Book Review - ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes

My Thoughts

(Spoilers ahead + mentions of sensitive topics such as suicide and assault. This is more of a discussion for people who have already read the book.)

I remember when the Me Before You movie came out in theaters in 2016. I went to see it with my sister and cousin at our little local theater (which sadly isn’t there anymore). My sister and I LOVED it , my cousin, not so much, mostly because of the ending. I even went back to watch it a second time, and eventually we bought the DVD. I added the soundtrack to my daily Spotify rotation because it was just that good.

So yes… the movie obsession definitely pushed me toward the book. Funny enough, it still took my friend gifting it to me for me to finally sit down and read it from 2016 all the way to now, 2026.

What really drew me to this story?? There are deeper reasons, of course, but on the surface: at the time I was obsessed with all things London and Paris. I loved the soundtrack, I loved Louisa’s extravagant outfits, and I related to her so much. Will was played by an attractive actor, and the whole story had that complicated relationship dynamic that made me feel happy and sad at the same time, ugh I love it.

As I got older, I found myself relating to Louisa even more. The whole vibe of the story feels cozy, romantic, later-bloomer energy, heartbreaking but hopeful, and full of growth.

Main themes

I feel the main themes of this story are living life to the fullest, self‑care, romance, getting out of your comfort zone, and the complicated topics of life and death.

When this movie first came out, the topic of self‑care was just starting to show up in my own life. I used to think that putting yourself first was selfish, but this story brought a different light to that. It showed me how layered and personal those choices can be, and how caring for yourself, even when others don’t understand, is still valid.

Characters & My Thoughts

Now, Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke portray the characters so well!!! Even more after reading the book. But what I loved most was getting to know the characters on a deeper level through the chapters written from different points of view. That’s honestly one of the reasons I loved the book so much. You know how everyone seems to know a different version of you? With those POV chapters, I got to see different versions of Louisa, which made her feel even more real and layered. It also helped me understand the other characters better.

Here’s a brief overview of the characters and what stood out to me:

Louisa Clark

In the beginning, Louisa loses her comfort job and goes through the struggle of finding something new. Literally at the time I was reading this, I was looking for a job, the struggle is real! But for Louisa, it wasn’t just about her; she needed the money for her family’s financial situation. She wasn’t searching for something she wanted to do, she was searching for survival.

She’s constantly compared to her sister, her dreams of studying aren’t happening, and in the movie I never fully understood why she was so afraid to leave her comfort zone. But in the book, I realized there were so many layers to that; wanting to help her parents, support her sister, doubting herself, being scared to leave what she knows. And then the book reveals something terrible that happened to her before she was supposed to leave for college. A trauma no woman should ever experience. Of course that would make her cling to what feels safe.

Throughout the book, I really got to see Louisa grow. Her kind, caring nature makes her lovable, but it also makes her a people pleaser. Slowly, she starts standing up for herself, and the first person she does that with is Will.

Will Traynor

Ah, I love Will so much but as he says, “I was an arse,” lol. Before the accident, this rich boy was living the dream: traveling, making money, extreme sports, beautiful girlfriend, everything. So to lose all of that and be confined to a wheelchair… it’s a massive, painful shift.

In the book, I got to see Louisa chatting with other quadriplegic people who were content with their lives, which gives hope that maybe Will could get there too. But his paralysis is extremely severe basically only his head and slight finger movement. And what really hit me was how drastic the change was. If he had been a homebody, maybe it wouldn’t have crushed him the same way.

There’s also the medical side: constant pain, medications, needing help with EVERYTHING. It was so bad he even attempted to take his own life in an unsafe way. Living a life that feels that unbearable shouldn’t be dismissed. People have different opinions about suicide, but I think it was fortunate that Will had a way that was peaceful and on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved.

Louisa brought joy and warmth into his last months. She was the first person he opened up to, and he was the one who encouraged her to live her life bringing the title Me Before You full circle.

Nathan

I loved Nathan. He brought comedic relief but also grounded the story with the medical realities of Will’s condition. He seems like a genuinely good man and a good friend to both Louisa and Will.

Louisa’s Sister & Parents

I was surprised by how much I didn’t like her family in the book. In the movie, they seemed so loving, but in the book they felt more realistic. Her sister is a brat, but she’s there for Louisa when it matters. The parents overlook Louisa a lot but rely on her financially. And the mother wasn’t supportive of the situation with Will’s death, which made things even harder for Louisa.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and families are complicated but it definitely broke the version I had from the movie.

Will’s Mother

There’s a chapter from her POV, and it helped me understand her so much better. What a heartbreaking situation for a mother to face. Overall, I think she handled it the best she could, even when it didn’t look perfect from the outside.

Patrick

A necessary character, but not one I was a fan of. He did bring some funny moments, though. His relationship with Louisa really highlighted the contrast between what she had with him versus what she had with Will and that contrast was important.

Favorite moment or quotes

"Tell me something good" Will pg.82

"I think what you meant to say was, Thank you, Miss Clark, for attempting to entertain me." Louisa pg.83

"You're twenty six years old, Clark. You should be out there, claiming the world as your own, getting in trouble in bars, showing off your strange wardrobe to dodge men" Will pg.96

"Only you , Will Traynor, could tell a women how to wear a bloody dress." Louisa pg.161

" I just want to be a man who has been to a concert with a girl in a red dress. Just for a few minutes more." Will pg.166

Best before: 19 March 2007

Who I’d Recommend Me Before You To

I’d recommend this story to anyone who loves a cozy, emotional, character‑driven romance that isn’t afraid to explore complicated topics. If you enjoy stories that make you feel happy and heartbroken at the same time, this one will stay with you.

This book is perfect for:

• Later bloomers 

• Readers who love character growth

• People who enjoy messy, layered relationships (that aren’t just about romance but about changing each other’s lives)

• Anyone who likes stories set in small towns or cozy European settings!

• Readers who appreciate multiple POVs 

• People who want a story that touches on self‑care, trauma, healing, and choosing yourself

• Fans of emotional, bittersweet endings 

• Anyone who loved the movie but wants the deeper layers the film didn’t have

  
  

And honestly, I’d also recommend it to people who are open to discussing difficult topics like disability, autonomy, and end‑of‑life choices. The book doesn’t shy away from those conversations, and it’s meant for readers who can sit with those topics.

So there it is, my thoughts on Me Before You (the book version). This is my first book review on my blog, I hope you liked it and I love to hear if you have read this book and what your thoughts on it. Thank you for reading, until next time! Take care!

-Rosie