One Plus One

One Plus One
by Jojo Moyes

Genre:  Fiction
Published: 7/1/14 by Pamela Dorman Books
Pages:  384
Format:  Hardcover

My rating:
5 out of 5 stars







Jojo Moyes has done it again with this book!  I just loved it and found it be a very enjoyable read.  I would go so far as to say that this is the perfect summer beach read!  

This is definitely a romance novel, and while not typically my favorite genre, the story and the characters in this book are just great to read.  Jess is a poor single mother who can't seem to catch a break.  Ed is a rich, successful businessman who just made a mistake that could cost him everything.  A chance meeting on the side of the road turns into an unforgettable road trip, and inevitably a love story is born.

I read and loved Me Before You, Moyes' previous novel.  But I have to say that Me Before You is a bit of a downer.  One Plus One is much lighter and happier, though there are still moments that may cause a tear or two to fall.  I was a bit teary-eyed when I finished, but not because it was sad.  It was just a warm, fuzzy, happy feeling kind of cry.  In contrast with Me Before You, which had a fairly pessimistic view of life, One Plus One is full of hope and optimism for the future, even when things in life are not going well.  I wonder if Jojo Moyes thought about the opposite themes in these two books as she was writing them?  I found it to be an interesting contrast, and I enjoyed both stories.

I am pretty sure that I loved all the characters in One Plus One.  They were real, and their struggles felt real.  When the characters were struggling, I felt for them.  When they were happy, I celebrated too.  I would say that this is one of Jojo Moyes greatest strengths as a writer:  creating genuine characters that evoke your empathy.  

If you are looking for THE summer beach read of the year, look no further...this is your book!