Let me start out by saying that this book will make you feel. Through the heartache, the laughter and the tears, Me Before You is a beautifully written, emotional story that makes you question your views on life itself.
It is the story of a woman (Louisa) who is in a bit of a rut. She has a long-time boyfriend, she still lives at home with her family, and her job at a local café just ended abruptly. She searches for employment at a local job center, but has very little luck due to her qualifications. When she finally gets a lead on a job, she is hesitant because it is for a Care Assistant position and she is afraid of what that will entail. With little else to choose from, she ends up going for an interview and getting the position.
The man that she is supposed to assist is Will Traynor; an adventure seeking businessman with a lust for adrenaline. He is now a quadriplegic and is confined to a wheelchair. He is not an easy person to assist. He is bitter, moody and miserable. To him, his life ended when he had his accident. He has no chance of ever being able to be the man that he once was. He has little hope for his future and doesn’t really see the possibilities of ever finding happiness again.
Louisa is persistent and doesn’t cower to Will’s foul moods. She does everything in her power to make his life comfortable, happy, and to even show him that his life can still have some adventure. She takes it upon herself to try and change his attitude about his life.
Will and Louisa develop a unique relationship throughout the book that will make you believe in compassion and love. I don’t want to give anything away. This book should really be read to get the full effect of it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an emotionally-charged read, who believes in love and doesn’t mind shedding a few tears.