Me Before You
⭐⭐⭐⭐
DRAMA · ROMANCE
A Love Story That Breaks and Rebuilds You
Few books have left me emotionally gutted in the best possible way, and Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You is high on that list. It is not just a love story (though it certainly is one). It’s a layered, thought-provoking novel that grapples with life, autonomy, and what it means to live, even when life no longer looks the way it used to.
Moyes doesn’t just deliver a romance; she gives us a profoundly human story that confronts difficult moral questions with empathy. Will’s choice forces Lou (and the reader) to think hard about quality of life, love, and whether loving someone means supporting their right to choose, even if that choice breaks your heart.
Lou’s character arc is beautifully drawn. Watching her step out of her comfort zone and slowly realize her potential is both satisfying and inspirational. Her journey made me reflect on my comfort zones. The routines I stick to and the fears I let hold me back. Lou reminds us that growth doesn’t require grand gestures. Sometimes it starts with saying yes to something unfamiliar or daring to believe you’re capable of more. She’s the kind of protagonist who feels like a friend; flawed, relatable, and completely lovable.
Will, on the other hand, is sharp, stubborn, and charismatic. His complexity is what makes the story so heartbreaking. You can both disagree with his decision and understand it, which is part of the emotional power of the book.
Me Before You is the kind of book you will want to talk about after finishing. Whether you agree with Will’s decision or not, the novel challenges you to consider perspectives beyond your own. It is emotionally rich and morally complex, and yes, it will probably make you cry, but not without leaving something meaningful in its wake.
If you’re looking for a novel that will make you feel deeply and think even more deeply, this one is worth your time.
The plot
They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .
Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.
Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.
A Love Story for this generation and perfect for fans of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?
If you liked Me Before You, look at these novels, you will most likely fall in love with them too.
