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A sophisticated, page-turning double love story spanning forty 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 readers who have made One Day and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society bestsellers.
A prize-winning, cross-generational love story of missed connections and delayed gratification hits a seam of pure romantic gold.
Star-crossed is an understatement for the ill-fated love between trophy wife Jennifer Stirling and hard-drinking journalist Anthony O'Hare in British writer Moyes' cleverly constructed, cliffhanger-strewn tale of heartache in two strikingly different eras. Jennifer and Anthony meet in the South of France in that strait-laced time just before the 1960s blew social conventions apart. Jennifer, married to a powerful businessman whose fortunes derive from asbestos, is a Grace Kelly look-alike, beautiful and seemingly blessed with a perfect life. But as the story opens with her attempts to reconstruct her existence after post–traffic-accident amnesia it becomes apparent that her marriage has a cold heart compared to recently experienced passion. Held back by convention and fear, she hesitates to grasp her first chance at happiness. Later, other and larger impediments stand between the two lovers whose commitment finds expression in letters which come to light again 40 years later in the library of a relocated newspaper. Journalist Ellie Haworth, involved with a married man, is moved by the words and starts to piece the story together, in the process coming to a different understanding of what love really means.
A nicely judged sense of period and the author's full-blooded commitment lend heartfelt emotion to simple characters in a tour de force of its kind.
Amai66
Posted September 6, 2011
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This beautiful poignant story is not a light-weight romance but an emotional roller coaster with lots of exciting twists and turns that won't allow you to put the book down In 1960, Jennifer Stirling had an accident and woke up with no memory of her past. When she tried to fit into her mysterious life, everything seemed like a distant dream, including her husband. She stumbled onto some passionate love letters addressed to her from "Boot". The excitement begins here. It's so worth your time. Don't miss this one!
6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 8, 2011
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I really loved this book - Very good plot line and nice characters. It went along at a good pace. It was very enjoyable. I highly recommend it! THE CHATEAU by CD SWANSON was also a fantastic read! I loved it! Great herione, great storyline - twists and turns and surprised all throughout the book. Easy read, and I never saw any of what happened coming! Good romance and good action! I highly recommend it!!!
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 7, 2011
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Jojo Moyes is a fantastic writer. This is my first book I read and I enjoyed it.
6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 4, 2012
I guess when I was eyeing this book, my mind was thinking of the movie An Affair to Remember. I didn't quite feel the pull at my heartstrings with this story though, so I was a little disappointed. I thought the romance that developed between Boot & Jenny dragged on too long; the same passion and love they felt for each other could have been conveyed in a shorter amount of writing. Maybe the author was putting more time into explaining the content, the culture, societial views, expectations of that past time, but I wanted the storyline to move. The only emotional attachment I felt was for the love letters but not much for the characters. The last third of the book was what I was waiting for; it had the sparks, the romance, the thrilling anticipation, and got you involved. I enjoyed this pair's romance and story much much more. I liked how the author tied everything together, the differences and the similiarities between lives, generations, and time, and how the story ended. Overall, it was a good read but the beginning was slow to get through.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I cannot say enough about how wonderfully written this story is. The author gives us a captivating tale of not only love and relationships, but about perseverance and self-worth. The characters are so lovely and you will see each one, feel the emotions they are feeling, and be completely drawn into their stories until the very end. Set in the 1960's in England, a young woman of wealth gets into a terrible car accident and suffers from amnesia as a result of her injuries. As she recovers she discovers that she feels out of place in her marriage and her circle of friends until she realizes she has fallen in love with another man. As it all comes together we are taken on a journey spanning over 40 years and intertwined in the relationships of these star crossed lovers. Written with poise, charm and elegance, Jojo Moyes tells a story that you are not going to want to end, and it will stay with you long after you've finished the book.
4 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 4, 2012
It is a story that tuggs at your heart. Wonderful characters that you can visualize. I can see the story with truth as my mom was married during the 60"s with no job, education, and unable to brake the model of wife. The meaning and consequences of divorce in the 60's is completely different then it is today.
Such an enjoyable story that will stay with you for smetime!
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.In 1960, following a car accident that hospitalized her in a comatose sate, twenty-seven years old Jennifer Stirling wakes up. However, her injury leaves her with amnesia; she does not recall the accident that left her in her current condition or anything else.
Her Husband visits her almost every night and Jennifer knows in her heart she does not love this wealthy man who has made a fortune exploiting mining operations in the war ravaged Congo. When she finds a passionate haunting love letter from a "B" Jennifer knows the unknown author is her beloved. Still, she also struggles with what is acceptable behavior amongst her English social class in London.
In 2003, English journalist Ellie Haworth researches a story in her newspaper's morgue when she finds a B letter to Jennifer. Feeling the love "B" had for his Jennifer, Ellie looks deep inside her heart to her grand passion as she tries to learn whether "B" and "J" had a happy ever after.
This is a charming relationship drama starring an incredible cast especially the two letter writers and the reporter who investigates their tale. Character driven, fans will relish this bittersweet romance as love proves not enough yet lasts forever in spite of time and place separation. Jojo Moyes provides a wonderful story that romanticists will relish.
Harriet Klausner
3 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 8, 2013
Skimmed throuh a lot of this of 340 page book. Did not hold my interest very well, because it was very predictable, and rather boring. It repeated the same actions over and over. Well edited. Sexual situations. 18 and up
AD
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 24, 2012
Nice story but utterly predictable. I read it on vacation, turned the pages quickly and then just as quickly it became a distant and pleasant memory. There are some nice historical touches, but the characters are one dimenensional.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 18, 2012
This story could have been told in a much more interesting manner; one which keeps you interested and waiting for what happens next. Instead, you read and read to find out some small detail. Much too wordy.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I'll say it plainly and simply. I loved The Last Letter from Your Lover. This novel has love letters, a London backdrop and star crossed lovers all woven beautifully into a plot that takes hold of you and does not let you go. My heart ached as I read.
Author Jojo Moyes does an excellent job at giving this novel a mysterious atmosphere as well as unexpected twists and turns. I felt like I was discovering clues alongside Jennifer, the answers were right on the periphery of her vision, yet far from her grasp. She longs to remember her life before the accident. I could not help but wonder what happened to her mystery lover. I won't say much about her love, except "wow". He blew me away and their courtship had me on the edge of my seat.
Oh my gosh, the love letters. They are simply signed with the initial "B" so Jennifer cannot remember who he is. "B" by the way is the initial of the first name of a character in a novel who Jennifer nicknamed her love after.
These love letters are the kind that make you sigh and hug the book when you read them.
Jennifer is a well developed character, she is unhappy with her life and her four year marriage seems to be one of convenience. Her character grows throughout the story and heartbreak changes her in a realistic way.
I found that everything came together beautifully, from the different characters to the turns of events that occurred. Just when I thought I knew what would happen next, I found myself stunned, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
The storyline goes back and forth from Jennifer waking up with amnesia and trying to remember her life, to how she met her mystery man and fell into a torrid affair with him. Towards the end, the story jumps forward to 2003 where a journalist named Ellie Haworth discovers one of the long lost love letters and want to find out whatever happened to these people. At first this jump in time upset me because I was so immersed in Jennifer and B's love story but I found myself involved in Ellie's storyline as well.
There's a quote by William Styron that goes, ..A good book should leave you slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it... That about sums how I felt about The Last Letter from Your Lover. This book will make my top reads of 2013 and is officially one of my all time favorites.
Disclaimer:
This review is my honest opinion. I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. I purchased my copy of this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 23, 2013
So much more than just a romance. I could not stop reading this story. The characters were so real; I felt as though I was in their stories. Definitely a few tears. Amazing read!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 18, 2013
I loved this book. It should be required reading by every wife who has been betrayed by infidelity. It presents in story form, how each participant in an adulterous relationship is affected and doesn't sugar coat the impact cheating has on everyone. The story made me cry and laugh. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 8, 2013
Another possible good book ruined by the egotistical harriet klausner and her cliff note plot spoiler. She needs to be banned and all her plot spoilers deleted. That person is a menace.
1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 10, 2012
It's 1960 and we start the book to find Jennifer Stirling waking up in the hospital and not being able to remember anything. Who is she, why is she in the hospital, and what exactly is she missing? While she's trying to figure out the answers, she comes across a love letter, signed "B." asking her to run away with him. Who is he? And what happened to them? That's the question bothering Ellie Haworth, a young journalist in 2003, when she stumbles onto one of the letters signed by "B." Maybe she'll find out what's happened to them and in doing so figure out her won complicated love affair with a married man.
I really need to start getting with the times. I can not believe it has taken me this long to track down a copy of this book and actually read it! It's phenomenal! The book starts off with a bang and we're off trying to piece together what happened to Jennifer and who this mystery guy is. It was so easy to get pulled into the story, from seeing Jennifer in the hospital to the flashbacks and flash forwards all in the 1960s that let us know what was going on. Infidelity is a topic that I find hard to comprehend and condone. It's interesting the contrast of the infidelity between Jennifer and "B." in the 1960s and the infidelity of Ellie and her married man in 2003 was so different. Yes, the gender of the married partner was different, but the circumstances and the actions and reactions of the married partners was also completely unalike. I found it hard to condemn Jennifer for her actions, but easy to condemn John.
Jojo Moyes is an absolutely amazing writer. I've read books by her before and never fail to be astounded by how good they are. She's written nine books and her tenth is due out later this year, and is titled, "The Girl You Left Behind." She's also won two Romantic Novelists' Association's Romantic Novel of the Year, once in 2004 for "Fore
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 20, 2012
one of the best books i've read in a long time. A keeper for sure. I fell in love again for the first time
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 15, 2011
The plot is trite - star crossed lovers! The characters are bland and stereotypical - the ignored wife, the high powered, neglectful husband and the artsy, sensitive lover! Absolutely no substance. Weak characters, weak plot, and an even weaker subplot.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 11, 2013
Very quick read! A great love story!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 10, 2013
I love love loved this book! This author really knows how to weave a tale. So many twists and turns and unexpected events, I was crazy about Jennifer and Boot and I found myself missing them after I finished the book. Can't get enough of Jojo Moyes.
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Posted May 29, 2013
This book seemed to have promise...but I didn't feel emotionally invested in the characters.
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Overview
A sophisticated, page-turning double love story spanning forty 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 ...