The Will and Louisa Story from Me before You

In the book Me Before You, after losing her job, Louisa Clark was desperate for employment because she is her family’s sole source of income so she takes a job that is completely out of her comfort zone as a caretaker for a quadriplegic man. She gets much more salary than she earned before.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Giver of Stars, discover the love story that captured over 20 million hearts in Me Before You, After You, and Still Me.

Writing

The writing of the book is really simple yet really beautiful and I think that it used as few words as possible to tell the story. It tells the story effectively because of which one will enjoy reading the book.

Characters in Me Before You

Louisa Clark (Lou) is the protagonist of the book Me Before You. She is super fun and realistic that made her a unique character. Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life, a steady boyfriend, close family, who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village.

She feels constantly outshone by her younger sister, Treena, an outgoing single mother. She is hired as a carer for Will Traynor, a successful, wealthy, and once-active young man who developed quadriplegia in a pedestrian-motorcycle accident two years earlier.

Will’s mother, Camilla, hires Louisa despite her lack of experience, believing Louisa can brighten his spirit. Louisa meets Nathan, who cares for Will’s medical needs, and Will’s father, Steven, a friendly upper-class businessman whose marriage to Camilla is strained. Will, in the wheelchair, goes through a lot. He is having a hard time accepting the life he is got into.

Will Traynor is moody, bossy but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

The plot of Me Before You

Louisa and Will’s relationship starts out rocky due to his bitterness and resentment over being disabled. Things worsen after Will’s ex-girlfriend, Alicia, and best friend Rupert reveal that they are getting married.
Under Louisa’s care, Will gradually becomes more communicative and open-minded as they share experiences together. Louisa notices Will’s scarred wrists and later overhears his mother and father discussing how he attempted suicide shortly after Camilla refused his request to end his life.

Louisa conceals knowing about Will and Camilla’s agreement. However, she tells Treena, and together they devise ways that will help convince Will to abandon his death wish.
Louisa convinces Will to go on a holiday with her, but before they can leave, Will contracts near-fatal pneumonia. Louisa cancels the plans for a whirlwind trip. Instead, she takes Will to the island of Mauritius.

The night before returning home, Louisa tells Will that she loves him. Will says he wants to confide in something, but she admits that she already knows about his plans.

Will’s decision

Will says their time together has been special, but he cannot bear to live in a wheelchair. He will be following through with his plans. Angry and hurt, Louisa storms off and does not speak to him for the remainder of the trip.
When they return home, Will’s parents are pleasantly surprised by his good physical condition. Louisa, however, resigns as his caretaker, and they understand that Will intends to end his life.

The Ending

Louisa flew to Switzerland and come back to Will where he wants to end his life. He dies shortly after in the clinic, and it is revealed that he left Louisa a considerable inheritance, meant to continue her education and to fully experience life.

Title

What does the title Me Before You mean? Jojo deliberately left the title opaque but she likes to think of it as a reference to both Will and Lou, meaning “who I was before I met you”.

The novel ends with Louisa at a café in Paris, reading Will’s last words to her in a letter, that tell her to ‘live well’.

My Review

This book showed love and its beautiful nature but also the harsh reality of life. Totally sobbed at the end.
5 out of 5 stars, no hesitation at all. The characters were really developed and important to the novel in their own way.

There were no unnecessary events or parts of the book. There were no cheesy or overused lines. The humor and sadness in the novel blended together really well. The ending was wrapped up well too.