Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Me Before You

Author:  Jojo Moyes

Publisher:  Penguin

Publication Date:  January 1st 2011

What can I say but that Me Before You is a really well written emotional story.  I felt a range of different emotions reading about Will Trayner, and his carer Lou (short for Louisa).  I knew from reading some reviews that this is not a fluff chick lit book, though it does have plenty of fun witty laugh out loud moments.

I'm amazed how much I love the characters from Me Before You, especially Will and Lou.  They are two completely opposite people, mostly due to the circumstances in which they grew up.  Will led a adventurous life before his accident left him a paraplegic. He is definitely a man who loves living life to the fullest.  Living his life constantly needing someone to help him and being limited in choices is a very far cry from where he was.  There are some really hard depressing Will moments to read, they became hard for me to read cause I really really liked Will.  I wanted to help him, but I'm so glad he had Lou. :) 

Lou has quickly become one of my favorite characters, partly because I recognize a lot of her in me.  Some people are just okay with things being the same ol', and for Lou, she's not even aware of all she is missing out on living in her hometown with her parents.  But for someone like Will, who tried to experience as much as he can before the accident, he can't help but want to help Lou.  Show her that there is more to life than their small town.  Ms. Moyes gives us looks into both Will and Lou's home life which allowed the author to create some vivid characters.  Where Will's family has money is more tamed and reserved, Lou's family is a riot.  Many laughs to be had while Louisa is at home.  

As for the plot itself, there are so many parallels between Lou and Will that I find it amusing that they had there own plans on how to open up each others world to new possibilities.  Lou is trying to help Will understand that he can have a good life even if it's confined to a wheelchair.  She's trying to show him that he can have a enjoyable life full of great memories if he just tries, while at the same time Will is trying to help her live life, experience it. There are serious issues brought up in Me Before You, which makes Me Before You a sober read.  There is so much more i'm leaving out, but honestly I think this is one that is best going in not knowing too much. 

Me Before You is one of the best books I've read so far in 2012.  I've been going through a book rut and this is was the perfect book to have picked up.  I highly recommend it!