Summary of Me Before You: by JoJo Moyes | Includes Analysis

By Instaread Summaries

Summary of Me Before You by JoJo Moyes | Includes Analysis

 

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Chapter 1

Louisa ‘Lou’ Clark, a member of a working class family in a small English village, has just lost her job. Although both Lou’s father, Bernard, and her sister, Treena, w

• Language: English
• Publisher: Instaread, Inc
• Release date: May 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781683782230

Book preview

Book Overview

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes is the story of Will Traynor, a wealthy, successful business executive and adventurer whose life changes drastically when he is hit by a motorcycle. He becomes a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair. Will’s mother, Camilla, hires Louisa ‘Lou’ Clark on a six-month contract as a caregiver and companion to her son. This is in addition to Nathan, who takes care of Will’s medical and personal needs.

Lou lives with her working class family in an English village. Her family depends on her income to make ends meet. Lou’s sister, Treena, a single mother, quits her job at a flower shop so that she can go back to the university. Lou’s mother takes care of Lou’s grandfather and Treena’s son during the day while Lou’s father works at a low-paying job at a furniture factory. Lou also has a boyfriend named Patrick who is a fitness trainer and who spends most of his time trying to stay in shape. He is training for a triathlon.

Lou’s job at the Traynor household gets off to a rocky start. Will alternates between acting quiet and sullen to acting rude and sarcastic toward Lou. In spite of Will’s attitude, Lou does her best to be polite and do her job. Eventually, she learns that Will has tried to commit suicide in the past. She finds out that the real reason she has been hired is to keep Will from attempting suicide again. She also learns that Will plans to go to an assisted suicide center. He has promised his parents he will give them six months first.

Lou quits her job because she wants no part of this plan, but Camilla asks her to come back. Treena suggests to Lou that she use some of the Traynor money to take Will on trips and adventures that will make him want to keep living. The Traynors agree to this plan. Lou does a lot of research at the library to find things she and Will can do together that will bring back his desire to live.

They go on several small, nearby excursions together, some of which are successful and some of which are not. As they spend more time together, Will and Lou learn more about each other and become close to each other. They begin to have feelings for each other.

Tension develops between Lou and Patrick. Lou spends more and more time with Will, and Patrick spends more time preparing for the triathlon. In an attempt to bring them closer to one another, Patrick