One of the things that I love about goodreads is that I get to see all sorts of books that my friends I follow are reading, and in that way I get all sorts of great suggestions to add to my “want to read” list (there are currently over 100 books on that list!). Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes, is one of those books.
Me Before You is part love story, part family dynamics story, and part “searching for the right path in life” sort of story- a great mix if you ask me! The story is about Lou, a woman in her upper 20s who takes on a job as a care taker for a wealthy young man who had been in an accident. Lou realizes along the way that she hasn’t really lived deeply in her life (even wondering what she really wants), but Will, the man she is caring for, has lived deeply, fully, and was adventurous before his accident. The book follows both of them as they deal with the ups and downs of life, and follows as Will challenges Lou to live as fully as she possibly can.
I absolutely loved this book, and there were moments that I smiled and moments that I cried (or even sobbed) as I read the book. I finished the book and immediately added many other books by Moyes to my “want to read” list.
Here are a few quotes from the book that stand out:
“The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life- or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else’s life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window- is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you might seem to other people.” (p. 58)
“You only get one life. It’s actually your duty to live it as fully as possible.” (p. 194)
“I hadn’t realized that music could unlock things in you, could transport you to somewhere even the composer hadn’t predicted. It left an imprint in the air around you, as if you carried its remnants with you when you went.” (p. 164)
“They say you only really appreciate a garden once you reach a certain age, and I suppose there is a truth in that. It’s probably something to do with the great circle of life. There seems to be something miraculous about seeing the relentless optimism of new growth after the bleakness of winter, a kind of joy in the difference every year, the way nature chooses to show off different parts of the garden to its full advantage.” (p. 105)
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Now it’s your turn to share! Have you read any books by Jojo Moyes?