Book Review: Me Before You, and After You

by Jojo Moyes

Three and a half, maybe four stars for me. I guess this is a classic example of "don't judge a book by it's cover". I debated for a long time whether or not I wanted to read this, because the cover and the synopsis on the inside flap make it out to be a fluffy romance, which is not my cup of tea.

I caved and watched the movie first (which I almost never do), and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was controversial and thought provoking, with lovable, well-developed characters. What a great surprise!

So I read the book, and enjoyed it as well. Though I probably would have liked it more if I hadn't seen the movie first and known what was coming. But since I had seen the movie I was able to "hear" all the cool accents as I was reading, so there is that. :)

I did not read the book as a romance. And if you try to lump it into that category you'll probably be really disappointed.

I saw it more as a commentary on how life's choices are as complicated as the people who make them. About how life is never as cut and dry as we imagine. And it asks the question: What do you do when someone close to you makes a choice you consider morally wrong?

It would make a fabulous book to discuss at book club. (Too bad I missed the month mine read it.)

Things to note: Strong language (American and British), and sexual references.

I decided to read the sequel, here's my review of it:

After You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This was the worst sequel I've read in awhile. This book is not about the adventures of Louisa Clark finding herself after Will. This is a book about Louisa's grief.

In and of itself a book about grief isn't necessarily a bad thing. But this isn't written well AND it goes on and on and on and on. The characters are flat, even Louisa's; and most of the new ones are either really annoying or uninteresting. The plot was all over the place, except it never went anywhere. Mostly I just wanted to ring Louisa's neck the whole time. I feel like she squandered everything she gained in the first book.

I wish I hadn't read this book, that I'd just stopped after book one and been totally satisfied.