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

[Luckyreadingreviews]

Prologue - (view spoiler)[Pouting is sort of/kind of cute. Only use it when things don't go your way. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1 - (view spoiler)[This girl likes numbers or something, what wit knowing how many steps from your house to your job. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2 - (view spoiler)[ Does Mrs. Traynor have to be kind of snobbish? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[ I love Nathan for where comes from. Why? Because Im from New Zealand, Auckland (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[ Will instantly hates Louisa, Why? I think she is a very entertaining character, I like her very much (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 - (view spoiler)[I guess it was big of Alicia and Rupert to tell Will, But i thought Rupert was an idiot for saying what he said they way he said it. Needs a good punch to the throat (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 - (view spoiler)[ Patrick is a fitness freak (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 - (view spoiler)[Mrs. Traynor scares me sometimes I swear (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 - (view spoiler)[ Lou cannot sing at all she shouldn't quit her day time job just yet (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 - (view spoiler)[ She looks absolutely amazing in the dress. Im really trying to picture in my head now and I think she looks great (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 - (view spoiler)[Lou's parents are wonderful when they are not worrying about money. The way the welcomed Will was amazing. But many her reaction to Will's gift was something else and I bet no-one expected her to have that kind of reaction to the gift. cause I sure didn't (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 - (view spoiler)[I like how he is slowly changing her life and making her become a new person before our eyes all because of him. I am really amazed with the progression of there friendship and Im really amazed at how well the book really is. We are going to shed some more tears guys. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Chapter 25: (view spoiler)[ I knew he wasn't going to change his mind because he really doesn't have anything to live for. However, I love how Louisa kept trying for those few months and got to see the real him. He changed her life, and that the best thing a person can do for someone else. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Ending Thoughts: (view spoiler)[ I cried liked a baby. That letter was the best thing Will did for Louisa. I think he showed her how to live, and in return, she showed him what it means to be yourself. I love Will even though he made this decision, and Louisa for sticking by him. I thought their journey in this book was hard yet beautiful. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

26%
(view spoiler)[ crushing my soul right here. 6mth sister. you gotta step up your game! (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

51%
(view spoiler)[ you love her... he cares so much for her. i just want to cry. the chemistry is so good! (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

Tattoo!
(view spoiler)[ OMGEEE I forgot about the tattoos! Best Before! They better put that in the movie or i will write a bad review! (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

Ending Thoughts
(view spoiler)[ Sigh. This book will forever crush my soul. I knew what was coming and i still was upset! such a cute read! love it. (hide spoiler)]

[Michaela]

Me and Yannie are starting today!

[Michaela]

Jumping right in on this - chapter 17
(view spoiler)[
Even though I am biffurcated between agreeing with Will that he can't stand his life anymore and thinking that he should fight till the end I still love him heaps! I am just in love with his character! The way he and Louisa have changed throughout the first half of the book is amazing! Luisa has made him think in a different way, see things that he wasn't paying attention to before.. this is pure love!
One thing I can not understand is why Lu keeps on staying with that Patrick guy, it's not like everyone can't see that she is so in love with Will, she basically can't see or think of anything else.. Will is good for her and she is good for him.. Why is it always so hard in life?
(hide spoiler)]
I am in love already! ♡

[Queenie]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[I really enjoy reading this book, I absolutely adore Lou, I like the fact that she enjoys living simply, she says she's "an ordinary girl, leading an ordinary life", she doesn't wanna change for anyone and that's great. I really like the chemistry between Lou and Will, I could really see the evolution in their relationship (If I can say). I think Will realized that his life might still be worth living while getting to know Lou, he probably didn't think that he could still get attached to people and even enjoy going out for picnics or concerts, Lou made him realized that him being paraplegic didn't mean that his life had to stop.
I totaly agree with you Mickey, I really don't understand why she's still with Patrick. I mean he was so rude to Will at her birthday dinner, he only wanted her to move in with him because he was jealous of her spending week-ends at Will's place and because they've been together for 7 years so that seemed like the right thing to do and he only seem to care about his running... He doesn't even put an effort in their relationship, he just taking it for granted!
She shares things with Will -like the pair of tights with black & yellow stripes- that she doesn't share with her BF, he didn't even understand the all Bee tights thing. And now that she shared her story about what happened in the maze with Will, their relationship are just gonna get even stronger. I'm so glad she trusted Will enough to tell him, and his words "No. They were responsible" were just the right thing to say <3. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting June 29th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Helen 2.0]

I'm in :)

[Helen 2.0]

I started just now so you're ahead of me :) I was reading another book outside and it slowly got too dark

[Helen 2.0]

Chapters 1-5: (view spoiler)[ Watching Will warm up to Lou has been great so far! The best part is the realistic characters. They're all relatable. Even though obviously I don't know what someone like Will goes through every day, I understand his reactions, they feel natural. He's angry and closed himself away as a defense against the pity and helplessness he has to deal with. I think he opens up to Lou because she treats him like a regular person, not an unpredictable, broken victim.

I'm always skeptical about first person narration - I think it limits the story and forces the reader to see things the narrator's way. I like to make my own opinion without the main character coloring it too much.
However, in this case I think first person narration works all right because it's clear what Lou feels about the stuff she's narrating, so I can look around her bias to form my own conclusions. For example, even though Lou hated Will in the beginning I still liked him without her opinion interfering there :) (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Cam wrote: "Finally had some free time to read! ❤
Chapter 1: [spoilers removed]"

Cam wrote: "Chapter 4: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I know right, there is ZERO chemistry between Lou and Patrick. I think they're just meant to break up asap. That "you can pay me back" part actually made me gape at my Kindle - how did Lou put up with this snob for seven years? She could do so much better!
I think her family's funny though. I get that good old European tough love from my family too lol! Besides I like that Lou can take a joke at her expense. She really needs that skill when working with Will. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Cam wrote: "Chapter 5: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ You think she might have dropped food on his lap just to, you know, test for a reaction down there? LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

You're right, these chapters are long. We're reading over 100 pages a day even though it's only 5 chapters.
I had fun reading today because a huge thunderstorm (lightning, flooding, hail, the works) hit us this evening and I sat on the covered porch with my dog and read while the whole world came down around us! That was exciting.

Chapters 5-10: (view spoiler)[I had no idea that euthanasia was legal in Great Britain. I ought to have known that because I once had to debate the moral ramifications of euthanasia for a class I was taking - oops! I agree with you that it's understandable Will would choose it. The life he has now doesn't even really qualify as living; he's more or less just existing in the house. BUT, did he want to die so badly that he methodically ripped open his wrists on a rusty nail? I didn't expect that.

The chemistry between Lou and Will definitely there, but for now it's pretty understated. I like that neither of them has romantic feelings just yet. They're building up a relationship from less than nothing, where neither of them was especially willing have any relationship from the beginning. Lou's quest to save Will shows she cares for him, and the shaving scene shows that she feels an attraction too. That's the start of something great there! (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapters 10-15: (view spoiler)[ I can so relate to Lou fighting with her sister! My brother and I were at each other's throats 24/7 when we still lived together. I really love how realistic Lou is!

I'm conflicted about the whole euthanasia issue. I'm all for free choice and I think people should be allowed to die peacefully if there's no other option for them. But I don't want Will to die :'( *sob*
(hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 17: (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Will's mom got mad at Lou for having a personal life outside of Will!
I mean she has a tiny bit of a point - Lou chose a really bad time Will-wise to move in with Patrick.
But Mrs Traynor has no right to forbid Lou from having a life apart from work. Lou has done everything she can to help Will.

Also, Will's reaction to Lou and Patrick totally proves he's got a thing for her. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Chapters 17-20 (view spoiler)[ I guess we needed a viewpoint apart from Lou and Will (in this case Nathan) to demonstrate how obviously Lou & Will are falling in love.

I really really really hope Will agrees to Lou's trip idea in California. Also I'm glad things are basically over between her and Patrick. About time. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

CAM ♔ wrote: "Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapters 10-15: I can so relate to Lou fighting with her sister! My brother and I were at each other's throats 24/7 when we still lived together. I really love how realistic Lou i..."

(view spoiler)[ My mom cried like a baby when she finished the book but wouldn't tell me anything about the ending. I REALLY HOPE THAT DOESNT MEAN WILL'S GONNA DIE (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Lagging behind a bit...

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[ I was absolutely sure that pneumonia was going to kill him. Damn you Jojo Moyes for freaking me out like that. (hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

Done. (view spoiler)[ I cried like a baby. I couldn't help it. The scene with Will and Lou lying on the bed was heartbreaking.


The ending wasn't all sad though. I'm glad that Lou finally found the motivation to live her life the way she was meant to, with Will enabling her to study and follow her passions. I hope she becomes a world-class seamstress or fashion designer.

I can't believe Lou's mom reacted the way she did to Will's choice and Lou going to Switzerland. She was totally blind to how difficult it was for Lou to watch Will die. Josie was acting like Lou wanted Will to die. So insensitive.

(hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

It was great reading this with you Cam :D

Apparently there's a sequel? How is that even possible?


By the way, what do you think the title Me Before You was referring to?
(view spoiler)[ My original theory was that it was referring to Will dying before Lou. He's putting his needs before her grief, him before her.
Then again, Will never narrates so we never hear from him in first person. That makes me think he's not the "Me" in the title, but rather the "You".
Any thoughts?
(hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

CAM ♔ wrote: "Helen 2.0 wrote: "It was great reading this with you Cam :D

Apparently there's a sequel? How is that even possible?


By the way, what do you think the title Me Befor..."

Oh that's an interesting theory! I like that.
I think After You is about Will's daughter....?

[T.J.]

I just noticed that you are reading this book. I need to read it for my book club. Just starting now...

[T.J.]

Chapter 7 (30%)
(view spoiler)[
Oh, I am not ready to have a POV change... At 30%? I was enjoying the story as it was from Lu's POV. Hmmm... well, let's see...
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapters 1-5:"
(view spoiler)[

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Watching Will warm up to Lou has been great so far! The best part is the realistic characters. They're all relatable. Even though obviously I don't know what someone like Will goes through every day, I understand his reactions, they feel natural. He's angry and closed himself away as a defense against the pity and helplessness he has to deal with. I think he opens up to Lou because she treats him like a regular person, not an unpredictable, broken victim.

Totally agree. I can feel for Will and I can understand his bitterness. I can't imagine what he is going through -- so young, and previously so active. I remember in the first chapter his vacation plans were all centered around "action." And now...

Lou is interesting, a bit insecure, but fun and amusing. I like watching Will warm to her...


Helen 2.0 wrote: "I'm always skeptical about first person narration - I think it limits the story and forces the reader to see things the narrator's way. I like to make my own opinion without the main character coloring it too much.
However, in this case I think first person narration works all right because it's clear what Lou feels about the stuff she's narrating, so I can look around her bias to form my own conclusions. For example, even though Lou hated Will in the beginning I still liked him without her opinion interfering there :)"

I totally agree with you here. I am also skeptical about first person, but I think Lou pull it off, until... the POV switches in Chapter 8, of which I don't see much point.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[
Okay, I don't see any point of having a chapter from Camilla's POV. She didn't tell us anything we don't already know, except perhaps that she was a loving mother once (maybe still is). But it's awkward and interrupts the flow of the story. Moreover, there is no sign to tell us that the POV has changed back to Lou in the next chapter -- it took me a moment to realize this and I had to go back.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 10 (38%)
(view spoiler)[
If something doesn't happen soon, I'm going to scream. I'm tired of the bickering between Lou and her sister. My time is too valuable...
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 11 (44%)
(view spoiler)[
At least Will has enough fight in him to be mad about people making decisions for him. That's a good sign, I think.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 13 (52%)
(view spoiler)[
Okay. I have to say I never cared much for Patrick, but I can add now, that I really don't like him. What a jerk.

I hope that Patrick soon has actual reason to be jealous of Lou and Will... ;)

Will and Lou have a wonderful dynamic -- of course I am rooting for them!

Will has come out of his shell quite a bit to be such a charmer to Lou's family -- that gives me hope.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

CAM ♔ wrote: "Chapter 9: [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
CAM ♔ wrote: "TREENA IS A GENIUS! This is going to be fun!!! *starting to imagine Lou and Will going out on dates* Haha!"

I was kind of hoping that Lou came up with this idea herself. It seems Lou has more of a stake in convincing Will to live as she has already befriended him (Treena doesn't even know him). Why does she need Treena to give her this idea? Maybe she's too busy feeling depressed and betrayed because she is emotionally involved?
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapters 5-10:"
(view spoiler)[

Helen 2.0 wrote: "Chapters 5-10: I had no idea that euthanasia was legal in Great Britain. I ought to have known that because I once had to debate the moral ramifications of euthanasia for a class I was taking - oops! I agree with you that it's understandable Will would choose it. The life he has now doesn't even really qualify as living; he's more or less just existing in the house. "

I had no idea that euthanasia was legal in GB either. I also understand that Will would consider this -- I don't know how I would react. I would hope that my human relationships would be enough to get me through and keep me wanting to live (even without an active life).

(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 20 (80%)
(view spoiler)[
Okay. I now really have a stake in Will and Lou's futures. I was always hoping that Will would find reason to live, but I was skeptical. After the wedding, and after Lou spilled her heart about her traumatic rape, however, I have a genuine hope for these two to find a future together. I'm worried that Will has other plans, however. I'm pretty sure he put Lou in his will, which is why the lawyer recognized her name when she told him. And getting Lou's father a job? That was so sweet of Will.

I'm glad Patrick's out of the picture. I can understand his jealousy about the vacation, but he has been so self-centered for so long, and to now come and try to hinder Lou from saving a man's life? That is just too selfish. He should offer to go with them if he really were committed to Lou.

I still don't like the occasional viewpoint change. I don't mind multiple points of view, but scattered chapters -- one for Camilla, one for Nathan, one for Steven? It doesn't seem necessary and seems a little contrived. As if we need someone to tell us that Will has developed feelings for Lou? As if we need someone to tell us that Lou is genuinely a good person? I would have preferred that these chapters were left out.
(hide spoiler)]

[Helen 2.0]

TJ wrote: "Chapter 20 (80%)

Okay. I now really have a stake in Will and Lou's futures. I was always hoping that Will would find reason to live, but I was skeptical. After the wedding, and after Lou spilled h..."

Glad you're really getting invested now :)

[T.J.]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
I'm not sure that I by the concept that all the while Lou thinks she's helping Will, it's actually Will helping Lou. I think it's more of a mutual helping each other type of a thing. But it's an interesting prospect. We don't actually get to see inside Will's head to see if he is just humoring and/or helping Lou or if there were ever a chance that she could have convinced him to live.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting August 25th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Abi]

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Reading from the 8th of January 2017

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[Tayla]

Anyone here?

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting February 3rd 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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[Bhavik (Semi Hiatus)]

yes..just few more days!!!

[Bhavik (Semi Hiatus)]

Gonna start soon :3

[Johanna]

Bhavik wrote: "Gonna start soon :3"

I'm going to start reading today!

[Bhavik (Semi Hiatus)]

Ooh enjoy! I will start in a day or two! :)

[Johanna]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Everything happens so slowly and there are a lot of seemingly unnecessary details. But it feels like the book is starting for real now!

Also, Patrick is seriously annoying, jeezy creezy! Please dump him already.
That sounded negative haha, but I do like her writing, and I'm looking forward to continue reading. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ I don't know what I think about this idea. It's sweet, but it sort of annoys me that she thinks she can just "save him". (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ Well, that was a disaster. I felt so bad while reading it. It's kind of sad that she put all this effort into it - but forgot to even ask Will what he likes and wants. I thought that Lou had learned to actually communicate with him, instead of just talk about him, but apparently not. (hide spoiler)]

General thoughts (I've read chapter 16): (view spoiler)[Patrick is annoying me more and more for every chapter. I laughed a couple times while reading about the birthday dinner, loved seeing him get jealous lol. Patrick is just so incredibly self-absorbed, and doesn't really care for Lou unless she does something he dislikes. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: D u m p h i m!!!

Lou's sister isn't exactly a relatable character either. I do like her mom lots though! She's so sweet, and I think she's depicted really nicely, especially her relationship with Thomas and how lost she seems after Katrina left.

Also, I would love if we would get to see more of Will's "bad days", in the beginning we got to read a lot about them but now, not so much. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ Lou getting out of her comfort zone, wohoo! I love it. The tattoo sounds nice too. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ I've been waiting for her to tell someone, so glad it finally happened! They're getting closer by the minute and it's making me both happy and afraid, because let's be real - he is going to die right? (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts about Louisa: (view spoiler)[ I really like Lou. I've realised that a lot of people are annoyed by her, but I think she's super sweet. Quite naive obviously, but she's having such a good development throughout the book! (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ Made me both smile and laugh! Glad and surprised it went by so well. A little bothered by Lou being so careless and irresponsible though.

I feel like her job puts her in a really hard position - she's supposed to be friendly to Will, but not too friendly because she's still supposed to be his carer. So I can understand it being hard for her, trying to find the right balance in their relationship. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ Finally!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ No no no no!! Not a good time. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[ Wow. This chapter was so... Long. And such a journey. I read it while in the car, and wanted to keep on reading, but I have a feeling that I'm going to cry soon, and that's not something I want to do in other places than my home.

It made me so happy, seeing Will get more and more comfortable, Lou relaxing and Nathan starting to see Karen. I didn't realise what an important character Nathan is to me until I got to see him that happy.

And then... The end of the chapter. Why, Lou? Will's not selfish, nor stupid. Stop making it about you for Christ's sake. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

So, I've finished the book. (view spoiler)[ And I cried. A lot. It made me so happy that Lou decided to go to Switzerland, despite her mom acting so crappy about it.

I've liked her mom a lot during this book, she has seemed like such a loving person, but this bothered me a bit. I mean, I understand her not feeling good about it, and worrying about Lou, but saying that Lou won't be welcome home again if she goes to Switzerland? Really? Of course she gets desperate when Lou doesn't see it the same way she does, that's natural, but I feel like she took it way too far. I'm guessing (and hoping) that she came around eventually. (hide spoiler)]

So, I've read some reviews on this book, and a couple updates in this thread and I've realised that a lot of people see almost all the characters in this book as selfish. I beg to disagree.

(view spoiler)[Will, in his condition, has got all the rights in the world to be bitter. I've tried, but I can't even imagine how terrible it must feel to get your life taken from you like that - to suddenly have to depend on other people for everything. Sure, he's a bit harsh to other people, including Lou, but when people so seldom treat him like an actual person, rather than someone who they just feel sorry for, you can't really blame him.

Louisa - She is naive, doesn't seem like she's 26, and she isn't really living. Lou truly believes that she might be able to change Will's mind, and she tries SO hard to make it happen. She dedicates her life to him, trying to come up with plans, and activites they can do. Sometimes she fails (horse racing, art gallery) because she is so busy planning she forgets to ask Will about what he really thinks, but she seems human.

Lou makes mistakes, sometimes they're ridiculous and you wonder how she could ever think that way, but that's a part of what makes her feel real. She makes it about her when it's not on several occasions, (same goes for Will), but honestly, saying that either of them is selfish seems to me like exaggerating a lot. (hide spoiler)]

Going to write a review on it later, but I've got to say that I really, really liked it! Debating whether it's worth 4.5 or 5 stars.