Lila Kennedy’s life is a total bin fire. Seriously.
Imagine writing a massive bestseller about how to "rebuild" a marriage, only for your husband to leave you for a younger woman basically the second the ink is dry on the contract. That’s the opening vibe of Jojo Moyes We All Live Here, and honestly? It’s the most relatable thing Moyes has ever written.
We’ve all been there—not necessarily with the cheating husband and the failed self-help book, but with that specific, suffocating feeling that everything is happening at once. Your house is literally falling apart. Your kids are acting like strangers. And then, just for a laugh, your long-lost dad shows up after 35 years of being a Hollywood "almost-star" and asks if he can crash on your couch.
It’s a lot.
But while Me Before You was the book that made us all sob into our pillows, We All Live Here (released February 11, 2025) is the book that makes us feel seen. It’s a messy, funny, and deeply British look at the "sandwich generation"—those of us stuck between raising prickly teenagers and caring for aging parents who didn't necessarily do a great job of raising us.
The Chaos of the Kennedy Household
At 42, Lila is juggling a ridiculous amount of emotional baggage. Her mother, Francesca, has recently died in a traffic accident. Her stepfather, Bill—who is wonderfully stiff, prissy, and obsessed with cooking weird lentil-based "nutritional" meals—has basically moved into her crumbling Victorian house in London.
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Then there’s the ex, Dan. He didn't just leave; he moved in with Marja, a woman from the school gate whose kid goes to school with Lila’s youngest, Violet.
Moyes is a master at the "school gate" politics. If you’ve ever had to stand in a playground trying to avoid eye contact with someone who ruined your life while simultaneously making sure your kid hasn't lost their jumper, you'll feel this in your bones.
The arrival of Gene, Lila’s biological father, is the catalyst that turns a bad situation into a full-blown crisis. Gene is a former TV actor who ran off to Hollywood decades ago. He’s charming, unreliable, and immediately gets bitten by the family dog.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Romance"
A lot of readers go into a Jojo Moyes book expecting a straightforward love story. But We All Live Here isn't really a romance, even if there are two very different men vying for Lila’s attention.
- Gabriel Mallory: The "breadcrumber." He’s a suave, award-winning architect and fellow single dad. He’s the guy who flirts enough to keep you interested but never actually follows through. He’s the "lure" of what Lila thinks she wants.
- Jensen Phillips: The gardener. He’s quiet, thoughtful, and has his own history of mental health struggles. He’s in the backyard building a memorial garden for Lila’s late mother.
The interesting thing here is how Moyes handles Lila’s career. Her agent, Anoushka, is desperate for a "sexy" follow-up book. Lila, who is currently living in a house full of elderly men and moody teenagers, has zero "sexy" material.
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So, she does something desperate. She writes a chapter based on a tender, consensual night she spends with Jensen. It’s a massive betrayal of privacy, and when Jensen finds out, it’s heartbreaking. It reminds us that even "good" characters like Lila can be incredibly selfish when they’re under pressure.
Why This Book Hits Differently in 2026
We’re living in an era where "chosen family" is a phrase we use a lot, but Moyes shows the actual, gritty work of it. It’s not just about picking your friends; it’s about the people you’re stuck with.
The dynamic between Bill (the stepfather who did the work) and Gene (the biological father who wants the credit) is the heart of the story. Bill’s resentment is palpable. He’s the one who picked up the pieces when Gene vanished 35 years ago. Watching these two elderly men navigate their shared history while living under one roof is both hilarious and devastating.
The Realistic Side of Forgiveness
One thing Moyes gets absolutely right is that forgiveness isn't a "one-and-done" deal. It’s a process.
Lila doesn't just hug Gene and forget the 35 years he was gone. She simmers. She snaps. She treats him with a "well-earned resentment," as many critics have noted. But as the story progresses—through school plays, heart attacks, and crumbling plumbing—the definition of "family" shifts.
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It becomes less about bloodlines and more about who shows up when the tree falls down in the backyard.
Actionable Insights for Readers and Writers
If you’re picking up We All Live Here, or if you’re a writer trying to understand why Jojo Moyes remains a titan of the genre, here are a few things to look out for:
- Watch the Pacing: Some readers find the middle a bit slow, but that’s because Moyes is building the "domestic load." The slow build makes the eventual payoff—where the family finally "gels"—feel earned rather than forced.
- The "Dual Perspective" Trick: Moyes occasionally switches to the perspective of Celie, Lila’s teenage daughter. This is crucial. It shows that while Lila feels like the world is revolving around her crisis, her kids are going through their own parallel traumas with bullying and friend-group shifts.
- The Power of the "Un-Hero": Lila isn't always likable. She’s cranky. She makes bad decisions for money. She’s a "woman of a certain age" who feels invisible. Embrace that. It’s what makes the book human.
How to Get the Most Out of the Story
If you haven't read it yet, pay attention to the setting. The Victorian house in London is almost a character itself. As the house gets repaired, the family starts to mend. It’s a classic literary device, but Moyes uses it with a light touch.
Don't expect a "perfect" ending where every problem is solved. The ending is a "looser, stronger weave." People move out, new relationships form, and the chaos continues—but it’s a manageable kind of chaos.
Key Takeaways for Your Next Book Club:
- Discuss the "breadcrumbing" behavior of Gabriel vs. the steady care of Jensen.
- Look at the secret Francesca kept (the Dublin trip) and how it changes the perspective on Bill and Gene.
- Compare Lila's "failed" self-help book The Rebuild with the actual rebuilding she does in the novel.
Ultimately, We All Live Here is a reminder that you can’t always choose who you live with, but you can choose how you treat them when the roof starts leaking.