Wow, just thinking about this story again makes me teary eyed. In one word, it is sad. But, I just couldn’t put it down and finished it quickly. I had to see how it ended. It is a depressing story but in a very cathartic way that will have you thinking about how we live and how we die. It had me thinking that if I died today, would I regret not living my life to its fullest? Would I know that I had lived everyday doing what I love? Did I say the things I needed to say to those I love? I loved that it pairs two unlikely people and because of their circumstances in life, they are forced together at a point in time that will change them forever. This book brings up the topic of death and how we deal with it as humans. Mostly, we don’t talk about it. It addresses assisted death and its necessity to those that suffer. I have always felt that if this is someone’s choice and they are suffering, why not let them choose their ending? This book deals with not just the patient’s choice but how it affects their family and friends. I think that it also provides a very good rationalization for this character wanting this type of death. I think that whether or not you believe in assisted death, you need to read this beautiful book. It is empathetic to both sides and even though I am a proponent of it, I still didn’t want it to end the way it did. There was still hope I felt but I also understood that it was time. It is a beautifully written story about a subject that is extremely sensitive.
What was your first impression of Will? Of Louisa?
What did you think of Lou and being forced into working for Will? What would you have done in the same situation?
At what point do you feel that the Will/Lou relationship changes?
What was your reaction to the way Lou responds at the end to Will’s final decision?
How did you think it would end? What would you have changed?
How did your impression of Will and Lou change from the beginning of the story?
OMG! This book was so good, but so sad. I kept thinking that it would end like a fairytale or something, but somehow I knew it wouldn’t. Loved the characters and I loved the gradual escalation of the main relationship between Will and Louisa. I loved that they were so different, but a perfect match in the end. They both brought out so many good things in the other person. I had so much hope for them throughout the book.
I pictured Will very good looking and manly and rarely pictured him in a wheelchair for some weird reason. I thought he was acting all along, trying to be so hard and not human-like. I think he wanted to keep people at bay so that he wouldn’t even think about changing his mind. For Louisa, I pictured someone pretty and charming, but quirky and fun. I think she was a breath of fresh air for him even when he didn’t realize it or want to admit it.
With Lou working for Will, I think they both were put into a situation that they didn’t have any control over. She needed the money so had to work for him and he didn’t have a say since his mother was making the decisions on his care. I think it was fate that they were brought together and a relationship blossomed. I would have probably stayed, but kept my distance from Will if I had been in that situation.
I think the concert was the turning point in their relationship. It’s the first time that he looks at her differently and she enjoys something that he enjoys. They have such different interests, but this one instance brought them together and they seemed to enjoy each others company on a “date.”
I was upset with her that she left and wasn’t with him in his final days before going to Switzerland. I thought if I had been in her shoes and loved him, I would have been there up until the end. I was really happy when the mother flew her to see him. I just hated that she wasn’t there leading up to him going.
I kept thinking that they would fall in love and he would realize that he did have something to live for, but then I thought that was too cliche and there was really only one way it would end. I did sympathize with him when he said that he couldn’t love her the way he’d like to in his condition. I realized that I wouldn’t want to start a new relationship if I couldn’t be all I wanted to be for that person, but then I also think that I’d rather have the love than nothing at all.
I really don’t think I would have changed anything. Like I said, if they had fallen in love and he hadn’t gone through with their relationship, it would have been too cliche. I love that he set her up in the end and he did it a ways back when the lawyer came to visit him so he knew he loved her for a while.
My impression didn’t change much because they were essentially the same, just some traits came out more as the story went on. I think he was sentimental from the beginning, but hid it to not get too close to people and I think she was always a caring person and that just evolved as she was with Will more.
Loved this book! I’m going to read the sequel as well!
Yay! I’m so glad that you read this book and that you liked it! It is one of my recent favorites.
I was torn about my feelings at the end too. I get that he wanted to be his old self to be with her but I also think if he was his old self he would never have met her or fallen in love with her. I wish he had decided to stay but you’re right it would have been too perfect. I do wish she had been with him in his final days. He loved her and she loved him but I guess he just had already decided and wouldn’t turn back. I think that he wasn’t happy with his disability or the fact that he couldn’t even do the smallest things for himself.
It was difficult to know what I would have done from his perspective. He found love but wasn’t his whole self. Wasn’t love enough to live for? Wasn’t he happy with her? Why couldn’t he stay?
I can’t wait to see how they create this love story for the movie. It’s such a great story and more realistic than fairytale. No matter the ending, I loved it!
It was so good. I just ordered the sequel so I’m excited to see where and how she ends up.
I really just don’t think he could stay knowing he couldn’t be the man he wanted to be for her. I think he really wanted to give her everything he could and in the end, he gave her the money to live her life.
I really, really loved this book! Great read and great choice!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. It was such an emotional roller coaster but in the best way. I cried so much throughout the entire book.
Let me know what you think of the sequel I can’t wait to see the movie too…hopefully they do it justice!