Review: Me Before You & After You

Wow. Where do I start with these books? As New York’s Number One Bestselling novel, Me Before You is already greatly loved. So, with a follow up novel also rising in the reading charts, today I am reviewing these books (and why I think you’ll adore them).

I love books that send me on a journey and make me feel something. So often these days, I read books that I cast aside as ‘good’ reads when really I am seeking a novel that is going to have so much emotional attachment, it hurts to end it. And these do.

Me Before You is about a girl called Lou, stuck in a rut with life and feeling generally uninspired by it all. Her situation is often tough and unsteady, but somehow Lou manages to escape it’s toxicity. With a new job facing her, unlike anything before, she is thrown into a mix of emotions and challenges. But Lou is strong, she won’t give up easy.

Will is a man whose life is changed forever one day. As he struggles to reverse the steps that have brought him to this point, he is shown a way that makes him into a different man- but is that person who he really wants to be?

Now, I haven’t seen the film of Me Before You – it was a classic ‘I’m reading the book and want to finish it first’ situation -but if you have and enjoyed it, I’d completely recommend the read.

Me Before You was a complete not-put-it-down sensation that I had to force myself to put down to make it all last that bit longer. After the first few chapters, getting into the situation and characters- I found myself loving every second.

Now, After You has a slightly different feel. Although not the tumbling story of it’s prior novel, After You is an honest read that still compels you to love it’s characters.

Without ruining the first book, the novel takes off where the last one ends. The characters are all spat out by the turbulent plotline of before, and- almost- abandoned back at the starting board.

Yet, when life seems harder than anything before, a girl turns up, someone falls from the sky and everything is altered once more. However, in the journey of self-discovering and recovery (ahh it rhymes), life no longer as kind to them all. There are new tests, decisions and the carrying of the world to hold up.

Both books are utterly fantastic- both firm favourites on my bookshelf now. Jojo Moyes is a fab writer, who truly forces you into the lives of the people she writes about. Her writing is interesting, honest and brutal at times- yet also filled with the sense of appreciation for life and living. I am just about to dive into another of her books (literally can’t wait), so I’ll report back after.

Even if you don’t read, it’s worth a go. I think you’ll like it. A lot.

Thank you all for reading this post, let me know if you’re read both- or either- in the comments below. I hope you all have brilliant days and I’ll see you soon,

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