The film adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ bestselling novel, "Me Before You," arrived in theaters this Friday, June 3, 2016 (or June 2 if you were lucky enough to score tickets to an early showing), and the movie has already left a lasting impression on thousands of audience members’ hearts, including my own.

I bought a paperback copy of "Me Before You" about a month ago and spent the first week of my summer vacation with Louisa Clark and Will Traynor, exploring what it means to love someone and to be loved. Through the primary perspective of Louisa and with some help from chapters dedicated to the voices of a few other characters, Moyes’ novel beautifully persuades even the most stubborn reader to rethink their opinions and feelings on everything from life and death to love and loss. While the romance between caregiver Clark and quadriplegic Traynor is certainly a beloved story, both the novel and the film are so much more than just a love story. I can honestly say that all of the characters, even uptight Mrs. Traynor, have made a lasting impression on me and showed me a new way to look at life.

While the movie does certainly do the book justice and stick to the storyline, I beg anyone interested in seeing the movie to read the book first. One of the most amazing things amazing about Moyes’ novel is her character development and while actors Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin are absolutely amazing in their portrayals of quirky Louisa and reserved Will, there is a lot of meaningful banter and conversation throughout the book that you just cannot fit into a movie with a 110 minute running time. It was wonderful to see my favorite characters come to life on the big screen, but I am glad I first had the privilege to love them in their original debuts in print.

Whether you do read the book first or if you skip right to the movie, be prepared to embark on a roller coaster of strong emotions and be prepared to meet vivid characters that will hopefully change your life.

Oh, and of course, don’t forget the tissues.