Windfallen Paperback – August 23, 2016

I loved this book. It took me a bit to get into but when I did......wow! It was hard to put down. The character s are great. The storyline is wonderful.

When you read the synopsis of the book it talks about Daisy, who is a designer for the Arcadia house. And you are half way or more through the book when you finally read about her. The synopsis of the book inside the front cover needs to change. Because this book is mostly about Lottie’s life and her family. Daisy does play a part and I like her story. This book is about relationships and how much we need to work at them with love, kindness, charity, forgiveness, honesty, and weathering the storms together for them to flourish.Lottie Swift and Celia Holden are like sisters. But when Celia leaves and goes to London and her constant fibbing that now extends to lying to Lottie starts to corrode their relationship. When Celia comes home and brings Guy to introduce to her family. This is the straw that breaks Lottie and Celia’s sibling like relationship.Jojo Moyes is a talented writer/author!

I honestly don't remember who narrated the story. The book is a British novel that uses British expressions and terminology. As an American, it was hard to follow in some places because I didn't know if the character was being nasty or being funny. Entertaining book, but not nearly as good as "Me Before You," or "The Girl He Left Behind."

My second book of Jojo Moyes. Can't get enough. Will try another. I find her writing direct and interesting. Her characters are deep and real. The situations unique. The two that I have read are totally different. There does not seem to be a 'formula' here. Thank heavens. Not a romance novel in any way. Just a story about real people with intriguing plot lines.....but not so far from real life.....

We can't escape our past, can we? Just as we can't escape our fate. Thus is the theme of Jojo Moyes provocative novel, Windfallen. The story revolves around three women, Lottie, Celia and Daisy, whose lives are entwined over several generations. Moyes has a gift for telling a story within a story and bringing them full circle for impact and a realistic, if not always satisfying, conclusion. This poignant novel moved me ... often filling me with despair for Lottie ... life can be so unfair. It also was empowering as Daisy successfully met her challenges and was able to move forward in her life. And, Celia's delusional, self-centered flaws effectively served to point out the unpredictable cruelty of life and the tragic impact it can have on the lives of others. The title, Windfallen, most likely refers to Arcadia, the captivating house in Merham, England ... a mystical, magical place full of history, mystery, joy and sorrow ... and a place of refuge .... around which the characters' stories revolve. My only criticism of the novel is that there were too many undeveloped, minor characters in the novel, which tended to be distracting . That said, Jojo Moyes is otherwise a very talented writer.

As far as I'm concerned, she writes novels you just want curl up with a thermos of coffee and block out the world till you finish reading her book. I first read Me Before You. I then started reading everything she has written. This book held my attention just as the others have. You will love it! The characters become your friends and their stories so interesting. Loved Windfallen!

I do love Jojo Moyes. She is a fantastic story teller. But both of the main characters left me wanting. SPOILER ALERT!!Lottie as a young girl I understood being insecure and a bit surly. Lottie as an adult was just too much. I didn't like her at all. Daisy what is your typical dependent, weak, insecure young female. I couldn't stand her in the beginning. She finally finds herself and realizes she doesn't need a man, or so you think. I hated that she said she felt safe again when she was in the arms of Jones. Why did she need a man to feel safe? She spent way too much time being on the verge of tears. She was not a very likable character in my opinion. The story had so much potential and I feel it was wasted with these two characters. Even the two male lead characters were not that likable. Jones was very unsympathetic and we never really got to know them. This was one of her weaker books in my opinion.

I haven't read anything by this author that I don't like. If this is your first time to read one of her books, don't give up before you make it past the second chapter. She tends to introduce a lot of characters early on, and it can be a little confusing, but it's worth it! Great character development, great story development, and great humor.