Reviewed by Melanie Koopmans, September 2023
In Jojo Moyes' novel, Me Before You, the main character, Louisa ‘Lou’ Clark, gets laid off when the local coffee shop she works at closes. Forced to find a last minute position, she takes up caregiving for a quadriplegic man named Will Traynor. Will was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident, forcing his very adventurous and exciting life to become mundane and painful. This change makes Will bitter, however, overtime as his caregiver Lou and Will form a bond. Due to his condition, Will is convinced he wants to end his life via assisted suicide. After hearing this, Lou works to change his mind through concerts, outings, and a vacation.
Personally, I found this novel to be both romantic and tragic. The author accurately depicts disability in a way that makes readers really feel for both Will and his loved ones. Without spoiling too much, I would like to warn that there are suicidal themes and various other discussions of death, so if this may be triggering to you, I would advise against reading. Besides that, if you are a fan of tragic romances this book is for you!