"Her characters have enough vulnerability to make them real, but with enough dysfunction that we are glad to be ourselves as we read about their lives." Miki

 

One single mom. One chaotic family. One quirky stranger. One irresistible love story from the New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You


American audiences have fallen in love with Jojo Moyes. Ever since she debuted Stateside she has captivated readers and reviewers alike, and hit the New York Times bestseller list with the word-of-mouth sensation Me Before You. Now, with One Plus One, she’s written another contemporary opposites-attract love story.

Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied, and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight in shining armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe ever.

One Plus One is Jojo Moyes at her astounding best. You’ll laugh, you’ll weep, and when you flip the last page, you’ll want to start all over again.

Miki says:
"It is no secret around here that I am a huge fan of Jojo Moyes. I have been recommending Me Before You to anyone who crosses my path. Luckily for those around me, I have a new book to talk about.

One Plus One is the newest novel by Jojo Moyes, bringing us a brand new story filled to the brim with those quirky, train wreck type characters that we have grown so fond of in her writing. Moyes has a wonderful way of creating characters that are totally crazy, sometimes tragic, but not so much so that we can’t relate. Her characters have enough vulnerability to make them real, but with enough dysfunction that we are glad to be ourselves as we read about their lives.

In this novel, we meet Jess, a single mom raising her nerdy daughter and outcast step-son. Their father has walked out on them, leaving them to deal with the financial mess he has left in his wake. Jess is forced to pick up the pieces by picking up after other people. At one of her housekeeping jobs, she comes across the rather wealthy and rude Ed Nicholls. Once their paths cross, Jess finds that their lives will continue to crisscross.

Although Jess and Ed’s lives are the main focus of the novel, Tanzie, Jess’s math whiz daughter, is really the scene stealer in this novel. Jess goes on a mission to get Tanzie to a math competition in Scotland in order to get a scholarship for an elite school they cannot afford. While Jess’s struggle to do right by her kids is a fantastic story, it is Tanzie’s observations and naiveté really make the novel a delight to read.

I really enjoyed this novel and will happily recommend yet another Moyes novel to anyone willing to listen."