Scan barcode
racross's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
celeezamae's review against another edition
5.0
I am unwell. This book WRECKED me. I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve put my kindle down… and SOBBED
linaver's review against another edition
5.0
This review has spoilers, so if you haven't read the book, please consider if you want to read further. I couldn't find another way to talk about some things without possibly spoiling the book.
---
First and foremost, I have to say that I entirely loved the book, even despite the things that made me mad about it. I am a sucker for good writing and emotional stories, and this book made me sob at 3 am in the morning, and I couldn't possibly put it down, so yes, I am giving it a 5 star rating, and I am also going to be ranting about it quite a bit, below. So bear with me. After that I will also talk about things that I loved about it, sort of as a reward for anyone who reads through my rant first. :D
MY RANT
I have very mixed and confused feelings about the end of this book. Usually, I am a lover of happy endings, but for this book, I thought, a sad ending worked. However, it could have been handled/made sad in a different way.
Throughout the story we get glimpses of Will's character before the motorcycle accident. He was a life loving, energetic person that went after the chances and opportunities that life offers. That is a complete contrast to the depressed Will we see later. I do not think that the bitterness and sadness was part of Will's character, rather, it was part of his depression that he experienced after the accident. And so in the end, when he says that he loves Lou and thinks life with her could be very good, but then choses to die anyway, I was pissed at him and at the author. A very good life is not good enough? Whoever heard of that before?
This suggests and makes you feel as if life as an handicapped person is not worth living and is just bad and depressing (even though Will himself says it could be pretty great). Reading this, I was thinking that it's just a very terrible example of ableism. There are so many handicapped, differently abled people who live full, great lives (including several people in my life). And so I was really really pissed because of that.
It was great to read other reviews (after reading the book) and see that I wasn't alone in this.
I mean, Will comes from a rich family. The parents have done everything they could to help Will adjust to this new life, but before Lou comes, they couldn't have figured out how to use that computer system for him to be able to write? I can't believe it.
Or haven't they ever heard about anti-depressants? I really think a lot of things could have been different had Will taken anti-depressants! I mean, there are a lot of bad things associated to anti-depressant pills as well, but hey, he really just mostly needed emotional, psychological help, a therapist, really. That made me really angry and it was fecking unbelievable that intelligent, educated people didn't see that.
Was that just author's choice to ignore it in order to move the story along and make it sad (to grab our attention)? Couldn't the story have explored Will's grief and anger for the lost life and bodily abilities - and be sad in such a way instead?
THINGS I LOVED
Anyway, the end was sad, and I could not put the book away and found myself sobbing in my bed at 3 am. :D So, despite what I said before, I really liked the book, and the characters in it. I like how they felt like they are real people from every day life. And they're well written, flushed out, each one of them having different personalities that show in their choices and actions. Jojo Moyes is a great writer who shows more than tells.
I also like how light, sort of flowy they write. They can really switch from dark topics to good humor, and that makes for a compelling read. It's much easier to read about difficult things if you also let some light into the story.
The relationship between Will and Lou, although short-lived, felt full and believable. It was beautiful to witness it - and them - growing. The other relationships in the books worked well too.
In general, this book made me feel things and even if some of those feels were, for lack of a better word, pissed :D it is still always a great sign. I expect books, stories to feel alive and compelling, and to make me see the world differently or feel something. I laughed, cried, fell in love with Will and Lou, had a love-and-hate relationship with her parents, as well as his, and that is all great! That is also why it gets 5 stars from me.
This was also my first ever buddy read, and it was a great experience overall.
---
First and foremost, I have to say that I entirely loved the book, even despite the things that made me mad about it. I am a sucker for good writing and emotional stories, and this book made me sob at 3 am in the morning, and I couldn't possibly put it down, so yes, I am giving it a 5 star rating, and I am also going to be ranting about it quite a bit, below. So bear with me. After that I will also talk about things that I loved about it, sort of as a reward for anyone who reads through my rant first. :D
MY RANT
I have very mixed and confused feelings about the end of this book. Usually, I am a lover of happy endings, but for this book, I thought, a sad ending worked. However, it could have been handled/made sad in a different way.
Throughout the story we get glimpses of Will's character before the motorcycle accident. He was a life loving, energetic person that went after the chances and opportunities that life offers. That is a complete contrast to the depressed Will we see later. I do not think that the bitterness and sadness was part of Will's character, rather, it was part of his depression that he experienced after the accident. And so in the end, when he says that he loves Lou and thinks life with her could be very good, but then choses to die anyway, I was pissed at him and at the author. A very good life is not good enough? Whoever heard of that before?
This suggests and makes you feel as if life as an handicapped person is not worth living and is just bad and depressing (even though Will himself says it could be pretty great). Reading this, I was thinking that it's just a very terrible example of ableism. There are so many handicapped, differently abled people who live full, great lives (including several people in my life). And so I was really really pissed because of that.
It was great to read other reviews (after reading the book) and see that I wasn't alone in this.
I mean, Will comes from a rich family. The parents have done everything they could to help Will adjust to this new life, but before Lou comes, they couldn't have figured out how to use that computer system for him to be able to write? I can't believe it.
Or haven't they ever heard about anti-depressants? I really think a lot of things could have been different had Will taken anti-depressants! I mean, there are a lot of bad things associated to anti-depressant pills as well, but hey, he really just mostly needed emotional, psychological help, a therapist, really. That made me really angry and it was fecking unbelievable that intelligent, educated people didn't see that.
Was that just author's choice to ignore it in order to move the story along and make it sad (to grab our attention)? Couldn't the story have explored Will's grief and anger for the lost life and bodily abilities - and be sad in such a way instead?
THINGS I LOVED
Anyway, the end was sad, and I could not put the book away and found myself sobbing in my bed at 3 am. :D So, despite what I said before, I really liked the book, and the characters in it. I like how they felt like they are real people from every day life. And they're well written, flushed out, each one of them having different personalities that show in their choices and actions. Jojo Moyes is a great writer who shows more than tells.
I also like how light, sort of flowy they write. They can really switch from dark topics to good humor, and that makes for a compelling read. It's much easier to read about difficult things if you also let some light into the story.
The relationship between Will and Lou, although short-lived, felt full and believable. It was beautiful to witness it - and them - growing. The other relationships in the books worked well too.
In general, this book made me feel things and even if some of those feels were, for lack of a better word, pissed :D it is still always a great sign. I expect books, stories to feel alive and compelling, and to make me see the world differently or feel something. I laughed, cried, fell in love with Will and Lou, had a love-and-hate relationship with her parents, as well as his, and that is all great! That is also why it gets 5 stars from me.
This was also my first ever buddy read, and it was a great experience overall.
snootybeans's review against another edition
5.0
I want to start with saying this is not my typical genre. But, I am so glad they made this book into a movie. I really wanted to see it because I love both actors but have not had the chance so I decided to read it. I had never heard of this author before and probably never would have read it to be honest. I absolutely loved it from the first page to the last! Looking forward to reading the 2nd book and others by this author.
katyrose18's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ashelyduncan's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely a tear-jerker! I think starting this book, I knew how it was going to end. I was defintely inspired by the upcoming movie to read this book. I am glad I did because 1) its a beautiful story 2) even though the ending is predictable, it still was a well-developed story 3) i prepared myself for the movie now!
meagan_young's review against another edition
5.0
My heart hurts, but in a good way. I’m crying, but in a good way. I put off reading this one for so long because I thought it’d be too much, too sad on purpose, just so people would cry. But it was beautiful. So much more to it than I expected. I laughed and smiled and cried and couldn’t stop reading. Except when I knew the heart hurt was about to hit, I did take a pause. I may not go sky diving after reading this, but I definitely have my eyes and heart open to not take anything for granted.
readerme269's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very good but emotional story. Given the titles in the series and the theme it was quite predictable but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the story in the least.
Lou is let go from her cafe job when they close down. She desperately needs to find employment to help support her family. She is hired to help with a man who is paraplegic. They hate each other at first but as the story unfolds we see them learning a lot from each other.
Great story. Glad I read it :-)
Lou is let go from her cafe job when they close down. She desperately needs to find employment to help support her family. She is hired to help with a man who is paraplegic. They hate each other at first but as the story unfolds we see them learning a lot from each other.
Great story. Glad I read it :-)
thebraincellonvac's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
ajstat's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing . I listened to this as an audiobook within a few days. A lovely story. Such a good read.