Me Before You. Finished 2-4-15, fiction, 5/5 stars!, pub. 2012

Unabridged audio narrated by Susan Lyons, Andrew Wincott, Alex Tregear, Anna Bentinck, Steven Crossley, Owen Lindsay.  14.75 hours.

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.

from Goodreads

Sometimes when there is a lot (and by that I mean too-many-to-count favorite lists since it was published) of hype surrounding a book I like to wait because I want my expectations to fade a bit.  I read Jo Jo Moyes book, The Girl You Left Behind, and loved it so when I heard bloggers saying that they loved this one even more I knew I had to read it.  I chose the audio because I’d heard it was good and it was.  Susan Lyons became the loveable Lou Clark and carried the story beautifully.  There were a small cast of other characters all with their own voices and it totally worked.

I almost feel like whatever I say has been said before and anything beyond that will spoil it for those three people who haven’t read it.  So maybe I’ll just give 3 things I loved best and then ask 3 questions for those who have read it.  Bottom Line-Loved it and it’s sure to end up on my favorite list at the end of the year!

Loved-Lou’s accessibility and charm. She had no great ambition and sometimes I wanted to give her a shake, but she was so real, fiery, and vulnerable.

Loved-The story focused around Will, a paralyzed man in his 30’s, and it showed the abilities and hardships of someone who must rely on others for every personal need.  It isn’t a life without happiness, but is a life full of struggle.

Loved-The end. Sometimes what we fear is what moves us forward on a new path.

Questions for those who have read it…

How do you think the book handled the right to die debate?

Let’s cast the movie!  Who is Lou and who is Will?

Did you cry and how many times?

I’ll answer when you do 🙂