Book review: Love, loss, and the power of family bonds

Jojo Moyes’ books have been bestsellers in 12 different countries. Picture: Claudia Janke/PA

• We All Live Here 
• Jojo Moyes 
• Michael Joseph, €15.99

We All Live Here is the latest book from Jojo Moyes, who has sold more than 57m books worldwide. 

It’s not hard to see why she’s such a global hit; she creates stories with relatable and memorable characters. She knows how to bring opposites together in a non-contrived way.

In her latest novel, we are introduced to the Kennedys. At the heart of the family is Lila and her two daughters Celie and Violet. 

Lila’s ex-husband Dan has moved out, and moved in with another mom from the school gates, Marja, who is pregnant with his child.

Lila and Dan’s marriage broke down as she was about to start promoting her bestseller, outlining her secrets to a successful marriage. 

Just months later Lila’s mom Francesca died unexpectedly in a tragic accident.

This double whammy has sent Lila spiralling, trying to come to terms with the loss of her mother and the very public end of her marriage.

But life moves on, and Lila is now writing a new book celebrating her single life. Except she isn’t celebrating her single life. 

Lila comes face to face with her husband’s mistress, and her growing belly, every day at the school gates when she is collecting her youngest daughter, Violet.

She is overwhelmed by grief and embarrassment, trying to maintain a facade for her daughters, and has welcomed her step dad, Bill, into their house. 

Bill, who is grieving too, but has taken over the day-to-day duties of feeding and managing the household. 

Into this tinderbox steps Gene, Lila’s long absent father, whose re-appearance triggers all Lila’s feelings of hurt, and Bill’s anger.

In his 70s, Gene is an actor and a free spirit. With his long hair and battered leather jacket, he exudes hippy vibes. 

But despite the upset his appearance initially causes, Gene’s unflappable nature and unexpectedly intuitive character provides the restart Lila and her family need.

Lila begins dating, Celie stands up to the mean girls in her class, Bill finds love again, and Violet gets to know her other granddad.

What Moyes does so well is wrap us up in the Kennedys’ world. We can feel Lila’s anxiety and stress, particularly when her new book plans run awry. 

We sympathise with Celie and cheer when she finds her spark through animation, with a little encouragement from Gene. 

We’re delighted for Bill as he meets kindred spirit Penelope, and lets go of the past.

The cast of supporting characters are also nicely fleshed out, from Lila’s best friend Eleanor and her potential love interests Jensen and Gabriel, to her ex-husband Dan and his new partner Marja. 

They don’t feel two dimensional, even if they’re only playing a supporting role.

By switching the narrative back and forth between Lila and her daughter Celie, we see the family environment from two sides, which is clever of Moyes.

It gives us a clearer lens through which to observe Gene. 

Celie was initially reluctant to develop a relationship with Gene but his resilient good-nature convinces her eventually, and we see how instrumental he is in lifting the spirits of the people in the house.

There are twists and turns in all of Moyes’ books, and We All Live Here is no different.

It’s a light, funny read with some deftly written characters, and I would defy anyone not to fall for Gene, who by the end, manages to charm everyone.