Don’t Judge a Book by its Movie is a feature on The Candid Cover spotlighting and reviewing book to movie adaptations.
Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Publisher: Penguin Books
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer
Director: Thea Sharrock
Screenplay: Jojo Moyes
Genres: Romance
Publication Date: December 31, 2012
Rating: 
They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .
Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely 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.
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?
Me Before You: Book vs. Movie
Comparing the book vs. the movie for Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is difficult. This is definitely a movie that will rip your heart out and the book will do the same. There aren’t many differences between the novel and the film in this adaptation, which is really exciting for book lovers. While the book has so much more to offer the reader, the film is a very well executed version of the novel. Most of the events and details from the book are included and are seamlessly translated to the screen. Readers will not be disappointed and those who have yet to read the book are never left in the dark, making this one of the best book to movie adaptations that I have seen in quite some time.
❀ The book has a Theme of Family
Jojo Moyes’s Me Before You is a contemporary novel that really digs deep into the topics of family, love and living life to the fullest. Through its quirky and intoxicating main character, Louisa, the reader discovers just how important living a rich life is. Her employment as a caregiver for a quadriplegic man, Will, who has been stripped of a life that he loved teaches her that she must live life as fully as she can. Louisa realizes and grows so much as a woman through her interactions with Will, while Will finds peace from guiding Louisa and getting to know her. It is the perfect romantic contemporary for those who enjoy reading the genre and copious amounts of tissues will be required while reading.
❀ Comparing the Book vs. The Movie is Hard
Not having been aware that Jojo Moyes actually wrote the screenplay as well had me a little bit nervous as to what to expect from this film. I was so delighted and surprised to discover that Jojo also wrote the script for the movie because it certainly stayed true to the novel. Obviously, the entire book can’t be translated into a two hour film and some elements of the story were not included. There are some characters that are not present and some who are less developed for the screen. Also, there is even a scene at the castle that is new to the plot and really adds depth to Will’s character, although it leaves out an important moment of Louisa’s self discovery. All in all, I was really thrilled to see this story come to life and definitely enjoyed seeing some of the setting and the casting that was so on point.
❀ Both Book and Movie are enjoyable
As always in this feature, I try to dissect both the book and the movie and then decide if the book was translated to the screen effectively. I really do believe that this book to movie adaptation was well done and will be embraced whole heartedly by fans of the novel and those who just love a good tear jerking film. The plot gives readers and movie goers so much to digest and will have you gross sobbing either way.
About Jojo Moyes
Jojo Moyes is a British novelist.
Moyes studied at Royal Holloway, University of London. She won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to study journalism at City University and subsequently worked for The Independent for 10 years. In 2001 she became a full time novelist.
Moyes' novel Foreign Fruit won the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year in 2004.
She is married to journalist Charles Arthur and has three children.
About Lori
Avid reader. Contributor to The Candid Cover. Educator.
I haven’t read Me Before You yet, and I’m planning on watching the movie first before I read the book (*GASP* I know! But I don’t really mind if I read the book first before I watch to movie or vice-versa). I think the thing I’m looking forwar dhere the most is the swoon-worthy romance and just simply the possibility ofme bawling my eyes out when I finish it. xD
I’m happy to hear the movie doesn’t stray to far from the book! Most book-to-movie adaptations have been changing a lot of things from the books so it’s nice to know MBY wasn’t one of them. 🙂 Great review!
This is definitely one movie where it isn’t necessary to read the book first. I do, however, totally recommend reading it because there is so much more in the book that you will enjoy. I hope that you love it as much as I do! 🙂 🐝
I was really excited about reading the book but someone spoiled the ending for me so I’ll probably just watch the movie.
Awwww. I am so sorry to hear that. I hope that you do enjoy the movie! 🙂
Looking forward to watching the movie. Glad they did the book justice!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the movie!
I’m an emotional mess from the book right now and seeing the movie later. My friend thought it would be a good idea for me to read the book all before I saw the movie, except I got it yesterday at like 3 pm. I finished at 12:30 am. Now I have to go see the movie. This post made me feel a bit vetter about the movie.
Yikes! You will definitely have a fresh eye. I hope that your heart can handle it so soon after reading. I hope that you enjoy the film. 😉
I may have ugly cried for the first time in theatres today. Unashamedly since I had friends crying as well. The film was nice when I didn’t cry. (AKA five minutes only lol)
I hope I can read the book soon to watch the movie after!
I am ssooo excited to watch the movie!! I’m glad to hear it was good!! =)
I haven’t read the book yet because I am such a wimp. I cry so easily, sometimes I wonder if it’s even normal. But I’m gonna [wo]man up eventually, read this and then watch the movie. Great review!
i’m so pleased this movie holds up to the book — I am on the verge of tears every time i see the trailer. It’s got heartbreak all over it
Yes! Your heart is going to break with this one for sure!
GOSH I want to see this movie so badly. But I really want to read the book. For some reason, I never made the connection between book and movie. Me = Dummy!
I would never consider you a dummy! You will definitely appreciate the book much more as it is so much more developed. I can’t wait to hear if you liked it! 🙂
Can’t wait to see this movie !
I haven’t read the book or seen the movie but I’m hoping to do both!
I was also thrilled to see this book turned into a movie and the tears in my eyes after watching is an indicator that the production people of Me Before You did a really good job in adapting the movie from the book.
I have the book, but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I want to read it before I see the movie.