Me Before You

Me Before You Cover

Jojo Moyes

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.

15 Reviews 11 Comments

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Judy

This book is compelling, moving and totally absorbing. It is also a true romance, a real weepie.

Louisa (known as Lou) is 26. A working-class girl, her family (mum, dad, granddad and sister Treena, who is a single parent to little Tom) depend on her meagre wage from the Buttered Bun, a cafe where Louisa has worked for six years. To her shock she is suddenly made redundant. She knows her family need her to earn and desperately starts looking for another job.

After a few false starts, she reluctantly accepts a position as carer to a young man who is paralysed as a result of a terrible accident, in which he was mowed down by a motorcyclist on a busy, wet morning in London.

Will Traynor is young, handsome, rich, upper-class, and before his accident had a high-flying career in the city. Then, in one shattering moment, his life is ruined. Resentful, convinced he has no future, he is full of anger. Will Traynor is not a very nice young man.

When Lou meets him, there is instant mutual dislike. She is an ordinary girl from a poor family, while he is an arrogant guy from a very different, moneyed world, who feels his life has been poisoned by the accident. He is forced to witness his former girlfriend's new relationship with his old friend, as they visit him to commiserate, but also to make it clear that she has moved on.

However, as Lou and Will get to know each other, their relationship becomes deep and profound. This book is very much a romance, and also terribly moving. Expect tears. Keep the tissues handy.

Richard

One of the reasons I so enjoyed this novel is that it tackles a very modern dilemma. If a disabled young man feels his life is over, then no matter how much those around him - his parents, his friends - love him and want to help, is he justified in deciding his own fate, even if that means those left behind will be desolated?

There have been a number of reports in the media lately of how seriously ill or disabled people (especially paralysed young men) feel they cannot face life, and opt to end theirs.

This is, as Judy says, a real love story. Will and Lou are star-crossed lovers. They make each other happy, but for Will, that happiness is not enough. Lou has to face and accept his ultimate decision about his future, no matter how much she loves him.

But I don't want to give the impression that Me Before You (which we both loved) is mostly sad and painful, because in parts it's extremely funny. Lou's working-class family, and Will's upper-class, snooty mother, are sharply and hilariously observed.

It's a very powerful and emotional novel, full of insight into people's lives. We think it is a perfect read - uplifting, but also tragic. Precisely the elements the best romantic stories are made of.

Reviews

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  • Simply Brilliant

    A very modern love story which will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Warm, funny, touching, poignant and thought provoking. Jojo is a genius at storytelling and this latest offering doesn't disappoint. Be warned though, this book is distracting, when you're not reading it you either can't wait to get back to it or you're thinking about the characters and their story. The family dialogue is sharp, incredibly witty and insightful. It's crying out to made into a movie and like all of Jojo's books it plays out like one in your head whilst you're absorbed within it. It has shot straight into my all-time top 5 novels. Simply perfect.

    By NicolaRidings - 04.01.2012

  • This has to be my favourite book of the year and we're only in January! This book is so good. It is one of those books that will stay with you long after you've read it. It is more than just a love story, it is a tale of courage, life and making the right (and sometimes difficult) choices in life.

    By viviane - 04.01.2012

  • This is such an amazing, amazing book. It sounds like a cliche to say things like 'I couldn't put it down' and 'it made me laugh and cry' but this book truly did both in spades. I urge you to pick up this book as your first read of the year - you won't be disappointed.

    This is such an amazing, amazing book. It sounds like a cliche to say things like 'I couldn't put it down' and 'it made me laugh and cry' but this book truly did both in spades. I urge you to pick up this book as your first read of the year - you won't be disappointed.

    By Kelly Davies - 04.01.2012

  • A fantastic read

    I was lucky enough to read this book as a proof, last year, and I loved it. It drew me in from the very first page and I built up such a relationship with the characters that I was frequently holding back the tears. The book doesn't end in the way you might expect but I think JoJo Moyes has done a fantastic job of dealing with such a contraversial topic. I still think about this book now (2 months on) and am very jealous of people who will get to read it from the first time - you are in for a real treat! x

    By Charlene - 04.01.2012

  • I absolutely loved this book. Got hooked from the first few pages and honestly couldn't put it down. Jojo Moyes is such a fantastic writer and the plot was heartbreaking. But uplifting too. Brilliant.

    By Jo - 05.01.2012

  • What a great book, couldnt put it down, You laugh and cry while reading it. Have a packet of tissues on standby. Would make a great tv drama.

    What a great book, couldnt put it down, You laugh and cry while reading it. Have a packet of tissues on standby. Would make a great tv drama.

    By Judes - 12.01.2012

  • Has to be one of the most beautiful books I have ever read and boy have I read a lot! I connected with Lou and Will on such a deep level that by the end of the book I couldn't help but fall in love with Will a bit too. I very much believe in love and sacrifice and to read a book that handles that kind of emotion with such intensity and yet such tenderness truly softens my heart. I cried at many points whilst reading and I literally sobbed my heart out at the end. This book was and IS worth it. I'm glad that it caught my attention as soon as I walked into WHSMITH, I can't imagine not reading it again- I will soon. Thank you Jojo Moyes for infiltrating my heart again (The Last Letter From You Lover was amazing too).

    By Arfa - 13.01.2012

  • Me Before You.

    A brilliant modern love story, great characters. I especially enjoyed that such a sensitive issue was tackled with huge empathy for both sides of the argument.

    By Karen L S - 27.01.2012

  • Amazing

    This must be one of my favourite books of all time! I loved it soo much. At the end i was proper sobbing my heart out. I found it really emotional, and i really like that Jojo has been able write a book about such a serious issue while still keeping it interesting and fun. Amazing!

    By Katie - 27.01.2012

  • I was totally into this story. Beautifully written, the characters were so alive. An usual story that kept me up a few late nights as was so wrapped up by it.Amazing, it brings out so many emotions.

    I was totally into this story. Beautifully written, the characters were so alive. An usual story that kept me up a few late nights as was so wrapped up by it.

    Amazing, it brings out so many emotions.

    By Kate Poyser - 29.01.2012

  • Me Before You

    MAY CONTAIN SPOLIERS: Wow... I can see this being my book of the year and we are only in January. I literally couldn't put it down. I really wanted a love story that would conquer all the difficulties Will faced and I couldn't quite believe that Lou's love wouldn't be enough to get them through... even towards the end when they went to the clinic, I kept expecting him to change his mind. As a result, the end had me in floods of tears, and yet, somehow, I began to come to terms with the way that Will's disablility was preventing him from ever living any sort of life he wanted or hoped for with Lou and he couldn't reconcile himself with that. Fab, fab, fab...a difficult subject handled sensitively and yet with plenty of realism that prevented the characters from descending into the unbelievable. I think I fell in love with Will a bit myself and I was certainly rooting for Lou to change his mind. I couldn't put it down yet I didn't want it to end. Brilliant!

    By Sara - 31.01.2012

  • Fab

    I even sent my kids to Nannys for the night so I could finish this book. Written light hearted intitially but absolutly got me in the heart - I did fall in love with Will but SPOILER ALERT was devasted at the end. Really thought he would change his mind and was seriously dissapointed that he didn't even tell Lou that he loved her. I actually started hating him after reading as I thougth he was selfish and didn't give it a chance and totally disregarded Lou. Plenty of tissues at the ready !!!

    By Jacki - 02.02.2012

  • Heartbreaking

    CONTAINS SPOILERS - This book was a fantastic read, but the ending broke me into a million pieces. I believe in a person's right to choose when all hope is gone, but I truly believe Will made the wrong decision. He had so much to live for and the ending left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth. So much so that I wanted to put the book through the shredder when I'd finished it! And yet it was so beautifully written, with such sensitivity, that I can't help but still be a little bit in love with this book. Will and Louisa became so real to me that I was willing them to have the happy ending I so craved for them - but alas it was not meant to be. I can't agree with Will's final devastating decision, but I AM glad I read this book.

    By Caroline - 02.02.2012

  • Possible spoiler! - Such an amazing book. One of the best books ive ever read. I completly fell in love with Will and Lou. made me laugh at times but also gave a brillint insight into will and his condition with out being depressing. beautifully written about quiet a difficult subject. felt sad for both charaters and longed for the happy ending that wasnt to be. you will need plenty of tissues at the end. Cant wait for her next book. very talented writer.

    By hannah jeynes - 11.02.2012

  • Me Before You

    This is an amazing book. I read it in one go today, I just couldn't put it down. It is a beautifully written book describing real, believable emotions. The book made me both laugh and cry and although I finished it a couple of hours ago, I can't stop thinking about it. It#ll stay with me for a long time.

    By Eileen - 12.02.2012

Comments

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  • it may only be January 4th but it's going to take some book to eclipse this as the best book of the year. Poignant, funny, heart-warming, heart-breaking, surprising and uplifting, Me Before You is 2012's great love story. This is a one sitting read so find a quiet corner with no distractions, a big bar of chocolate and a big box of tissues, you're going to need them all.

    Elizabeth

  • Who would you have play the leads??

    Elizabeth

  • Beautiful! I loved this book and have already recommended it to friends.

    Rhian

  • Loved this book and couldn't put it down. Really thought provoking, sensitive, uplifting and saddening at the same time. Again, Richard and Judy's choices have been excellent - Yesterdays Sun and Before I go to Sleep are brilliant too.

    Kate Knowles

  • broke my heart....never has a book made me cry so much..fantastic read :)

    michelle

  • Loved this book despite the fact it made me cry like a baby.I feel bereft now it's finished.Loved' last letter from Your Lover' too. can't wait for her next book.

    Debra

  • A beautifully written book. Highly observant. A real love story which I wish could have had a different ending. But it was the ending that made it so real.Look forward to her next book.

    Ann Allan

  • Finished reading this beautifully written book this morning..and sobbed my heart out. It has stayed with me all day, even when walking the dog I started to 'fill up' again..Well done JoJo Moyes you deserve all the credit you get for this absolute gem of a book.

    Vickie Androsch

  • I read a lot but this book will stay with me for a long time. I absolutely LOVED it. I could not put it down. A fantastic emotional read. I highly recommend this book. MURTHA sastedh

    Sue

  • im still crying!!!!!!!!!!! i was blown away by this book . couldnt put it down...

    barbara-ann

  • I don't usually leave reviews or comments about books, but really feel compelled to!! What a fab book!! Could not put my kindle down! What a range of emotions this book provoked.u don't usually cry at books but overwhelmed..like the one of the main characters did not know the final outcome until the last minute. A wonderful book and as usual no disappointment from any of Richard and judys recommendations!!brill

    Alison

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