Sunday, February 23, 2025

Book Review: "We All Live Here" by Jojo Moyes

Okay, I’m ready to be blown away by a Jojo Moyes book again. I’ve not loved the last few, including this one, so maybe I just need her to write another tearjerker.

Lila’s in a bit of a crisis. Her marriage has ended and her husband’s new girlfriend is everywhere, her daughters are both rebelling, and her widowed stepfather has moved into her house without actually discussing it with her first. Into this maelstrom comes her biological father, who left to pursue an acting career when she was young, and wasn’t particularly good about keeping in touch.

Perhaps Lila’s biggest problem is that her editor is pressuring her for her next book. But given that she writes about relationships—and an article she wrote about her husband was published about two weeks before their divorce was announced—coming up with something new is difficult. Who is she to give advice on successful relationships?

Trying to find the strength to move on, to accept that her marriage has ended and she needs to figure out what’s next is exhausting. How can she keep it together both professionally and emotionally when all she wants to do is fall apart?

The possibility of a new romance illuminates her. As she attempts to play peacemaker between her father and stepfather, she realizes that nearly everyone has some wisdom to share, even those with a bad track record.

I felt like this book was soooo slow and it took a while to become fond of Lila’s character. But I liked what Moyes had to say about forgiveness, and how often forgiving ourselves is the first step to healing.

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