I’m very glad I did not go and see the film adaption of Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You when it was screening at the movies – there is nothing worse than a mascara tear streaked face when you leave the theatre.
Me Before You focuses on the relationship between well to do world traveler Will Traynor, the man who had it all and then lost it, and Lou Clark, the quirky small town girl who works in the local cafe leading a simple and uncomplicated life. Little does she know that her life is going to become hopelessly complicated.
Will is involved in a motor vehicle accident which takes away his desire to live. Rendered a quadriplegic, Will requires full-time care and his life has become totally joyless. His once adventurous and ambitious life has been shattered into a million pieces and he passes each day faced with monotonous boredom and frustration at his limitations.
Lou is hired by Will’s out of depth parents to look after their son and enters his life with a burst of enthusiasm. Will tries to extinguish this enthusiasm with his moods and outbursts. Soon Lou finds herself well in over her head as the relationship between the two begins to develop. She unwittingly discovers Will’s deepest secret which puts her in a predicament she will never be able to face.
JoJo Moyes’ novel was moving, bittersweet and gut wrenching all in equal measure. I enjoyed the book immensely and would highly recommend it. This book is not your typical romance novel and the story line will leave you enthralled until the final page.
A word of warning, make sure you are wearing water proof mascara when you watch the movie adaptation.
