by Kaitlin Lyle
In an exceptional novel centered on living and loving to the fullest capacity, Jojo Moyes unveils to her reader two distinct characters in “Me Before You” whose lives are transfigured by one another in a way that neither suspected possible.
Two years prior to the story’s beginning, Will Traynor is master of his universe, leading an adventurous lifestyle filled with new heights to conquer, beautiful women to adore, and opportunities to meet at his company. All of this changes when a motorcycle accident confines Will to a painful existence as a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic. Knowing that what lies ahead is a life of anguish that contrasts sharply with the man he once was, Will harbors no intentions of adapting to his situation, believing there to be no point in trying.
The story then transports us to the present just as young Louisa “Lou” Clark has lost her steady job at the Buttered Bun Tea Shop. Since her younger sister’s pregnancy took a toll on her family’s finances, Lou has been the main breadwinner and is desperate to find immediate work. With the help of her local Job Center, she finds an opportunity to work as a care assistant for the Traynor family where she soon becomes acquainted with Will.
At first, Will resents Louisa’s presence and makes no attempt to hide his bitterness. While Louisa is sympathetic towards his situation, she refuses to be treated as inferior by Will. With time, they form a bond that reveals their true selves. Louisa’s vibrant personality brings some color into Will’s dismal life and Will’s stories of exploration open Louisa’s eyes to the possibilities of the world.
However it isn’t long into their newfound connection that Louisa discovers the reason why Will’s family hired her for a period of six months and she soon becomes involved in what Will has planned for the future. Determined to show him the brighter side of his circumstance, Lou makes it her mission to emphasize that there is still life to be lived. In turn, Will’s happiness prompts a new journey within her ordinary life and a new page is written in the lives of both protagonists.
In one of the pivotal scenes of “Me Before You,” it is admitted by one character that theirs is not a “conventional love story,” but that does not prevent the novel from being anything short of extraordinary. While the story shares similar motifs of love stories past, the final chapters remain somber in presenting a heartbreaking yet truthful perspective of love under these conditions.
In addition, the book contains multiple narrators who reside close to our protagonists that voice their insights throughout the story’s events: from Will’s nurse, Nathan, to Louisa’s sister, Katrina.
For two people who exist on different spectrums in life and share nothing in common, the story of Will Traynor and Louisa Clark succeeds in scoring on the hearts of those who become acquainted with “Me Before You.”
To the readers who fell in love with Moyes’ work and are in need of more Louisa Clark, a sequel entitled “After You” has been released. For those interested in a visual representation of Moyes’ characters, a film adaptation of “Me Before You” is set to be released this year, starring Emilia Clarke of “Game of Thrones,” Sam Claflin of “The Hunger Games,” and Matthew Lewis of the “Harry Potter” franchise.
