Moyes, Jojo-- Still Me informal buddy read starts June 8, 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is open to discuss Still Me by Jojo Moyes.



Synopsis
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, a new book featuring her iconic heroine of Me Before You and After You, Louisa Clark

Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She steps into the world of the superrich, working for Leonard Gopnik and his much younger second wife, Agnes. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her new job and New York life.

As she begins to mix in New York high society, Lou meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. Before long, Lou finds herself torn between Fifth Avenue where she works and the treasure-filled vintage clothing store where she actually feels at home. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself: Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you reconcile a heart that lives in two places?

Funny, romantic, and poignant, Still Me follows Lou as she navigates how to stay true to herself, while pushing to live boldly in her brave new world

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

      ~ Buddy Style Reads ~
    Three Ways to Enjoy a Book!

At NRBC we use three styles of buddy reads. These will be indicated in the thread title as “Buddy Read”, “Relaxed Buddy Read” or “Informal Buddy Read”.

A “Buddy Read” has a discussion leader and a reading date is set to start the book. A reading schedule is posted prior to the start date and discussion questions are posted each day regarding that section of the book. More information about these types of reads is below. An example is here, showing a reading schedule here.

A “Relaxed Buddy Read” is similar to our usual “buddy reads” except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers. An example is here.

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

A “Read and Watch Buddy Read” may be set up as any of the above, but we will also watch the movie or T.V. series - or even go to a play! - and make comparisons, discussing what has been left out or changed as well as the actors and actresses. There is a long debate of what one should do first: read the books or watch the movie? We usually read first, but it isn’t essential. Also, if you would like to join in, but don’t want to watch the movie, show, or play, but only read the books, that is fine, too. An example is here.


MORE UNDER SPOILER
(view spoiler)[

“Buddy Reads” (“BRs”) include:

• A reading schedule which can range from 50, 75, to 100 or so pages a day.

• Discussion questions posted daily by moderators and occasionally group members
   who help one of us out. If you want to be a Discussion Leader, let us know.

• If the book is really long, we'll plan a break day.

• Members do NOT have to answer every question, they are meant to stimulate
   conversations about the books AND allow us to glance back upon them when the
   sequels come out. This helps us to remember what exactly happened in the previous
   book.

• We find the buddy style of reading to be more fun than just posting one or two
   sentences about a book. We feel this is what distinguishes us as being a ‘book club’
   rather than just another GoodReads ‘group.’

• If you can NOT start the book on time, feel free to join in at a later date. They are
   set up to make it easy to do so.

• Moderators are people too, so occasionally we get sick, have to work late at our real
   jobs, or have something that keeps us from writing the questions. Please forgive us;
   we're only human and we don't get any compensation for what we do--not even
   free books!

• Discussions and questions are set up to make you think, analyze, and see things you,
   or even we, may have missed. Feel free to add your own thoughts at any time, if you
   think we've missed something.

• If you've read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought about the book.
   You can do so at the end of the buddy read, or, if you can't wait, add spoiler tags
   before you comment like:

   **************BEWARE! SPOILER FOR THE END OF THE BOOK**************

   Or insert a (view spoiler)[spoiler (hide spoiler)]. If you do NOT know how to do so, just check out our
   GoodReads 101 explanation on how to Insert a Spoiler.

• If you are looking for a reading buddy, post an inquiry in our Buddy read requests thread. Use that thread, if you want to have a repeat read of a BOM
    or buddy read, too.

• Have fun! We always do when more than one person joins in. And we look less silly
   if someone else discusses a book with us. (hide spoiler)]

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

res

[Laura]

It will be nice to finish this series off!

[megan]

I'm in!!

[Laura]

Hi Megan!

[megan]

My copy should be arriving today.

[Laura]

Awesome,
my copy is due tomorrow; I will be incurring a late charge. I 'm not sending it back a third time without reading !!

[megan]

Just starting this tonight. Late to the game because my sister had an emergency c-section over the weekend and I’ve hardly gotten to sit down.
My thoughts from the end of After You: Don’t leave Sam!!!! Hot paramedic with chickens are too rare to give up, even if you think the distance will work!! Stupid, Lou. Stupid. Thumbs down. Boooo!

[Laura]

Oh no, I hope your sister and the new baby are doing well. I think everyone is juggling RL and several buddy reads!

I'm on page 86 in chapter 8.
Through chapter 7
(view spoiler)[
Agree, I 'm not sure how Lou thinks this long distance relationship is going to work.
Its been fun to be back in Lou's world again. I love her quirky character. The intro scene where she rambles on with the security guard is hilarious! Her employers are interesting. The Gopnik's have an unusual marriage. I actually think he loves her more than she loves him. Does she love his money? Lifestyle? She certainly likes the sex:-) ( as she tells Lou) Agnes is a tiny bit like Lou in that they both have no filter!!
Mr. Gopnik's daughter is rude!
I'm not sure what will happen during Sam's visit; but I suspect they will find that they are growing further apart as evident in their phone conversations. (hide spoiler)]

[Skandia]

Hi everyone! I'm starting today.
Loved Me Before You and didn't care much about After You. I hope the third book will be good again.
I wish Lou finds her happy place.

[Laura]

HI Skandia,
Looking forward to your thoughts and chatting with you about the book!

I agree, I really hope she finds her happy place and this ends off the series.

[Laura]

Through chapter 25
(view spoiler)[
I was surprised when Sam came to NY for a visit. A bit hypocritical of him not to like Josh and be jealous when his work partner is all over him. I don't know if he just didn't want to admit it or he is a typical man and really dense and just didn't realize. Moyes portrays him as "good " guy up until the Lou peeking in the window scene.

Eeks , much too soon to move onto Josh. I think Lou just wants to be happy! I thought it might be Josh earlier but having read to where I am I know they aren't going to last as he is embarrassed by her and wants her to be someone else.

Yeah, Treena; priceless when her family finds out she is gay!I love how Treena and Lou are growing closer as they get older. A little in part because they are in different continents but more because they are both growing and maturing and finding themselves.

The Gopnik's certainly gave Lou the shitty end of the stick. Lou is a decent person more so than either of the Gopnik's as she covered for Agnes but still got fired. I have to say that I don't like either of the Gopnik's.

I'm hoping Lou finds happiness with herself! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
Oh wow, so I really enjoyed this book; I cried at parts. I love how Lou did find herself. I loved her relationship with Margot and how Margot helped her see that Josh wasn't the one for her.

I thought it was appropriate that she turned down Mr. Gopnik but then asked him for all the money for the library!
I knew when Sam started writing to Lou that somehow they would make it work. Ending was cute. I 'm happy for a HEA.
So nice to finally knock this series off as complete!
I hope you all enjoy it as much as did. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Ending(view spoiler)[
HEA aside; Moyes has written a beautiful book about finding yourself and coping with grief and loss.
4 stars from me! (hide spoiler)]

[megan]

Ahhh!!! I need to finish this. I brought to read over lunch, but no one can ever leave me alone to read.

[megan]

Up to chapter 18. I’ve tried to write this three times but my phone has destroyed the post every time. I was super mad to begin with.
(view spoiler)[ I want to punch Sam in the throat. Was he purposely sabotaging this the whole time? Because he didn’t even try with the communication thing. Even if you suck at writing letters or hate it all together, you throw together a few lines for someone you love because it makes them happy. F for effort. F for not being a piece of garbage. Way to be like so many other unworthy men Sam. Grr. Lou: Go back to NY and hook up with Josh please!!!! (hide spoiler)]

And Treena: (view spoiler)[ YES GIRL!!!’ yay for actual interesting character development! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

@ Megan
(view spoiler)[ Maybe I'm being sexist or stereotypical; but I think Sam is just dense; a typical guy?
A relationship is hard enough let alone add long distance; I do agree that he didn't try very hard (hide spoiler)]

[megan]

Laura wrote: "Ending
HEA aside; Moyes has written a beautiful book about finding yourself and coping with grief and loss.
4 stars from me!"

I agree. (view spoiler)[ I’m glad Sam finally redeemed himself. And the way Moyes pulled everything together to finish out the series. (hide spoiler)]

[megan]

Finally finished:
Jojo Moyes is one of my favorite authors. One Plus One is easily in my top 15 but there will always be a place in my heart for this series:
(view spoiler)[While I enjoyed the final book, I couldn’t help but think it wasn’t as unique as the previous two. Me Before You was gutsy. Choosing to have Will die solidified my deep respect for Moyes as a writer. Taking on the challenge of continuing the story after his death is something most authors would never dream of trying to top. But I enjoyed After you for it’s fun uniqueness and for giving us another surprise ending. Still Me felt a little flat in comparison. We didn’t get to Lou truly finding herself until the last few chapters, but getting to see Nathan again and adding Margot makes up for it. there is a part of me that wishes we didn’t know how it ends with Sam. Maybe a book ending with a lot of anticipation on Lou’s part as she rides the elevator up - reaffirming to herself that it doesn’t matter if Sam is on the other side of the door or not, she’s fully capable of the happily ever after that Will wanted for her without him. A different kind of HEA, like Frozen. Maybe Lou finally figuring out who she is and is meant to be and that she will face the future head on no matter what is enough to conclude the story. An ending like that might have given this story the unique strength to match the other two books. But, and ending like that would have left 99% of readers mad and demanding 😜 (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

(view spoiler)[
I agree; I like your ending better. It didn't need the HEA with Sam and it would have been more in tune with the other two books!

(hide spoiler)]

Thanks for reading this one with me Megan! I 'm happy to finally have finished and am looking forward to her next book. Did you read this one?

[megan]

Laura wrote: "
I agree; I like your ending better. It didn't need the HEA with Sam and it would have been more in tune with the other two books!



Thanks for reading this one with me Megan! I 'm happy to finall..."

Yes. It’s been a while, but I liked it. I remember enjoying two points of views from different time periods.

[Cheryl]

I have begun the book today. I loved the first two, so I hope that this is everything I have hoped it would be!

[Laura]

Hi Cheryl,
looking forward to your thoughts. I'll come back and chat with you.

[Cheryl]

I was excited to read all three books in the Me Before You series within this month. I loved the first book, was so-so about the second, but really just got frustrated with this final book in the series. I think it would have best for the series to have been a single book. I just wanted to shake most of the characters!

I think the most frustrating thing was the very shallow, self-absorbed characters. I have decided that the thing I loved about the relationship between Louisa and Will in the first was that it was not just based on sex, but a much deeper relationship where love is based on truly knowing a person and what is important. Louisa's relationship with Sam and then Josh was just so unsatisfying and juvenile to me. It took until the very end of the story for these adults to grow up and see what is really important in life and relationships.

It seemed that the only person who actually understood what was important in life was Mrs. DeWitt. She was the refreshing character of the novel. And then, I found myself loving Dean Martin...became so emotionally connected to the relationship between Mrs. DeWitt and Dean Martin.

Don't even know where to begin on the Gopniks! Do I like Agnes and feel sorry for her or do I despise her? Not sure. The choices she made just so bad, I really cannot comprehend! So, I guess in the end, she is a pitiful woman.

I guess there is a lot to be said about dehumanizing people and being more concerned about personal advancement. Louisa never fits into that world...but then decides to not leave it. That was probably the final piece that caused me frustration.

[Skandia]

Finally managed to get some reading in.

Up to chapter 12
(view spoiler)[I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Sure, it's entertaining and fast read and New York is one of my very favorite cities but I feel like Louisa is so far out of her character compared to the first book I loved.
There is something going on with Agnes. Not buying her innocent act. I'm afraid she'll actually turn out being this Eastern European trophy wife or as Mrs. De Witt called her - Estonian lap-dancer. That made me laugh. I'm Estonian btw :) (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

@Skandia
(view spoiler)[ it definitely doesn't have the same feel as the first book but I personally don't think she will ever write anything as good! If you go in thinking its similar I think you will be let down.

Keep reading and see what you decide about Agnes!! No lap dances:-) Hehe! (hide spoiler)]

[Skandia]

Laura, I agree. There will never be another story like Me Before You.

[Skandia]

Finished reading.

About the ending - I totally have to agree with megan's thoughts at message 20 above.
I loved the first book, not really cared for the second and this one is somewhere in between.
Still Louisa is probably one of my very favorite romance characters and I really enjoyed her story ending in New York.

@ Laura
(view spoiler)[ So I was right about Agnes. I despise people like her and her husband who are seeing a world through dollar bills. I could not believe Agnes let Lou take the blame for stealing the cash. Really just another "Estonian lap-dancer". No redeeming qualities or circumstances for her.
(hide spoiler)]