“I thought about how you’re shaped so much by the people who surround you, and how careful you have to be in choosing them for this exact reason, and then I thought, despite all that, in the end maybe you have to lose them all in order to truly find yourself.”
This book was exactly what I needed now, a fun and a warm read. Having laughed and cried with Louisa in Moyes’ earlier books in this series, I knew exactly what to expect and it delivered so much more. In my mind, the whole book was playing out like a movie! Seeing the characters come to life on screen, from the movie adaptation of ‘Me Before You,' it was easy to imagine Louisa running around New York City and being her own whimsical self.
‘Still Me’ follows Lou’s journey to her new job in New York. She gets a job as an assistant to one of the city’s wealthy and elite socialites, Agnes Gopnik. Lou’s job would require her to accompany Agnes everywhere she goes. Morning runs, salon appointments, the charity galas. Excited about her life in a new city, Lou dives right into her role. What she didn't see coming were the exhausting endless days. But the occasional long nights came with its own perks; riding in town cars, wearing expensive gowns, getting to experience this sophisticated life with all these beautifully rich people.
Over the next few months, Agnes and Lou form a strange relationship, almost like friends. Agnes, still living in the shadows of the first Mrs. Gopnik, is still finding her niche in the society, that refuses to accept her. Having Lou by her side at these events, made them slightly less awful for Agnes. Lou learns about Agnes and the Gopnik family, more than she’d like. Little did she realise keeping these family secrets would come back to bite her fresh new life in the Big Apple.
“You can never be truly happy because, from the moment you leave, you are two selves, and wherever you are one half of you is always calling to the other.”
In the middle of this chaos, in a whole new country and with the time difference, Lou is trying to stay connected with Sam, back at home, giving long distance a try. Along with trying to find a balance between her two worlds. All while trying to figure out what she wants to be. With Will’s voice in her head, to giving new things a chance and say Yes! She embarks upon a new journey to truly find herself.
Moyes brings a sense of warmth and brightness in this book; from the previous, ‘After You’; which also made this book such a breeze to read. Louisa’s bubbly charm and brightness reflected so easily with the Moyes’ beautiful style of writing. The bonds Lou forms with the Doorman of the building and the 80 year lady and her dog (Dean Martin) across the hall, are simply endearing. I enjoyed reading how those relaltionships grew, so much! ‘Still Me’ is the perfect book to just cozy up with at the end of a long day, it had me smiling throughout!
“There is a great consolation in simply doing something you love.”