Author: Jojo Moyes
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Goodreads Summary: 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.
Review:
Let me begin by saying that I recommend people go into this novel knowing as little as possible. It's not because there's huge twists or its stark originality, I just think it's a really wonderful story that could possibly not be as much enjoyed with prior expectations already put on it. In general, I think most books are best delved into on a clean slate but I'm just pushing it with this novel because of the movie coming out. Do as I did and watch the trailer after reading the book. The movie looks amazing but let yourself enjoy the story before learning too much like I believe the trailer shows.
Anyway, onto the actual review! THIS BOOK, GUYS. THIS. BOOK.
I don't know if I've ever cried as hard in a book as I did this one. Moyes has a real knack for capturing emotions so authentically and beautifully that I was just a puddle at the end (even though I guessed what would happen). But it wasn't just the end. It was the anxiety in the maze scene and the anger at Will earlier on. They were written so truthfully and everything felt so real, like I was there in Lou's shoes. So when the end came, it was the same deal and I spend a good while consoling myself.
I also think it's wrong to reference this story as a romance book. There's elements of romance but what this book is really about is Lou and her trying to figure herself out. The story is about her trying to find out who she is and be able to take on the world. But even though that's the main thread of the book, it doesn't cheapen everything else that occurs. The relationships she forms and the other characters involved never feel like devices to further the story but actually important parts of the story itself.
Now this last part I'm going to get into a really big spoiler so please skip this paragraph if you intend to read the book!
What I've found differs among people is how well I thought this book dealt with the hard topics or the topics a lot of literature tend to shy away from. It was a book that involved romance but didn't romanticise severe disability. It also dealt with a topic that I've never seen in a book: assisted suicide. I give Moyes praise for doing this because as much it pained my heart to see Will die at the end, I loved that she highlighted the importance of allowing people to have full bodily autonomy in such cases and emphasised that it was Will's choice, not anyone else's. I know it's a contentious topic so I won't go deeper into my opinions but this was a real great thing to explore in a novel of this genre.
I also think it's wrong to reference this story as a romance book. There's elements of romance but what this book is really about is Lou and her trying to figure herself out. The story is about her trying to find out who she is and be able to take on the world. But even though that's the main thread of the book, it doesn't cheapen everything else that occurs. The relationships she forms and the other characters involved never feel like devices to further the story but actually important parts of the story itself.
Now this last part I'm going to get into a really big spoiler so please skip this paragraph if you intend to read the book!
What I've found differs among people is how well I thought this book dealt with the hard topics or the topics a lot of literature tend to shy away from. It was a book that involved romance but didn't romanticise severe disability. It also dealt with a topic that I've never seen in a book: assisted suicide. I give Moyes praise for doing this because as much it pained my heart to see Will die at the end, I loved that she highlighted the importance of allowing people to have full bodily autonomy in such cases and emphasised that it was Will's choice, not anyone else's. I know it's a contentious topic so I won't go deeper into my opinions but this was a real great thing to explore in a novel of this genre.
So, overall I absolutely adored this book. I would highly recommend it, but also make sure you grab the tissues beforehand. For those who have read, let me know how you found the book. Some people feel like it was ableist, do you agree or disagree? Also, have you read the sequel and if so, would you recommend it? Discuss in the comments!
Until next time,
- J, xxx
Until next time,
- J, xxx
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