Me Before You

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes chronicles the burgeoning romance between Will Traynor, a quadriplegic man, and Louisa Clark, his caregiver. Published in 2012, Me Before You is the first novel in Moyes’s trilogy and is followed by After You (2015) and Still Me (2018). The novel was adapted into a 2016 film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. Written from various perspectives, Me Before You explores the complexities of disability, love, and euthanasia.

This guide is based on the 2013 Penguin Books edition.

Content Warning: Me Before You references sexual assault, suicidal ideation, and assisted suicide. This guide also discusses the text’s controversial portrayal of people with disabilities.

Plot Summary

In the Prologue, Will Traynor, a successful businessman, leaves for work in 2007 and is hit by a motorcycle. Two years later, 26-year-old Louisa Clark returns home from her job at a local café and announces that she has been fired. A financial provider in her family’s household, Louisa struggles to find a new job before reluctantly accepting a care assistant position for a quadriplegic man. She is interviewed for the position by Camilla Traynor, a magistrate whose son, Will, requires 24-hour care. Camilla warns Louisa about Will’s moodiness. The next day, Louisa arrives for work, is instructed never to leave Will alone for more than 15 minutes, and meets Will’s nurse, Nathan. Will attempts to scare Louisa off and rejects her attempts to speak with him.

Over the next few weeks, Louisa adjusts to her new position but struggles to connect with Will. When Will receives two visitors, she overhears Will’s ex-girlfriend, Alicia, and former best friend, Rupert, announcing their engagement. Out of anger, Will destroys his photographs of Alicia. Louisa attempts to fix the photographs and responds to Will in anger when he yells at her for doing so; her unwillingness to back down intrigues him. They begin watching films together and discussing Louisa’s life outside of work. At one of Will’s appointments, she learns there is no cure for his condition and spots scars on Will’s wrist from previous suicide attempts.

One day during a blizzard, Louisa must stay overnight with Will to care for him. When Will grows ill, she attempts to nurse him back to health with Nathan’s help. Throughout the night, Will and Louisa chat. Louisa shares a childhood memory of a pair of yellow-and-black striped tights that inspired her unique style. As weeks pass, Louisa attempts to spend time with her long-term boyfriend, Patrick, who is preoccupied with triathlon training, but feels like they are growing apart. She and Will begin to spend time together outside. During these outings, Will encourages her to explore life outside of her hometown and agrees to let her cut his hair. Later that day, Louisa overhears Camilla and Will’s sister, Georgina, arguing over Will’s decision to undergo euthanasia in six months at a clinic in Switzerland.

Disgusted by Camilla’s support of Will’s plan, Louisa resigns from her position. Camilla begs her to continue working with Will as she has noticed he has been happier since she started. After confiding in her sister Katrina (or Treena), Louisa decides to plan a series of outings that will inspire Will to continue living. On their first outing, they have a disastrous day at the horse races. Louisa’s lack of experience and planning lead to complications, and Will complains that she did not consult him.

Louisa recalls a sexual assault she survived in a local castle maze seven years ago. After her assault, she canceled a trip abroad and retreated into an ordinary but safe life. In the present, Will convinces her to attend a classical music concert. She agrees to go if Will attends the concert with her. She is moved by the music. Louisa begins going to the library to use the computers and learn more about Will’s spinal cord injury. She takes a more relaxed approach to their outings and invites Will to attend her birthday dinner in her family home. Will attends and charms Louisa’s family. He gifts her a custom pair of yellow-and-black striped tights like the pair she loved as a child. Patrick grows jealous over Will and Louisa’s connection. As time passes, Louisa feels pressure to save Will. After Will recovers from an infection, she continues her adventures with Will, one of which results in the two getting tattoos.

When Louisa informs Will that she will be moving in with Patrick, Will begins to act distant. Despite their distance, Will convinces her to enter a castle maze, which she has not done since her sexual assault; Will rescues Louisa after she becomes triggered. She tells him about her assault, and he comforts her. Later, Will invites Louisa to Alicia and Rupert’s wedding. They share a joyful, drunken evening and discuss plans to travel abroad together. Devoted to her mission to save Will, Louisa informs Patrick that she will not be able to attend his triathlon in Norway. When Patrick becomes upset, Louisa reluctantly reveals Will’s plan to die.

Louisa discovers a chatroom for individuals living with spinal cord injuries and their caregivers. Through the chatroom, she learns of a ranch in California that offers adventures for quadriplegic people. She confesses to her sister Treena that she is considering pursuing a college degree and harbors romantic feelings for Will. Later that evening, Patrick discovers Louisa’s plans for Will’s trip to California and demands she not attend. When she refuses, they break up. However, Will contracts pneumonia and is not strong enough to attend the trip. With the help of the chatroom, Louisa plans a last-minute trip to Mauritius. Over 10 days, Louisa and Will grow closer on the trip. On the last night, they kiss. However, when Will pulls away and announces that he will follow through with his plan for euthanasia despite his love for Louisa, she yells at him and leaves.

Back in England, Louisa struggles with her feelings regarding Will’s situation. She confides in her family and learns that Will’s assisted suicide will occur the next day. Reporters invade Louisa’s home after Patrick sells the details of Will’s plan to the press. Camilla calls Louisa and asks her to come to Switzerland to see Will one final time before his death. She flies to Switzerland and sees Will shortly before he passes.

Time passes, and a letter from a prosecutor clears Will’s family and friends of any wrongdoing in his assisted suicide. In the Epilogue, Louisa sits at a café in Paris and reads a letter from Will. The letter instructs her on what to do in Paris and informs her of an inheritance. Will expresses his desire for Louisa to use his money to live an adventurous life. Louisa finishes the letter and leaves the café to explore Paris.