Tuesday 18 July 2017

The Last Letter From Your Lover

It took me quite a while to get in to this book. I'm not sure if my reading mojo isn't completely there at the moment or if it's the books themselves which just aren't doing it for me, there's been a few lately that I've struggled with.


The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes is split into three parts and once I got over the first, it was plain sailing, in fact, I couldn't wait to read on to find out what happened.

Set in two time periods, the 1960s and 2003, the book tells the story of Jennifer Stirling, a woman married to a wealthy man and living the life of luxury. When she falls in love with another man, she's risking everything she has.

Fast forward to 2003 and Ellie Haworth is dating a married man. Though she believes she's happy, deep down things aren't all what they seem.

Ellie is a journalist for a national newspaper and when she stumbles upon some love letters from the 1960s, both Jennifer's and Ellie's lives entwine.

I've become a fan of Jojo Moyes since reading Me Before You last year, and though it did take some time to get in to this book initially, I did enjoy it in the end and would recommend it.

If you want to know what else I've been reading lately, you can find a list in the sidebar. This shows all the books I've read this year and there's also lists of the books I've read right back to 2012.

34 comments:

  1. I've been finding that I don't always enjoy some of the books I've picked to read & if I can't get into it I just let it go now & find another. We all have different likes & dislikes so what I like won't necessarily be for others. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know that I should let some books go when I can't get into them, the problem is that I'd have missed out on some good books if I'd done that with them all. I actually enjoyed this book once I'd got over the first part.

      Delete
  2. I've heard differing views on this one. Die hard Jojo readers seem to be disappointed with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually thought it was quite good once I'd got over the first part, perhaps it's just a case of having to give it a chance.

      Delete
  3. I had mixed feelings when I read this book, it was ok but I think Me Before You is her best work by far, (so far).
    I was struggling with enjoying any book i picked up earlier in the year but I've been enjoying more lately. I think these things go in cycles depending on what frame of mind we are in and what other things we have going on. The Girl in The Glass Tower and What Alice Knew are a couple of books i've enjoyed recently, if you haven't read those have a look see if they appeal, sometimes a change of genre helps. Also i'm reading Obsession by Amanda Robson at the moment, I'm quite enjoying it. It's only 99p on Kindle now on Amazon so might be worth a look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree about Me Before You. I'm enjoying her other books but none of them live up to Me Before You. I'll definitely have a look at the books you mention, I've found some great books in the past from recommendations.

      Delete
  4. I have two Jojo Moyes books to read, Me Before You and After You.
    I've given up on three books recently, one I will return to but two I've already given away. I just couldn't get into them, and life is too short for books you don't enjoy. I read 100 pages and if I'm not enjoying it, I stop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me Before You is one of the best, if not the best, book I've read in a long time, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think 100 pages is giving a book enough of a chance to grip you, that's a good measure to go by.

      Delete
  5. Having discovered Jojo Moyes thanks to you last year I enjoy her modern writing style. However her books are very popular at the library and I normally have to wait ages for my ordered copy of anything. I've been lucky ate the charity shop and got 2 for 25p.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've read a few Jojo Moyes books now and I know she's a very popular author, I haven't managed to find any in stock at the library. What a great price for a couple of books at the charity shop, they charge anything from £1 per book upwards in the charity shops around here.

      Delete
  6. I liked this one, but as you said it was a bit slow going at first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that. Like you, I did enjoy it once it got going.

      Delete
  7. I've given up on a couple of books recently which I rarely do. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I rarely give up on books either. I'm glad I didn't give up on this one as it was good after the first part.

      Delete
    2. Never, never, never be ashamed to give up on a book. Sadly, we were taught at school (at least when I was there and our sons were there) to "finish" a book once we had started it. What rot. But there is absolutely no need! We'd not stick with a film or TV prog or a piece of music or even a meal we weren't enjoying, would we? There are far too many books out there that we might enjoy, so cast aside those you don't like and read something else! I don't mean cast aside those we must read for academic qualifications, say, only those we are reading for pleasure. Novels are to be enjoyed. It isn't that the book one is reading and not enjoying is necessarily a bad book, only it's not for us. Just put it down and move on.
      Margaret P

      Delete
    3. I have to say that I tend to stick with TV programmes and films too. To my mind, it's a case of giving things a chance to develop and I, mostly, end up enjoying them, as I did in this case. Once I start something, I usually want to see it through and find out how it ends.

      Delete
  8. This sounds like it could be a good read, Jo. Thank you for mentioning it.
    Margaret P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoyed it once it got going, though it was rather slow to start with.

      Delete
  9. Still haven't read a Moyes book, I have so many to read. Imogen saw the Me Before You film, but wasn't too impressed xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've managed to track down a few books by this author now. I saw Me Before You when it came out at the cinema but it was nowhere near as good as the book, it's my best read for a long time.

      Delete
  10. I love this author so will look up this book. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She's become very popular since Me Before You. I'm enjoying working my way through her books.

      Delete
  11. It is funny how some books take more getting into than others isn't it. I have found difficulty in the past, but I seem to be alright at the moment thankfully. Hope you are enjoying whatever you are reading now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I must have lost my reading mojo a little at the moment as I've found a few books hard to get in to, yet once I have, I've thoroughly enjoyed the books. I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of it again very soon.

      Delete
  12. I loved the book, could not put it down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just found the beginning a little slow but I enjoyed it once it got going.

      Delete
  13. Jojo Moyes is a popular author, but I haven't read any of her books ...yet!
    Interesting to read your thoughts here Jo.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me Before You was the first Jojo Moyes book I read and that was from a recommendation I read on a blog. I still haven't found that any of her other books match up to it though.

      Delete
  14. I really loved her book One Plus One. I thought it was so sweet and funny, kind of under-rated compared to her more popular books. I tried to read this one and just couldn't get into it myself. I might try it again. There's another one with horses that I wanted to like, but it didn't grab me. I can't even remember the name right now. I always enjoy your book reviews, Jo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoyed The One Plus One too but I haven't read the one about horses. This book's definitely worth persevering with, I enjoyed it once it got going.

      Delete
  15. I am struggling lately with all my book choices too, they all seem to be something of a slog. Must be a curse going around.xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose reading is more of a winter hobby really, it's nice to sit with a book by the fire, though I always love reading on holiday too when I'm able to just lounge about without feeling guilty.

      Delete
  16. I shall look out for this one. I like stories which cover a couple of different periods in time.
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought it was quite clever how the story covered both time periods. I'm reading another book at the moment which skips between times, though the gap is much larger this time, it goes right back to the eighteenth century.

      Delete