Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Not since 'The Fault in our Stars' have I sobbed so much over fictional characters.
Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl (with an extraordinary taste in clothing!) who finds herself suddenly unemployed when the cafe she has been working in for the last few years closes down. Unskilled and willing to try anything, she applies for a job as day time carer and companion for Will Traynor, a quadriplegic since a tragic accident two years before.
Her family is ecstatic - the job pays very well and, as they are struggling financially, it seems like a godsend. But Louisa soon finds that working for Will Traynor is not easy. He is sarcastic and bitter, and all her efforts to make conversation or be friendly are rebuffed - at first. But she persists, and slowly but surely, she breaks down his barriers.
So things are going pretty well - Louisa learns how to look after Will with the help of his nurse, Nathan, and she begins to care deeply for him. They tease each other, enjoy each other's company, and Will even starts to smile and laugh again.
But Louisa has noticed scars on his wrists, and discovers that he had attempted suicide previously. Will doesn't want to live, and Louisa realises that she was basically employed to keep an eye on him.
Then one day, Louisa overhears a conversation between Will's sister and mother, which reveals that, after his suicide attempt, Will had promised to give his family six months more - and at the end of that time, he wanted to be allowed to die at Dignitas in Switzerland. (This is a real place which assists people to die painlessly and with dignity. I Googled it.)
Louisa is devastated and makes it her mission to change his mind - to show him that life is worth living. And in the process, her own life changes too. There are some wonderful scenes, and you can see the relationship developing and how these two characters grow and learn from each other.
Does she succeed in her mission? I'm not going to tell you. You will have to read it yourself. (Bring tissues.)
This is a really beautiful love story - sweet, funny, romantic, and poignant too. The other characters (Louisa's family, her boyfriend, Will's family) are all complex and have secrets and problems of their own, but it is Louisa and Will who are this novel's heart.
When I read the last page, I had to sit quietly for a moment, to say goodbye. Actually I wasn't really quiet. I was sobbing, okay?
It broke my heart, but I loved it.
View all my reviews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Not since 'The Fault in our Stars' have I sobbed so much over fictional characters.
Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl (with an extraordinary taste in clothing!) who finds herself suddenly unemployed when the cafe she has been working in for the last few years closes down. Unskilled and willing to try anything, she applies for a job as day time carer and companion for Will Traynor, a quadriplegic since a tragic accident two years before.
Her family is ecstatic - the job pays very well and, as they are struggling financially, it seems like a godsend. But Louisa soon finds that working for Will Traynor is not easy. He is sarcastic and bitter, and all her efforts to make conversation or be friendly are rebuffed - at first. But she persists, and slowly but surely, she breaks down his barriers.
So things are going pretty well - Louisa learns how to look after Will with the help of his nurse, Nathan, and she begins to care deeply for him. They tease each other, enjoy each other's company, and Will even starts to smile and laugh again.
But Louisa has noticed scars on his wrists, and discovers that he had attempted suicide previously. Will doesn't want to live, and Louisa realises that she was basically employed to keep an eye on him.
Then one day, Louisa overhears a conversation between Will's sister and mother, which reveals that, after his suicide attempt, Will had promised to give his family six months more - and at the end of that time, he wanted to be allowed to die at Dignitas in Switzerland. (This is a real place which assists people to die painlessly and with dignity. I Googled it.)
Louisa is devastated and makes it her mission to change his mind - to show him that life is worth living. And in the process, her own life changes too. There are some wonderful scenes, and you can see the relationship developing and how these two characters grow and learn from each other.
Does she succeed in her mission? I'm not going to tell you. You will have to read it yourself. (Bring tissues.)
This is a really beautiful love story - sweet, funny, romantic, and poignant too. The other characters (Louisa's family, her boyfriend, Will's family) are all complex and have secrets and problems of their own, but it is Louisa and Will who are this novel's heart.
When I read the last page, I had to sit quietly for a moment, to say goodbye. Actually I wasn't really quiet. I was sobbing, okay?
It broke my heart, but I loved it.
View all my reviews