We All Live Here is a very Jojo Moyes book, and also feels very like the grown up sister to all the British "chick lit" books of the mid-aughts. This is what happened when middle age hit and real life oozed in with all its complications- divorce, dating in midlife, blending families, changing family and personal dynamics. It's very character driven and there are decent swaths where it feels like not so much happens (over 450 pages was excessive), but it has a big, warmhearted quality that makes this very cozy despite the more emotionally challenging bits.

I can’t tell if this is a me issue, because I am someone who enjoys family dramas but have been reading for escapism lately, and this isn’t an escapist read by any means. The book felt extremely slow to start and then I wasn’t really looking forward to picking it up— felt like a bit of a slog to me. But that could just be my current mental state.

I think if you enjoy her writing and enjoy family dramas, you’ll probably enjoy this one more than I did.

WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes (The Giver of Stars) was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for February 2025, but I was disappointed. I expected a light and rather happy read filled with humor, romance, and some self-reflection, like earlier works by Moyes (see Someone Else's Shoes or One Plus One, for example). Her latest, however, was filled with a dysfunctional family whose issues kept expanding with each new addition. At the center of the novel was single Mom, Lila. Her husband, Dan has left her for a younger woman – and, yes, they are having a baby. Then, there are the other children: a disgruntled teenager, Celie, and her younger sister, Violet. A character who deserved more empathy was their step-grandfather, Bill; he had been part of the family for thirty-five years, raising Lila from age seven and even now preparing meals and taking care of the family. Instead, Lila’s biological father, an often-drunk ne’er-do-well (yet another stereotype?) suddenly appears and moves in. Their house is falling apart, too, and so is Lila's work life. Poor Lila needed to say "Enough!" Sadly, she did not and that was the most disappointing part.

Jojo Moyes can do no wrong!

This one had major emotions and all the feels and Jojo handled this with grace! I felt it all, while also able to laugh. Ugh I loved it!

I love the family dramas that Jojo Moyes creates. Lila Kennedy is dealing with A LOT. Her cheating ex-husband, her her career sort of imploding, her wayward daughters, her home falling apart and her grieving stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. And then Lila really hits her limit when her biological father shows up unannounced after spending 35 years away in Hollywood.
There's a lot of love and forgiveness, laughter and family secrets in this story. It's a lovely ride and Lila couldn't be more relatable. There's even some romance thrown in and loads of life lessons. This story is one of Moyes' best.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this digital e-arc.*

Another great book by a wonderful author. It had a bit of sad, sweet, hopeful and humor all rolled into one. It was an enjoyable book as we followed Lila, who is a down-on-her-luck author and a recent divorcee. She is also trying to deal with her two children, an ex-husband, his pregnant new girlfriend (that she must see daily at school pick up)as well as two possible new beaus. Also did I mention her stepfather and her father are both suddenly living with her?
I enjoyed following her trials, tribulations, disappointments, and victories throughout the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

This novel was a longer one of Jojo Moyes's but it kept my attention the entire time and might just be one of my favorites of hers!

I don’t think anyone does better character development. I found myself so invested in every single character in this story, well except for one and when you read this you’ll know who I’m talking about. I loved that you get primarily Lila’s point of view but also some other chapters sprinkled in from other characters' POV too. This is less plot and more character led but I absolutely loved that.

Lila has two children and is coping with divorce. She got the family home and before she knows it both her fathers move in for a bit and I just LOVED this whole dynamic. I really enjoy family dramas but this one wasn’t so much a drama as a mix of drama and comedy, so dramedy? There’s school pick up drama, past issues arise, and Lila is also trying to write her next book. All of this really keeps you turning the pages!

I loved the themes explored, mainly what it’s like finding yourself after you thought your life was going to end up one way and now it’s completely different and also the power and strength in a blended family. This story ended just the way I’d hoped and I can’t wait for you to read it!

Definitely for fans of realistic and vulnerable leading ladies that have no idea how special they really are. Think Kate Winslet in The Holiday!

4.5 stars

We All Live Here is charming and heartwarming in every way possible. Lila is a single mother who is trying to get everything right in her life, but constantly hitting walls. The story is told mainly from her perspective, but we also get glimpses into what her teenage daughter Celie is going through.

While the book is long, it is also engaging the entire time and I thought about it even when I wasn't reading. It had a Maddie Dawson feel for me. I saw some things coming before they happened, but there were also a lot of surprise moments and unexpected situations that kept the story fresh and interesting. I definitely laughed from various parts, as well as some of the dialogue.

This is a genuine story and I am excited for it to be out in the world so that everyone has a chance to experience it!

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Lila: Hayley Atwell
Celie: Isabella Sermon
Bill: Bill Nighy
Gene: Christopher McDonald
Jensen: Ed Speleers
Gabriel: Theo James
Penelope: Jenny Agutter
Eleanor: Natasia Demetriou
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TW: Death of mother/grandmother (off page), medical situation, parental abandonment, infidelity, mean girl behavior

Sandy M’s review of We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
Women’s Fiction published by Pamela Dorman Books 11 Feb 25

Families – who among us doesn’t have issues with ours? Lila has her ups and downs with hers every time she blinks, all in a house that is falling down around her, just like her life, if you ask her about it all. Her days are mostly downs when you add everything together, from divorce to teenagers and long-lost, suddenly found fathers.

Not long after her self-help book about repairing marriage is a hit, her husband leaves her for the proverbial younger woman. That derails her next book, which then turns into a work of getting back on track, especially in the romance department. Her stepfather is gradually moving himself into her home, much to the dismay of her daughters who can’t take many more meals that include lentils. Then her biological father – who she hasn’t seen in decades – shows up, having not changed one whit and still riding high on his hit TV show from years before. And there’s plenty of other problems that rear their ugly heads as the entire family moves day by day into their new lives and relationships.

In the beginning I had a difficult time liking all of the characters. I feel for Gene, Lila’s aging actor father, just because of the way she treats him. Yes, maybe he deserves it, but, in the long run, you have only one father and why not get his side of everything. Of course, you have to feel for Lila when she gets news from her ex that twists the knife in the gut. Daughters who think they know everything, like most kids their age do, don’t help, especially now that Lila is a single mother herself. The romance she hopes for doesn’t end up being the one she wants, but she goes through the usual “you can’t see what’s right in front of you” for a while. So once all these “issues” are out in the open and you begin to see the change in family, love, and forgiveness, these characters pull at your emotions, all the way from anger to amazement, then laughter, and so much more.

Ms. Moyes always makes a reader think, and this story is no exception. Be sure to meet Lila and her family as soon as you can. Maybe then you’ll see your houseful in a different light.

Grade: B+

Master storyteller JoJo Moyes returns with an engaging, witty story of a woman with an untraditional, messy, blended family in WE ALL LIVE HERE.

About...

Things are not going well for Lila Kennedy. She's dealing with a broken marriage, two wayward daughters, each with their struggles, an elderly stepfather who has moved in, and her lifelong absent father who has suddenly reappeared. All these past and present relationships intertwine to create a rich and complex family dynamic.

Lila is an author, and her husband, Dan, has left her for a younger woman. why is her father turning up now after 35 years?

On top of this, how can she write about happy marriages when her world is in shambles?

My thoughts...

WE ALL LIVE HERE is a lively, character-driven family drama that's a story and a journey of self-discovery. It's filled with wit, humor, life lessons, complexities, and wisdom, offering a deeper understanding of the true meaning of family.

It's a heartwarming tale of love, loss, forgiveness, motherhood, marriage, compassion, and the brokenhearted. But above all, it's a story that inspires and gives hope, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

Recs...

For fans of JoJo Moyes, WE ALL LIVE HERE is a must-read. It shares the same compelling storytelling and deep exploration of human relationships that fans have come to love in Moyes' works. If you enjoy character-driven family dramas, this book is for you.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 11, 2025
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We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes is a heartfelt and relatable story about family, resilience, and second chances. With her signature blend of humor and emotional depth, Moyes crafts a touching narrative about a woman rebuilding her life amid chaos. The characters are compelling, the themes deeply resonant, and the story is both poignant and uplifting. Fans of Moyes’ work will find plenty to love in this moving tale of love, loss, and unexpected connections.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking Pamela Dorman Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Jojo Moyes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Lila has a lot going on. Her ex-husband is having a baby with the woman he left her for and she has to see her every day at school pickup. Her mother passed away and her stepfather has basically moved in with her and her two daughters, in a house that is becoming a money pit. She has writer's block for her new book, and then her biological dad turns back up.

As with all Moyes' books, this one will tug at your heartstrings. I love a good family drama and this book's many characters and their emotions felt real and relatable, These characters are dealing with a lot - grief, loss, uncertainty - but there are so many lighthearted, humorous moments along the way. It explores real family - those related to us and not - with all the ups and downs involved. I was always anxious to get back to this family and I already miss these characters, especially Gene who was such a hoot and was trying so hard to be better. A must read!

We all live here~this family drama with plenty of highs and lows. It’s a good thing the characters were developed so well you really needed something to draw you back. This felt like the longest book ever.

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes is a family drama about love, loss and just trying to make it through life. Lila has a lot going on - recently divorced, two daughters, trying to keep a writing career alive, her mom recently died and her step-father quietly moved in with them. When her dad who she hasn't seen in 35 years arrives at her door and asks to live with her she's almost at her breaking point. 

This was much more character-driven and seeing Lily try to keep everything going despite all of the chaos in her life. I would have liked this book a lot more if it was about 100 pages shorter - it was 464 pages and it unfortunately was way too long and the middle seemed to go on forever. 
I still enjoyed Jojo Moyes beautiful writing, but not enough to love this book. 

Thanks to Pamela Dorman books for my advanced copy!

Another really great read from a great storyteller. There are authors and then there are storytellers - they take you through a story giving you all the feels- making you feel as if you are listening to a treasured friend tell you her secrets!

This is one of those!

Lila is living through a chaotic stage of life. She's divorced, raising two teen daughters, her mother recently passed away and her stepfather has essentially moved in with them... and then her real father randomly appears on her doorstep and inserts himself into everyone's lives. More and more events challenges pop up for Lila as she juggles the girls' school activities, writing a new book, and exploring relationships after divorce. The characters in this story are unique and lovable.

I absolutely love Jojo Moyes's emotional and heartfelt books and this ranks among her best! It's the story of a family that, like all families, has a great deal of dysfunction, chaos, and stress. Unlike all families, they manage to get through it with love, grace, and forgiveness. I loved all the quirky characters and loved to spend a short bit of time with them. Very humorous, entertaining, and warm read.

A house, a broken marriage, loss, family, motherhood, and writing set the stage for JoJo Moyes' We All Live Here. Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate - her husband has left, her home is in disrepair, her stepfather has moved in, her lifelong absent father has shown back up, and her daughters have their own struggles. Life has thrown her some lemons and soured her to a degree, with all that she has on her plate, she is struggling.

I had high hopes for this character driven book and thought that this would be a slam dunk for me. But I found this book to be quite slow for the entire 464d page book. While slow does not generally work for me, I did enjoy how JoJo Moyes showed Lilia slowly taking those lemons, that have been hurled her way and figuratively making lemonade with them.

Many different forms of relationships are shown in this book and through them, Lilia begins to heal. I enjoyed the family drama; especially the drama caused by Lilia's eccentric father figures in this book. There are some fun moments, some hopeful moments, some sad moments, and some outlandish moments along the way. I just wished that things would move along at a much faster pace. While I enjoyed the sentiment of this book, it was still a struggle for this reader.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧
Thank you for the gifted copy @prha

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
Pub Date: Jan. 11th

Synopsis: Single mom Lila has a full house with her two kids, her elderly stepfather and her estranged father suddenly living under her roof.

Thoughts: An engaging family drama with complicated family dynamics, teenagers going through changes, and a single mom trying to begin dating again, this book has something relatable for everyone. I would have liked it to be a bit shorter - at 464 pages it didn’t keep my attention the whole time. A note on the audio: Jenna Coleman’s narration is great and the audio really helped me get through the slower parts!

Read this if you like:
🏡 family drama
🏡 multiple pov
🏡 character driven stories

This was a fun read about the chaotic life of Lila, a divorced mom of two daughters. Her house is a money pit, her dad and stepdad are both in her life, and her ex-husband's new wife is having a baby. And she owes her book agent an upbeat book - with some romance - about her life after divorce. Nothing life-changing, but most moms will find something to relate to in this book.