Jackie read this one first and reviewed it wonderfully here. We received not one, but three! copies of this book from Rebecca at Viking/Penguin in order to pitch to our Wink 3 book club. Gladly, we did so and the feed back from all in the club indicated that Me Before You was a very successful choice! So thank you again Rebecca!
Me Before You also has this book trailer…(Love book trailers!) and includes a quote from Oprah saying it’s “an unlikely love story.” Yes, I can see that, but I think it’s that and SO much more. It really is a wonderful story of coming in to your own as well. But importantly, not just a romantic sappy love story. It’s not that at all! Yes, you cry buckets at the end, but it’s really a contemporary and wonderfully written book. If it were a movie, I would say it was a brilliantly acted movie. (This I can see movie. I hope so. (yes! I actually said that!).
Laura, in our Wink 3 book club, read it in under two days I think? I believe I did the same. I was on page 17 and absolutely, utterly in love and engrossed with the story of Louisa (Lou) and Will. From the beginning to the very end I was all in and didn’t want to leave Will and Lou! So you ever read a book where the characters are so wonderfully real and alive that it feels like you’re sitting in a room with them? You’re completely immersed in their lives and have a massive emotional attachment to them? Well, that’s how it was with Will and Lou. And Nathan, and Mrs. Traynor and Lou’s parents too!
Jackie really surmises the premise of the book wonderfully in her review attached above, so all I’m really going to add is that I absolutely loved it, cried like crazy at the end and also, did some serious thinking about Will’s intentions and his right to plan the end of his own life, and to do so with dignity. I think that both sides of this are well presented. Really, is it up to us, and not the individual person, to make that decision?
At the end of Jackie’s review she inserted a picture of bee-striped leggings, which was perfection and an extremely poignant moment in the story and now, Viking/Penguin offers these inspirational e-cards! Now you too can send someone you love the message to live boldly, wear those leggings with pride and to never, ever settle or to Just Live Well .
From Goodreads: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.
What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.
I’m giving Me Before You 5-great stars. My post is short and sweet, but I really can’t say much else than that I really, really enjoyed it! I think it was the perfect book that came along at the perfect time. I’m certain you would enjoy this one tremendously as well. Put any hesitation aside and pick up your copy today. (and when you reach the end, sorry for the spoiler, make sure you have plenty of tissue available!)
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