Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
The hot streak continues. As someone who hates abandoning books, I dread titles that will slow up my reading flow. Me Before You certainly continued my trend of enjoyable reads. I saw the trailer for the film before I even knew about the book, and it piqued my curiosity. Still, I was afraid it would be too cheesy of a love story for me to completely engage. I regret ever doubting this book because I absolutely loved it. For those unfamiliar with the story, Me Before You centers around Lou, a Brit in her late twenties, who is trying to obtain work after the cafe she has long been employed by closes down. Lou lives with her parents, sister, nephew, and grandfather trying to function on a meager budget. Given the lack of appealing options at the unemployment agency, Lou takes a chance and finds a job attending to the needs of a wealthy, once vibrant, young professional, who, after a motorbike accident, is now a quadriplegic. This book made me laugh, broke my heart, and kept me turning pages from beginning to end. It made me ponder tough topics like physician assisted suicide and the limits of love without seeming preachy or definitive. The British vernacular may be distracting to some (I was well seasoned from the Bridget Jones series), but I honestly don’t think it’s strong enough to be a deal breaker. The characters were realistic, refreshing, and well developed. I can’t wait to see the movie.
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
