Me Before You – Reviewed By Molly Donovan

Photography By Savannah Dean

I love a good book that makes me think. A great book, though, makes me feel something. In her novel-turned-film “Me Before You” (2012), English author Jojo Moyes’ book does just that. Set in a small village in England, Moyes’ heroine is a 27-year-old named Louisa Clark. A waitress with an ordinary life and a narrow worldview, she and her family are struggling to make ends meet when she is fired from the only job she has ever known.

Seeking income to help her family, Lou reluctantly takes a position as a caregiver for Will Traynor, a wealthy man confined to a wheelchair. His mother hires Lou for her quirky personality to make Will happy, but Lou soon realizes her job is much more than that. Will and Lou bring out more in each other than they ever could have known. Will, sullen from years of being trapped in his wheelchair and in his own head, finds happiness he forgot was possible. Lou, haunted by her past and stifling her true self for the people she loves, realizes her potential and what it means to live life fully.

Moyes’ simple language and perfectly paced plot immerses the reader in a story of true love and heartbreak. The highly anticipated film adaptation, screenwritten by Moyes and released in 2016, closely follows the novel’s plot, leaving out only a few side stories and nonessential details. However, I think the novel overall gives a better, more in-depth look into the lives of Will, Lou, and all the other characters wrapped up in their relationship. As a college student who is easily inspired by words, a line in a conversation between Will and Lou particularly struck me. Will says, “You only get one life. It’s actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.” After reading this story, I could not agree more.

About Molly Donovan

Molly Donovan studies journalism at the University of Florida and interned with Panama City Living Magazine. She says that a professor once told her that to be a good journalist, you have to “read and write as much as you breathe.” She has loved reading since she was a child, and it is her opinion that a room is not complete without a fully loaded bookcase on the wall. Her favorite book is a well-written coming-of-age novel, and her favorite place to read is in a chair on the beach.