Me Before You (Me Before You #1) by Jojo Moyes- Restarting May 3rd 2021

[Tessa]

Noella wrote: "Oh wow... It's that bad?! I have many hours left since I'm quite a slow reader :O"
Same. I got her latest book from a friend but I gave it back to her with a determined shake of my head. She asked no questions XD.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

I think I have another of hers somewhere. don't think i want to read it now.

[Noella]

Chapter 13 to 16
(view spoiler)[I see a formula developing for the chapters. Sometimes there's a story Lou tells at the beginning. It gets cut short to talk about the present. Then the chapter ends with the continuation of that story. It forces me a finish a chapter so I don't get lost when coming back to the book. The stories aren't particularly interesting though. I'm more into what's happening at the 'present time'. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

I didn't think the stories were that interesting either. Some of them got cut short as well and then finished at a later time.

[Noella]

Chapter 16
(view spoiler)[ geez can Patrick get out of the picture already? He seems to only care about Lou when he loses control over/possession of her. He doesn't cherish her but won't let anyone else get close. It's getting worse now he's saying she can move in with him? And only when she brought the thing about being able to stay at Will's up. What a cow. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Patrick is awful. i thought she should dump him from the moment he first turned up.

[Noella]

Chapter 20
(view spoiler)[I'm not liking that Lou told Patrick about Will committing suicide. I don't trust him with that information! Instead of comforting her or showing understanding he F%^&ing runs away, literally. Argh! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Patrick is just rubbish. why she has been with him for 7 years is beyond me.

[Noella]

Chapter 23
(view spoiler)[Oh dear what a depressing chapter :( I thought things were turning up for the better. My heart shattered when Will told Lou her love wasn't enough. The least he should have done was put himself in her shoes. She'd be in horrible emotional pain if he ended he committed suicide. All this time Lou has thought up of so many activities, putting herself in his shoes and having her life revolve around him... I hope he decides to stay but I'm guessing he doesn't. He's made her realise she should expand her horizons and make something of her life and my guess is that's how the novel's going to end. I don't know how I'll feel about that. I have to read on and see... (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

I thought that was awful. (view spoiler)[ teling her that her love isn't enough, what a way to make someone feel worthless :( (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

Tessa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Tessa wrote: "Sarah I wanted to ask you about the ending:
"

they went on holiday together, and she did kiss him once, and he kissed her back. She then told him that she loved him, a..."

(view spoiler)[I don't think the only way he changed her was leaving her loads of money. He opened up her small town views and encouraged her to dream a little and avoid being stuck in a position where nothing ever changed. I think if she'd never met him. She'd be taking care of her parents her whole life and stuck with that asshole boyfriend and being forced to be what everyone wanted/needed.
(hide spoiler)]

Ending thoughts(view spoiler)[
I feel so hollow after finishing this book. I found it hard to breathe while reading the last few chapters. I guess I knew it that Will would go on with the suicide.
I found it weird that Nathan dropped off the face of the Earth? Like he's the only other one taking care of Will but he wasn't invited/present at the Swiss clinic? I freaking knew Patrick would go and do something ridiculous and make Lou's life more of a hell than it already was. Cold-hearted b$%tard. (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

I need to read something cheerful pronto. So down at the moment :'(

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Yep. Patrick was a selfish *****, and I couldn't quite believe the way (view spoiler)[ Will thought that dying was better than having Lou's love. generally not a very nice story really. he died, and she ended up alone :( (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

But(view spoiler)[ Will did say he didn't want to tie her down and she deserved someone who could do things for her that he couldn't. I think he cares for her and loves her but Life is bigger than love?
Since he used to be someone radically different, it's really hard to get his head around living the rest of his days with someone to do everything for him and the feeling constantly useless and frustrated. Love doesn't change this fact that every single day he feels helpless and a burden...

I think it's a really hard type of story to write. It moved me and made me look at both sides of why someone would want to end their life in such a situation rather than live (not really feeling like they're living though) and why their loved ones would keep them from choosing that path. The ending was hopeful for Lou. She's a changed woman for sure after meeting Will. (hide spoiler)]

[Tessa]

Is this quote in the book?
"You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible."
Just saw this review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... It made me wonder how she totally missed the point with the ending of this book.

@Noella: how about joining us for How to save a life: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... [I'm hoping the title is not misleading XD]

Also, the wicked and the just is pretty fun :) . For a laugh out loud type of book I recommend "Fat kid rules the world". I really like dramatic books so there's not much more I can do in the other department ^^.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

That is a quote from the book. i think its in the letter from will to lou at the end.

[Tessa]

Sarah wrote: "That is a quote from the book. i think its in the letter from will to lou at the end."
Wow...*snorts*
This book is incredible, the characters are incredible. A person deciding not to do his best with his life is telling someone else that. Talk about hypocrisy.

[Noella]

It was actually near the middle where he said he couldn't bear the thought of her staying around in the same town forever because she was too interesting and hadn't ever gotten on a plane and explored the world.

Hmm.. if you read just snippets of the quotes, it's out of context in my opinion. Before his accident he tried many things and gained all these experiences, he found it a shame that Lou in her 26 years didn't. He couldn't do much with his situation after the accident, other than having someone taking care of him for the rest of his life so he decided to end it because it's painful having those thoughts every single day about being a burden and what he could've been doing if he didn't get into that accident ...

[Noella]

Tessa wrote: "Is this quote in the book?
"You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible."
Just saw this review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... It made..."
I'll try to fit this in my reading schedule if I can. It sounds sad though. Will it cheer me up? I'm reading Supernaturally by Kiersten White and the main character who's funny hasn't been able to cheer me up yet. :*(

[Tessa]

Ok, I thought Supernaturally was really funny, in a cute sort of way. I'm not sure about How to save a life, just 3 chapters in, but it should at least end on a cheerful note, right? XD At least no one dies at the end [I hope so].

"Fat kid rules the world" - this is laugh out loud material. :)

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Supernaturally is really good ☺

[Tessa]

Reading Between Shades of Gray right now. This story has nothing on the dramatic compared to that one.
*gets a bucket to cry in*

[Sarah Elizabeth]

i think that's the one that made abbie cry!

[Tessa]

Sarah wrote: "i think that's the one that made abbie cry!"
It's super sad, but not in a corny-cheesy way like this one.

[Noella]

Have you guys heard of The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen? I want to read that sometime.

[Noella]

Tessa wrote: "Reading Between Shades of Gray right now. This story has nothing on the dramatic compared to that one.
*gets a bucket to cry in*"

Oh dear, how many pages in ?

[Tessa]

Around half. Why? Wanna join me? XD
I can wait for you. Reading 4 books right now and I juggle with them depending on the "feels" XD.

[Noella]

Tessa wrote: "Around half. Why? Wanna join me? XD
I can wait for you. Reading 4 books right now and I juggle with them depending on the "feels" XD."

Just wondering what section of the book you started getting tears :O Maybe I'll try get it this weekend.

[Tessa]

Look at my reading stats: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I started crying from ch 1. Let me know if you will :) .

[Neha]

Is this book gonna have a buddy read at June 9th??

[Sarah Elizabeth]

There is planned for June, I'm not sure of the date. I'll check ☺e

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Yep, it's on the 9th, Ill change the date on the thread ☺

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting June 9th 2014. Happy Reading ☺

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[Neha]

Well I'm in!

[Tati]

I have started this, and while it seems a bit obvious, it's still interesting!

[Tati]

I've finished it and, well, it wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be.

(view spoiler)[ I was not expecting him to actually go to Dignitas, but then again, I think I would too, if I were a quad. Patrick was an awful person, just awful... (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting September 13th 2014. Happy Reading ☺

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[Abi]

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Reading from the 16th of September 2015

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[Abby]

Joining for the 16th. :)

[Jasmine]

Just finished reading this yesterday. Can't wait to discuss it with you for the buddy-read.

[Mei]

I'm joining this read :)

[Nur Raihan]

yay!! the more, the merrier :)

[Mei]

STARTED :)

Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[It's been a while since I last read an adult book, and this one really had the air of being one, with the tone and writing.

Well... this is going to be a VERY challenging romance to be built up, with Will being such an arse. Eh... I don't even know what's with Patrick and Lou anyway. I get they're adults and have been together for a long time, but I just haven't seen any affection between them. Interested to learn more backstory of Will though. I won't probably read about it soon. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[Oh my... I'm getting teary now. All those medications and hospital visits and other procedures that needs to be done carefully and painstakingly... I can't imagine keeping track of them. I feel awful for him for everything he's missing. Is he really not going to walk, EVER?

I get what Georgina's saying, but I fail to agree with her. Of course their parents love him, even if he's like that. What an insensitive person. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[What an EFFECTIVE POV! I knew for sure that the narrator is really a mother. I could really feel the pain through her eyes. I can't imagine how long it stuck in her mind Will's attempts to kill himself and if he'll do it again. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[OH MY.. IT REALLY IS TRUE AND REAL. Six months? I could not bear that as a parent to even 'participate' in my own child's death! This is horrible. But well... what can they do, if Will wants it so badly. :( He'll change his mind! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[Two months into the job and Louisa is as determined as a family member. What a good heart. I'm psyched to see how she can make Will agree, and the future 'adventures' of course. (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[Will's probably just bitter about having someone take care of him. He'll warm up to Louisa. And she'd better not quit! (hide spoiler)]

[Mei]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[Ha! Patrick might phrase it meanly like, "Me? Jealous of a cripple?", but it's true. He wasn't just jealous because of the intimacy of Lou taking care of him. He was jealous because he was the new guy in the Clark home, and everyone wanted to talk TO and ABOUT him. He misses the spotlight, perhaps. This is probably the first time they actually acknowledged their relationship affectionately. That kiss? It was meant for, back-off she's my girlfriend. Ha ha, really. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16: (view spoiler)[Ugh, there's just only a few weeks left. I will probably find it difficult, too, to think of ideas to get Will out, and it should be a success. I love Lou's efforts and her determination, but in the end, it's always Will who will decide for himself. Happy for maintenance job, though. I can imagine their family high in spirits :) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[HA! THERE IT IS!!! THE CONFESSION! AT THE 70% MARK! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[Well, that was sweet and thoughtful of Patrick. I wouldn't have pegged him as that kind of guy. But I realize where he's getting at, not allowing Lou to go to that holiday. It really is bothering, even if it's to change Will's idea of life. (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

This book is slower than I expected. There's just so much to take in.

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[Interesting to read from Camilla's POV. Will's wishes must really take a toll on her. I can see why she's hovering all the time. (hide spoiler)]

[Jasmine]

Abby wrote: "This book is slower than I expected. There's just so much to take in.

Chapter 8: [spoilers removed]"

It's pretty slow-paced at first but it's getting so much better afterwards! Just wait until Lou and Will improved their development tremendously and you'll realize how amazing the story is. :D And yes, (view spoiler)[I was surprised to know what Camilla thought all the time in that chapter. No wonder she worried a lot. (hide spoiler)]

[Mei]

Chapter 21: (view spoiler)[Even though I don't exactly dislike Patrick, but I don't like him either, what a waste of relationship and investment though.

It's also nice seeing this occasional POVs from the other characters. (hide spoiler)]

I could not even collect my thoughts after this chapter! It's just really hard to take my eyes off every single page!!!

That ending... I can't wait to discuss it with you guys. :)

[Jasmine]

Mei wrote: "Chapter 21: Even though I don't exactly dislike Patrick, but I don't like him either, what a waste of relationship and investment though.

It's also nice seeing this occasional POVs from the other ..."

I don't like Patrick at all. I mean, he was jealous of Will just because Lou spent more time with him(but that was her JOB, man) and he only cared about his workout progress instead of her!

[Abby]

Jasmine wrote: "It's pretty slow-paced at first but it's getting so much better afterwards! Just wait until Lou and Will improved their development tremendously and you'll realize how amazing the story is. :D And yes, (view spoiler) "

By no means does slow equal boring. It's just deeper than other novels, therefore I need to read it at a slower pace to take everything in. It's certainly a beautifully written book.