Member Reviews
I loved this book! There were so many funny details from the Grandpas, the love interest, the kids, etc. etc. And you really felt for the main character- she is so real!
In the beginning of this book, I had doubts it would become anything good and it really surprised me.
The story was sweet, and had me giggling or wanting to cry with the characters. It was easy to put myself in these characters’ feet and live life with them. This book really felt like you were living life with these characters.
Another delightful Jo Jo Moyes book full of quirky characters with both heartbreaking and funny situations. Chaos rules in the life of Lila, our main character, and I thoroughly enjoyed following along on her journey. 4-1/2 Stars
I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.
Lila is a single mom of two daughters who is juggling a lot right now. Her ex-husband left her for another mom whose child is at the same school her daughters go to. That woman is now pregnant and Lila feels like a pirah at school pick up. Lila's stepfather moved in with her after the death of her mom. Her biological dad shows up one day and has nowhere to go so he moves in as well. Everyone depends on Lila to take care of them. Lila, an author, is struggling financially and is desperately trying to come up with an idea for her next book. This is a great story about forgiveness, love, and family. I appreciate the ARC
I felt so much empathy for the main character of this book. The supporting characters all had such well-developed personalities. I came to love every single one of them, even the "villains" of the story. I was completely invested in the outcome of the tale. Highly recommend!
I really enjoyed this character driven family/found family drama. Ms Moyes leans into British humor in this latest novel, and I found myself often laughing out loud. Lila, the 42 year old FMC, is a newly divorced mother of 2 grieving the loss of her marriage and tragic death of her mother. Her grieving stepfather moves in, quickly followed by her frequently absent and often chaotic biological father. The well developed, relatable, and often messy, cast of characters also includes Lila’s best friend, Eleanor, exploring sexual adventures, the gossipy mothers at school drop off, and Lila’s 2 potential love interests. It’s fun and heartwarming, and overall I enjoyed Lila’s journey from rage to reclaiming her mojo and finding forgiveness. Fans of Ms Moyes’ books will not be disappointed. 4/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date: 2/11/2025
JoJo Moyes newest novel, We all Live Here, is sure to be a hit. Lila is the main character here. She is a middle aged women whose husband has recently left her to be with his pregnant mistress. Lila has two children. Celie is a typical moody sixteen year old girl who is dealing with her own teenage problems. Violet is her younger daughter who is quite outspoken and who never holds back her thoughts. Lila’s recently widowed stepfather has moved into her large old home and now her estranged biological dad has unexpectedly reentered her life.
All this drama and stress seems to be on Lola’s shoulders alone. She is an accomplished writer but unfortunately, under all this stress, she has developed writer’s block and has not been able to produce the chapters she has been contracted for. Money is very tight.
JoJo Moyes has once again created a story that totally drew me in from the first chapter and I soon found it hard to put the book down. The characters all seem very genuine and their various fears and emotions were true to life. I loved Lila’s quick wit and comebacks when situations were tough. A bit of romance only added to the story. This was a definite 5 star book for me.
Jojo Moyes latest novel, We All Live Here is a story about family, loss, love, and starting over. It describes the messiness in life that some readers will find relatable and really enjoy. The book flows good like all of Moyes' novels and bring a sense of warmth with the characters. We All Live Here is not my favorite of of this author (check out Me Before You), but it's a solid book that I enjoyed reading. I took off several stars for the use of "GD" , which I find offensive and unnecessary but otherwise the language and plot are fairly clean.
Thank you NetGalley for a preview!
Jojo Moyes has done it again! To be totally honest, I don't think I've ever disliked anything I've read of hers. I absolutely loved Someone Else's Shoes, and I feel like We All Live Here was kind of similar, in the best way possible. Lila's a bit of a messy, her family is far from perfect, but I cared about her almost immediately. I loved the dynamic between her dads, and her life was really funny and interesting. I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. I even read it in the pool! This was a really great book and I'm excited to recommend it to patrons and friends. Thank you NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC!
Jojo Moyes is a phenomenal writer. Her writing is smooth and delicious like a whole milk latte. You settle down in your favorite chair knowing you will be there two hours later, absorbed in the world she has created. This book left me with a numb backside and a warm glow inside.
Yet Lila the main character was slightly annoying. I appreciate in order to create some humor you need a charming yet ditsy main character who blunders her way through life creating a little mayhem. And I didn’t hold that against Lila. What I struggled with was the intense self-centered thinking and the inability to really consider anyone else’s feelings. Thankfully the characters around Lila were funny, sweet, quirky and more likable. Sorry Lila, you would not be on my Christmas card list.
Another solid offering from Jojo Moyes. Long may she write!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Lila Kennedy, author, is really struggling with her new book. Her best seller was all about how to have a great marriage. Shortly after publication, her husband left her and moved in with another woman who was expecting his baby. Lila’s kind of stuck on a sequel to her first publication, for obvious reasons. And on top of that, her mother was tragically hit by a bus. So, her husband moved out, her step-father moved in and she has a difficult teenager and a younger daughter she’s trying to juggle. As if she didn’t have enough to deal with, her birth father returns from America and wants to camp out in her house too.
Lila’s step-father is a huge help around the house, but definitely requires routine. Lila’s father, an actor who hasn’t visited England much, is a different animal altogether and the two men clash repeatedly. So, Lila is trying to keep peace on the home front, figure out how to make enough money to keep her house, cope with two grieving daughters, keep the dog from irritating the neighbors, and maybe have a date or two herself.
As with other books authored by Moyes, readers will identify with Lila—everyone has had times in their lives when it all feels impossible. And, readers will laugh and be happy that Lila manages to create a totally different type of family and life than that she expected to have.
Note: I was provided with an audiobook, courtesy of NetGalley. I’m not sure who narrated this one.
Lila is a single mom of two daughters who is juggling a lot right now. Her ex-husband left her for another mom at the same school her daughters go to. That woman is now pregnant and Lila has to see her at school pick up. Lila's mom died recently and her stepfather moved in with her. Her real dad shows up one day and has nowhere to go so he also moves in. Lila, an author, is struggling financially and is desperately trying to come up with an idea for her next book. This is a great story about forgiveness, love, and family.
Jojo Moyes delivers a heartwarming and relatable story in We All Live Here, perfect for readers who enjoy tales of complicated family dynamics with a touch of humor and plenty of heart. Lila Kennedy’s life might be a chaotic mess, but Moyes writes her journey with honesty and compassion, capturing the ups and downs of family, forgiveness, and finding unexpected support from the people around us.
Lila’s struggles with a broken marriage, rebellious daughters, and a crumbling home will feel all too real to anyone who’s tried to balance life’s challenges while keeping it all together. And with the surprise appearance of her estranged father, Moyes brings us a story about rediscovering what family means—even when it’s far from perfect.
While it didn’t quite reach the emotional highs of Moyes’ earlier works, We All Live Here is still an engaging read for those who love family dramas and character-driven stories about resilience. If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, contemporary story that doesn’t sugarcoat the complexities of relationships, this book might just hit the spot.
Lila’s ex and his new girlfriend are expecting, Lila’s stepdad has practically moved in with her and her daughters and is redesigning her garden, Lila’s estranged father has made a sudden reappearance and just needs somewhere to stay until he gets back on his feet, her publisher wants just three chapters, what else could go wrong? A funny, sweet story where everyone has problems and they all need each other as they find out just what makes a family.
I continue to rate the novels by JoJo Moyes as very readable and satisfying. Not as heart-wrenching as her earlier works, but still full of characters worth reading through . A pleasure.
3.5 rounded up. Messy families are still families and this book proves that it takes all kinds to make(or break) a family. I love the dynamic between the generations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Jojo Moyes does not disappoint. This eccentric cast of characters and the life they must make as a blended family is almost unbelievable but in some respects relatable (no pun intended.) We have to laugh at what life sometimes bring us or else we cry.
First, thank you to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Oh, poor Lila! Nothing is going well, and just when you think it can't get any worse, well....
I loved our characters, their personalities were so very distinct. Her interactions with the main cast and those in the peripheral were all believable and honest. The tolerating of her two "fathers", dealing with a teenager and a mini-goth, and Jensen, sweet Jensen.
Lost in the midst of a divorce, trying to keep up with a house in dire need of repairs, keep the family running, and pay the bills, LIla is doing her best. Let's not forget the new book the publishers want! And that her ex's new wife is getting ready to have a baby.
Along with the craziness, there were also some quiet times, times of reflection, which allowed the reader to also reflect and take stock.
While this was not a favorite, I still loved reading it. And I loved the roller coaster of emotions that she always takes us on.
Jojo Moyes has long been an auto-buy author for me, and We All Live Here is no exception. The way she creates such well-rounded, messy, lovable main characters is like magic every time. I think this one will be so well received when it's published in February!
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC!
Jojo Moyes has written yet another beautiful story of characters who collide from different worlds, but who all just want to be loved. I thought the writing was excellent and the characters were well developed. Like all of Jojo’s novels this one definitely pulls on the heartstrings. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Lila or her Dad. I wish there were more books out there about blended families. We All Live Here gets all the stars in my book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced electronic copy.