Me Before You (Me Before You, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jul 20, 2014 ~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: chick-lit, romance, heartbreaking, the-review-challenge

5 totally heart-wrenching, teary stars!!!!!

"Me Before You" swallowed me whole, got me drenched with my own tears, shattered me into tiny pieces. Yes, I very well expected this. One of my friends recommended this book to me when I call her up as I wanted to bawl and rant about TFIOS. She also said, "It will break your heart." But could that stop me? Have you been in situations when you know doing something will hurt you tremendously, but you couldn't just wave it away? Well, it was one such m 5 totally heart-wrenching, teary stars!!!!!

"Me Before You" swallowed me whole, got me drenched with my own tears, shattered me into tiny pieces. Yes, I very well expected this. One of my friends recommended this book to me when I call her up as I wanted to bawl and rant about TFIOS. She also said, "It will break your heart." But could that stop me? Have you been in situations when you know doing something will hurt you tremendously, but you couldn't just wave it away? Well, it was one such moment when I finally decided to read it.

Will Traynor, rich son of a well-to-do family, has been a quadriplegic ever since an accident changed his once-happening life to merely nothing. Louisa Clark, looking desperately for a job to sustain her family, is appointed as his carer, to do all the things that he couldn't quite do by himself, being totally paralysed from the part below his chest. Will is cranky, vile, rude to her, but she holds onto her job.
And one day, she learns of his intentions. He doesn't wish to live.

So all that Lou has is 6 months to make him come out of that enclosed space and make him realise that his life could actually be what he restricted himself to believe.

When you are sad, you are surrounded by this sudden urge to blame someone, to hold someone responsible for the sadness you are in. Who could you blame in this story?
Will, the quad, who was so stubborn and adamant on his decision to stop living this life? One might argue that he was being selfish about dying and giving pain to all those who loved him. But then, aren't you being selfish for wanting him to live this totally sucked-up life? A life where he can't even get up on his own, where he can't even use his hands and legs for the minimal reason possible? Did you ever try putting yourself in his shoes? No. None of us would trade anything to ever live the life which he has got himself stuck in.

Then would you blame Lou? No, you can't. How can you watch someone slowly ebb away in front of your eyes, especially when that someone is the one you love so much? It was all evident from the very beginning. But she had to do something. Anything to make him live, anything to keep that tiny bubble of hope alive with which she woke up every morning. Its natural, isn't it? I totally empathize with her. The agony, the feeling of having failed- everything is so justifiable.

I cried a shitty lot. Those last few pages were too sad. It was my first Jojo Moyes book and I have to say, she is an excellent writer. This book is such an avalanche of emotions; you laugh, you cry, your heart breaks apart, but you can't break the spell it creates. In fact, you come back for more.

I recommend this to every romanceholic. Its so not one of those sappy love stories. Its a story of hope, and trying to keep it alive. Its not the death of the person that makes you sad, but the death of that hope which you nurtured so tenderly, that hurts.

5 favorite stars for me.
...more

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Aug 25, 2017 Cecily Black rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audible

Omg this book had me in tears. I waited to see the movie that was made for this novel because I didn't want to ruin it and I am so glad that was the road I chose. Such an intense discussion to have with your readers and with such hard hitting subject matter. I see all sides of this and how each person is affected differently. Such a rollercoaster of emotions and I am just left broken hearted but touched at the same time.
Great Read. ...more

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Sep 08, 2014 JoAnne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: womens-fiction, set-in-england

Louisa has worked at a restaurant for over 6 years. Her boss tells her he is going back to Australia and closes the restaurant without any notice. He gives her three months severance. She goes to the job center and tries a bunch of crappy jobs. They will send her on one more interview - as a caretaker of a man in a wheelchair. She knows she won't get the job but she needs it for her family. Her mother takes care of her preschool age nephew and her grandfather who had a stroke. Her sister works a ...more

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May 01, 2015 Karen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

I usually write my own review before I read anyone else's, but this time I read some of the other reviews and Q&A's first. I was surprised by both the oceans of tears that have been shed over this book and by the extremely strong opinions some have about Will's ultimate decision. I didn't cry buckets of tears over this book - no tears at all, in fact. I did listen to it while driving, so probably best I wasn't sobbing. And Will's decision didn't offend me in the least. I thought Moyes built an e ...more

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Aug 07, 2014 Sara Akers rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 17, 2015 Lindsey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mom-book-club

I was hesitant to pick up this book since it wasn't my usual historical fiction, but it was recommended to me so I gave it a try. It started out slow for me, but once I got caught up in the story I was hooked. I didn't put this down all day until I was done-needed quite a few tissues at the end. I'm glad I didn't dismiss this and I will be looking for more from this author. ...more

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