/disappointed due to the heightened expectations it creates. Also, I knew the subject was not light and wanted to be in a state where I could handle it.
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Definitely not light reading and I’m into the sequel now, but I’m less sure where this one is going.
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Thanks for such a sensitive review.
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Thank you for reading
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I read this book. It got to me after a rough start. Great review
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Thank you, it was a moving book and I can’t wait to see how it comes across in the movie later this year.
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I didn’t know that. Will look out for it 🙂
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Release date is In June.
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Can’t wait. Thanx!
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I read this when it first came out, and it’s one of my all time favourite books. I’m not sure I could read it twice, though, strangely. It is just too emotional!
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I agree, I don’t think I could go through the emotions again knowing how it ends.
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Great review.This book is on my tbr.I have heard a lot mixed things about it.Can’t wait to get a copy of it.
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It’s a very moving book.
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