Review of We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes – A Story of Family and Second Chances

We All Live Here is a slow-paced but heartfelt family drama about love, second chances, and the unexpected connections that bring people together.

Summary:

Lila Kennedy is juggling a failing career, a broken marriage, two rebellious daughters, a crumbling house, and an elderly stepfather who has seemingly moved in. Her love life is a mess, and just when things couldn’t get more chaotic, her estranged father—who abandoned her for Hollywood 35 years ago—shows up unannounced. Though she’s long believed she could never forgive him, his return forces her to rethink what love and family truly mean.

My Thoughts:

It’s been a few years since I picked up a book by Jojo Moyes, and I had high hopes for We All Live Here. The premise was promising—family drama, second chances, and the messy, complicated relationships that Moyes writes so well. Unfortunately, while the story itself had potential, the pacing didn’t quite work for me.

Lila Kennedy’s life is already chaotic—she’s dealing with a recent divorce, two challenging daughters, a house that’s constantly falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who has more or less moved in. Just when she thinks she’s at her limit, her estranged father, who ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago, suddenly reappears. This should have been the perfect setup for a compelling story about family, forgiveness, and unexpected connections.

The biggest issue for me was the pacing. After the initial setup, the story seemed to stall, with days blending into one another without much happening. The final quarter of the book finally picked up, and I enjoyed how things started coming together, but I found myself wishing the momentum had kicked in earlier.

That being said, there was still plenty to appreciate. I loved watching Lila’s life slowly transform—her growing romance, the way her extended family started to gel, and especially the heartwarming connections between the older and younger generations. The conclusion felt satisfying and believable, which left me with a positive overall impression despite the slow middle.

I’d recommend We All Live Here to readers who don’t mind a more leisurely pace and enjoy character-driven family dramas. While it wasn’t my favourite from Moyes, it still had her signature warmth and insight into relationships.

Another Book I’ve Reviewed Written by Jojo Moyes:

Someone Else’s Shoes