How Sophie Kinsella’s Encouragement Helped Shape Me Before You
There’s a deeply emotional story behind one of the most loved romance novels of recent years, and it’s a story that author Jojo Moyes has now shared in a very personal way. According to Moyes, her bestselling novel Me Before You might never have been completed if it hadn’t been for the encouragement of her close friend, fellow author Sophie Kinsella.
At the time Me Before You was being written, things were not going well for Moyes. About 20,000 words into the book, she was struggling financially, her confidence had taken a hit, and her writing career felt as though it might be coming to an end. The project was close to being abandoned. It was during this low point that she met Sophie Kinsella for lunch, not realizing how pivotal that conversation would become.
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Moyes explained that she shared the unfinished idea with Kinsella, almost casually, as something she might walk away from. But the response she received was immediate and firm. She was told, very clearly, that this book had to be written. There was no hesitation, no doubt. That moment, Moyes has said, stayed with her. Soon after, Kinsella’s husband also reached out to reinforce the same message, saying he believed the book should be finished. That double reassurance gave Moyes the push she needed to continue.
What followed is now literary history. Me Before You went on to become an international bestseller after years in which Moyes had seen little commercial success. The story, centered on Lou Clark and Will Traynor, explored love, loss, and difficult choices, inspired in part by a real-life news story about a young athlete left quadriplegic after an accident. The novel later reached an even wider audience through its 2016 film adaptation, starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.
Moyes has also spoken openly about the emotional toll of writing the book. Tears were shed during the process, especially while writing the final letter from Will to Lou. She has often said that if a writer doesn’t feel the emotion themselves, the reader never will. In this case, the emotion was very real, even drawing concern from a colleague who overheard her sobbing in the next room.
Although Moyes knew she loved the book when it was finished, its global impact came as a surprise. Sequels followed, and Me Before You became a defining moment in her career. Looking back now, the encouragement from Sophie Kinsella stands out as one of the most meaningful gifts she ever received — a reminder of how one conversation can change everything.
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