We all live here

Lila Kennedy made a name for herself writing a best-selling marriage book. Then her husband left her for another mum at school, and now that mum is pregnant, which makes school pick-ups really awkward. Lila has help, though. Her steady stepfather, Bill, has sort of moved in to their rambling north London home after her mother's sudden death. Then her estranged father, Gene, a cult-favorite actor on a Star Trek--like show, arrives, and he and Bill are not cohabiting well, though Gene has a surprisingly positive effect on her two children, Celie and Violet. Meanwhile, Lila has convinced her agent that she's got another book in her about her freewheeling, newly single life, despite her complete lack of a sex life. So Lila's best friend, Eleanor, who's going through her own sexual reawakening, convinces her to go out and get one. Moyes' latest (Someone Else's Shoes, 2023) is a charmer, and readers will root for Lila despite her many mistakes. Occasional chapters from 16-year-old Celie's perspective round out this funny exploration of family, midlife, and starting over.

A recently divorced writer juggles a chaotic full house, a struggling career, and a confusing romantic life. Lila Kennedy thought she had the perfect family--a loving mother, a doting stepfather, two wonderful daughters, and a great husband. She even wrote a self-help book about repairing a marriage, which was published a mere two weeks before her husband left her. After her own mother's sudden death, Lila finds herself an unexpected single mom with her health-nut stepfather, Bill, for a roommate. When her long-absent actor father, Gene, moves in, things go from crowded to chaotic. When Gene isn't talking about his memories of starring on aStar Trek--like television show, he's starting fights with Bill. Perhaps the worst part is that Lila's supposed to produce a new book about the unexpected direction her life has taken. She quickly finds that writing about her real-life romantic exploits (including the kind gardener Bill hired and the sexy single dad she lusts after at school pick-up) and the actual heartbreak that upended her family is easier said than done. Moyes creates a world that is believable and funny. It's hilarious to read about the distinct characters in Lila's life--such as her lentil-loving stepfather and egocentric biological father--interacting with each other. There's plenty of drama here, but none of it feels forced. It all comes from flawed people doing their best to coexist and making plenty of mistakes along the way. Moyes combines the warmth of an Annabel Monaghan rom-com with the humanity of a Catherine Newman novel, creating a story that will provoke tears and laughter. A moving, realistic look at one woman's post-divorce family life that manages to be both poignant and funny. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.