Novel Review: Me Before You (Me Before You, #1) by Jojo Moyes

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 2012

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Teaser Tuesday.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

The New York Times bestseller, soon to be a major motion picture; US release on June 3, 2016.

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?


From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Cover:

My copy of this book was the movie cover, which I actually think is super cute. I don't usually care for the movie-version of book covers, but I do really like Emilia Clarke, and I think they look super cute as the main characters. The original covers are also really pretty, with big lettering of the title, and the colors used are pretty and fitting. I like how both covers are relatively simple and sweet.

Review:

Even though this is a very slow-burn, family-oriented story, it kept my interest from the beginning. Louisa is an odd girl, as everyone likes to remind her. She's quiet and thoughtful, but cheerful and wears odd clothing. She isn't afraid of being herself, though. The only point that bothered me about her, was how picky she was being about what job she got, despite needing one very badly. She also makes a very cringey scene at one point, at the horse race.

After losing her job, and since she lives with her family and is trying to help pay the bills as the only other person with a job, she has to get another one quick. She ends up being the caretaker of Will, a very rich previous-businessman, who's been paralyzed below the neck. He's angry, and sarcastic, and he doesn't want anyone's help or kindness. He also wants all of this to end.

I was afraid this was going to have a bad ending from the very beginning—and was pretty sure it would—but it still hurt. Louisa grows closer to Will as he starts wanting to open her world. She's been in this small town most of her life, and doesn't really consider going other places. She hasn't wanted to, or has been too afraid. He wants to change that, because he knows there's amazing things out there, even though he doesn't think he can enjoy them anymore.

This dealt with a rather dark, controversial topic, which surprised me. Part of me hates how it all ends—a big part, because it's awful and unfair and I hate it—but, I also sympathize. Will is constantly in pain and always on the edge of being even more terribly ill, and will always have to rely on someone else. He used to be extremely active and adventurous, and he doesn't want to be stuck in a chair his entire life. I get it, and it's his life, his right. It's still awful, though.

I really loved this book, honestly. Louisa and Will don't even really get to start a real romance, and yet their connection is strong. And it's awful. I haven't cried as hard at a book, ever, I don't think. I was practically crying my eyes out, for like an hour, as I read the ending. It's gut-wrenching, in ways I didn't expect, a lot more strongly than I ever expected.

I kind of don't want to read the next book, because I think this one was so good on its own, that I don't think it needs more, and I don't want to ruin it. But I also really liked these characters, and so I might pick up the next book to follow them further anyway.

Manga Review: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Volume 2, by Akira Himekawa

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: August 2017

Volumes: 3+

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Link must defeat evil at every turn in his perilous quest to help Princess Zelda!

Once upon a time, wizards tried to conquer the Sacred Realm of Hyrule. The Spirits of Light sealed the wizards’ power within the Shadow Crystal and banished them to the Twilight Realm beyond the Mirror of Twilight. Now, an evil menace is trying to find Midna, Princess of the Twilight Realm, and the fragments of the Shadow Crystal to gain the power to rule over both the Twilight Realm and the World of Light.

Link awakens in the Twilight Realm, in the form of a wolf! Here he meets Midna, and she escorts Link to Hyrule Castle where none other than Princess Zelda bestows a question upon him—if the world is to be saved from the encroaching darkness, Link must recover the shards of the Shadow Crystal. The task will be long and difficult, and Link will need to use new powers he doesn't know he has!

Review:

We get a glimpse of Zelda as the volume starts. The princess is remembering things, and having to figure out a way to save her kingdom.

Then we see that Link is now a wolf, and following Midna. Midna acts like she's on his side—kind of—but it's a bit hard to tell, and Link doesn't quite trust her, understandably. But he's a wolf and in an unfamiliar place and doesn't really have a lot to go on, or any idea what to do at this point.

Link gets to come face to face with the evil that's happening and invading, and he gets to battle it and discover what his part in this whole plot might be.

This was an okay volume. While I've always liked the idea of Zelda, I've never actually played any of it, nor read any of it. So this is rather new to me, and it still feels like it's getting started. I'm intrigued, though.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: All You Need Is Kill by Takeshi Obata, Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Ryosuke Takeuchi, and Yoshitoshi ABe

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shonen Jump Advanced (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 4, 2014

Volumes: 2 / 1 Omnibus

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

The Novel: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his fifth iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally: the female soldier known as the Full Metal Bitch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death?

Review:

For some reason, I thought there was more than two volumes/one omnibus of this series. I just assumed, I guess. But I’m glad that it’s only one, and I definitely would have picked it up faster had I known.

I haven’t read the novel or seen the movie, or even heard much but hype about this book. The only other thing I’ve really read of Obata’s is Death Note, too, although I did enjoy that series a lot. So what I’m saying is, I came into this book pretty open and with very little idea of what I was getting.

It’s pretty violent, first of all. And Obata’s artwork is rather gorgeous at times. He does not hide from the death and blood, which is good given that this book takes place in war.

Kiriya has just started training, and is about go on his first day on the battlefield. And when he does, he dies. Only he comes back, and lives those two days over and over again, with no idea how to get out of it.

Kiriya is a fighter, and even though he has to relive dying over a hundred times, he keeps trying, gets more determined, and figures out ways to do it differently, to get better, the more it happens. And then he meets Rita, the top fighter, with her own special weapon and the most kills.

I loved the progression of the story—how Kiriya gets stronger and figures out how to work things to his advantage. And his relationship with Rita, as well as Rita’s own backstory, was done beautifully. The ending was…sad. I’m not even sure what I was expecting, but the way it ended just kind of depresses me. It’s sad for all included, but I will agree that it fits, and it does kind of give Rita peace in the end. I’m still not sure if I like it, though.

The one real complaint that I have for this--and it’s not major, I can get over it--is Rita’s build. She’s tiny, which is perfectly fine, but she also doesn’t have any muscle. If she’s been doing this for three years, the strongest and most skilled fighter, and the only one carrying the heaviest weapon, then she would have more muscle, more bulk, to her.

Overall, I really enjoyed this volume. I’m impressed with the story and the art, and am now thinking about picking up more of Obata’s work, as well as the novel and/or movie of this book.

Also, I must say that this is a very pretty book. There are color pages at the beginning of the book, it’s a larger omnibus (taller?) than normal, and it’s printed on nice, thick pages. Definitely a worthwhile read.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Socrates in Love by Kyoichi Katayama and Kazumi Kazui

Rating (Out of 5): ~2.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Publish Date: 2005

Volumes: 1

Spoilers: Not really.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Powells.

Goodreads.

Amazon Synopsis:
 
The novel adaptation of the all-time best selling manga in Japan! Affectionately known as "Sekachu" in Japan, Socrates in Love became a national sensation bringing innocent love and romance to the forefront of Japan's ultra-hip mass market. A sweet high school romance between an average guy and a beautiful girl has just gotten underway. But tragedy ensues when the girl falls ill with leukemia. A bittersweet tale of young love, enduring devotion, and heartbreaking loss, Socrates in Love is a story to cherish and nurture.

Review:

This book was kind of a miss for me, sadly.

It’s about a boy and a girl, their love for each other, and what happens when she gets cancer.

I didn’t really connect very well with the characters, although I did see their affection for each other, and how he felt for her, and her struggle with cancer. There was a lot of sweet and sad moments, some humor, some nostalgia (on the characters’ part, not mine). 

Overall I think I just didn’t connect well enough, I didn’t enjoy the art very much, and it left me feeling sad (which is understandable, but still).

Manga Review: Be With You by Takuji Ichikawa, Sai Kawashima, and Yoko Iino

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Publish Date: 2008

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Out-of-Print.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Takumi's wife suddenly returns from the grave, he can't believe his eyes. As he starts digging deeper and deeper into the mystery of her sudden reappearance, he discovers a secret that is somehow linked to the past...and the future. Is it possible to experience first love for a second time? Without question, the answer is yes!

Review:

This book was just really sweet and cute, and I’m really glad that I picked it up.

Takumi is a widowed father, taking care of his son Yuji, when suddenly his wife shows up with no memory. She doesn’t know who they are, but does her best to get back into her supposed mother and wife role, while Takumi tries not to get too attached, and Yuji tries to deal with his mother not being exactly as he remembered.

I loved their relationship. Takumi loves his wife, but he’s wary, not believing her being back will last. Yuji has always been hopeful, because of this story she used to tell him, but she’s so wary and hesitant now and he misses the way things used to be.

I loved the progression of them all getting into a new routine, and how Takumi and Mio fall in love all over again, as well as how both of them parent Yuji. Then there’re the outside influences, people that Takumi works with and Mio’s mother, who they don’t want to find out about Mio’s being back.

The ending was sad, and I liked finding out how it all supposedly worked, and what Mio knew before she died, and how all of it worked. I'm even thinking about reading the novel to get a better idea of how it all worked. My overall favorite parts, though, were their relationship with each other, how sweet and loving they all were.

As I said, this story was just sweet and cute and heartwarming and light, and pretty to look at. I really liked it.