me before you: finnick odair the man that you are

4/5

Disclaimer: Finnick Odair is not in this novel, the man who plays Finnick is in the movie.

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Me Before You is your classic rom-com mixed with a slow burn, enemies to lovers, and an interesting morally direct sub plot that aries throughout the story. A cute and simple love story that made me laugh, made me smile, and ultimately made me sob my heart out on the roof of my apartment building. A story that showcases the importance of being seen, of being heard, as well as bodily autonomy and what life truly means. 

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Synopsis: Young and quirky Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke) moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier. Will's cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living.

Following one eccentric Louisa Clark, we find ourselves watching as she is trying to find a job to help support her family. It’s impossible not to fall head over heels in love with Louisa Clark, she’s the classic girl next door manic pixie dream girl but she actually is, she’s weird, she’s passionate, and she’s genuine. More to the eye, as with many women, seeing the story through Lousia’s eyes was refreshing and genuinely just fun. Watching as she did her best to change the ending of the story as well as her personal growth throughout the novel was amazing to witness as well. 

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The novel was cute, it was everything I personally want in a rom-com-esque novel - enemies to lovers, cute yet quick witted banner, an astounding and heart wrenching third act, what isn’t there to love? Though Me Before You does something a little different, it throws this massive, heavy weight theme right on top of all the frills of falling in love. It makes you question “what would I do?” and not just in regards of whether you would kiss the main character or not. It begs you to ask the question of what freedom means, of what defines a person, of what life is like and what defines family. All of these deep thematic elements are swirling around as you watch Louisa fall in love with Will, watching as the story progresses. You sit staring at the wall when you close the book because you can’t decide whether to recommend this novel for the heartfelt story or simply never touch it again because of what comes with the heartfelt story. A hard place to be.

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Me Before You decides to define itself with more than just the love story - which was amazing, no notes. It dives deep into euthanasia, and what bodily autonomy truly means when it comes down to it. It makes you sit and put yourself in the place of both Will, Louisa, and every other character who weaves their way throughout the story. It’s the type of novel that passively demands to be felt, because it has “more” to say about love and forgiveness, and life than perhaps the typical “rom com” novel. 

The question haunts me though, what would I do in that situation, what would I say to someone who is in Will's position asking for the things he does. It's a hard question to ponder and an even harder question to answer.

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This one took my by surprise. Again, I say - it made me smile, it made me cry on the rooftop of my apartment, and it made me think. If you know anything about me, it’s that I love a good book that grants me a good think. 

If you’re in the mood for love and life, with a side of an existential crisis, grab your tissue box, settle down and crack open Me Before You. 

xoxo,

paige

booksta