We all live here: Another Jojo Moyes salve for the senses

A little bit of background📃

Jojo Moyes is one of my go-to authors when I am looking for a break from my usual dark and disturbing reads. Sure, her books are predictable and a little schmaltzy, but they are absolutely a comfort read for me. You can check out my review of the Jojo historical fiction titles I've read, her first book, Night music, and my favourite book to date, Someone else's shoes. I bloody love that book!

We all live here | Published February 2025 | Read May 2026

The story📖

Lila Kennedy is dealing with a lot stuff right now. Her husband has left her for a younger woman, and she has two different but equally challenging daughters, a house that is falling apart and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in after her mother passes away. Her writing career is stalled and her attempts at a post-divorce love life have not worked out so far. On top of all that, her biological father - a man she barely knows after he left her mother thirty-five years ago to pursue an acting career in Hollywood - suddenly appears on her doorstep.

My thoughts on the book💭

We all live here is classic Jojo Moyes. She excels at character development within the chick lit (ugh, that label!) genre. I instantly fell in love with Lila and all the eccentric, messed up people within her orbit. Sure, Lila does some dumb things and the story is predictable, but I went along for the ride and was completely immersed in the family drama. Moyes creates a realistic portrayal of families, of flawed humans, of mistakes, missteps, forgiveness, and forging new paths.

In sum📝

The madly dysfunctional family dynamics in We all live here made for a surprisingly witty and poignant story. All the flawed characters were entirely relatable and I felt wrapped in their warmth and the messiness of their human frailties. Bonus points for the hot gardener, his sense of humour, absence of toxic masculinity, and perseverance. Further bonus points for the comeuppance of the a***hole architect, preying on vulnerable women. Another Jojo Moyes gem!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐