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A review by melcanread
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Honestly, at this point I think anything I read by JoJo Moyes might be given an automatic five star rating. There isn't a single book of hers that I've read where I haven't wept my eyes out.
It took me a little while to get into this one, though. I wasn't quite as hooked as I have been when reading about Lou and co. And I don't think the characters were quite as loveable. But once I started getting into the flow of this one, I couldn't put it down.
The problems that I have with this book are nitpickety, I think. Which, if that's all the problems are then you don't really have problems at all, do you? I thought Ed was infuriatingly generous for no apparent reason, and the two random references to the North Korean regime felt very out of place. But that's about it.
The good parts of this book were stereotypical good things that come with every JoJo Moyes book. The characters were well fleshed out and very realistic. The sense of familial love was strong and well described. The love between the main characters was very clear and easy to empathise with. Plus, I hated Marty with a passion, mostly because I have a father who is vaguely similar. Useless, pathetic and highkey disgusting. I also love how this book normalises blended families and how families aren't what you would traditionally think they were. It was nice to read a book for once that wasn't, "they fell in love, got married, had 2.5 kids and settled down in a well-to-do neighbourhood with enough money to last a lifetime." No, Jess had to make ends meet right from the start, whilst living in a council estate, whilst dealing with the local thugs. Hello? This is very British working class and reflective of the society we live in.
Also, JoJo Moyes' writing itself was flawless. There were multiple times throughout the book where I would have to put it down and process what I'd just read, whether it was something so digustingly romantic or heartbreakingly sad. "He kissed her and it was the kiss of utter certainty, the kind of kiss during which monarchs die and whole continents fall without you even noticing." Be still my beating heart. Please.
I love this woman. I love her work. Everything she writes turns to gold. Chef's kiss.
It took me a little while to get into this one, though. I wasn't quite as hooked as I have been when reading about Lou and co. And I don't think the characters were quite as loveable. But once I started getting into the flow of this one, I couldn't put it down.
The problems that I have with this book are nitpickety, I think. Which, if that's all the problems are then you don't really have problems at all, do you? I thought Ed was infuriatingly generous for no apparent reason, and the two random references to the North Korean regime felt very out of place. But that's about it.
The good parts of this book were stereotypical good things that come with every JoJo Moyes book. The characters were well fleshed out and very realistic. The sense of familial love was strong and well described. The love between the main characters was very clear and easy to empathise with. Plus, I hated Marty with a passion, mostly because I have a father who is vaguely similar. Useless, pathetic and highkey disgusting. I also love how this book normalises blended families and how families aren't what you would traditionally think they were. It was nice to read a book for once that wasn't, "they fell in love, got married, had 2.5 kids and settled down in a well-to-do neighbourhood with enough money to last a lifetime." No, Jess had to make ends meet right from the start, whilst living in a council estate, whilst dealing with the local thugs. Hello? This is very British working class and reflective of the society we live in.
Also, JoJo Moyes' writing itself was flawless. There were multiple times throughout the book where I would have to put it down and process what I'd just read, whether it was something so digustingly romantic or heartbreakingly sad. "He kissed her and it was the kiss of utter certainty, the kind of kiss during which monarchs die and whole continents fall without you even noticing." Be still my beating heart. Please.
I love this woman. I love her work. Everything she writes turns to gold. Chef's kiss.