A review by cooperca
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

4.0

Every once in a while I come across a book I cannot put down and spend the evening into early morning finishing it. This was one of those books. From the get go I wanted to know more about Will and the Traynor's.

Louisa Clark needs a job and at the old age of 26 she's done nothing more fanny about at a local bakery. The Traynor's need assistance in taking care of their son, who two years previously became a quadriplegic due to a freak accident. Her first meeting with Will doesn't go well, he's acerbic, hateful, and bossy. She wants to quit (this seems to be her thing) but due to her family's financial predicament, she toughs it out. Her childish, happy personality soon thaws Will's cantankerous heart but is it enough to make Will want to live.

Although I loved this book and couldn't put it down, Louisa drove me up the wall. For the very reason she seems to get through to Will, is the very reason I found her irritating. She's childish, immature, and, like a child, only believes in her opinion. When things get tough or things don't go her way, she stomps her foot, runs away, and then gives you the silent treatment. There were so many times I wanted Will to just run her over with his wheelchair.

In spite of Louisa's behavior, there were times that her naiveté endeared herself to Will, she provided a fresh perspective that helped him endure the incredible pain he suffered.

It was brilliantly written and had me engrossed with the story and the characters. Only one minor bit that would take me out of the story were these one-chapter tales from others. Will's mother, father, Nathan (Will's nurse), and Louisa's sister. They just came out of no where and didn't add anything to the story. After the first one, I continued to read the book, skipping those chapters and then went back afterwards and read them. The ending was not a surprise but still heartfelt.

As the sequel is Louisa's story, I will go no further as I'm not sure I could take anymore of her.