I can’t remember which one, but I recall reading a Jo Jo Moyes book back in 2014 when on holiday in Spain and I found it so boring and long, that I struggled to finish reading it. Had I been doing my book reviews back then sadly I probably would only have given it a 3 out of 10. This put me off reading her books and I ignored them completely as and when they came out.
‘Still Me’ however caught my eye because it was consistently appearing in the top 10 hardback chart, plus I had read a few good reviews on it myself. Therefore I decided to add it to my ‘To Read’ list and whilst holidaying in Cornwall a couple of weeks ago, I got the chance to read it.
So, ‘Still Me’ tells the story of Louisa Clark, a British Girl who appears to have had some tradegy in life, has been unlucky in love and is out of work. She’s recently met Sam, a paramedic amd there relationship is beginning to develop but Louisa gets the opportunity to work as an EA for the second (much younger) wife of New York millionaire and Philanthropist, Mr Gopnik.
Louisa and Sam agree that despite their budding relationship the job and location is right for Louisa and although there is a 3500 Miles between them, it is only for a year and they will make their relationship work.
Upon arrival at the Gopniks sumptuous apartment on the upper east side of Manhattan, Louisa is thrown into the frosty relationship between the new Mrs Gopnik, Mr Gopnik’s grown daughter and some of his staff. Mrs Gopnik feels lonely and looks to make Louisa her friend whilst also being very demanding of her. Despite the luxury apartment which Louisa also gets to live in, in the staff quarters, Louisa soon finds that the other tenants aren’t very friendly to each other or to her, in particularly, the Gopnik’s neighbour, Mrs De Witt and her dog Dean Martin.
Work wise things work well for Louisa to begin with and she attends lavish charity balls with the Gopnik’s and builds a good working relationship with Mrs Gopnik, however she misses Sam and longs for his visit. He comes over and she books a hotel for their long weekend with only one thing on her mind but when something doesn’t agree with Sam’s stomach their reunion is ruined as Sam is confined to the toilet. The relationship after this becomes strained especially when both mention to each other members of the opposite sex they have met through work. Added to this Mrs Gopnik starts asking Louisa to with draw cash on a daily basis from an atm to help allegedly pay to purchase a piano for a niece back in her native Poland and Louisa starts to learn more and more about her boss and her husband.
Things begin to unravel around Christmas time when Louisa and Sam split and Mr Gopnik fires Sam for stealing, despite Mrs Gopnik knowing more about it that would exonerate Louisa she doesn’t nothing to defend her EA. Not wanting to cause problems for her friend and boss, Louisa remains silent and sadly leaves the role she loves.
As Louisa’s life begins to spiral and her relationship with Mrs De Witt and Dean Martin improves, this feel good novel takes us through Louisa’s life as she settles into new things and goes in a different direction, as she tries to get things back on track. The question is will Sam and her rekindle their love for each other or will distance and fate keep them apart and will Mr Gopnik realise Louisa hasn’t stolen from the family and will Mrs Gopnik tell the truth.
‘Still Me’ is a feel good light read and it helped to redeem my faith in the ability of Jo Jo Moyes to write a good yarn. It is easy fodder as a holiday read and placed on your kindle (as it’s not a book that could become part of your furniture in my view) could be easily read as you sit and relax on a lounger chair of the promenade deck as you while you day away on board ship.
A 7 out of 10 rating for me on this and I’ll consider the next book by Moyes hoping that she will continue this upward projectory.
More information on Jo Jo and her books can be found at :
https://www.jojomoyes.com/
Happy Reading and as ever feel free to leave me a comment or query on the review.
Canberralover 😊😊
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