Title: Me Before You Author: Jojo Moyes Published by: Penguin Books Published on: 5 January 2012 Pages: 480
...I told him a story of two people. Two people who shouldn't have met, and who didn't like each other much when they did, but who found they were the only two people in the world who could possibly have understood each other.
-- Chapter 26
I wouldn't have been intrigued to read this book had I not seen the movie trailer, because (sorry Jo) both the synopsis and premise are quite... generic. And what made the movie trailer très interesting was EMILIA CLARKE! SAM CLAFLIN! THEY'RE SO PERFECT I'M GONNA DIEEE!
When I decided to read this book before watching the movie, I was confident that this was a perfect light read on a rainy afternoon while wrapped up in my blanket. It isn't too thick either, so I thought I'd read it in two days. Half and half.
Boi, was I wrong. I ended up devouring it all that night. Upon finishing, this was my psychological condition:
The story is told from Lou's perspective, short of Louisa, though we have a couple of other characters' perspectives chiming in. In the prologue, we meet Will Traynor, a handsome, superhot, successful, macho, macho man. He loved traveling and activities that challenged adrenaline. And since Sam Claflin's face had been bored in the back of my mind, I'd say he's worth drooling over. But alas, not 5 minutes passed by, Will had an accident.
Fast forward to a few years later, we meet Louisa Clark. Eccentric, cheerful, and happy go lucky, Lou had the kind of pure joy that was infectious. You just can't help but love her. And Emilia Clarke was perfect casting since she practically embodied Lou. I don't even think she had to act while making the film. She was Louisa Clark!
Aanyway, Lou just got fired from her very simple, very modest job that she loved so very much. She was nervous because she came from a lower class family. Her father was almost fired at his job as well and her sister just gave birth to a fatherless kid. Her family's finance was in crisis. Needless to say, Lou was in desperate need of a job, and she needed it quick.
After changing jobs a few times, she finally accepted a homecare job. She didn't come to this decision on her own, her agent had to ensure her that she didn't have to wipe other people's butt. Her new work place was a luxurious mansion owned by the Traynors. Yup, you guessed it right. Lou's job required her to accompany Will who was now paralysed from the chest down. She wasn't playing nurse who took care of Will's physical needs, he had his own personal doctor for that. Lou's task was simple: be Will's friend. Cheer him up. Because after the accident, mate, he was super bitter. He refused to talk to others, even his own family. Even when he did, either he was being sarcastic, annoying, irritating, saying something punchable... honestly. Lou was miserable.
The universe loves to tease. These two who started off disliking each other, began to tolerate one another's presence. And from tolerating, they liked each other's company.
And this was the reason why Lou was hired to accompany Will becomes the main plot. Because she only had less than six months to convince Will that he had all the reason in the world to live. Will she succeed?
EGGLYSIS
From the trailer itself, I thought it was obvious that Me Before You doesn't have a happy ending. But the end doesn't always justify the means, no? We're here for the plot, and the plot was unexpected. I came in thinking this was a light read; I finished it with tears in my eyes. Actually, I was a sobbing mess and couldn't stop crying afterwards. It just hurt so much.
To be fair, the first half is indeed light. Especially because we see everything from Lou's cheerful perspective, so you can't help but laugh all the way into the story. I love how Lou was not your typical main protagonist -- she was anything but a proper lady. I think the following picture of Emilia Clarke as Lou could give you a hint:
I also love how Lou's physical appearance is described: she was small chubby. Physically, even Lou admitted herself, that guys wouldn't have looked at her twice. In the midst of so many skinny chicklit heroine, Lou was a breath of fresh air.
Her interaction with Will was also executed perfectly. The transition from despising to falling for each other was done smoothly. Beneath Will's bitter façade, he cared so much and only wanted the best for Lou. And beneath Lou's naivety, she had a dark past and, if she wanted to, a iron will. Their innocent and most times sarcastic interaction was what makes the book tick. And that's why they were so perfect for each other.
Upon arriving at the ending, do allow me to illustrate what I felt through gifs.
Starting the last chapter:
Lou spoke:
Will spoke:
Ending:
The next twenty minutes, watching the trailer:
An hour later, while listening to Ed Sheeran's Photograph:
I know, I'm a masochist.
Me Before You was actually met with controversies. Many people criticised the book and said that it promotes ableism. Through Will, it basically said that people with disabilities aren't complete and cannot live a full life. I pondered long enough on what rating to give, based on my personal experience and these perspectives that ring true. Will was a flawed character; he wasn't perfect. And I think what drew me to this story was how real these characters were. They made mistakes, but we readers still end up loving them. That doesn't make them right, but it is enough to have us able to sympathise with them.
Overall, Me Before You...
