Still Me (Me Before You #3)

Still Meby Jojo Moyes

The third (and final?) instalment of Louisa Clark’s journey of self-discovery.

Since her first appearance in the very moving “Me Before You”, Louisa Clark has faced her fears, horrors from her past and her own mortality. She has loved, lost and loved again, following her heart and built a new life away from the confines of the family home.

Here we find her taking up a new job in New York as an assistant and companion to the exotic and temperamental Agnes Gopnik. As she begins to settle into her new role and acquaint herself with life in the Big Apple, she also has to deal with what she has left behind, namely her new boyfriend Sam. Can a fledgeling romance survive the distance she has put between them? Only time will tell, but as she begins to make new friendships maintaining old ones in far off England do seem t be becoming increasingly difficult.

Louisa Clark is Jojo Moyes’ most endearing and captivating creation. She is something of an anti-heroine. She does not comply with any stereotypes and for me, that is what makes these books so much more interesting.

If I am being totally honest, the previous book was a little disappointing, but I think that is largely because the first was such a hard act to follow. As a conclusion to Louisa’s story, “Still Me” as something of a return to form. She has to face a number of challenges, not least of which is finding herself homeless and jobless at one point. But her positivity and belief in human nature and it has to be said, her rather unconventional sense of fashion, prove to be her salvation. In forcing Louisa to question what and who she is, Jojo Moyes throws those questions out to the reader. Do we shape ourselves to fit in with those around us, or do we go our own way?

“Still Me” is a great read. I have to admit that the more I read the more enjoy Jojo Moyes’ work. Hidden beneath the sugary romance are some interesting plots and questions that go beyond the usual romantic fiction.