Published: December 31st, 2012
by: Viking Adult
Genres: Adult-fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Women’s-Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
My Rating: 5 Stars
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.
REVIEW
What do you do when a book tears you apart? How am I going to recover from this? Please tell me what to do. I’m so lost right now. No one said it would hurt this much.
Forgive any misspelling or other errors, because I’m just not all together. I shouldn’t even be typing this review while bawling my eyes out, but I had to get this down.
Me Before You is one of those reads that leave you thinking about life and death. I hope that I won’t spoil this for those who haven’t read it, but it’s hard to make points when the things you want to discuss are so vital to the story. I’m not sure how much I can say that others haven’t already said. And I can totally see a lot of people disagreeing with the choice that was made in this book. Everyone has their views on the subject, but until you have been in such a life altering situation, I’m not sure you can really just….get it. Me personally? I would have made the same choice, so I can’t judge anyone for wanting to do the same.
I connected so much with Lou, that it was like staring in the mirror. I’m a middle child, so feeling like the one to always put the family first is something I get first hand. And to even voice these things makes people think you are selfish. It’s quite the opposite, actually. I’m just so glad that Lou had Will to push her in the right direction. I don’t hate her sister, Treena – no matter how much she played the single mother card. I admire her for going back to school, but I don’t like the way she jumped down Lou’s throat when she was about to quit her job. Sibling rivalry isn’t what I’d say it was between them; but there was this feeling of inadequacy from Lou’s perspective. I really don’t like Patrick. The guy got on my nerves so badly, and I hated every moment that he and Lou spent together. When he met Will, I was just so mad that he manipulated Lou. When Will made a move, Patrick countered. He had to up his game, even though he didn’t want to. He couldn’t stand the thought of Lou with Will. I was screaming for Lou to wake up and cut him loose!
As far as Lou’s parents go, I really like them. Even when her mom did that at the end, I still like her. I get her point, but I also get Lou’s point. It’s like going around in circles. Lou can’t change Will’s mind, Lou’s mom can’t change her mind, Will’s parents can’t change his mind. I don’t really have anything to say about Will’s parents or his sister. That whole charade was just so absurd. Everyone always thinks about what society will think about them. It wasn’t for Will’s benefit, I know that much. I do like Nathan, and was surprised with his lack of presence at the end. Still, I can get why he wasn’t around. I respect everyone’s debates about Will’s situation. There are no right or wrong answers, because no one knows what it’s like. I just knew that he and Lou would be so perfect together. That wedding dance scene made my heart go pitter patter. I’m not sure if I’ll survive this movie that’s about to be in theaters. I’ll make sure that someone is there to hold me up. This is just too hard.
That’s the best I can do without spoilers. This story cracked me open, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be the same again. I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to read the sequel. Heck, this book sat on my shelf for 3 years, so maybe I’ll wait another three to even read After You. This book is heavy, I won’t lie. But I feel that everyone in the world should read this book. One man’s choice – that’s all you get. I won’t say anything else. Highly recommended!
I purchased this one recently because of all the raves about it and I loved the movie trailer! I love how these books come along once in a while and really affect you emotionally. It sounds wonderful, I’ll be sure to have the tissues close by! Thanks for the review Lekeisha!
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It is a great story. One that will have you at ends with your beliefs, but still trying to agree with anothers’ choices. I haven’t cried while reading a book in years.
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[…] Also by this author: Me Before You […]
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Everyone seems to be having the same response to this book!! Just got it and can’t wait to dive in
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Can’t wait to see what you think of it!
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what a great recommendation. I do love stories like this!! They are rare experiences…so I always savor them.
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I hope you get to pick it up!
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I listened to this and loved it as well. I connected on so many levels and all of the feels..oh my!!
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It def gives you the feels!
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The thinking about life and death, plus actually having a choice in the matter is what stayed with me after reading Me Before You as well, Lekeisha! I live in Switzerland, so the debate isn’t as strong here as it is in other parts of the world. We can become members of that association now if we want to, so that if something happens to us, they will step in and make things the way we want them to be when it comes to continuing to be on life support, help to stop everything and so on…
I really enjoyed Lou, too, she was so much stronger than she thought she was, and I’m so glad Will was the catalyst for her to realize how amazing she was.
Great review 🙂
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Exactly! I think that everyone needs to respect someone’s choice. No matter how much it hurts.
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Love that this brought out so much emotion in you!!
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Me too. I don’t think I’ve cried this much since I read Amy Harmon’s The Law of Moses and The Song of David.
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I want to read this soon, so I just skimmed, great to hear it is a crack you open story and you connected with Lou
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I hope you love it!
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Awesome review Lekeisha! I’ve been hearing such Great things about this. I’m definitely adding it to my must reads list.
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I really hope you love it as much as I do!
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LEKEISHA I CAN’T. I saw the movie trailer and was crying, I don’t want to lose my soul to this book. I’m so interested (in afraid) of all the relationships in this book. You’ll have to hold me afterwards.
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Amber, it’s so heart wrenching, but so very worth the read. I am going to be bawling at the theater. Maybe we can Skype afterwards and console each other. LOL
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I think that’s gonna be necessary. 😭
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And yet another review for this book that sings its praises–and I still haven’t read it. I need the feelings this book is giving. I’m going to read it soon–I hope!
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Tissues, Jazmen. Tissues.
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One of my friends was recently going on about this book and how it tore her apart but she loved it. I haven’t really had an urge to read it but sometimes a really emotional book is good. Sort of releasing I guess. I’ll keep this one in mind!
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Yes, it really is a great read even when you feel like your heart is cracking open.
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Glad you liked it! Yeah, I was sobbing for like 30 minutes at the end of this book and if I recall, I think I threw the book down lol. I love books that can make me feel like that though. Which is why it’s one of my faves
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I even put it on my reread shelf. WTF is wrong with me?!!
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Omg! I just posted my review for this today too!! I’m so glad to see that you liked this one as well. I was also a mess afterwards and needed lots of tissues. Haha! Also, I loved Lou! She was so hilarious and quirky! I can’t wait for the movie.
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Oh, also I forgot to say that I would have made the same choice as well.
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I have reiterated that fact to my siblings many times.
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Man, and Emilia Clark is playing her. I just know the movie will be good. 2 of my fave actors playing the lead roles? Hell yes!
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You’ve said only what I’ve been thinking each time I consider picking up this book. It definitely has the feel of a book that will leave me a different person from before and after it. But I will read it for all my little fears of it.
Nice review, Lekeisha!
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I do hope you give it a try Sophia. I have been having heart palpitations ever since. No lie. I may need to go see my Dr.
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I definitely want to read this one. I was going to read One Plus One by her, but then, I saw this one is will be in theaters this year so I switched gears. Excellent review. I may make this my contemporary read for March rather than A Pound of Flesh.
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Can’t wait to read your review. APoF is on my wish list. I have read it as a fanfic, but I want to read the new version.
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I have this book but I haven’t read it yet. I want to do so before I see the movie although I’m pretty sure it is going to tear me apart seeing as everyone who has read this who has been torn apart by it! I’m nervous about it but I think it will be okay?
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It will be okay, but you will definitely cry.
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Great review! This is a book that I know I should read. I have a feeling that it will make me cry and I hate it when I cry. My daughter read it a couple of weeks ago and I almost picked it up while we had the library copy here. I will try to get to it sometime this year. I will need to stock up on tissues first.
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Yes, tissues are a must.
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Great review, Lekeisha! This is one of those books that I’ve wanted to read but honestly I’m just too scared… I’ve read a few books that completely destroyed me and I know this one will make that list if I ever get up the nerve to read it.
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The thing is….. I am so sad and crying, but I have it on my reread shelf. Masochist is not an appropiate word to describe me. Hard-headed, maybe.
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Ahhh! I want to read this one, but I’m also utterly terrified because I know it’s going to be difficult to read because of all the emotions. I love it when I’m able to connect with a character like you did with Lou. It’s a difficult book it seems, and I’ve been trying to get Nereyda to read it with me but she won’t cave!
Lovely review!
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I hope you guys give it a go one day. Man….this one tore me up.
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