Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo MoyesPublication Date: July 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cross-Generational Romance
Pages: Hardcover, 400pp
ISBN-13: 9780670022809
ISBN: 0670022802
(Received for an honest review from Pamela Dorman/Viking)
Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Jojo Moyes on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter
Synopsis:
A sophisticated, page-turning double love story spanning forty years-an unforgettable Brief Encounter for our times.
It is 1960. When Jennifer Stirling wakes up in the hospital, she can remember nothing-not the tragic car accident that put her there, not her husband, not even who she is. She feels like a stranger in her own life until she stumbles upon an impassioned letter, signed simply "B", asking her to leave her husband.
Years later, in 2003, a journalist named Ellie discovers the same enigmatic letter in a forgotten file in her newspaper's archives. She becomes obsessed by the story and hopeful that it can resurrect her faltering career. Perhaps if these lovers had a happy ending she will find one to her own complicated love life, too. Ellie's search will rewrite history and help her see the truth about her own modern romance.
A spellbinding, intoxicating love story with a knockout ending, The Last Letter from Your Lover will appeal to the readers who have made One Day and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society bestsellers.
Book Trailer:
Thoughts:
British author Jojo Moyes brings readers a cross-generational love story spanning forty years in her latest novel, The Last Letter from your Lover. Romance fans will love Moyes' ability to bring these two love stories together and intertwine them with each other. With complex characters and a strong sense of feeling, this is novel that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned. Using old love letters and a mysterious man with the initial "B", Moyes is able to build tension and anticipation for readers who are looking for something deep and meaningful.
In a 1960 hospital, a young woman named Jennifer Stirling wakes up from a terrible accident she is unable to remember. Amnesia leaves her feeling lost and unsure of herself, her memories are slow in returning and she doesn't understand why she can't seem to feel anything for her husband. When Jennifer finds a mysterious love letter from someone who uses the initial "B", everything starts to make sense. Her husband, a wealthy man, who made his fortune in the war torn Congo, isn't the man she's in love with at all. There was someone else and the love they share is much stronger than she ever thought possible. In 2003, a young journalist, Ellie Haworth is looking for a story that will solidify her career, when she stumbles across the letters between "B" and Jennifer. As she starts to research their love story to see if there is a happy ending she is hoping to find answers to her own problems with a married lover.
Jojo Moyes has created a novel that will leave readers with a lot of different emotions. I think one of the strengths of this author is her ability to evoke feelings from the reader that are unexpected and thought provoking. In The Last Letter from your Lover, Moyes tackles infidelity and true love and how sometimes it's possible for the two to co-exist. I was somewhat skeptical when I started the book, because I am not a proponent of extra-marital affairs, but I do realize that this is common and something that many readers can identify with.
Moyes does a fantastic job of giving the reader a glimpse into the heart and soul of someone who finds themselves married to someone they don't love. I thought it was poignant and compelling and it made me consider the fact that true love exists and often refuses to be stifled even when the circumstances are against it. Readers will find themselves thinking about whether these relationships are good or bad or if there could be a middle ground and I think that's the hallmark of a great author. Great authors make you think about things in new ways and Moyes definitely does that in this one.
Jennifer's story was the crux of the whole novel. Though Ellie had a great part in bringing the story to fruition, it is the love that Jennifer shares with her mystery lover that drives the book and holds the interest of the reader. Jennifer appears to be a woman who finds herself in a difficult position. This is the 1960's and she doesn't have a lot of choices, unlike women in today's society. She is portrayed as beautiful, thoughtful and loving, she doesn't come across as a woman who is used to betrayal or immorality, which makes her a very compelling character. Ellie on the other hand is a little on the annoying side. She is not as grounded as Jennifer and her relationship with her own married lover does not seem as romantic or engaging as does Jennifer's. However, Ellie's love story is probably more realistic. I loved the way the author was able to tie the two love stories together and make each one necessary to the story.
The ending of the novel was not predictable. It was very emotional and I had tears in my eyes as I finished it. Moyes does such a wonderful job of bringing the story to a close and leaving the reader with a sense of peace and feeling that the book ended as it should, even if it wasn't what they wanted. It is a fast-paced novel that draws the reader in quickly and doesn't let go. I recommend it to all of my romance fans! This is definitely a novel you don't want to miss, I'm glad I took the chance to see if it was something I would like. The plot is moving and brings up a lot of questions and I know readers will appreciate that.
The Last Letter from your Lover is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
Please join me later today for a guest post and giveaway with author Jojo Moyes!
Jojo Moyes was raised in London. She writes for The Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, Red, and Woman & Home. She's married to Charles Arthur, the technology editor of The Guardian. They live with their three children on a farm in Essex, England.
British author Jojo Moyes brings readers a cross-generational love story spanning forty years in her latest novel, The Last Letter from your Lover. Romance fans will love Moyes' ability to bring these two love stories together and intertwine them with each other. With complex characters and a strong sense of feeling, this is novel that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned. Using old love letters and a mysterious man with the initial "B", Moyes is able to build tension and anticipation for readers who are looking for something deep and meaningful.
In a 1960 hospital, a young woman named Jennifer Stirling wakes up from a terrible accident she is unable to remember. Amnesia leaves her feeling lost and unsure of herself, her memories are slow in returning and she doesn't understand why she can't seem to feel anything for her husband. When Jennifer finds a mysterious love letter from someone who uses the initial "B", everything starts to make sense. Her husband, a wealthy man, who made his fortune in the war torn Congo, isn't the man she's in love with at all. There was someone else and the love they share is much stronger than she ever thought possible. In 2003, a young journalist, Ellie Haworth is looking for a story that will solidify her career, when she stumbles across the letters between "B" and Jennifer. As she starts to research their love story to see if there is a happy ending she is hoping to find answers to her own problems with a married lover.
Jojo Moyes has created a novel that will leave readers with a lot of different emotions. I think one of the strengths of this author is her ability to evoke feelings from the reader that are unexpected and thought provoking. In The Last Letter from your Lover, Moyes tackles infidelity and true love and how sometimes it's possible for the two to co-exist. I was somewhat skeptical when I started the book, because I am not a proponent of extra-marital affairs, but I do realize that this is common and something that many readers can identify with.
Moyes does a fantastic job of giving the reader a glimpse into the heart and soul of someone who finds themselves married to someone they don't love. I thought it was poignant and compelling and it made me consider the fact that true love exists and often refuses to be stifled even when the circumstances are against it. Readers will find themselves thinking about whether these relationships are good or bad or if there could be a middle ground and I think that's the hallmark of a great author. Great authors make you think about things in new ways and Moyes definitely does that in this one.
Jennifer's story was the crux of the whole novel. Though Ellie had a great part in bringing the story to fruition, it is the love that Jennifer shares with her mystery lover that drives the book and holds the interest of the reader. Jennifer appears to be a woman who finds herself in a difficult position. This is the 1960's and she doesn't have a lot of choices, unlike women in today's society. She is portrayed as beautiful, thoughtful and loving, she doesn't come across as a woman who is used to betrayal or immorality, which makes her a very compelling character. Ellie on the other hand is a little on the annoying side. She is not as grounded as Jennifer and her relationship with her own married lover does not seem as romantic or engaging as does Jennifer's. However, Ellie's love story is probably more realistic. I loved the way the author was able to tie the two love stories together and make each one necessary to the story.
The ending of the novel was not predictable. It was very emotional and I had tears in my eyes as I finished it. Moyes does such a wonderful job of bringing the story to a close and leaving the reader with a sense of peace and feeling that the book ended as it should, even if it wasn't what they wanted. It is a fast-paced novel that draws the reader in quickly and doesn't let go. I recommend it to all of my romance fans! This is definitely a novel you don't want to miss, I'm glad I took the chance to see if it was something I would like. The plot is moving and brings up a lot of questions and I know readers will appreciate that.
The Last Letter from your Lover is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
Please join me later today for a guest post and giveaway with author Jojo Moyes!
Jojo Moyes was raised in London. She writes for The Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail, Red, and Woman & Home. She's married to Charles Arthur, the technology editor of The Guardian. They live with their three children on a farm in Essex, England.
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