After her divorce, Lila Kennedy is living with her stepfather and two daughters in a house that is in major need of repairs. Her biological dad, who she barely knows, suddenly turns up and as they all try to figure things out together, their family starts to take on a new meaning. I love all JoJo's books and this one is no excpetion!

Jojo Moyes’s latest novel centers on Lila, who is struggling after her husband leaves her for another mother at their children’s school and after her own mother’s sudden death. She also has to write another book to keep their family’s crumbling home together, her stepdad has moved in, and her estranged bio dad suddenly returns. The novel is fun despite some dark topics and keeps the pages turning. The point of view occasionally slips into Lila’s daughter’s or, once, her mother’s, which was indicative of the kind of confusion about what the book wanted to be. But it was still a good, fun read.

Jojo Moyes’ We All Live Here is a beautifully poignant exploration of community, resilience, and the intricacies of human connection. Set in a small, tightly knit town, Moyes captures the complexities of neighbors who are thrown together by circumstance but discover shared humanity in unexpected ways.

The novel thrives on its ensemble cast, each character vividly realized and brimming with personality. Moyes masterfully weaves their individual struggles—ranging from personal loss to financial instability—into a tapestry of shared experiences. The central theme of belonging and the impact of collective action resonate deeply, making it impossible not to root for these flawed yet endearing characters.

We All Live Here
by JoJ0 Moyes
Pub Date: FEb 11, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author, whose books so many love, brings us a fresh, contemporary story of a woman and her unruly blended family
This is a must read and beautifully written!
This is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. Moyes expertly weaves together moments of humor and heartbreak, creating a story that is both deeply moving and genuinely funny. I found myself getting teary-eyed at one particularly touching scene—a testament to Moyes' ability to craft emotionally authentic moments that never feel manipulative or overdone.

I really enjoyed this book and by the end I felt emotionally connected to some of the characters. The pacing was a little slow at times and I felt some plot lines dragged on a little too long. I found the main character really frustrating, but also probably made her feel more real.

JoJo Moyes fans will delight in her latest read that's filled with family shenanigans. What started out as Lila reminiscing about the old days divulges into her new reality. Lila's marriage ended with a scandalous affair and new addition. While grieving for her former life, Lila's mother's untimely death is still festering. Having difficultly dealing with his wife's death, Lila's step-father, Bill moved in creating cleaning commentary and healthy meals that her daughters hate.

When Lila's long-lost father shows up seeking shelter, the rift between Bill and Gene intensifies. Dealing with dueling fathers, a tight book deadline and navigating the pitfalls of being single after decades of marriage, Lila is overwhelmed. Will she be able to come to terms with having them all live there while trying to carve out a new future?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #WeAllLiveHere in exchange for an honest review. I'm a fan of the author's work but I have to admit that I struggled with early chapters. I found them challenging and unable to connect with the characters. Gene's arrival brought to life the dialogue and sleepy scenes. From that point on, I was swept away by the story.

Jojo Moyes' "We All Live Here" is a delightful and heartwarming novel that delves into the complexities of family, love, and the unexpected turns life can take. Moyes weaves together a tapestry of relatable characters and humorous situations.

The novel centers around Lila, a woman navigating the challenges of single parenthood after a divorce. As she rebuilds her life, she finds herself surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, including her eccentric stepfather, her self-absorbed ex-husband, and a charming new love interest. Moyes' keen eye for detail and her ability to capture the quirks of human nature bring these characters to life, making them feel like old friends.

One of the strengths of "We All Live Here" is its exploration of the bonds of family and friendship. Moyes delves into the messy, complicated, and ultimately beautiful relationships that shape our lives. She reminds us that even in the midst of chaos and heartbreak, love and connection can prevail.

While the novel is primarily a character-driven story, Moyes also tackles important themes such as grief, forgiveness, and the importance of finding joy in the everyday.

Overall, "We All Live Here" is a delightful read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. It's a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys heartwarming stories with a touch of humor and a lot of heart.

This is the JoJo Moyes I first came to love. It's the story of Lila and her two children and how Lila is recently divorced (about 2 years or so) and she finds out her ex husband, Dan has been seeing one of the other mums from the school pick up and now she's pregnant. That's in the very beginning. But what made this novel more fun is that Lila's stepfather, Bill also lives with Lila and he's a charming character and also we are introduced to Lila's biological father, Gene and he's just a kind of lovable asshat. But there are real tensions here as well. Lila's mother passed away unexpectedly after Dan left Lila so there's some unresolved issues for Lila to deal with. On top of that Lila is a writer and is being pushed to have her chapters done so she can satisfy her agent and also get the advance to pay her bills but the book is supposed to be a follow up book to her first one that was all about how to make more marriage strong (this reminded me a little of how Glennon Doyle had written a book all about saving her marriage and forgiving her husband just to end up leaving him) How can Lila write a follow up book after basically writing a how-to book on saving your marriage? Well, writing all about her newfound self who is all about sexual adventures and getting her swerve back (do people even say that still?).

All of this to say, we read along to see how it all unfolds. Do bill and gene get along in the same house when one of them has abandoned his post in being a father and the other had to pick up the pieces? if you guessed no and think it might be hilarious to see how they interact, you'd be right!
Does Lila meet and fall in love with (or at least have a hard crush on one more men)?

Is there any forgiveness being given because isn't it all about love and forgiveness in the end?

If you are a fan of Jojo's other books you'll most likely love this one too.

Jojo Moyes is a master of character development and the family dynamic, creating evolving characters that completely come alive in her novels. "We all live here," is no exception. The relationship between step-family, biological parents, and the children they share is at best a slippery slope. Throw in the daily chaos of everyday life, work deadlines, and trying to navigate as a single parent after your husband leaves you for a younger woman and you have an enthralling backdrop for a terrific tale. The main character Lila struggles to manage all of this then, when her birth father suddenly steps back into her life after being nearly nonexistent she must decide if he too has a place in her precariously full life. This novel is a great roller coaster ride through the ups and downs of life and how, when, and where we should forgive those who have hurt us along the way.
One note: Many "British" words are used that I was not familiar with. This is fun for me as I can't stand it when I don't know a word's meaning. I literally had to stop and look up the word throughout the novel. I am glad to do this, but will the reader in the American/US market be just as willing, or will this be a distraction? Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy.

Lila is dealing with a lot. She's raising her two daughters... on her own... after her husband left her for a younger woman... in house that is falling apart.. and has a new longterm guest as her stepfather seems to have moved in with her... after the sudden death of her mother. Plus, her writing has hit a brick wall after the explosion of her marriage since her first book focused on rebuilding that marriage. It doesn't help that she runs into her ex-husband's new wife on a regular basis as their children attend the same school. If that wasn't enough, her biological father reappears on the scene after years of minimal communication since leaving Lila and her mom for a career in Hollywood.

My favorite thing about Jojo Moyes is her characters. She writes believable characters with a focus on their development. We All Live Here is no exception. There's a lot happening in this book's plot, but my focus and the heart of the story was on the characters. I loved seeing Lila's growth, and the growth of this family as they come together and redefine what makes a family.

Jojo Moyes always writes a great book. I look forward to each one and so do our patrons. Everyone will love this.

At first I found this book (and Lila's life a little depressing--she is the epitome of the "sandwich" generation, taking care of parents (dads) and kids. But as the reader progresses through the book, as Lila progresses through her "life", as she opens herself to new experiences (and people) a certain lightness shines through that was not there at the beginning. What I especially liked about this book was that none of the characters were perfect (although Jenson came really close) and all the characters had some redeeming qualities (sometimes it was hard to fine, from Celie's mean girl friends to Lila's "crumbing" so called boyfriend. Some of the events were predictable, but there was always a twist that kept the reader on his/her toes. Read and enjoy!

Lila Kennedy is a 42-year-old woman who is recently divorced and has lost her beloved mom. She is doing her best to raise her two daughters in an old house that has some problems, and money is tight. On top of all those personal changes and struggles, Lila is behind on the deadline for her next book, her stepfather has mostly moved into her house, her ex-husband is expecting a new baby with the younger mistress, and her estranged father shows up.

There are several funny and poignant points along her journey as Lila comes to terms with a new definition of family, deals with hurt and forgiveness, and even has a chance at a new romance. Even though I haven’t been in her shoes, I felt I related to her and her struggles. There are some humorous moments with her youngest daughter, Violet, and her new friend, Jensen. There are great lessons about forgiveness, making memories, adaptability, and dealing with busyness.

This heartfelt story should be added to your TBR list. It will be released in February 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. The story is well written and tugs at your heart strings. The life of a newly divorced mom trying to keep her life together and provide for her daughters despite everything life throws at her (like a stepdad who insists on making healthy meals only and her long lost dad all of a sudden showing up on her doorstep). Full of compassion.

Jojo Moyes is always a joy to read. We All Live Here is a story about a 42 year old woman who is going through a ton of change in her life, while the responsibilities keep piling up. As a woman in that same demographic, I connected with Lila even more!

Throughout this book there are some lovely, quotable moments that could bring this book to the tops of lists like Goodreads Choice Awards, and as with many other Moyes novels, there are many characters to connect with. This could prevent the book from being super easy reading, as you do need to keep track of different characters and sub-plots, but it keeps things interesting for sure. I would describe We All Live Here as a character study, as it lacks some of the plot-driven character actions that some of Moyes novels have. I would recommend to library patrons who are fans of Liane Moriarty, Kristen Higgins, and Susan Mallery.

I've read a number of books by Jojo Moyes and needed a break from more serious fiction--this fit the bill.

Lila Kennedy, divorced, two daughters, an elderly stepfather [Bill] who has quietly moved in to her deterioriating house (especially the plumbing), a literary career in freefall, and a long disappeared father {Gene, a lesser, former, Hollywood "star"--who just shows up. The complications of an ex-husband [Dan] who now has a new girlfriend {Marja, and her son, Hugo] and soon to be baby.... Lila is just having trouble keeping it all together. Then there's the ghostly presence of Lila's dead mother, Francesca [who she loved and has "conversations" with]. And Bill's new companion, Penelope, a colorful person to say the least! And others: I loved Eleanor, Lila's best friend--combination of a hoot, and good advice giver and Anoushka, Lila's agent. Add in two men/potential love interests--Jensen and Gabriel -- phew!

Considering--the many characters were well drawn.

The story line keeps growing. A blended family and other difficulties--from finances to exes, to a teenage daughter in the midst of mean girls, to the deadbeat dad who just shows up complicating things--especially with Bill--considering they were both married to Francesca and are now living in the same house=-it's a lot to juggle! Moyes does it admirably.

Descriptions I liked:
"face like thunder"
"school playground can feel gladiatorial at the best of times..."
"smiling at him in the gooey way she does"

And some laugh out loud moments mixed in with the seriousness.

There were a few trajectories that I picked up on fairly early. Not a fan of the neat and tidy and predictable, but in this case I didn't care.
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3.75, rounding up because...

This book truly caught me by surprise. Lila Kennedy’s life is a mess—her marriage is broken, her daughters are spiraling, her house is falling apart, and now her estranged father shows up after decades away. It sounds overwhelming, but that’s what makes this story so real. Life isn’t perfect, and neither are the characters, which is exactly why I connected with them.

I loved how each character had their own quirks and struggles. The mother-daughter relationships felt so authentic, full of love, tension, and those little moments of understanding that stick with you. Gene, Lila’s father, stole my heart. Even with his messy past, he’s trying so hard to make things right. It’s a reminder that even the people you’ve written off can surprise you.

The book is a mix of sadness, humor, and hope, and it hit all the right notes for me. The author doesn’t shy away from flaws or imperfections, and that’s what makes the story so relatable. You see the beauty in these messy lives, and it makes you think about your own relationships.

This was such an engaging read, and I can’t wait to recommend it to friends. It’s heartfelt, honest, and sticks with you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A realistic view of a blended family moving through divorce, aging, and reconnections are woven throughout this story. Give the book time as it starts off slow and builds. Characters are all likable and seeing how they support one another is heart warming. Reading this each evening felt like having a phone conversation with a friend going through it. A bit predictable but still enjoyable.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

*We All Live Here* by Jojo Moyes is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that delves into the lives of residents in a housing estate. The story weaves together diverse characters, each grappling with their own struggles, desires, and secrets. Moyes’ writing is heartfelt and engaging, drawing readers into the intimate lives of ordinary people. As the characters’ paths cross, the novel explores themes of community, belonging, and resilience. The depth of emotion and insight into human connections make *We All Live Here* a compelling and resonant read, showcasing Moyes’ talent for crafting relatable, multifaceted characters.