One Plus One: A Novel Kindle Edition

I wasn't sure what to expect, as this is only the third Jojo Moyes book I've read. The first was Me Before You (which I adored), and the second, it's sequel, After You (which I found to be a very average story).Surprisingly, this book not only matched, but may have even exceeded, Me Before You. One Plus One is funny, heart-wrenching, heart-warming, hopeful, and it leaves one feeling complete and utter satisfaction at it's conclusion.It's not an action-packed novel...it's actually quite character driven. Thankfully, the characters come to life under Ms. Moyes' skilled pen.A truly enjoyable read!

I must admit this is a “romantic” novel that caught my fancy. The writing is spot on and the characters are fascinating. If you are looking for a great page-turner that does not insult your intelligence, read this book.The author gathers a group of misfits who have profound thoughts and talents. Money is the central issue, but it makes no claim on your class or station in this novel set in England.If anyone out there has juggled bills, “robbed Peter to pay Paul,” you can identify with Jess Thomas. She is a young mother whose husband, Marty, has left her because he is depressed. He sends her no money and yet she is sympathetic to his plight and safeguards his old Rolls in the garage. She also is the best mother to Tanzie, a 10 year old maths prodigy and Nicky, her stepson whose affinity for eye makeup sets him up to be bullied by the Fisher family, their crude neighbors. Jess works multiple jobs cleaning homes and tending bar to make ends meet, which they never do. She is the eternal optimist, however.Filling out the main cast is Ed Nicholls, a client of Jess, who is a software genius. He gets himself in trouble when he is accused of insider trading. This is the part of the book I really liked. Moyes takes on a sophisticated financial felony and presents it to the reader without making excuses. On one hand, the Thomas’ group, who are poor and living in government housing, is contrasted with rich Mr. Nicholls. He is a unique character, especially when he offers to drive them to Scotland for Tanzie to compete in a Math Olympiad. The long, long journey is riotous and the pluses and minuses as each misfit’s idiosyncrasies emerges.There is resolute sadness in the story, from death to heartbreak. Ms. Moyes holds it all together and gives us a quirky novel, which is thoughtful and cheery.

This is a novel about two struggling individuals crossing paths. The first and main character, Jess, is a single mother of two children and owns one oversized gassy dog struggling to make it on a cleaning woman's salary. In fact, she is in debt and can't pay for the basics. The other is Ed, a wealthy man working in the finance industry who inadvertently gives a tip to a lover and is being investigated for providing insider information. By circumstance he ends up on a long road trip (several days) to get Jess's math-whiz daughter to a contest that could mean her getting into a great private school. I began by admiring Jess and sympathizing with her efforts. She is hesitant at first to accept help from a stranger, but then her entire family, gross dog and all, become the passengers from hell assaulting Ed's senses. The dog farts make Ed gag, Jess plants bare feet on his dashboard, and one child plays loud games. The math whiz will get sick at speeds over 40 mph.The party encounters one preposterous disaster after another, and getting to the contest in time looks iffy. Incredibly, Ed and Jess develop a romantic interest. Jess's character traits were all over the place and my admiration for her waned. Some readers evidently found all of this funny, but about halfway through the only way I could continue to read was to squelch my interest about Jess's family's fate and whether this journey would end well or not.

This is my first book by Jojo Moyes, but it won't be my last. I tend to read nonfiction or mysteries but, like most women?, I need a romance every now and then, and there are two ways to go on that -- either you read the ones that are REALLY over the top, often with pirates or dukes' younger sons, or you go for the real-life there's-always-hope ones. When I was younger I enjoyed the bawdy ridiculous romances -- they made me laugh. Nowadays I look for stories about realistic people who have a good story, and One Plus One definitely fits into that category, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.Jess seems to lead a complicated life. She has two jobs to support her young daughter Tanzie who, it turns out, is very talented at math -- scholarship talented -- and Nicky, the teenage son from her husband's first marriage, a goth kid who's getting bullied. Oh, and Dad is out of the picture, having moved back in with his mother two years ago after a bit of a nervous collapse.Ed is a software guy who made a bundle but is now in some legal trouble and is pretty bitter about woman.Yes, these seem like realistic people, with good things and bad things in their lives. The chapters alternate between these two main characters until, as you'd expect, they meet up and, as you'd expect, they don't like each other very much. I can't point to any remarkable plot twists or exciting events, but Moyes is a talented writer who creates interesting characters and writes excellent dialogue. This is set in England so there are a few turns of phrase that might be unfamiliar, but nothing the reader can't figure out, and I think it's fun to see the differences and similarities of women who are trying to row leaky boats on both sides of the pond.The situations are funny, the ending is believable, and the attitude is optimistic, which I enjoy. I will definitely look for others by this author. They seem to have high ratings also, and it's always so fun to find a new author you like.

I've read and enjoyed most of Jojo Moyes' books and was pleased to get this one from my local library. By the time I was halfway through I didn't want to give it back! In fact I enjoyed it so much I bought a copy so I can read it again after a few months.As always, Moyes has created a cast of plausible and endearing characters. They're not perfect; they have weaknesses and make mistakes, there are consequences to their mistakes and they suffer as a result, besides also suffering due to chance events or the unkindness of others. But please don't think this is a depressing book - it's quite the opposite. I found it uplifting and optimistic. I really engaged with the characters and was desperate for things to work out well for them. It isn't schmaltzy, it doesn't give any overly-simplistic answers or solutions. It made me grin; it made me chuckle out loud; and it made me weep. My Mum read it after me and also loved it. I honestly can't remember being so gripped by the characters in a novel - I would t hesitate to recommend it.

This is a very different book to Jojo's usual, really good nonetheless.Story of an IT Geek Ed who gets involved in a financial scandal meeting Jess, his cleaner/barmaid struggling to make ends meet, two unlikely candidates for love but fate has other ideas. They embark on a road journey to Scotland with Jess's daughter Tanzie (a Maths genius), Nicky , a Goth and Norman, their big sloppy, drooling, smelly dog. What unfolds is a road journey which has me me laughing out loud along with some more serious moments when the the local bullies, the Fischers attack Nicky or Tanzie. In the end a mistake made by Jess which was done in desperation results in this cosy setup unraveling and the question is whether Ed and Jess can get past it?A lovely story about how love can sometimes be found in the most unlikeliest of places

A really lovely read. Go on, treat yourself to a bit of literary magic!! She's struggling with life - kids, relationships, jobs, a really bright kid and another who is really struggling with identity and other people. He makes a really serious error of judgement. Life unravels in very plausible ways for both central characters and both have "real issues" to deal with. Their stories are compelling and heartwarming because, in a world riddled with cant, doubt, hypocrisy and strident disbelief, here is a story that presents life as it should be and very much as we all want it to be. It encourages you to "keep the faith" that there are lots more of us good 'uns out there than there are crummy, spiteful, sh**eads intent on despoiling everything and hurting everyone. Me? I want to be in that other place where life is good and great things happen ... if you only believe they will. Enjoy it. I did!

Have read the earlier Moyles novels and found them to be good.This one is no exception,its about aspired lady and her children who have to go on a journey to try and secure a better future for her daughter who is a math whiz kid.She teams up with her employer and together they all embark on a long journey to the North of the country.As the story enfolds it will keep your interest as it gallops along at a good pace.I won't spoil the plot, it is better than I expected ,stayed up into the early hours reading it as I wanted to know what happens next.Good writer recommended story.

Having read and enjoyed Me Before You and The Ship of Brides, I thought I'd try another one by Jo-Jo. Well, I was really quite disappointed this time. I felt it was written by a 16 year old and like a soap opera, it was so predictable. I read it to the end as I don't like not finishing books but I won't be recommending it and it's made me unsure about buying any more of her books. Perhaps this one was a blip. I'm very surprised so many reviewers think it's 5 stars.