Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

To put it frankly, Louisa Clark is an incredibly dull, normal girl. She has a steady boyfriend and still lives with her mom and dad in the same village in which she was born. After losing a job she loved, she’s desperate to find another. It is her income that helps support her parents and her sister, a single mother.

The opportunity that comes available to her is so unlikely: working as a caregiver to the wealthy young quadriplegic, Will Traynor. Bound to a wheelchair after a brutal accident, Will has lost his life as a young active man, world traveler, participating in a host of extreme sports. Will is extremely volatile, incredibly harsh and moody. At first, Lou things she’s in over her head.  After giving up a few times, however, the two form the most unlikeliest of connections. When Lou learns of a life-altering decision Will has made, she strives to provide him a life worth living.

Admittedly, I was quite wary of this book when I read the synopsis. Loyal followers will acknowledge that I’m not exactly a fan of romance. Despite these feelings, I dove in to reading this novel after quite a bit of encouragement from individuals whom I trust who adored this novel. And….I’m so glad I did. Perhaps it’s because Me Before You is the most unlikeliest of “love stories” I have read. Two completely different individuals who would have never crossed paths had it not been for the horrific accident that brought them together. While unlikely, the relationship they share is quite realistic and believable, not sugar coated in the least. Without giving away too much the ending, while difficult, is truly genuine and not at all the fairy tale ending of many love stories. All of these things combined with the truly sympathetic (while sometimes infuriating) lead characters, Moyes has created a truly rewarding, heartfelt, memorable novel.

Let it be known that I had no intentions of posting any more reviews this year. That said, I was so desperate to include this novel in my “Best of 2012” list to post tomorrow, I just had to write about it. I’ll admit to sobbing quite a bit while reading this book, and not the soundless sobbing but the gasping, messy sort of sobbing. While truly emotional it is more uplifting than depressing.  So I implore you to embrace the beauty in the unlikeliest of love stories I discovered in Me Before You.  It is a novel that has moved me, with a message that will carry on with me for some time: Just live well. Highly, highly recommended.