When the cafe where Louisa Clark works as a waitress closes, she winds up working as a companion for Will Traynor, a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair. Before he was struck by a motorcycle, Will had been an Alpha male, an aggressive businessman who traveled the world and enjoyed mountain climbing and other demanding sports. Now his girlfriend is gone, he can only move one hand slightly, and he is subject to serious and painful infections and medical complications. Upbeat Louisa eventually figures out that her role is primarily watcher — Will is depressed and suicidal. She determines to prove to him that life is worth living, even given his current limitations. She actually gets Will to laugh, they have a variety of outings, and Louisa finds herself falling in love. But is this enough for Will? What if it isn’t? Who decides if he lives or dies? A powerful, thought-provoking novel.