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

Apr 29, 2014 Diana S rated it really liked it

Shelves: 52-weeks-52-books-2014, read-in-2014, remember-2014

Needed: A new box of Tissues
You will definitely be on an emotional roller coaster ride with this book! One minute, you'll find your heart-strings being pulled and then your heart breaking.:S
This is no typical romance. Louise & Will are memorable! A Great Story! A Good Read! ...more

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Dec 08, 2014 Anita Reads rated it really liked it

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary, read-2015

Wow - What a book.
It definitely makes one think.
I really liked the book. The writing style was simple and easy. The topic, however, was very dark and heavy.
The reason it doesn't get 5 stars from me, is because it at times was a little slow.

Now off to find something light and breezy. ...more

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Jan 09, 2016 Yvonne rated it it was ok

Shelves: tearjerker, disability

2.5 Stars If you're disabled or know someone who is you'll find it hard to cheer and gush over this particular tragi-porn especially as the author seems to have an agenda ( see Dignitas) While it's true that being handicapped, especially later in life, can lead to depression & suicidal thoughts, some authors are very quick to plumb this particular well for 'ugly tears.'

While obviously researched this author goes to the default of life is extremely miserable for the disabled, sometimes even to t 2.5 Stars If you're disabled or know someone who is you'll find it hard to cheer and gush over this particular tragi-porn especially as the author seems to have an agenda ( see Dignitas) While it's true that being handicapped, especially later in life, can lead to depression & suicidal thoughts, some authors are very quick to plumb this particular well for 'ugly tears.'

While obviously researched this author goes to the default of life is extremely miserable for the disabled, sometimes even to the point of inaccuracy. Will Traynor is described specifically as a c5-c6 quad which actually means he has some functionality in his arms, head and neck and with rehab would be able to do things like feed himself, transfer, some independent movement and even drive in an adapted vehicle. You wouldn't know it from the description in this book of Will being able to do absolutely nothing for himself and having to be fed by hand for instance.

(here's a youtube video of a c5-c6 quad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1xOp... and of him driving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwIuX... )

The author also has a couple of ludicrous scenes that seems to be all about piling on--(view spoiler)

The story itself while well written is somewhat predictable and a little bit sexist. It's Will who gets Lou to grow and change from the ditzy and not as smart Bridget Jones type into a woman of new ambition and potential (there's a pygmalion vibe to this). Yet Will never really experience the same growth. Lou's love and help doesn't really change Will even though he obviously needed to.

Despite the fact that Will is described as highly intelligent and wealthy (of course) yet he only finds out about using voice recognition on the computer through Lou. That's of course laughable as he would have been given all kinds of resources after his injury. It makes you wonder if Will even had rehab. In addition, there's absolutely no reason he would have lost his job as he's still the same intelligent person he was prior to the injury. But it's all about the piling on to get to the ending.

I could say more but in the end this is really a chick lit tearjerker (the love story part seems one sided) It's shallow but works on some level if you don't look at it too deeply.

...more

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Aug 05, 2018 Shannon rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, audiobooks, library-reading-challenges

Morals of this story:
1. Your life has less value if you can't be rich, successful, and athletic.
2. You have no right to question someone else's choices, no matter how much those choices hurt the people who care about him.

Yes, I know I'm simplifying a bit, especially with #1, but I just can't support the basic premises of this book. Life doesn't always go as planned. Life is often painful. But it is still a priceless commodity. ...more

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Apr 16, 2018 🐉 PrinZessBookDragon 👑🌶️ rated it really liked it

this was a good book and had a great plot. i didn't care for the pace... moved from the hardback to the audiobook and that helped to get through it a bit faster. Moyes is however a great writer, i found myself easily relating to how Will felt being trapped in his wheelchair and being limited in his activities.
i hate hate hated the way this story ended....it was so sad.
i probably won't be reading the rest of the series. ...more

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Aug 12, 2013 Colleen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, drama

The story was very engaging and I enjoyed the narration style. I did feel the connection and friendship built between the characters (I did NOT feel the romance really was going anywhere), yet didn't get tearful at the ending. In fact, it seemed a peaceful ending to me.

I find it interesting that the POV is mostly Louisa Clark, who is not entirely endearing. There a few other voices now and then, Camilla, Steven, Trina, Nathan -- but never the man who is making the choice. Will's never given a vo ...more

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Dec 25, 2013 Kaitlin rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2014

A stilted, unlikely story with stick-figure characters but a unique premise. I found the ending predictable and the love story thin.

I would qualify this as chick lit with a euthanasia twist.

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