Our Social Media Manager Belinda tells us her thoughts:
Let me know just blurt it out, right from the start. Me Before You is one of the most emotional, heart-wrenching books I’ve read in the past few years. It is women’s fiction but I wouldn’t dare called it ‘chick-lit’, in the traditional sense.
It has most of the expected elements of a chick-lit story: a likeable heroine, a damaged, handsome hero and the romance that sparks between them. But everything else you’d expect from a chick-lit novel has been turned on its head.
Lou Clark is a free spirit, bright but directionless and currently working in a tea shop (while she tries to figure out what she wants from her life). She’s not sure she’s in love with her exercise-obsessed boyfriend Patrick (he’s a painful, selfish idiot so we’re with her on this one!) and she’s also unaware that she will soon be fired from her job.
Jobless and desperate, she soon meets Will Traynor, a privileged gorgeous young man whose life has recently changed irrevocably. I won’t go into the details on the premise of their relationship, because it is so surprising and not at all what you’d expect. But I will tell you that what should be a grim and depressing story is not. It is funny, it is life-affirming and it causes you to pause and take stock of your life and think about it deeply.
I have read Jojo Moyes previous books and her latest one really takes it to the next level. The book has over 200 reviews on Amazon and has received a 5 star rating which really warms my heart, because it’s clear that I’m not the only one singing its praises!
It deals with serious topics in a thoughtful way and I want nothing more than for all my girlfriends to read it, so we can discuss and debate the topics it covers. I can’t physically press it into your hands, so all I will do is URGE you to read it.
I also love the readers’ video that is up on Amazon - take a look and listen to what other women have to say about it (and you’ll see I’m not the only one who’s impressed).
The book is out at the beginning of March so pop into your local bookshop and get yourself a copy.