Someone Else’s Shoes | Jojo Moyes | Book Review

PLOT: 4/5
ENTERTAINMENT: 4/5
CHARACTERS: 4.5/5
OVERALL: 4/5

“Imagine being the kind of woman who wears these shoes every day, she thinks. Imagine living the kind of life where you only ever walk short distances across marble floors. Imagine having nothing to worry about except whether your pedicure matches your expensive shoes.”

–       Jojo Moyes, Someone Else’s Shoes

Jojo Moyes has solidified herself as a beloved author amongst avid readers with her widely popular Me Before You series. Her unique ability to craft stories that touch the hearts of her readers has made her a household name in the literary world. As a fan of her previous works, I was ecstatic to hear about her latest book, which boasts an intriguing title and a captivating plot.

The latest book by Jojo Moyes – Someone Else’s Shoes boasts a title that immediately piqued my interest and has a plot that proved to be even more enthralling. The moment I caught wind of its release, I knew I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy and that’s exactly what I did.

The plot of Someone Else’s Shoes

Have you ever wondered what could happen if you accidentally slipped into someone else’s shoes, quite literally? Imagine how drastically your life could change in an instant.

Nisha Cantor leads an ultra-luxurious life, travelling all around the world, and living a life that millions can only dream of – all this because of her super-rich husband who makes sure that she gets everything that she desires.

Until one day, when her husband drops the bombshell of divorce and decides to completely cut her off. Quite literally leaving her with no shoes but just the gym bathrobe on her back. 

Now, Nisha is determined to get her life back but she has no idea how to do that.

On the other hand, Sam Kemp’s life is feeling very stagnant. It’s dull and monotonous and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that she is at her lowest point in life. Her husband too, is quite depressed after losing his job, while her own boss is just finding an excuse to fire her.

Thus, she is struggling in every way, until one day she accidentally takes Nisha’s gym bag. The gym bag has Nisha’s six-inch-high red crocodile skin Christian Louboutin shoes which results in her confidence boost as a result of which she ends up bringing in business for her company. This unexpected boost of morale makes her sure of one thing – that something in her life needs to change and that something is her.

But can these misfortunes actually change Nisha and Sam’s life?

My thoughts 

To sum it up in short, this book is a wholesome women’s fiction entertainer.

It has a lot of emphases on female friendships and female support all throughout. It aptly portrays how only a female will understand what you are going through and will be there to help you get out of the mess that’s been created.

It is somewhat of a lengthy read but the suspense surrounding the exchanged bags, the whole episode of Nisha’s husband shutting her out, and the reason why suddenly he would do such a thing, keeps one thoroughly engaged and hooked.

But I must say, that the exchange of bags as a plot starter was a clever move and it started the story with a bang, not to mention making it even more interesting.

While reading the book the best part for me was Nisha. I just loved her dogged determination – how she will stop at nothing to get back her old life and avenge her husband. Also, the support she gets from unexpected sources esp. her friends. Another thing to look forward to is the friendship between Nisha, Sam, Jasmine, and Andrea. They support the main characters really well and, in some instances, even shone better.

Some moments and scenes in the book are really funny which had me laughing out loud. These were the highlight for me. On the other hand, other scenes were tense too, much like in the trademark Jojo Moyes style.

I loved Nisha’s character development the most. She portrayed all the emotions so well. We get to know the reason why she is a certain way because of her childhood. But essentially once you know her deeper, she is a good, hard-working, and determined person who transforms from being a b**ch to a boss lady.

There are underlying issues of depression and how it affects the family as a whole, and these struggles are very acutely described. The book also showcases how getting help by just verbally communicating with people goes a long way in healing a person. Along with depression, there are issues involving parenting and cancer treatment, though they are just lightly touched upon. Overall, it gives a nice balance with regard to the backstories of certain characters.

Someone Else’s Shoes was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and in the end, I have only good things to say about it.

So, fans of Jojo Moyes – definitely check this book out. It’s got strong female friendships, and a decent dose of humour, along with some underlying serious issues, thus making it a perfect wholesome entertainer.

Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Someone Else’s Shoes using the link below.