Pop Sugar Reading Challenge for 2019

I try and take part in this challenge every year, so in order to not break tradition, here we go again. Here’s the link if you want to take part yourself.

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A book becoming a movie in 2019
Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (Because of Tom Holland)
Five Feet Apart – Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott (Because of Cole Sprouse)
The Wicked Deep – Shea Earnshaw
The Descendants series – Melissa De La Cruz (Descendants 3!)
After – Anna Todd.

A book that makes you nostalgic
Any Harry Potter book – JK Rowing. The first book I’ll be reading in 2019 is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but after I’ll be reading The Hogwarts Library and the Fantastic Beasts Screenplays.

A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)
Shiver Series – Maggie Stiefvater.
The Raven Boys series – Maggie Stiefvater

A book you think should be turned into a movie
The Upside of Unrequited – Becky Albertalli. Give me all of the Simonverse books as movies!
Looking for Alaska – John Green

A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads
The Divergent Series – Veronica Roth.
The Hobbit – J R R Tolkien

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover
Wings – Aprilynne Pike
Half-Blood – Jennifer L Armentrout.
The Truth About Forever – Sarah Dessen

A reread of a favourite book
The Mortal Instruments Series – Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices Series – Cassandra Clare
The Dark Artifices Series – Cassandra Clare.
ALL OF THE CASSANDRA CLARE!

A book about a hobby
Girl Online Series – Zoe Sugg.
Alienated Series – Melissa Landers

A book you meant to read in 2018
The Magisterium Series – Cassandra Clare and Holly Black. I’ve been meaning to read this since 2014.

A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title
Challenge Accepted – Amanda Abram.
Wayward Children Series (Book 3) – Seann Maguire

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The Orginal ScreenPlay – JK Rowling. The Blood Pact Pendant is on the cover and since Grindelwald wears it as a necklace I’m counting it as an accessory.

A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore
Starcrossed – Josephine Angelini
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series – Rick Riordan

A book published posthumously
Persuasion – Jane Austen

A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie
Using the Rory Gilmore list, I’ll be reading some classics and if they fall into this category then I’ll add them as I read them.

A retelling of a classic
Sea witch – Sarah Henning
Heartless- Marissa Meyer
The Lunar Chronicles – Marissa Meyer
Ash – Malinda Lo
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West – Gregory Maguire.
Stealing Snow Series – Danielle Paige
Dorothy Must Die Series – Danielle Paige

A book with a question in the title
What if it’s us? – Becky Albertalli
Am I Normal Yet? – Holly Bourne

A book set on college or university campus
We’ll Always Have Summer – Jenny Han
My Oxford year – Julia Whelan
Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell

A book about someone with a superpower
The Supervillain and Me – Danielle Banas
Renegades – Marissa Meyer

A book told from multiple POVs
The Sun Is Also A star – Nicola Yoon
Will Grayson, Will Grayson – John Green.

A book set in space
Across the universe- Beth Revis

A book by two female authors
Burn for Burn series – Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Let It Snow – John Green, Lauren Mrycle and

A book with SALTY, SWEET, BITTER, or SPICY in the title
Stay sweet – Siobhan Vivian
Bittersweet- Sarah Ockler

A book set in Scandinavia
Sea Witch – Sarah Henning

A book that takes place in a single day
The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight – Jennifer E Smith
Just one day- Gayle Forman
I Have Lost My Way – Gayle Forman

A debut novel
The Hazel Wood – Melissa Albert
Love Scene, Take Two – Alex Evansley
American Panda – Gloria Chao
Queens of Geek – Jenn Wilde

A book that’s published in 2019
Two can keep a secret – Karen M McManus
The Folk of the Air Series (Book 2) – Holly Black
Chain of gold – Cassandra Clare
Red Scrolls of Magic – Cassandra Clare
Again, But Better – Christine Ricco
Fame, Fate and The First Kiss – Kasie West
Her Royal Highness – Rachel Hawkins
Maybe This Time – Kasie West
Mirror Mirror – Jen Calonita
Descendants #4 – Melissa De La Cruz

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature
Hush Hush Series – Becca Fitzpatrick.
Hexed – Michelle Krys
Throne of Glass Series – Sarah J Maas
Shatter Me Series – Tahereh Mafi

Book recommended by a celebrity you admire
A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness (Zoella)

A book with LOVE in the title
From Twinkle, with love – Sandhya Menon
Love, life and the list – Kasie west
Lucky in Love – Kasie West
Love and First Sight – Josh Sundquist

A book featuring an amateur detective
Lock and Mori Series – Heather W Petty
Papertowns – John Green
Liars Inc – Paula Stokes

A book about a family
Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell
Second Chance Summer – Morgan Matson
Divergent Series – Veronica Roth
Twenty Boy Summer – Sarah Ockler
If I Stay – Gayle Forman.
Royals – Rachel Hawkins

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America
The Summer I Turned Pretty Series – Jenny Han
Legend – Marie Lu

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title
A Court of Thorns and Roses series – Sarah J Maas (Book 4)
Beyond The Stars – Stacy Wise

A book that includes a wedding
Save The Date – Morgan Matson
The Lux Series – Jennifer L Armentrout
Turtles All The Way Down – John Green

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same
Library of Souls – Ransom Riggs
Map of Days – Ransom Riggs
Tales of The Peculiar – Ransom Riggs
Pretty Little Liars Series – Sara Shepard
The Lying Game Series – Sara Shepard
Amy and Rogers Epic Detour – Morgan Matson
Since You’ve Been Gone – Morgan Matson
The Unexpected Everything – Morgan Matson

A ghost story
The Woman In Black – Susan Hill
Girl of Nightmares – Kendare Blake.
How to Hang a Witch – Adriana Mather.

A book with a two-word title
Red Queen Series – Victoria Aveyard.
The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks
The Wedding – Nicholas Sparks
Just Listen – Sarah Dessen
This Lullaby – Sarah Dessen
Glass Series – Marie V Snyder
Study Series – Marie V Snyder

A novel based on a true story
The Blonde – Anna Godberson
Christopher Robin – Ann Thwaite
Murder at the Royal Wedding – Ron Morgans

A book revolving around a puzzle or game
Warcross – Marie Lu
Wildcard – Marie Lu

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading challenge
So I chose “A Book That’s Been On Your TBR Too Long”
Twisted Tales Series – Liz Braswell
An Abundance of Katherines – John Green
My Secret YouTube Life – Chloe Seager

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I decided this year that I wasn’t going to do the Advanced Section because I already have so many books to read for each challenge! Including some entire series! Happy Reading!

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Book Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Paperback Cover for Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Title: Always and Forever, Lara Jean.
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: 2nd May 2017
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Series / Stand Alone: Book #3 in the To All The Boy’s I’ve Loved Before Series
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 325 pages
The Format I read: Audiobook
Amazon
Goodreads 
Rating: 

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Lara Jean is having the best senior year.

And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.

Life couldn’t be more perfect!

At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks . . . until she gets some unexpected news.

Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

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This was the finale that I was waiting for, I flew through this book in a day because I couldn’t put it down. This book broke me and then fixed me in 325 pages. It was both the worse and the best and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried my eyes out during this book.

Hardcover Cover for Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Lara Jean and Peter spent the majority of this book asking themselves the question of whether or not they’ll manage to stay together when they go away to college considering nobody else wants them together. Josh makes a handful of appearances in this book where he, much like Margot has moved on and is now dating someone else. John Ambrose McClaren makes two appearances towards the end of the book and his appearances does nothing but serve as one of the reasons that Lara and Peter break up AGAIN! Honestly, at this point, I was getting tired of their constant up and downs.

One of the most heartbreaking moments of this book was when Stormy died. I wasn’t prepared for this book to take that turning. I didn’t see it coming and that shock factor was the worst. Stormy was without a doubt my favourite character in this whole series and it was heartbreaking to lose her. It is a fitting tribute to wear Stormy’s ring to the prom though, that made me smile.
It’s also rather sweet that Lara Jean doesn’t really go back to the nursing home again after Stormy dies. Only the once for her memorial. I like that the last words that Stormy says in the book are the most important towards the storyline.

“Never say no when you really want to say yes” 

This quote embodies the entire struggle of the book, about college about relationships and indeed in true Lara Jean fashion, worrying about sex. One of the main issues that Lara Jean faces is whether or not her and Peter are going to have sex before they leave for college and that’s so topical its unreal. So many people are facing these same issues as they leave school and it’s important that the topic broached during the book.
One of the other main issues that Lara Jean faces is pleasing everyone else or pleasing herself. She’s got to choose whether or not to go to the college she doesn’t want and then transfer after a year to be with Peter or to go to an amazing college that she got in to but risk the idea of breaking up with Peter because she doesn’t know if it will work.

It’s the same issue that Margot faced before she left for Scotland and seeing as the sisters

are vastly different in personalities, I’m glad they made different choices towards their love lives. I’m annoyed that the took until the last couple of pages for Peter to decide that he does want to be with Lara Jean and to come and tell her. In my opinion that should have been Lara Jean. She should have apologised that time. Even though everyone seems to have an opinion on their relationship. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what they should do in the future and it doesn’t seem like the opinions of Lara Jean or Peter matter. Which whilst stereotypical of teenage relationships was still incredibly frustrating to read.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to finish the series, wants to see how it all panned out. Anyone who wants to have a good cry and read a good book series. This is a short summery read and it’s perfect for pulling anyone out of a reading slump and I couldn’t recommend the audiobooks enough.

Book Review: P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han

Paperback Cover of P.S. I Still Love You.

Title: P.S. I Still Love You
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: 26th May 2015
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Series / Stand Alone: Book #2 in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before Series
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 337 pages
The Format I read: Audiobook
Amazon
Goodreads 
Rating: 

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Synopsis From Goodreads:

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing. 

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I liked this sequel. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first book but I liked it all the same. I couldn’t help but feel like this entire book could have been skipped. It didn’t need to happen. All that really happened, in a nutshell, was Lara Jean and Peter broke up and she explored the option of John Ambrose McClaren and then Lara Jean and Peter got

Paperback Cover for P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han

back together within the last 50ish pages.

So, we’re back exactly where we were before the book started. We’ve just aged a year and Lara Jean’s dad has a girlfriend who is the woman that Lara Jean and Kitty make fun of throughout the first film. Oh and Gen admitted that the whole reason that Lara Jean and herself aren’t friends is because of that kiss with Peter from Middle School.

I can’t even begin to talk about the tackiness of that reason, I wanted more. I really did. I wanted more of a reason. I wanted this well thought out reason like … I know it was you that ran over my cat with your bike. Morbid I know but I wanted a shock factor and all I ended up learning was something I already knew just added on that fact that Gen was watching around the corner the whole time. She then proceeded to stay friends with Lara Jean for a while after just to make sure that Lara Jean understood that Peter belonged to her. Now.

What?

How spiteful do you have to be to film two people kissing in a hot tub, make it look like a sex tape and then share it around the internet for everyone to see, just because you saw your ex-boyfriend kiss her when they were in middle school? That is some other level pettiness and I just didn’t understand it. I didn’t think the reason was strong enough to hold up for the rest of the series. Which is probably why Gen only made a handful of appearances in the last book. Her story arc was complete.

Now that’s out of the way,

I liked the scenes between Lara Jean and Stormy, that was the best part of this book by far, that scene where they stay over at the retirement home and play in the snow during the night is my favourite and shockingly they’re when she’s with John Ambrose

Audiobook for P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han. 

McClaren and not Peter. Stormy was such a vivid and eccentric character and I completely fell in love with her. Working in care myself, I come across people all the time and it made me feel really nostalgic.

Speaking of this, when I finished this book and did my Goodreads review. I wrote about how it felt very Twilight: New Moon. This was obviously a hell of a lot better but it did feel like the entire point of this book was to show that Lara Jean had options. To show that she could have been with someone else and to really hammer home the point that Lara Jean and Peter are end game. But it’s essentially a 337-page whirlwind that leaves you right back where you started.

 

Book Review: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han

Paperback Cover for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Title: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: 15th April 2014
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Series / Stand Alone: Book #1 in the To All The Boy’s I’ve Loved Before Series
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 355 pages
The Format I read: Audiobook
Amazon
Goodreads 
Rating: 

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Synopsis From Goodreads:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

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Finally, I have managed to break out of my three-month-long slump in which I didn’t read a single book. Yesterday I decided to deep clean the house and listen to an audiobook whilst doing it. At first, I chose to listen to Mary Poppins by PL Travers. This didn’t last long and after aimlessly scrolling through Scribd for a while I chose To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Like many of the people before me,  I’d seen the Netflix original film and I adored it. The book wasn’t any different. I loved it. I thought it was the cutest book that I’d read in a while and I’m so glad that there are another two books in the series because I’m not ready to let go of these characters yet.

Netflix Tie in Book Cover for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Book Peter wasn’t the same as film Peter, which I wasn’t overly expecting but it’s odd all the same. I didn’t enjoy Book Peter as much. He was incredibly douchey for 60% of the book and he was overly cocky all the time. Instead of coming across as dorky and cute like he did in the film. The scene where they go to the furniture auction and have to race the other people to get the chairs for his mom’s shop didn’t make it into the film and I was upset by that because as far as character moments go that was one of my favourites.

Lara Jean was my favourite character. She’s so cool. For being so young she has so many complex emotions. Being inside her head and reading the book from her point of view was the best possible point of view. I didn’t thoroughly enjoy Margot as a character, I found her so annoying. She’s so self-righteous and acts like she’s the best and she really isn’t. There’s zero chemistry between Margot and Josh, and even less chemistry between Lara Jean and Josh. I’m happy that Peter and Lara Jean ended up together because if Josh and Lara Jean had ended up together I wouldn’t have been as impressed with the book.

The narrator of the audiobook was amazing, she was insane. I was enthralled the entire

The Netflix poster for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

time I was cleaning. It was sweet and I’m glad that I finally read it. I was impressed with the book as much as I was with the film. It wasn’t too long or too short and the plot line was so well thought out that I was amazed by it even though it’s the typical fake relationship turns real storyline. I wish I’d read it sooner when people told me to read it. The audiobook was a really good way to get out of a book slump without actually reading the book. It was amazing for my slump. Getting out of the slump was hard but this was the perfect book for it. So if you’re ever in a slump, read this. In fact, read this entire trilogy.

The adaptation of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix was the most anticipated release of this year and I watched it as soon as it came out. I really enjoyed Noah’s acting and like I’ve said before I enjoyed the film Peter more than book Peter. It’s so precious. The best Netflix original that I’ve watched recently. I really enjoyed The Kissing Booth before but this one was better. Series wise it’s Atypical. In case you wondered.

I really recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed the film or anyone that enjoys YA Contemporary. It’s pretty good.

It’s Monday, what are you reading? IM BACK FROM MY SLUMP! (19/11/18)

Hello and Welcome again to It’s Monday, What are you reading? It’s been a while. Three months to be exact.

I loved doing this meme every Monday, it really helped to shape my week once I knew what I was reading so when I was considering what to do when I come back to blogging this was one of the memes I was sure I was going to continue to do. This week is pretty cool for me. I’m working three nights this week so I’ve got four days/nights off. So here are my reading plans for the week:

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I want to finish the audiobooks for the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series. I can’t wait to see where it goes. They’re amazing and I can’t wait to review them on this blog once I’ve got myself back into the spring of things.

What if Its Us – Becky Albertalli. I’ve been putting off reading this for a while and I’m so ready to read this book. Becky Albertalli is a God in my opinion and I can’t wait to read her latest book!

I would usually be reading four books a week but since I haven’t read anything since August I figured that I’d try and take it easy. Two of these are audiobooks and one was written by the same person that wrote Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda so I’ll fly through it. I can’t wait to read this week and get back to readathons and tweeting and loving books again. Wish me LUCK!

 

Five times the movie and book were bad and Five times the movie and book were good.

Hello! And welcome to the second instalment in this mini-series! I’ve been excited to write about book to movie adaptations for a while and now I’m finally doing it. Here are five times that in my opinion the film and the book were bad and five times, in my opinion, the book and movie were good!

Five Times the Movie and the Book were Bad! 

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Fallen

Paperback Cover for Fallen

Fallen! this series was everywhere when I was in high school so naturally I picked it up and I read it. I hated it. It was so cheesy and so cliche. The instalove was terrible and the storyline lacked anything concrete. The film came out in 2016 and it has an overall rating of 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. That within itself should tell you how bad that film is but I am glutton for punishment so I watched the film. Rotten Tomatoes didn’t lie.

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Twilight

Movie Tie-in Edition of Twilight

The entire Twilight series – Stephenie Meyer. I realise that lots of people love Twilight and that’s lovely and I don’t take anything away from them. but I was never really a fan of Twilight and this is my personal opinion. I’ve read the book, read the graphic novel and seen all the films. So I can honestly let you know that I hated Twilight. I hated all the characters and the film was no different. I guess you can’t make a good movie from a bad book.

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Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures – Kami Garcia. I read and watched this in

Paperback cover for Beautiful Creatures

January of 2018 and I can let you know it was the single most boring book I’ve ever read. I DNF’d at around 40%. The film was no better I was bored the entire time. I don’t know what it is about that book and movie but it could send me to sleep. I can’t even remember the storyline, somebody please tell me what happened because I can’t remember.

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The Host

The Movie Tie-in Edition of The Host

Along the same lines as Beautiful Creatures – Kami Garcia. I tried to read this book. I don’t know what I was thinking because I hated all of Stephenie Meyer’s books but I tried and I hated that one too. It was too long and lacked so many things that I just couldn’t get through it. The film was the same. I just didn’t care.

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Carrie

Carrie – Stephen King. I found this book to be so

Movie Tie-in Edition of Carrie

underwhelming. Considering it’s only a 300-page book it took me two weeks to read because I kept getting lost and pulled from the story. I love Chloe Grace Moretz as an actress but even she couldn’t save that shit tip of a film.

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Five Times the Movie and the Book were good! 

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Love, Simon

Movie Cover for Love, Simon

Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda is one of my favourite books and definitely my new favourite film. I’ve rewatched it so many times. I love it. Nick Robinson was amazing. He’s fantastic. I love it. It’s so inclusive and heart-warming, I adore the entire cast and their chemistry. Movie of the YEAR!

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The Perks of Being a WallFlower

Paperback Cover for The Perks of Being a WallFlower

I liked this film, Emma Watson is incredible. The book is a masterpiece. Is there anything else to say? Really? It’s a staple in YA fiction for a reason guys!

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Paperback cover for THe Hunger Games

Hunger Games (1-4)

I think this one is fairly self-explanatory. Everyone and his dog loves the Hunger Games! It’s full of action and romance and breathtaking fight scenes. It’s got a crazy storyline that spans four movies and never lets you get bored.

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Murder on The Orient Express

This is a recent-ish release. It came out in November 2017

Movie Tie-in Edition of Murder on The Orient Express

and I loved it. It was so good. I loved the storyline and the characters. I didn’t even care that Johnny Depp was cast in it. I love Johnny Depp’s acting. The movie was amazing and I highly recommend you check it out if you like heart-stopping murder mysteries! The book is written by Agatha Christie, the queen of mystery! Good book and movie all around.

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Harry Potter (1-8)

Paperback Cover for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

You know I couldn’t write a list about YA Book to Movie Adaptations and not include Harry Potter. I adore Harry Potter, I adore everything about Harry Potter from the cast of the movies to the way JK Rowling makes McGonagall the sassiest woman is all fact and fiction. It’s got a special place in my heart and if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book then I demand you go and do it immediately

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There we have it!

What Book to Movie adaptations do you love/hate?

Book Review: Me Before You – Jojo Moyes

US Paperback Cover for Me Before You

Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Publication Date: 30th July 2019
Publisher: Penguin
Series / Stand Alone: Book #1 in the Me Before You Series
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 369
The Format I read: Paperback
Amazon
Goodreads 
Rating: 

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Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

The Movie Adaptation poster for Me Before You

 

A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

 

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I read this book a few weeks ago and it’s taken me this long to gather my thoughts together enough to write a book review. That book ruined me. It was one of the most emotional and thought-provoking books that I’ve read in a while. The characters were some of the most well-rounded characters that I’ve ever come across and in all honesty, I haven’t known for a while what I was supposed to say about it.

Let’s start with the characters.

Louisa Clark is the character that I have the most amount of issues with. She’s sweet

UK Paperback Cover for Me Before You

for the most part and as a carer myself I completely agree with some of the things that she says and found humour in the comical moments between her and Will.  So the parts that I had a few issues with. When you’re working in care you’re told not to get too involved in your client’s life, you’re told that you’re not even allowed to hug a client when they’re upset so the fact that she had a romantic relationship with her client is a huge unethical no no for me.
We’re also taught that you can’t pry into a client’s life and you certainly can’t attempt to stop someone doing something just because you wouldn’t do it, and what does she spend the majority of the book doing? Prying into this life and trying to change his mind. Just because he’s in a wheelchair and he’s classed as having a disability that doesn’t mean that he’s incapable of making a choice. Much like Nathan did, Lou or Clark should have respected his decisions and just made what was left of his life as enjoyable as possible without the ulterior motive of changing his mind about the assisted suicide, but I supposed as a qualified carer, my opinion of this book was a little different than the intended niche audience that the author had in mind.
I think it’s utterly ridiculous that Will’s mother hired Lou when she didn’t have any experience with a Quadriplegic. She literally says that the person who interviewed before had multiple years experience with people with the same disability and she chose a bright-eyed bushy-tailed young girl that didn’t have a clue? She nearly kills Will at one point in the book because she lacks the knowledge and experience that she would have needed for the job role. I understand that his mother was attempting to hire her to bring

Australian Paperback Cover for Me Before You

some ‘joy’ in Will’s life but is that really worth risking your son’s life when you know that Nathan can’t be there the whole time? That came across as a stupid decision that a reasonable person wouldn’t make and as such took the realism out of what should have been gritty social realism.

 

Will Traynor.

See. I don’t have as much of an issue with. He was a solid well-rounded character. He did everything he was meant to. He was the arsehole that she changed to fit with the story arc of a romance novel. He was humorous to break up the social realism of what was happening around him and he was there at the end to deliver a heartbreaking ending that stays with you for weeks after you read it. He even has a heartbreaking backstory where he used to be able to do all of these amazing things and he used to have the perfect girl and you can see the frustrations that Will endures throughout the book. The most notable being when they get lost in the maze and all he wants is to hold Louisa’s hand and he can’t do it. I really felt for Will during that scene.
My issues with Will are few if I’m honest. I found the overall vibe that I got from Will to be that he was settling for Louisa because of his disability. Which made me feel like the book was trying to say that people with a disability have to settle and cannot find true love? I mean obviously Louisa and Will found true love together and that was heartwarming and beautiful. Until they went to the wedding and he openly admits that if he was still able-bodied then he’d never look at her twice. Which I found a bit cruel if I’m honest. Think about it all you want but did you really have to say it to her?
Regardless of my opinion of Will Traynor being a slight…. asshole. I was still upset when he died. Of course, I was. I’m human. I went through that entire journey with Louisa and as much as I disagreed with the majority of her actions. I understood that she wasn’t thinking straight because she loved him and she wanted to save him. Which admirable as it is, you all know the saying about not being a hero.

Jojo Moyes is a fantastic author. She is. She made this book from such a controversial topic and I applaud her for it. The story really makes you think. You have to understand for yourself and make the choice for what side of the fence you sit on and I think that’s amazing. Considering the stigma that Assisted Suicide has, with it still being illegal in the majority of the world I think the world needed this kind of a story to make people think about it and understand the point of view of the person in the wheelchair. Understand how this person feels and make the choice as to whether or not you believe they should be able to make their own choices about their life when they believe that their quality of life is so low that they don’t want to be alive? Let me know what side of the fence you stand on. I’ve always been on the side of the fence that they should be able to make their own decisions. If they’re sound of mind and reasoning and they have the ability to make their own choices then they should be able to.

I highly recommend this book. Highly. It should be part of the assigned reading because everybody should be able to read this book and see Assisted Suicide from this point of view. The two sequels After You and Still Me are also out and available for purchase.