Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Me Before You. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Will Traynor, paralyzed in an accident, goes ahead with his plan to end his life at Dignitas in Switzerland, even though he loves Louisa Clark. Lou is with him at the end, and afterward she reads his letter in Paris, where he urges her to live boldly with the money he left her.
Quick facts
– Book: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
– First published: 2012
– Type: A romance novel
– Tone of the ending: Heartbreaking
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Lou, a cheerful young woman from a small English town, takes a job caring for Will, a former high-flier who became quadriplegic after being hit by a motorbike. She learns that Will plans an assisted death in six months and secretly sets out to show him that life is still worth living. They fall in love.
What Happens at the End of Me Before You
Lou plans a holiday to Mauritius for Will. On the trip, she tells him she loves him, and he says he loves her too but cannot accept his new life. She leaves angry. Back in England, she decides to go to Switzerland after all to be with him, and he dies with his family and Lou present. Later, in a Paris café, she reads his letter, which tells her to “live boldly” and to wear the bumblebee tights he gave her.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Will's choice does not change because of love.
- Lou decides to be with him despite her pain.
- His letter pushes her toward a bigger life.
- The bumblebee tights are a symbol of her true self.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Louisa Clark | Begins a new life with Will's help |
| Will Traynor | Dies at Dignitas |
| Camilla Traynor | Will's mother, who accepts his choice |
| Patrick | Lou's ex-boyfriend |
What the Ending Means
The ending respects Will's right to choose his own death. It also shows how a person can change someone's life even after they are gone.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
The ending has been criticized by disability advocates for suggesting that life with a disability is not worth living. Others defend it as one character's personal choice.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Choice. Will's decision is his own, even when others disagree.
Love. Lou's love changes her but not his outcome.
Living fully. The letter asks Lou to stop living small.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Me Before You as heartbreaking. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Jojo Moyes to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are heartbreaking will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Jojo Moyes closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2016 film with Emilia Clarke keeps Will's death and the Paris letter scene.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Me Before You with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about choice, and do you agree with Jojo Moyes's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as heartbreaking, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces choice and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Jojo Moyes leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Me Before You often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Me Before You earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Me Before You on Amazon
Books to Read After Me Before You
- After You by Jojo Moyes
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Related: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Me Before You You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Me Before You?
Will Traynor, paralyzed in an accident, goes ahead with his plan to end his life at Dignitas in Switzerland, even though he loves Louisa Clark. Lou is with him at the end, and afterward she reads his letter in Paris, where he urges her to live boldly with the money he left her.
Is the ending of Me Before You happy or sad?
Most readers call it heartbreaking.
What does the ending of Me Before You mean?
The ending respects Will's right to choose his own death.
Is the ending of Me Before You the same in the adaptation?
The 2016 film with Emilia Clarke keeps Will's death and the Paris letter scene.
Who wrote Me Before You and when was it published?
Me Before You was written by Jojo Moyes and first published in 2012.
Is Me Before You worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy romance novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Jojo Moyes prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Me Before You before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.