Fabulous read. A chaotic family house...at the heart of which is Lila. Jo Jo Moyes has created a likeable and relatable character in Lila. She is juggling a writing job, two ' father's, two children, a gardener, a husband who's left her and who's new partner is now pregnant, the clique at the school gates, a love rat....and so it goes on;!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, well written with characters that were well drawn and realistic.. I loved the epilogue which pulled all the strands together., a very satisfying read.
I had not previously read anything by this author and I will now definitely be reading the others

Book Review: We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes

Jojo Moyes, known for her heartfelt and nuanced storytelling, delivers yet another captivating novel with We All Live Here. This contemporary tale of family, relationships, and self-discovery is a delightful exploration of the challenges and triumphs that come with blended families, and it’s filled with the wit and warmth that readers have come to love from the author.

At the center of the story is Lila Kennedy, a woman whose life is far from the ideal she once wrote about in a bestselling book on keeping a marriage alive. Lila’s world is thrown into disarray when she discovers her ex-husband is building a life with another woman—and this woman happens to be at the same school pick-up every day. Her life, however, is also filled with a quirky and colorful household that includes her stepdad Bill, her rebellious daughter Celie, her hilarious nine-year-old Violet, and the ever-odd Truant, the dog who bites a famous American actor. It’s a mess, but it’s Lila’s mess.

Then there’s Gene, Lila’s estranged father, who shows up uninvited, stirring up old tensions and bringing a whirlwind of chaos with him. Though he’s never been a role model, his presence shifts the dynamics in the Kennedy household in unexpected ways. Gene, with his carefree spirit and disregard for conventions, becomes a catalyst for change—and as a result, Lila finds herself reassessing her life, her relationships, and, astonishingly, even starting to date again.

Moyes excels at creating richly layered characters who feel authentic and relatable. Lila is a complex and sympathetic protagonist, struggling to hold her family together while navigating the fallout from her past. The chaotic but endearing nature of her family creates a backdrop that is both humorous and poignant. Her daughters, each with their own unique personalities, add both heart and hilarity to the story.

We All Live Here is filled with both laugh-out-loud moments and deeply touching scenes. Moyes’ signature wit shines through, but it’s her ability to balance humor with the deeper, often difficult themes of family dynamics, personal growth, and forgiveness that truly sets this novel apart. The transformation of Lila’s family from a group of individuals barely holding it together to a more cohesive and supportive unit is heartwarming and relatable.

Moyes’ storytelling is rich in depth and emotion, and she tackles the complexities of family life with a refreshing honesty. The book explores the idea that family isn’t just about blood; it’s about connection, forgiveness, and the willingness to embrace change.

For fans of Me Before You and The Giver of Stars, We All Live Here offers another beautiful, character-driven narrative that leaves readers both uplifted and reflective. The way Moyes seamlessly weaves humor and heart into this story is masterful, and it’s the perfect read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking, feel-good novel.

Rating: 5/5
We All Live Here is a triumph, brimming with wit, wisdom, and a cast of lovable characters who will stay with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a celebration of the imperfect, messy, and wonderfully unpredictable nature of family. Jojo Moyes has once again created a book that is impossible to put down and impossible to forget.

This new family story from Jojo Moyes focuses on a low moment in Lila’s life. She’s a mother of two girls whose husband has left her for a younger woman (who also happens to be at school pick-up) and she’s recently lost her own mother. Her stepfather is also grieving and lonely, and seems to have practically moved in. Celie, her sixteen-year-old, is moody and withdrawn, and all of a sudden, Lila’s own absent father turns up out of the blue with a sob story. Her literary agent is pressuring her to deliver a manuscript, the bloody toilet is blocked (again), her bank account is practically empty and the plumber is probably ripping her off.
Nevermind, there’s always the hot new dad she’s just bumped into on the school run…
This is a lovely, character-led story about an extended/extending family told from several of the character’s perspectives, but predominantly Lila’s.
It’s a gentle novel with no surprise twists that’s all about forgiveness and growth. It’s incredibly readable (as you’d expect from Jojo Moyes) very entertaining and skips along at a good pace.
There’s a beautiful heart-wrenching moment in the school play near the end of the novel that brought a tear to my eye.
Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the review copy.
We All Live Here publishes on 11 February.

A fabulous book from Jojo Moyes, about modern blended multi generational chaotic family life!
Lila is a writer starting out on her next book, divorced and bringing up her two girls is a struggle, and after the death of her mother, her step dad Bill all but moves in to help out, cooking and cleaning for the family and fixing up what’s broken. When her real dad turns up out of the blue from Hollywood the chaos steps up a notch. Is it time she got to know her real dad?! Her best friend Eleanor has an exciting sex life, is this what Lila wants now?! Oh and there’s a mad dog….
Entertaining and enjoyable, this is a well written easy read. A thoughtful look at the modern world, family dynamics, kindness and generosity of spirit and sensitive to differences.
The characters are recognisable but a little predictable.
For me not her best book but a really good read that lightens the dark days of winter!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for the early read.

Lila wrote a best seller about how to keep a marriage alive after 15yrs. When Lila was promoting her book her husband left her, even worse, he left her for a younger women who is also a mum with a child at Lila's daughter's school so she has to see her everyday.
Lila is now a single parent who has to share her two girls with their father.
She has to share her home with her stepfather since her mother died suddenly. Her 16yr old daughter is having problems at school and the 9yr old , well she's verbally progressive for her age.

I honestly don't know how Lila is remaining on her feet and functioning. The poor women is carrying everyone's problems on her back as well as her own. She is tryng to write a sequel to her book, really because she needs money or she will have to sell her house. Enter her estranged father who also wants to share her house with her after years in America and no contact.
I so enjoyed this book, I think Jojo Moyes threw every family problem at it she could. There were also very funny bits through the story mostly from Lila's youngest child. And very poignant moments as Lila comes to terms with what her husband did and what her future will be.
Love Jojo Moyes and loved this book.

I love Jojo Moyes and this is no exception - she keeps getting better and better. This is a wonderful book full of chaotic warm and believable characters written with intelligence and empathy. It made me smile and brought a tear to my eyes too. Very much recommend - many thanks for the review copy.

Newly divorced Lila has her hands full. Her husband has left her for another woman (a woman she must face every day at school pick up), a teenager daughter that won’t speak to her and a depressed step father who appears to have moved on following her mother’s sudden passing. When her agent suggests her new book focuses on her romantic escapes as a single woman Lila wonders how to fabricate this information, as her life is far from romantic.

Complex intergenerational relationships that are delivered with humour and empathy. I was still thinking about this book long after I put it down. Highly recommend!

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for the early access in exchange for a review.
I love jojos books with me before you ranking very high in my top reads ever do I was very excited to read this .
As a 41 year old single mum I could relate a lot to Lila who is juggling life and its constant revolver of stress and chaos . Her eacapades are refreshing to read and comedic .
This is a fantastic book about a family and navigating life’s changes and how it shapes you individually and as a whole .
The characters are brilliant especially gene who is a breath of fresh air and I think we all need someone like him.
It’s funny , real , warm and filled with love and joy .
We all make mistakes in life but often the repercussions impact others and how do you pick yourself back up afterwards ?
Jojo creates great families in her books that you don’t want to leave at the end of the book .
A great story about family , friendships , hurt,lies and fresh starts .

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes is a heart-warming and humorous novel that delves into the complexities of family, resilience, and forgiveness. Lila Kennedy is juggling a lot – a broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a crumbling house, and an elderly stepfather who has quietly taken residence. Amidst this chaos, her estranged father, who left for Hollywood 35 years ago, suddenly reappears at her doorstep.

What's lovely about this book is its mainly populated by good-hearted characters trying their best without being unrealistic, balance that is helped along by the playground mums! . The interplay between the generations adds depth, and Moyes throws in some valuable life lessons along the way. The novel strikes a balance, with its character-led story making for a captivating yet amusing read and one that will resonate with any family that is outside the norm!

The pacing is excellent, keeping you hooked from start to finish. As someone who has read most of Jojo Moyes' previous books, you'll find that We All Live Here continues her tradition of delivering diverse storylines and enjoyable narratives,. There isn't one book by Moyes that hasn't left a positive impression over the years, and this one is no exception.

This is the story of an ordinary woman, tackling everyday life in the face of chaos.

I laughed, and cried, I ached for Lila at the mistakes I could see her making ,and celebrated when things went her way.

It’s a real treat, great characters, and fab story, Jojo Moyes you’ve done it again, I loved it!

Thanks to netgalley and michaeljbooks for the opportunity to read this early copy.

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.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so well written and I really felt like I got to know them. An absolute joy. Highly recommended!

I completely adored this book, which pulled me right out of a reading slump.

Lila is living a life she never expected or asked for. Following the publication of her best selling novel about how to stay married, her husband of 15 years upped and left her for his mistress. A few months later, Lila’s beloved mother has died following a tragic accident and Lila is left in her broken home (literally and figuratively), single in her 40s, with two daughters and her step-dad, who appears to have also moved in. Lila grew up without her dad in her life and who has been an absent father ever sincere - until he also shows up in the forested, needing somewhere to stay.

Now Lila has a house full of people, plumbers and gardener bills, a vintage car on the drive, no new book written all whilst is living the single life - well, vicariously through her best friend. What will come to a head first, whilst they are all living here?

Jojo is an incredible writer and this book just spoken to me as a woman in her 40s and the challenges that brings along with parents and kids and school emails and friendships! A fantastic and heartfelt read that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review.

After reading Me Before You, JoJo Moyes became one of my favourite go to authors - She has done it again, what a fantastic read!

The Kennedy Family - what a funny, witty, relatable dysfunctional family:

Lila currently residing with her ‘father’ and two daughters following the death of her mother and separation from Dan is barely holding it together.
A best selling author of ‘The Rebuild’ captures how to keep your marriage alive ironically as she’s separating from her own marriage.

Her daughters Celia is caught smoking weed, skipping school and navigating usual teenage school dramas with dislike towards Marja who’s currently pregnant and her dad’s new partner.
Violet an energetic 9year old full of whit.

Bill who drives them crazy and moved in with Lila following the death of her mother and tries to take care of them, is the epitome of health - well until his heart attack.

Gene is Lila’s biological dad who walked out on her and her mother years ago rocks up out of the blue and changes the dynamic of the Kennedy Household with lots of unanswered questions.

After all the chaos endured I want more - what happens next to the Kennedy’s?

Oh my goodness,my heart, I think I'm emotionally broken. This wonderful story will all the messy familial stuff has been the best thing I've read in a long time, Lila and Dan, Dan and Magda, Lila and Jenson, fathers, children all come together in a (finally) fantastic way

I really loved this book it was one of those reads that didn’t tax your brain as to who was who and what was going on but completely relied on some fabulous characters and a terrific story line that kept me hooked. I have read other books by this author but I must say I think this is my favourite so far and I just like the way it felt so real.
So beautiful writing, family relationships, teenage angst, and lots more what more could you want this book has it all!
My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Imagine your life flipping upside down,  losing the people you love in a matter of a year and everything that was holding you just disappears.

That's what happened with our heroine Lila. First, her husband decided to leave her for another woman shortly afterwards her mother passed away and then she was left alone with her two daughters Violet (8 years old) and Celie(16) to navigate single parenting and trying to finish her upcoming book which she has no idea what's going to be about yet.

On top of it, there's Bill her stepfather who's also grieving his wife moved in with her and then out of nowhere her biological father is back in the picture and Lila's life couldn't be more chaotic.
However, there's always light hidden in the darkness just waiting to be seen and this light could be so near.

I want to say first, congratulations to Jojo on another great novel. No one could write and navigate these kinds of stories like her. A dysfunctional family trying to find their way back to life and each other.
The struggles of single parenting and how Lila was dealing with the aftermath of everything that happened to her. We see her vulnerability, strength, motherhood, womanhood, and her discovering back her passion for love, life, and herself most importantly.
It's a great book that I think will capture the attention of many readers. My only intake is that the chapters were pretty long and the pace was super slow.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #WeAllLiveHere in exchange for my honest review.

'We All Live Here' is another great character driven novel by Jojo Moyes. Meet the Kennedys, an unconventional extended family whose members are doing their best to navigate the highs and lows of an often chaotic life. Jojo creates some beautiful characters here and it is a pleasure to follow the lives of Lila, her two dads and her daughters. A quirky, at times emotional and uplifting read!

Another amazing book by Jojo Moyes! I’ve yet to find a book that I don’t love by this author. A beautiful book about female friendships!!

A story full of relatable characters who are all the more endearing for their very human flaws.
It covers the navigation of new circumstances; and all the complexities that comes with that. It also shows both the joy and the frustration that comes with being part of any family, even more so when we are crossing multi- generations!
This was a book full of angst but also full of heart; it made me laugh but also made me feel sentimental. I'm sure we will all find a little bit of ourselves in this lovely book.