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Me Before You: Summary

Everything you need to know about Jojo Moyes's Me Before You, in 1 paragraph.
An illustration of a reader enjoying Me Before You by Jojo Moyes in a cosy interior
A reader enjoying Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Me Before You is a novel by Jojo Moyes about Louisa Clark, a young woman from a small town who takes a job as a caretaker for Will Traynor, a wealthy man who was left paralyzed after an accident. Despite their differences in background, the two form an unlikely bond as Will struggles with his physical limitations and his difficult decision to end his life. With the help of Lou's warm heart and determination, Will begins to see life in a different light. As their friendship deepens and their lives intertwine, the two come to realize that sometimes the best way to live is to make the most of what you have.

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What is Me Before You about?

Me Before You is a story about two people, Louisa Clark and Will Traynor, and their journey of love, loss, and self-discovery. The novel explores themes such as the strength of love, the fragility of life, and the power of choice. The story centers around Will's decision to end his own life due to a devastating accident that left him unable to move or experience joy. Through her friendship with Will, Louisa learns to live with purpose and appreciate life in all its forms. The novel also highlights issues such as physical disabilities, euthanasia, family dynamics, and mental health.

Me Before You: Book Club Questions

  1. What did you think of Louisa's character development throughout the book?
  2. What was your reaction to Will's decision to choose an assisted death?
  3. How did the relationship between Louisa and Will change over time?
  4. How do you think the ending of the novel impacted the themes of love and loss?
  5. What did you think about Lou's family and how they dealt with Will's illness?
  6. How does Me Before You explore the concepts of courage, resilience, and hope?
  7. What was your opinion on Nathan as a character?
  8. Do you think Will made the right decision in choosing assisted death?
  9. Did you enjoy the comedic subplots throughout the story or did they distract from the main plot?
  10. How would you compare Me Before You to Jojo Moyes' other works?

What to say about Me Before You

  • Me Before You provided a thought-provoking look into the complexities of life, love and mortality.
  • The protagonist's journey of self-discovery was compellingly portrayed.
  • The novel was a captivating exploration of the power dynamics between two people.
  • The story poses difficult questions about the concept of quality of life and what it truly means to be alive.
  • It was an emotionally charged narrative that captured the beauty and fragility of life.
  • I found myself challenged by the moral dilemmas presented in the story.
  • Me Before You marks an impressive character study of how we choose to live and how our choices inevitably shape us.
  • There was an intriguing blend of humor and poignancy that gave this book its unique flavor.
  • Jojo Moyes creates vivid and relatable characters who evoke both empathy and admiration from readers.
  • This is an immensely powerful story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Top 5 Quotes from Me Before You

  1. "You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible."
  2. "We're all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride."
  3. "Sometimes making the right decision means you have to let go of what you want most."
  4. "I can tell you that however long it takes, it's never long enough."
  5. "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. That's what I'm beginning to learn."

Adaptations of Me Before You

Television: 1. Me Before You (TV Movie, 2016) Film: 1. Me Before You (2016) Radio: 1. Me Before You (BBC Radio 4, 2016) Podcasts: 1. Me Before You (Audible, 2019) 2. The Me Before You Podcast (2020) 3. The Me Before You Show (2020) 4. Jojo Moyes' Me Before You Book Club (2020) Theatrical: 1. Me Before You – The Play (London, 2018-2019)

Other books by Jojo Moyes

  • The Girl You Left Behind
  • Silver Bay
  • The Horse Dancer
  • The One Plus One
  • Paris for One and Other Stories
  • After You
  • Still Me
  • The Ship of Brides
  • Me Before You: The Movie Novelization
  • The Last Letter from Your Lover

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The Me Before You movie was nominated for a People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Movie in 2016.