Book Review by Indu Balakrishnan

A lucky catch while searching for a good romance book, Jojo Moyes’ ‘Me Before You’ tells you about how you can fall in love with someone passionately, despite knowing you will have to let them go soon. Sold over eight million copies and adapted into a film (one of those rare situations where the movie is a pleasure to watch as well), Me Before You is a must-read for a die-hard romantic. 

An impossible love story, if ever there was one. Louisa Clark, a loud bumbling girl with unusual taste in clothes, is someone you will fall in love with. And so does Will Traynor – a wealthy, sarcastic and frustrated quadriplegic who decides to resort to physician-assisted suicide. 

Louisa takes up the job of Will’s caregiver, and their relationship deepens as they help each other explore and work on moving on from the dark moments in their past for a better future. When Louisa finds out about Will’s plans to end his life, she struggles with it and tries to change his mind. 

The not-exactly-a-couple couple’s journey is heartbreaking yet inspiring. The final goodbye as Lou forgives Will and lets him know that he was indeed loved leaves a lump in the reader’s throat. 

The story is told from Lou’s point of view, yet you cannot but empathize with Will’s choice in this rather controversial topic of euthanasia. A heavy book with many light moments, the reader is left with mixed emotions in the end. The paradox is unmissable. Will proceeds with his plan despite having just experienced the happiest phase of his life with Lou. Lou agrees with Will’s choice despite knowing that she loses the man she loves. 

One of my favourite quotes from the book: Some mistakes … just have greater consequences than others. But you don’t have to let that night be the thing that defines you! 

If you are looking for a book that gives you unique insights into life from different points of view, you need to pick this one up.