Me Before You; After You; and Still Me (Trilogy) by JoJo Moyes (2013, 2016, & 2018)

 Me Before You asks the age-old question – Do you love someone enough to let them go? Louisa Clark, 26, is living an exceedingly ordinary life. She lives at home, has a steady boyfriend, and has never ventured beyond the limits of the tiny village in which she was born. Her family members don’t expect much of her and as a result Louisa underestimates herself and her ability to secede at anything.

After Louisa finds herself unexpectedly unemployed, she takes a job as caretaker to Will Traynor, a quadriplegic bound to a wheelchair. Before his accident, Will had lived a huge life - big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel - and now he's pretty sure he cannot live bound to a chair. Louisa accidently discovers Will had attempted suicide previously and the real purpose for her employment in to keep Will from trying again. Louisa becomes determined to help Will find a reason to continue living. Will, on the other hand is frustrate by Louisa's limited ambitions and seeks to expand her horizons.

The book provides a candid picture of the practicalities of Will's situation – the health issues, the unrelenting pain as well delving into each of the characters' reactions to the highly emotional subject of assisted dying.

This is not a book for everyone.

4.2 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 on Amazon

After You picks up 18 months after Louisa has said goodbye to Will, but she is still struggling with her grief. She now lives in London and had joined a grief support group but still living a small, comfortable life.  A freak accident leads to a new relationship and Louisa also meets Lily; the troubled teenaged daughter Will never knew he had.  Louisa’s life begins to grow as she becomes more and more involved with Lily and finds the courage to risk living and loving again.

Readers might feel the sequel lacks the same emotional punch as Me Before You, but I found it to be a compelling story.  As with its predecessor, all the characters are well developed, and one can’t help but get involved with all of them. But most of all we root for Louisa to discover the life Will wanted for her.

3.73 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 on Amazon

Still Me finds Louisa living up to the promises she made to Will.  She is living on Fifth Avenue in New York City as the personal assistant to the wife of a very wealthy and powerful man. Louisa is living large, experiencing things she never has before but she misses her boyfriend and her family back home. It is at one of the many high society events she attends that meets Joshua Ryan, a man who evokes memories of her past.

 As in the first two novels, life happens to Louisa and she is forced to start examining what she truly wants in life. By the end of the novel Louisa finally realizes all Will wanted for her was to be true to herself and not a reflection of what others want her to be. Louisa finally finds the strength and courage to be just that.

4.13 stars on Goodreads, 4.7 on Amazon