Review: Lou in Lockdown

Heart warming, charming and hopeful. JoJo Moyes’ short story is a satisfying and optimistic ending for Louisa Clark, the protagonist of Moyes’ ‘Me Before You’ trilogy that left us all crying, laughing and cheering all at once. Readers will love getting an update on Lou’s life, as she navigates the strange new times of the pandemic, in typical Lou fashion.

Louisa Clark has landed back in England, to restock some vintage clothes for her Bee’s Knee’s Clothing Agency, back in New York where she lives with her paramedic boyfriend Sam. The couple have been complentating about moving back to England, when Lou goes to her parents to restock her vintage clothes; when the pandemic strikes. Suddenly, Lou is stuck in England as lockdown restirctions are put in place across the country, bringing changes to both her career and relationships. Lou has tried to stay upbeat and focused during the darkenss of times, but the pandemic brings new challenges for Lou. This short story is part romantic comedy and part pandemic drama.

Lou in Lockdown, despite its short length, is a valuable and meaningful ending for Moyes’ beloved protagonist. Moyes has a true talent for crafting realistic warm hearted characters like Lou, who go through life’s struggles, in a way we can relate too. As Lou finds her vintage clothing agency ‘The Bees Knees’ effected by the pandemic and must come up with a way to save her agency. The core of Lou’s character is presented in how she deals with the obstacles and choices that come her way, as she is inspired to start designing costumes of her own for the neighbourhood kids. Lou experiences her world changing rapidly, especially as being stuck in isolation begins to take an emotional toll on her too. Despite being afraid of what the future will entail for her, Lou decides to turn her fortunes around, with a few unexpected but joyful surprises.

The plot of this short story, also takes us back to the comical warm hearted antics and heart working gestures of Lou and her family. One particular moment is when Lou and her mum are about to go outside for the NHS clap, and they find her dad “standing there, dressed in a pink tutu, a denim jacket – and a pair of bumblebee tights” resulting in huge grins from Lou and her mum. The moment soon becomes emotionally heart warming as Lou’s dad announces he has decided to dress up as her daughter, because he sees her as his hero. He gives a loving speech on why he chose to dress up as Lou, telling her: “I don’t know where you get it from, this ability to make everyone around you feel better. but you’re a ruddy marvel, Lou, and I’m so proud of you”, which will no doubt leave readers with a happy tear in their eyes.

In the end, Lou gets what she’s been searching for “a future that was suddenly filled with the prospect of happiness, of hope.” She’s surrounded by her family, she’s sees a bright future for the Bee Knees clothing agency, and she gets a unexpected surprise. The story ends with Lou video chatting with her Sam, to tell him the good times, that will change their lives completely, and give them the push they need to make some very important decisions. Lou and Sam’s chat marks the end of this story, as Lou begins to realise that her love and determination in life has lead her to a place, she’s feels excited for what’s in store for her, both personally and professionally.

It all ends with Lou asking Sam if “good things do happen, Sam Fielding,” I said, pressing my hand to the screen. He raised his and met my palm, and suddenly seeing him again didn’t seem like a distant prospect at all. “Right?”

He closed his eyes for a moment and nodded.

“Yeah, they do, Louisa Clark. They really do.”

All wells that ends well for Louisa Clark, as there are new adventures in store for the girl with the bumblebee tights.