You know that feeling when you finally get your life into some kind of rhythm, and then the universe decides to toss a literal grenade into your living room? That is basically the vibe of We All Live Here, the newest release from the queen of emotional wreckage, Jojo Moyes.
Honestly, if you’ve been waiting for a sequel to Someone Else’s Shoes or hoping for another Me Before You tear-jerker, you might need to adjust your expectations just a smidge. This isn't just a romance. It’s a messy, loud, crowded house of a novel that feels almost uncomfortably relatable if you’ve ever had to care for an aging parent while simultaneously trying to stop your teenager from making life-altering mistakes.
Why We All Live Here Is the Jojo Moyes Next Book Everyone Is Stressing Over
The book officially hit shelves in February 2025, and it’s already sparking some pretty heated debates in book clubs. Some readers are calling it her most "mature" work yet, while others are just stressed out by the sheer amount of domestic chaos.
Let's talk about Lila Kennedy. She is our protagonist, and frankly, she’s exhausted.
Lila is a writer—which is a meta-touch from Moyes—whose life is essentially a series of fires she’s trying to put out with a water pistol. Her husband left her for a younger woman (classic, but painful), her career is wobbling, and her house is literally falling apart.
Then there’s the family situation. Lila's stepfather, Bill, has moved in. Her two daughters are dealing with their own brands of adolescent angst. And then, the kicker: her biological father, Gene, shows up after thirty-five years. He’s an aging actor who thinks he’s still a Hollywood hotshot, and he’s just as selfish as he was when he walked out.
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It’s a lot.
The Real Story Behind the Chaos
Most people assume a Jojo Moyes book is going to be a sweep-you-off-your-feet love story. While there is a romantic subplot involving a widowed architect named Jensen, that’s not really what this book is "about."
It is about the "sandwich generation."
It’s about that specific, suffocating pressure of being stuck between the needs of your children and the needs of your parents, all while trying to remember who you actually are. Moyes doesn't sugarcoat the resentment. Lila is often angry. She’s often petty. She’s human.
The title We All Live Here is almost a threat. It refers to the physical house where all these clashing personalities are forced to coexist, but it also points to the shared emotional space of a family that hasn't quite figured out how to forgive each other.
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What the Critics (and Your Friends) Are Saying
If you’re looking for a quick consensus, good luck. The reviews are all over the place, which is usually a sign of a book that’s actually doing something interesting.
- Marian Keyes called it the "best book she has ever written." High praise from the Irish queen of contemporary fiction.
- Jodi Picoult noted that "nobody writes women the way Jojo Moyes does," specifically focusing on the "invisible" feeling of being a middle-aged woman.
- Goodreads Reviewers are slightly more divided. Some find the 464-page count a bit bloated. Others are obsessed with the character of Bill (the stepfather) and the "play scene," which apparently is a standout moment of levity.
One thing that keeps coming up is the humor. Despite the heavy themes of divorce and abandonment, there’s a lot of "laugh-to-keep-from-crying" energy. It’s got that Annabel Monaghan or Catherine Newman vibe—smart, witty, and deeply grounded in the reality of soggy laundry and unpaid bills.
The Paperback and "New" Versions
If you’re a paperback-only reader, you’re playing the long game. While the hardcover and e-book versions launched in early 2025, the standard US paperback release is slated for February 10, 2026.
Mark your calendars.
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The Mystery of the Father Figure
One of the biggest talking points in the "Jojo Moyes next book" community—if we can call it that—is the dynamic between the two fathers. You have Bill, the man who stayed, and Gene, the man who left.
Without spoiling too much, there’s a lie at the center of their relationship that has some readers scratching their heads. Why did one lie to spare the other? Was it kindness or cowardice? Moyes doesn't give you a neat, tied-up-with-a-bow answer. She leaves it in that grey area where most real-life family drama lives.
Actionable Tips for the Jojo Moyes Superfan
If you're planning to dive into We All Live Here, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Don't expect Will Traynor. If you go in looking for a tragic hero, you’ll be disappointed. This is a story about the heroism of everyday endurance.
- Listen to the audiobook. Jenna Coleman (yes, Doctor Who and The Serpent fans) narrates it. Her British accent adds a layer of dry wit that some readers feel is missing from the prose alone.
- Read it with a friend. This is a "venting" book. You’re going to want to text someone about how much you want to shake Lila’s ex-husband or how much you love Bill.
- Look for the "Sandwich Generation" themes. If you are currently caring for kids and parents, keep a box of tissues nearby. Not for the romance, but for the validation.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or just looking for something to read on your commute, this novel proves that Moyes is moving away from the "tear-jerker" label and into something much more complex and, frankly, much more interesting.
The hardback is out now, the paperback lands in February 2026, and the conversation around Lila Kennedy is only just getting started. Grab a copy, settle in, and maybe prepare to feel a little seen.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Check your local library: Given the 2025 release, wait times for the e-book and hardcover should be stabilizing now.
- Join a digital book club: Sites like Goodreads and StoryGraph have active threads specifically debating the resolution of Lila’s family conflict.
- Pre-order the paperback: if you prefer the 2026 softcover edition, most major retailers have the pre-order links active now to ensure delivery on launch day.