Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those soul destroying stories that renders me incapable of writing a work appropriate review, so instead I've supplied a GIF that represents what this book did to me.

Pages: 448

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

Louisa Clark is living a small life in a small English village; at 26 years of age, she has a boyfriend, works as a waitress in a small café, and lives with her parents. She has seldom been out of her village, but is content with her life. Then the café closes, and she is unemployed with no marketable skills.  She tries a couple of menial jobs that just don't work out. Then the 'Job Service' office sends her out to interview to be a caregiver to a paraplegic man. To her surprise, she is offered the job, but it is a temporary position, just a six-month contract.

Will Traynor is living a large life in London. He buys and sells companies, makes a lot of money, and is a globe trotter. He loves adventure, travel, and lots of sex with beautiful women. Then one day he is struck by a motorbike, which leaves him with a severe spinal injury. He has sensation, so can feel the pain, but only has limited movement of his left hand.

The story is about the relationship that develops between the two of them. This was a book club selection for me, and I didn't think I was going to like it. But I found it totally absorbing, and thinking a lot about quality of life and what makes life worth living.

385 pages.