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A review by beate251
We All Live Here: A Novel by Jojo Moyes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for this ARC.
The Kennedys are a complex modern family: Mother Lila, 42, is an author who wrote a book about how to successfully keep a marriage alive, shortly before ex Dan left her for a new woman, with a baby on the way. Daughters Celie, 16, and Violet, 9, try to get used to the new dynamics in the house - grieving Grandad Bill, who is Lila's Stepdad, has moved in after the death of his wife, cooking ultra-healthy food that no one wants, and continuously barking dog Truant has cost them many a wine bottle to appease the neighbours. I think good noise-cancelling headphones might have been cheaper!
The cauldron comes to a boil when one day Lila's estranged Dad Gene turns up like nothing had happened, after having ignored the family for decades, upsetting not just Bill. He is a larger than life American actor who still talks about the one role that made him, is relentlessly cheerful and promptly gets bitten by grumpy Truant.
Lila is asked by her agent to write a second book, this time about her escapades being happily single. Between "fighting old men and emotionally volatile teenagers", Lila tries to keep a modicum of sanity and to actually go dating, but is smooth single Dad Gabriel the better option or kind gardener Jensen? A seasoned romance reader like myself could sniff out the better prospect immediately.
This is a well-written, pleasant read that draws you into a family with relatable topics like how to navigate angsty teenagers, daggers at dawn pensioners and your ex's new family but it loses points for being just a tad too long. I thought it was a random choice to include a few chapters in Celie's POV but I liked the inclusion of difficult topics in a light-hearted way, with Gene usually providing the comic relief. This is a tale about redemption and forgiveness that tugs at your heartstrings without being overly sweet.
The Kennedys are a complex modern family: Mother Lila, 42, is an author who wrote a book about how to successfully keep a marriage alive, shortly before ex Dan left her for a new woman, with a baby on the way. Daughters Celie, 16, and Violet, 9, try to get used to the new dynamics in the house - grieving Grandad Bill, who is Lila's Stepdad, has moved in after the death of his wife, cooking ultra-healthy food that no one wants, and continuously barking dog Truant has cost them many a wine bottle to appease the neighbours. I think good noise-cancelling headphones might have been cheaper!
The cauldron comes to a boil when one day Lila's estranged Dad Gene turns up like nothing had happened, after having ignored the family for decades, upsetting not just Bill. He is a larger than life American actor who still talks about the one role that made him, is relentlessly cheerful and promptly gets bitten by grumpy Truant.
Lila is asked by her agent to write a second book, this time about her escapades being happily single. Between "fighting old men and emotionally volatile teenagers", Lila tries to keep a modicum of sanity and to actually go dating, but is smooth single Dad Gabriel the better option or kind gardener Jensen? A seasoned romance reader like myself could sniff out the better prospect immediately.
This is a well-written, pleasant read that draws you into a family with relatable topics like how to navigate angsty teenagers, daggers at dawn pensioners and your ex's new family but it loses points for being just a tad too long. I thought it was a random choice to include a few chapters in Celie's POV but I liked the inclusion of difficult topics in a light-hearted way, with Gene usually providing the comic relief. This is a tale about redemption and forgiveness that tugs at your heartstrings without being overly sweet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment