Friday 22 December 2017

Still Me by JoJo Moyes December Book of the Month

I've mentioned before that I'm a member of Netgalley, a site where you can request books in exchange for honest reviews. I may have also said previously how much I love this site and this month I had another reason why to add to my list. Many members were given the chance to review the first chapter of JoJo's latest book, Still Me and a select few of us were then further chosen to receive an uncorrected proof in paperback, I was one of the lucky ones!!
jojo-moyes-still-me

If you don't know, Still Me is the third book in the Me Before You series, if you haven't read the first two books then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do so now, but do have tissues at the ready because honestly I'd be surprised if you managed not to cry when reading. I honest to god squealed when I got the email to tell me that I had been selected to receive one of the proofs, it was like Christmas come early and when the book arrived I devoured it that day.


Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She is thrown into the world of the superrich Gopniks: Leonard and his much younger second wife, Agnes, and a never-ending array of household staff and hangers-on. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her job and New York life within this privileged world. 

Before she knows what's happening, Lou is mixing in New York high society, where she meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. In Still Me, as Lou tries to keep the two sides of her world together, she finds herself carrying secrets--not all her own--that cause a catastrophic change in her circumstances. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you reconcile a heart that lives in two places?

Louisa Clark is such a quirky character and upon reading the first chapter it was like meeting up with an old friend, there was something comforting about going back to a familiar character in a book, makes it easier to connect to the story that you're reading and with the way After You ended I was desperate to see just how Louisa would navigate this next stage in her life.

We start off literally where it ended in the second book with Louisa landing in New York to start her new job alongside her previous colleague Nathan. Having just started a new relationship back home, this wasn't an easy decision for her to make but listening to the words of Will talking in her head, it this is something she feels like she just has to do, proving something to herself and others around her and really, it's only a year and a year really isn't that long is it.

This novel slots in nicely with the rest of the series. Although there are the usual ups and downs I like how the conversations remain witty and even in the more upsetting of times you still get a sense of light heartedness and hope, Still Me has remained just as entertaining as the previous books. 

My review isn't long or detailed because I don't want to give anything away because if you love this series as much as I do then you won't want any spoilers but as you know nothing comes easy for poor Louisa Clark and whilst she discover who she really is you can count on there being a bit of drama along the way.

For me Still Me didn't live up to Me Before You, don't get me wrong I adore the whole of this series but that first book is a novel that stands on its own. However what Still Me does is give you the warm and fuzzies, not quite as much emotion but as Louisa is a character that is a favourite of mine I can never tire of her antics and although this is meant to be the last in the series I'm not so secretly hoping that we could maybe see this character again years down the line.

7 comments:

  1. I love JoJo Moyes' writing but haven't read any of the Me Before You books. They're still on my to read list but I guess I should start at the beginning before I read this book.

    #ReadWithMe

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  2. Oh my goodness! I'm so excited! I didn't know there was a third novel in the series. I can't wait to read this. It sounds really good, but I can understand you saying it didn't quite live up to Me Before You - that really is a very special book.

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  3. I haven't read any JoJo Moyes books but I'll pick up Me Before You next time I see it in the charity shop and give it a go :)

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  4. I haven't read any of these books, but certainly like the sound of this. Glad you got the full book as I'm not sure about the idea of just reviewing the first chapter. I often get hooked when I read a taster chapter put at the end of a book

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  5. I still haven't read any of these books, I need to get a copy! Good to hear that this novel didn't disappoint #readwithme

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  6. Adding these books to this years TBR list :) #readwithme

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  7. I've never read any Jojo Moyes books! Will need to have a look for them in the library! #readwithme

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