The latest novel, We all live here by JoJo Moyes (JJM), 2025 provides a pleasant reading experience.
JJM, an English novelist and journalist is the queen of romcom and chick lit with a few bestsellers and one successful movie adaptation to her credit.
In her latest novel, she portrays the life of Lila for an eventful year. Lila, a novelist, finds that she has become a single parent unexpectedly. Her ex husband has married a young woman in the neighbourhood who is expecting his child. She and Lila are forced to meet each day at the school compound and tongues wag.
Lila has two daughters, one a sixteen-year old, to look after. Her step father is also living with them. Her mother died recently. Lila is coping and also trying to write her new novel. Things become complicated as
- her real father pays a visit and refuses to leave,
- her ex starts putting up outrageous demands as he cannot afford to look after his daughters.
- her step father's gardener starts taking an interest in her and
- Lila meets a gorgeous widower at the school pick-up.
In the ensuing chaos, Lila cancels her book contract but finally everything works out!
Women's fiction typically has a rush of characters and all the details of everyday life. It also has, usually, a final uplifting message. Readers can easily relate to these characters and also the complexities of our routines. JJM's style of writing is engaging with mild humour and lots of tea and biscuits thrown in. The writing takes the readers along.
it also makes you think about the modern family. It has few people with blood ties. Acquaintances and friends are easily accommodated. A common kitchen/ hearth and roof maketh the new family. Will this family also disappear over time, leaving just individuals surrounded by robots around?
