Still Me: A Novel by Jojo Moyes

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, a new book featuring her iconic heroine of Me Before You and After You, Louisa Clark

Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She steps into the world of the superrich, working for Leonard Gopnik and his much younger second wife, Agnes. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her new job and New York life.

As she begins to mix in New York high society, Lou meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. Before long, Lou finds herself torn between Fifth Avenue where she works and the treasure-filled vintage clothing store where she actually feels at home. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself: Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you reconcile a heart that lives in two places?

Funny, romantic, and poignant, Still Me follows Lou as she navigates how to stay true to herself, while pushing to live boldly in her brave new world.

my thoughts:

I absolutely LOVED Me Before You - the love story of Louisa Clark and Will Traynor that ends in heartache.  I enjoyed After You - reading about Lou post-Will - but didn't love it.  So, I was a bit skeptical when I heard there would be a third book, Still Me.  I didn't know what to expect or how we would find Lou.  So, when provided with the opportunity to find out, I immediately agreed to it.

Lou is now happily dating Sam.  Except they are long-distance dating, because she has decided to go away to NYC for a year.  She's found a job as a PA for the wife of a super rich man on the upper East Side.  The woman is disliked by the society set, has no friends, and is hated by her step-daughter.  Lou befriends her (or at least thinks she does) and begins to enjoy working for her.  She starts enjoying her new life in NYC.  Of course she misses Sam, but she knows that they love each other and it will all work out.  So she works, goes out, and lives her life.  And just as she thinks she's settled in, complications arise - personal and professional.  Soon, Lou is headed back to the UK and life is turning out to be not so lovely after all. 

Now, I will admit to loving the character of Lou, but I if I'm honest, we could have just left her with the last book, After You.  I feel like Still Me was unnecessary.  It shows that Lou still needs to grow up, trust herself, and discover what she loves - all of which make for a funny, but over the top read.  However, these are all things that Lou could have discovered in After You.  Why drag out the story of her character any longer?  Truthfully, I enjoyed bits of the story, but found it to be too much at times.  The more I read about Lou, the more I disliked her.  And in the end, I didn't really care what happened to her.  This book was a miss for me.



Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Jojo Moyes to the rescue!

I'm serious.  I'd been in a reading rut lately and this book cured me:

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

Jojo Moyes' latest, Paris For One & Other Stories (consists of one novella and eight short stories) was just what I needed to perk me right up and out of my 'lack of reading' doldrums.  The variety of stories to choose from and the lovely cover just seemed to call out to me suddenly.  So, I picked it up and settled down on a comfy chair with a huge cuppa next to me and dove right in.  I found myself following Nell as she navigated her way through a weekend trip to Paris in the title story, Paris For One.  She reminded me so much of an old friend of mine from college.  Careful, reliable, predictable, and constantly making 'pros and cons' lists.  Someone who you could depend on.  Except in this story, Nell is starting to get tired of being so reliable.  On a whim she makes plans for a romantic weekend away for her and Pete.  As the date for their getaway draws closer, she can't help but make little comments to remind everyone that she is going away.  And then the day is here and she's waiting for her boyfriend at the train station.  She texts him over and over.  The clock is ticking and the train is about to leave.  Her phone dings with a message from Pete - he's not going to make it.  Nell is upset, but texts him that she'll wait for him at the hotel.  Once in Paris, she finds herself stressing out over being all alone in a city where she doesn't speak the language.  She finds some courage and gets a taxi to take her to the hotel.  Unfortunately, the hotel has double booked her room and she is now sharing it with an loud, brash American woman.  Oh, and Nell has just found out that Pete won't be showing up at all - apparently, he can't get away from his job at a surf and scuba wear shop in November.  Hmm...this trip is not turning out as she had expected.  She decides she will get something to eat, go to bed and leave early in the morning for England.  She can't stay in Paris alone...or can she?  Maybe, Nell isn't so predictable after all.  Let's just say that Paris brings out another side to Nell - a more adventurous one.  I just loved reading all about it.  I loved walking the streets of Paris with her, shopping with her, dining with her, and meeting Fabien with her.  Oh, Fabien.  Seems that romance is in the air, just not with Pete.  And that is all I will say about Nell's story - which I LOVED.

As for the eight short stories - talk about a fun bunch.  They were all so different and yet some weren't all that different.  I'm not sure that makes sense, but when you read them you'll see what I mean.  I enjoyed each one and loved that they captured Moyes' signature style of romance, drama, witty banter, a little mischief, and relatable situations.  Her short stories captivate and entertain.  They make for such delightful reading.  I truly enjoyed devouring them all in one go.  They were just so good!  Some of my favorites are Crocodile Shoes, Last Year's Coat, and The Christmas List:

In Crocodile Shoes a woman learns that a fancy pair of shoes really can make a difference in your life.  Sam is at the gym, using up her membership that she can no longer afford.  Somehow her kitbag gets taken by mistake and the one she left with holds a pair of "red, crocodile-skin Christian Louboutin sling-backs."  Not exactly shoes Sam would wear.  Especially on a day when she has four meetings back-to-back.  Ugh!  What's she going to do? She can't show up in her gym shoes - ack!  Hmm...Louboutins to the rescue?  Apparently so.  Seems these shoes do more than add style to your appearance, they also speak volumes and wind up netting Sam three new accounts - Hurrah!  Maybe fancy shoes do belong in her wardrobe after all.

Last Year's Coat is about Evie and her desire for a new coat.  Well, she actually really needs one as her old one no longer has a lining and its freezing outside.  Except, the coat she is dying to purchase costs 185 pounds - yikes! That is more than she can afford at the moment.  Once upon a time, she would have easily bought the coat without a second thought.  Nowadays, her family's finances are budgeted down to the pence.  So, instead she makes do with her old coat and homemade cheese sandwiches for lunch, while all the women in Marketing plan mini-breaks, brag about new handbags and head out to lunch every day.  Evie tries to ignore it all, but can't help but feel frustrated that she can't even buy one new coat for herself.  Her husband tries to cheer her up and goes shopping with her to look for an affordable coat.  However, all Evie can think about is the 185 pound coat that screams "Buy me" every time she walks past it. And then one day she sees a SALE sign in the window.  Running into the store, she asks what the sale is.  Her coat is now half-price!!  Asking for a size 12, Evie is beyond excited.  And then she finds out that they sold their last size 12.  Deflated, she heads home in her old coat.  Seems that Evie isn't meant to get her dream coat...or is she?

The Christmas List is the last story in the book and my absolute favorite.  Chrissie is stressed out.  Its December 23rd and she's out finishing up her Christmas shopping.  The list is long, but she is determined to get it all done.  Of course, it doesn't help that her mother-in-law who hates her demands an expensive and hard-to-get perfume.  Or that her husband keeps texting her to remind her to buy the cheese that his mother loves from the only store she will eat it from. Chrissie is exhausted and anxious. So, when she sees a taxi, she jumps at the chance to put down her bags and take a few minutes break from walking and shopping.  The taxi driver soon becomes Chrissie's confidant as she shares her misery with him about her awful family who don't seem to even like her.  He listens as she stresses out over everything.  And then he offers to take her all over to finish up her shopping for free.  As the two continue chatting, Chrissie cheers up a little.  When her husband berates her over text for picking up the wrong dessert, she's had it with him and all the fussiness involved with planning their Christmas dinner. The idea of spending 10 days with her mother-in-law is just too much to handle.  The taxi driver asks her, "So what's keeping up?"  From that question on, Chrissie's mind is set on what she wants to do for Christmas.  And let me just say it doesn't involve her family.

Talk about feel-good short stories! These are simply the best! They are fun, engaging, and entertaining.  I absolutely loved spending the morning with them.  They made me laugh, smile, and tear up a bit.  And they cured my reading rut - hurrah!!  Thank you, Jojo Moyes!!

I would happily recommend Paris For One & Other Stories to fans of Jojo Moyes, fans of women's fiction, fans of short stories, and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!!




Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Book Mail...

Look what came in the post:

Hurrah! I just got a copy of the latest Jojo Moyes book and I can't wait to read it.  Apparently, there's a novella and eight short stories to get through - all of which I'm sure will make for a great reading experience.  I'm looking forward to sitting somewhere comfy with a huge cuppa and this lovely book in hand.  Until then, I'm off to listen to Lady Gaga's latest album while I write a list of everything that needs to be done BEFORE Halloween.  Hope you have a Spook-tastic week!

Happy reading!!

After You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In After You, Lou Clark is living with the loss of quadriplegic Will Traynor, her first love.  Without him, she's floundering - wondering if she has it in her to live the big life he envisioned for her.  After a startling accident, Lou ends up at home, convalescing with her family.  Lou can't help but feel she's right back where she started.  To propel herself forward, Lou attends meetings of the Moving On support group where she encounters Sam Fielding - a man who feels dangerously like someone she could fall in love with.  And just as Lou is getting back on track, a figure from Will's past shows up at her door, forcing her to fully confront her past and change the course of her future. 

my thoughts:

As a HUGE fan of Moyes' bestselling novel, Me Before You, I was excited to learn about the sequel, After You.  I wanted to find out what happened to Lou after she made her way to Paris - what adventures would she pursue?  Of course, I did have some reservations about a "part two".  Would this book even have the same emotional depth as the first - could it?  Should there even be a second book?  So many thoughts ran through my head, but regardless, I just knew that I had to read the book to find out.  Luckily, I was offered a copy and eagerly accepted it.  So, what did I think of the sequel?

Hmm...that's a hard question to answer.  Part of me loved falling into step with Moyes' terrific writing and engaging storytelling.  She really can spin a good yarn.  And I absolutely enjoyed being reunited with a cast of characters (the Clark family) that I remembered quite fondly from Me Before You.    However, that is all I liked about this new book.  In fact, if I'm honest, a sequel shouldn't have been written.  Finding Lou in such a terrible state was heartbreaking and sad, but understandable considering what she had been through with Will.  Grief can last for ages and can come in a variety of ways - I get that.  Yet, at the same time, I had expected more from Lou.  In the last novel she wound up in Paris about to embark on a new life - she had hope.  With this new story she has lost that hope.  She is a complete mess and living a non-life.  All she does is work, drink wine, think about Will, and sleep.  She hasn't seen her family in ages and pretty much keeps to herself.  Until she has an accident that leaves her in the care of her family.  From that point on, Lou's life becomes bogged down with one concern after another - each one seemingly more ridiculous than the last.  There is her crap job at an airport lounge where she is forced to clean the men's loo and wear a red wig.  There are her meetings at a grief support group which don't seem to be helping.  There is her family which is falling apart due to her mum's new found interest in feminism.  There is the new friend/boyfriend who may be just what she needs or not.  Oh, and there is the teen-aged brat who shows up declaring she is Will's daughter.  Yeah, all of that drama combined with Lou's recovery from her accident is just one cliché too many.  Seriously, it felt like Moyes couldn't decide what direction to go in, so she went in all of them.  I found the story to be rushed, predictable, and rather disappointing.  After You was definitely not what I had expected. 

I feel badly writing a negative review about this book.  Especially, as I love the author's writing.  However, I just don't believe that After You is a good read.  Its a story that was better left unwritten.  I'd rather remember Lou being on the brink of a new adventure in Paris, than the Lou we find in this story.  And for those fans of Me Before You, I hope you enjoy After You much more than I did. 

Look What I've Won...

How awesome is that?!  I've won a set of Jojo Moyes' novels thanks to Dolce Bellezza's fantastic giveaway!!! Hurrah!!!  I'm so excited!!  Now I just have to decide which book to read first. 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

about book:

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

my thoughts:

Jojo Moyes' novel, Me Before You, broke my heart. In fact, I'm still recovering - of course, I only just finished the book at 2am this morning - but I swear, this book really hits you in the heart.  This is a book that has you hooked from the first page and just won't let you go.  Soon enough you will find yourself getting rather emotionally invested in the lives of your two new favorite characters, Lou and Will.  Seriously, you will! Or at least I did.  I mean it, I just had to find out what was going to happen - I had so many questions swirling around in my head:  Would Lou blossom into a more confident and self-assured woman?  What happened to her in the maze? Would Will decide to forgo the plans he had made in Switzerland?  What types of adventures would Lou take Will on?  And, how long would it take for them both to realize how in love they were with one another?

Me Before You is an amazing novel that will have you thinking about life, love, death, and everything in between.  You will smile, cry, laugh, and sob as you read this unputdownable book.  And, you will be left with a sadness that will inspire you step back and take a look at your own life.  I swear, not only did this novel introduce me to Jojo Moyes' fantastic writing and storytelling, but it also pushed me to recognize the ways in which I've become rather complacent within my own life. Instead of adjusting my 40 before 40 list, I need to start crossing items off of it. Life is what you make of it, and I realized that I need to start making more of it.  I suppose I should send Moyes' a thank you letter for this book, because not only did it touch me, it also inspired me. 

Now, I know I didn't really delve into the subject matter or plot lines of the novel, but that was because I didn't want to ruin anything for those of you who haven't read this must-read book.  So, all I am going to say is that you must read this novel - I promise you will not be disappointed!  In fact, I'm pretty sure that you will be adding Moyes' other works to your shelves as a result. 

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Viking Press (an imprint of Penguin Group) for providing me with a copy of this book.