Spurthi Alluri I read the first book Me Before You in 2019, the second book After You in 2020 and finally read the last book Still Me in 2021 – probably the longest I’ve spaced a trilogy! (I kinda find it funny that my copies of all three books are in different countries – the first one’s still back in California, the second one in Hyderabad and the third one here in Dubai! 😛 Can’t wait for all my books to be at one place!)
Me Before You is about a small town English girl learning that there’s so much more to explore in life. This book was pretty heart-warming and heart-clenching at the same time. It did get a tad bit too dramatic for me towards the end, but it was a refreshing read overall. Louisa Clark is an interesting character indeed and I really wanted to read more of her story. I don’t feel this often, but I felt the movie was better than the book. Maybe it’s because the wonderful Emilia Clarke brought Louisa Clark to life (was it meant to be?) The book has a bunch of funny scenarios but is balanced out with hard-hitting reality. Lou and her bumblebee pants will forever be one of my favourite duos. 😛
(If you don’t want to know anything bout what happens in the next books stop reading here!)
After You shows us the wrecked Lou in a post-Will world. It’s the sequel that I was not expecting at all. It’s definitely nowhere nearly as delightful as the first book, but it does show a lot of hard emotions revolving around grief and moving on. Halfway through the book I thought I knew where it was going but it takes a slight turn from there. Overall it’s a chill read, oddly relatable, weirdly emotional at places but not as much as the first one.
Still Me actually turned out to be my favourite book of the trilogy! This story is about Lou moving to New York and discovering herself, “living boldly” as Will pushed her to do so, facing adversities on the way yet standing up for herself. She finally breaks that bubble of adjusting herself according to others’ needs and desires and we love a strong female character as such! Margot, whose character comes into limelight a little later in the story, turns out to be a surprisingly delightful character – a feminist since the early 60s, a hustler, an unapologetically fierce woman ( and a dog-lover)! I loved that they included a little short story of hers in the end – made me love her all the more.
Overall I loved watching Lou’s character grow beautifully despite all the ups and downs. Loved how they described all the New York hustle, the American Dream and how they portrayed social issues like classism. The ending was very intense and I really wish there was more! (Where’s that short story at Jojo Moyes?)
So I’d say the trilogy is worth the read, if you’re anything like me you’ll fall in love with Lou, sympathize with her, and end the series with an urge to live boldly.
Also, who’s with me to start a petition to see Emilia Clarke as Lou in the sequels soon?
Happy reading. 🙂
