The Last Letter from Your Lover

A Novel

By: Jojo Moyes

Narrated by: Susan Lyons

Length: 15 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Major motion picture premiering on Netflix on July 23, starring Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley, and Callum Turner.

From the number one New York Times best-selling author of The Giver of Stars, a sophisticated, pause-resisting double love story spanning 40 years, and an unforgettable Brief Encounter for our times.

A sophisticated, pause-resisting double love story spanning 40 years-an unforgettable Brief Encounter for our times.

It is 1960. When Jennifer Stirling wakes up in the hospital, she can remember nothing-not the tragic car accident that put her there, not her husband, not even who she is. She feels like a stranger in her own life until she stumbles upon an impassioned letter, signed simply "B", asking her to leave her husband.

Years later, in 2003, a journalist named Ellie discovers the same enigmatic letter in a forgotten file in her newspaper's archives. She becomes obsessed by the story and hopeful that it can resurrect her faltering career. Perhaps if these lovers had a happy ending she will find one to her own complicated love life, too. Ellie's search will rewrite history and help her see the truth about her own modern romance.

A spellbinding, intoxicating love story with a knockout ending, The Last Letter from Your Lover will appeal to the listeners who have made One Day and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society best sellers.

©2011 Jojo Moyes (P)2011 Penguin

Critic reviews

"With its realistically complicated characters and emotionally complex plot, The Last Letter from Your Lover is hopelessly and hopefully romantic." (Chicago Tribune)

"Crafting a love story that feels not just compelling but true is a very difficult thing indeed - and yet, with The Last Letter from Your Lover, Jojo Moyes has done it twice. I found myself utterly transfixed by both sets of lovers in this marvelous novel. Moyes is a tremendously gifted storyteller, and I'm all admiration." (Paula McLain, New York Times best-selling author of The Paris Wife)

"A fabulous, emotional, and evocative book - perfect for anyone who loves Mad Men." (Sophie Kinsella, best-selling author of Confessions of a Shopaholic)

Pretty good...

The story was slow moving and at points I didn't want to stick with it. I did muddle through it though, and I'm glad I did. I liked the ending. Overall, I don't know that I would recommend it, but it wasn't bad either.

I'm a JoJo Moyes fan!

What can I say? I am a fan of all things JoJo Moyes, and The Last Letter from Your Lover did not disappoint. I have heard/seen/know, that this book is coming out as a movie soon; I’m not big on reading a book after watching a movie and am generally disappointed by movies, so I clambered to read this before I got sucked in by the big screen hype. So glad I did.

Without giving too much away, this is a love story, no big surprise there, but it is a bit unusual in that it spans several decades. Set in an era where women had no voice and were looked upon as empty-headed, judged for their beauty, grace, and ability to host a party, Jennifer Stirling is drowning in her life until she meets Boot, an arrogant, pretentious foreign correspondent who does not hold his tongue in front of upper society; Jennifer's world.

Predictably, the two fall for each other and, predictably, cannot be together. In a time where communication is the written word, letters are written back and forth, beautifully crafted words of longing and hope, desperation and sadness sent back and forth.

As with any good love story, there are insurmountable obstacles and near misses to the couple's happiness and the story ‘almost’ doesn’t end happily ever after. [People, it's a romance novel, it's required to end happily ever after; really.] There is an endearing underlying subplot set in the early 2000s wherein a budding journalist stumbles upon Jennifer and Boot's love letters and in order to save her career and quell her own curiosity, she hunts down the mysterious Jennifer and Boot, forty-years later. Oh, and of course she finds what presumably will be her happily ever after in doing so. It wouldn't be a good love story without this!

As fun as the book is, I’d rather discuss the writing style of Ms. Moyes. In today’s world of fast-paced, quick to press, speed over excellence, it is refreshing to read a well-crafted, grammatically correct, highbrow novel. One that is sexy without smut, hard-hitting without foul language, and intelligent without overreach.

If you are looking for an entertaining, yes, love story, that you could actually wrap your head around and fall into - The Last Letter from Your Lover is the ticket. Nope - I probably won’t watch the movie.

Just couldn’t get into it

I have loved every Jojo Moyes book I have read but this one just could not capture my interest. I kept trying and several hours into it, just stopped. Not sure if it is the odd tone of the narrator or the story itself. I’m sure it will pick up but I can’t even force myself to find out.

Takes a while for story to get off the ground

It’s a good story, and I would have enjoyed it more as a visual book, because there are so many flashbacks that it’s hard to keep up with where you are in the book if you’re listening.

Delightful story

There are still happy endings even in the midst of sorrow. Love the narration and story. Have listened to it twice now

Well written but unsatisfying

This story is a saga. I can’t say of what without giving spoilers. It’s lovely and heartbreaking and really challenges you to like some of the characters. The later chapters proved to be serious page-turners!

So good!!

Really enjoyed this one. Great story. Sad for it to end! Definitely a wonderful listen and highly recommend.

Couldn’t put it down!

This is the very first book I’ve allowed myself to become obsessed with for at least a year. I haven’t read a love story for a very long time, but when I watched the movie version on television recently, I found this and listened to the sample. Very quickly did I realize that Susan Lyons was a narrator whose voice I loved to listen to. Without a good narrator, I couldn’t have listened to this - I would of had to actually physically read the pages. I became lost in the vocabulary of the book itself, and found myself chuckling, having moments of sympathy, and empathy. Then, I also detected a hint of a mystery, although we knew Anthony and Jennifer quite well we still didn’t know what happened to them later on…I was so excited when I felt I solved it. I became lost in the 1960s from the descriptions. I could see the road that Anthony walked on to find the house. I could actually see the faces of the minor characters - friends, coworkers, business partners and even the secretaries and journalists. I love this so much I plan on buying copies for my family so they too can enjoy just how wonderful this book is. I never found a dull moment in it, either. If you are questioning whether or not to plunge into this, back into time, don’t hesitate. You won’t be disappointed.

For The Hopeless Romantic

Such a beautiful book with great character introductions. I will say it's imperative that readers/listeners start with the book first before watching the film adaptation as it may skew your character depiction. Both book and film are beautiful in their own piece. Jojo Moyes doesn't disappoint with this book. An excellent read for the hopeless romantic who still believes in true love.

another winner

loved the story, and really didn't want to stop listening! write a follow up because I love a happily ever after!