What a way to begin a New Year! I finished reading Me Before You just an hour ago and said aloud (to no one), "Wow--how did she do it?"
Jojo Moyes has written a beautiful, imaginative, improbable love story. Her characters are fully developed--a paraplegic who wants to die and a simple uncomplicated local girl who becomes his caregiver for 6 months. Her courage, generosity, and imagination are inspiring; his prodding to have her expand her life is equally so.
This is no schmaltzy romance novel, believe me. It makes you think how life can change in an instant, how the choices you make can alter your life. It is funny, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.
Do yourself a favor and read this book!
At first glance you expect this to be a boy-meets-girl story where love overcomes all obstacles, but author Jojo Moyes has other ideas. This engaging novel tells the story of a deeply unhappy quadriplegic and the caregiver hired by his mother to distract him from his own demons. Moyes allows us a little time to get to know the characters before introducing a deadline that lends suspense and uncertainty to the outcome. Emotionally engaging and heartbreaking.
What makes life worth living? Who gets to decide? There are two sides to every story.
The story begins with William Trainor, a handsome and rich adventurer always looking for his next high. He is on top of the world until a freak accident turns William into a quadriplegic. Then there is Louisa Clark, a tea shop worker content with her simple life. She leads a life of no surprises, living with her parents, and never intending to leave her little village. That is, until she becomes Louisa Clark: unemployed teashop girl. The story truly unfolds when William and Lousia’s very different worlds collide. An unorthodox and unforgettable love story unfolds, and nothing prepares you for the joy and tears this book will bring you.
“If you are looking for a romantic love story that will leave you in happy tears, this is the book for you! Suspend disbelief and immerse yourself in the life of Louisa Clark, who takes a job as a caretaker for a young, wealthy, disabled man. After a rocky start, Lou and Will become close, and Will urges her to expand her horizons and escape from their stifling small town. Naturally, love blooms, but can there be a happy ending for two such different people?”
— Susan Taylor, Market Block Books, Troy, NY