32. One Plus One
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Recommended by:
Author: Jojo Moyes
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Info: 368 pages, published February 27, 2014
Format: Audio Book
Summary
One Plus One tells the story of everywoman Jess Thomas, a single-mom raising two kids, tortured goth teen Nicky who is being bullied at school, and his half-sister Tanzie, a math prodigy. Jess is working as a house cleaner when she meets Ed Nicholls, a technology millionaire, while cleaning his house in an English holiday town.
Their stories intertwine as they and their non-stop farting family dog all pile into Ed’s new Audi for a road trip to get Tanzie to a Maths competition in Aberdeen, Scotland. While each of them have a compelling tale, they all join together into an heart rending, well told story about family, trust, and love.
Quotes
“Because she knew that something happened to you when your mother didn’t hold you close, or tell you all the time that you were the best thing ever, or even notice when you were home: a little part of you sealed over. You didn’t need her. You didn’t need anyone. And without even knowing you were doing it, you waited. You waited for anyone who got close to you to see something they didn’t like in you, something they hadn’t initially seen, and to grow cold and disappear, too, like so much sea mist. Because there had to be something wrong, didn’t there, if even your own mother didn’t really love you?”
“Um, Jess?” “Not now, Nicky.” The police car was pulling over, too. Tanzie’s palms had begun to sweat. “It will all be fine.” “I guess this isn’t the time to tell you I brought my stash with me.”
“Jess’s grandmother had often said that the key to a happy life was a short memory.”
“This is the story of a family who didn’t fit in. A little girl who was a bit geeky and liked maths more than makeup. And a boy who liked makeup and didn’t fit into any tribes.”
“The only thing Jess really cared about were those two children and letting them know they were okay. Because even if the whole world was throwing rocks at you, if you had your mother at your back, you’d be okay. Some deep-rooted part of you would know you were loved. That you deserved to be loved.”
“You know, you spend your whole life feeling like you don’t quite fit in anywhere. And then you walk into a room one day, whether it’s at university or an office or some kind of club, and you just go, ‘Ah. There they are.’ And suddenly you feel at home.”
My Take
One Plus One was the second, but not last, Jojo Moyes book that I read as part of my quest. After really enjoying Me Before You and its sequel After You, I had high hopes for this book. I was not disappointed. Listening to the audio book (which had excellent voice work), I loved getting to know Jess, Ed, Nick and Tansie. They are three dimensional characters brought to life in an often hilarious, yet tender, portrait of a modern family. Even though you know that Jess and Ed will find a way to get together, you are elated when they finally do. Highly recommended.
