Me Before You

When I first started reading this book by Jojo Moyes, I wasn't expecting much, but in a few pages it made me change my mind, and I got completely into the story.

This is the tale of Lou, whom after losing her job has no other choice but to work for the richest family in her town. She was someone I could relate to, someone who didn't really know what she wanted out of life and just kept going through the motions... until she meets Will Traynor.

Will was a successful businessman, but accidents happen and he was left as a quadraplegic after getting hit by a car. Now he is in the care of his family, and as it happens, in the care of Lou, who is hired to keep him company and make his life easier.

The two are complete opposites. On one hand is Will, who is a driven person but without the capacity to act and do what he wants; on the other is Lou, who has no idea of what to do with her life, even when she is able to move and do as she likes. At the beginning their relationship is quite difficult, but soon they start talking and improving each other's life.

(Coming up next: HUGE SPOILER ALERT)

That is, until Lou discovers the real purpose of why she was hired: to keep a suicide watch on Will, who tried to take his own life before she came to his life. Not only that, but he gave an ultimatum to his mom: in six months time he will go to a clinic and request assisted suicide. Everything is set, and now Lou has a purpose: to change Will's mind.

In the end, they fall in love, but that isn't enough for Will, who wants Lou to have the full life and love experience she deserves, and not what he can give or offer her. Lou is devastated, but after getting to know Will, her whole outlook in life is changed and now she will take every possibility there is.

Anyway, I really liked this book because it tackles a serious issue in an understanding manner. Yes, it has romance on it, but it goes beyond that. And it opens up discussion for other subjects, like who is to say what is right or wrong? Should a person with this kind of trauma decide on wether to keep on living? What can we, as external observers, do to help? It really was a book that gave me a lot to think about.

So, read it! You won't be disappointed. (Plus: I discovered yesterday that it is being made into a movie starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, yay!)