What do you think?
Rate this book
Sous le même toit
« Un savant mélange d’intensité émotionnelle et d’habileté dans la peinture des personnages. » Marie-Claire
Toutes les maisons de famille ont une histoire...
Une splendide saga familiale par l’auteur du best-seller Avant toi
Le temps était clément, offrant cette lumière de début de printemps qui insuffle de la beauté jusque dans les décors les plus usés ; dehors, des hirondelles se chamaillaient bruyamment dans les haies. Sa première pensée lucide fut : « Cette maison est comme nous. Elle a été désertée, abandonnée. Maintenant, elle va veiller sur nous, et nous la ramènerons à la vie. »
Lorsque son mari meurt sans crier gare, lui laissant une montagne de dettes, Isabel Delancey doit radicalement changer de train de vie. Elle n’a d’autre choix que de déménager avec ses deux enfants pour s’installer à la campagne, dans une maison de famille délabrée. Tandis que les murs s’effritent autour d’eux, et que ses dernières économies fondent comme neige au soleil, Isabel espère pouvoir compter sur le soutien de ses voisins. Elle ne se doute pas que sa simple présence au village a réveillé de vieilles querelles... Les vies s’entrechoquent, et Isabel va découvrir que faire de cette maison le « home sweet home » dont elle rêve est un combat de chaque instant.
« Chaleureux, plein de charme et finement observé. » Woman and Home
« Une lecture merveilleuse. » Sunday Express
Un très beau roman familial, dans la lignée de Jamais deux sans toi. Un hymne à ces héros anonymes qui surmontent les épreuves avec courage et savent saisir leur chance quand elle se présente. L’ensemble est servi par un style enlevé et agréable... Un condensé d’émotions à lire absolument !
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
2937 people are currently reading
18139 people want to read
About the author
Jojo Moyes
126 books67.6k followersJojo Moyes is a British novelist.
Moyes studied at Royal Holloway, University of London. She won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to study journalism at City University and subsequently worked for The Independent for 10 years. In 2001 she became a full time novelist.
Moyes' novel Foreign Fruit won the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year in 2004.
She is married to journalist Charles Arthur and has three children.
Moyes studied at Royal Holloway, University of London. She won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to study journalism at City University and subsequently worked for The Independent for 10 years. In 2001 she became a full time novelist.
Moyes' novel Foreign Fruit won the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year in 2004.
She is married to journalist Charles Arthur and has three children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,148 reviews
September 30, 2021
Hmm. I adore Ms. Moyes’ fantastic books! They truly tune with your heart!
As soon as I saw her name appear at my computer scene without reading the blurb or looking at the title, I just pushed the request button so hard and I might have broken my mouse! Well, later I found this book is one of her oldest works! I read couple of her old time historical fictions she wrote before “ Me before you” which were good but not so great and actually I started to feel same about the book after reading few pages!
A talented violinist Isabel and also widow inherits a dilapidated house named Spanish house at the close knit country village , moving there with her two kids after she’s suffering from the trauma to lose her husband at tragic traffic accident.
But we just realize Isabel is like fish out of water at country side. She doesn’t know how to repair things at a derelict place when only thing she was focused on her music for years. Her husband handled everything for the family including finances!
Now she has to deal with the whole responsibility to turn the house into a proper place to live in where has no bathroom, fridge and water supply. She doesn’t have enough money to cover these expenses so she needs advise of the wrong man/ her neighbor, local builder Matt who has true vendetta against her because he thinks he deserves to be the real owner of the place with his wife Laura.
First he manipulates Isabel about the prices to fix the place properly and he gets his fight too far as his jealousy starts to take control of him!
Isabel’s poor kids are also struggling with their new lives. Her 15 years old Kitty misses her friends from her old place and Thierry is still keeping his silence after dealing with tragedy of losing his father.
Even though the incompetencies of Isabel frustrated me a lot, I can resonate with her because her music is her only power and sometimes those artsy minds dedicated their souls to create new compositions and they slowly separate from the responsibilities and obligations of real life. Isabel’s unique talent helps her endure her pain but it also drift her apart from her burdens needed to be handled immediately.
On the other hand: Matt was truly vindictive, devious, obsessive character who does anything in his power to take control of the house!
I could still give this book four stars because
of poignant and engaging story but the ending made me clench my fists! I’m not gonna spill more beans but I can only say the conclusion about some of the characters’ stories are not fair! It pissed me off a lot!
So I’m sticking with my three still poignant, heartfelt story with resonating characters deserved better ending stars!
I’m looking forward to read brand new books of the author! I’m a true fan of her amazing, tear jerker, heartbreaking stories!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP/ Penguin Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
As soon as I saw her name appear at my computer scene without reading the blurb or looking at the title, I just pushed the request button so hard and I might have broken my mouse! Well, later I found this book is one of her oldest works! I read couple of her old time historical fictions she wrote before “ Me before you” which were good but not so great and actually I started to feel same about the book after reading few pages!
A talented violinist Isabel and also widow inherits a dilapidated house named Spanish house at the close knit country village , moving there with her two kids after she’s suffering from the trauma to lose her husband at tragic traffic accident.
But we just realize Isabel is like fish out of water at country side. She doesn’t know how to repair things at a derelict place when only thing she was focused on her music for years. Her husband handled everything for the family including finances!
Now she has to deal with the whole responsibility to turn the house into a proper place to live in where has no bathroom, fridge and water supply. She doesn’t have enough money to cover these expenses so she needs advise of the wrong man/ her neighbor, local builder Matt who has true vendetta against her because he thinks he deserves to be the real owner of the place with his wife Laura.
First he manipulates Isabel about the prices to fix the place properly and he gets his fight too far as his jealousy starts to take control of him!
Isabel’s poor kids are also struggling with their new lives. Her 15 years old Kitty misses her friends from her old place and Thierry is still keeping his silence after dealing with tragedy of losing his father.
Even though the incompetencies of Isabel frustrated me a lot, I can resonate with her because her music is her only power and sometimes those artsy minds dedicated their souls to create new compositions and they slowly separate from the responsibilities and obligations of real life. Isabel’s unique talent helps her endure her pain but it also drift her apart from her burdens needed to be handled immediately.
On the other hand: Matt was truly vindictive, devious, obsessive character who does anything in his power to take control of the house!
I could still give this book four stars because
of poignant and engaging story but the ending made me clench my fists! I’m not gonna spill more beans but I can only say the conclusion about some of the characters’ stories are not fair! It pissed me off a lot!
So I’m sticking with my three still poignant, heartfelt story with resonating characters deserved better ending stars!
I’m looking forward to read brand new books of the author! I’m a true fan of her amazing, tear jerker, heartbreaking stories!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP/ Penguin Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
November 14, 2020
This is an early JoJo Moyes novel that features the Delancy family living in London, but the accidental death of Isabel's husband leaves her devastated, grieving and in dire financial straits. The exclusive lifestyle she had become accustomed to is now well beyond her reach, and what is more she is ill prepared to adapt to her new circumstances. She is a violinist whose entire world had consisted of music, she is a mother of two children, Kitty and Thierry, but is a hopeless mother who had left the childcare to others. Out of the blue, she inherits a rundown property in the countryside, the Spanish House, from a distant relative and uproots her family to live there. Kitty has to grow up fast as she tries to pitch in and help, but Thierry has had serious issues ever since the death of his father.
Isabel is going to have to face enormous obstacles where Matt, a builder, and his wife, Laura, had helped to look after their elderly neighbour, not out of the kindness of their hearts, but with an eye on and expectation of inheriting the house themselves, a house that Laura had long coveted. The good looking and faithless Matt comes across as a good guy initially to the vulnerable Isabel as she foolishly entrusts the building works to a man set on sabotage and revenge. This is a story of love, loss, grief and secrets from a JoJo Moyes that is still developing as a writer, but I enjoyed this character driven melodrama of the Delancy family and its experiences of living in a small village community. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton.
Isabel is going to have to face enormous obstacles where Matt, a builder, and his wife, Laura, had helped to look after their elderly neighbour, not out of the kindness of their hearts, but with an eye on and expectation of inheriting the house themselves, a house that Laura had long coveted. The good looking and faithless Matt comes across as a good guy initially to the vulnerable Isabel as she foolishly entrusts the building works to a man set on sabotage and revenge. This is a story of love, loss, grief and secrets from a JoJo Moyes that is still developing as a writer, but I enjoyed this character driven melodrama of the Delancy family and its experiences of living in a small village community. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton.
April 29, 2016
Spoilers
This might have been enjoyable if the main characters hadn't been so thoroughly unlikeable, they were either thick-self-pitying-doormats or weird entitled maniacs. Thankfully the setting at The Spanish House and some of the secondary characters saved it from being a complete trainwreck.
-Isabelle was an infuriating character, I couldn't root for her or feel sorry for her even though she was grieving for her dead husband and her life had turned upside down. She was completely useless, she couldn't handle doing the most basic things without either screwing it up or whinging about it. She had zero common sense, it was remarkable how a woman of her age with two kids could willingly know so little about finances and parenting and the world in general. She was so lazy and stupid she didn't even get more than one quote for the work that needed doing on her house, she simply took dodgy Matt's word about prices and what needed doing, despite not knowing him or even finding out about his reputation as a builder before taking him on. What kind of idiot wouldn't at least call other builders for a quote? She said her husband sorted out things like that but that was still no excuse, any adult with a half a brain would know they needed to at least get a second opinion and quote before shelling out tens of thousands of pounds on important building work, even more so when the money being used was the only money the family had. There were so many more instances where Isabelle showed how lazy, dumb and useless she was.
-The worst thing about Isabelle was the fact she chose to get married and have kids when she knew she couldn't ever love and support them how they needed. She was too in love with her violin and music to love anyone else, she knew that yet still decided to go ahead and be a wife and mother, it made her thoroughly unlikeable and selfish.
-Matt was as irritating as Isabel, he was an entitled, deluded, self-obsessed, boring loser who never got any comeuppance for all the crap he pulled. The only satisfying ending would have been him suffering, which he didn't, instead he got a clean slate and his obedient wife at his beck and call. Laura was a complete twit staying with him when she knew he didn't love her or respect her, and was happily shagging half the village. She had a chance of a normal relationship and some happiness, but she threw it away so she could spend the rest of her life being Matt's doormat, it was such a depressing ending.
-Hated how Asad and Henry were written, it was quite annoying how the author wrote them as gossips, physically weak, mother hens and so stereotypically gay.
-I'm hoping the next Jojo Moyes book I pick up will be better than this one.
This might have been enjoyable if the main characters hadn't been so thoroughly unlikeable, they were either thick-self-pitying-doormats or weird entitled maniacs. Thankfully the setting at The Spanish House and some of the secondary characters saved it from being a complete trainwreck.
-Isabelle was an infuriating character, I couldn't root for her or feel sorry for her even though she was grieving for her dead husband and her life had turned upside down. She was completely useless, she couldn't handle doing the most basic things without either screwing it up or whinging about it. She had zero common sense, it was remarkable how a woman of her age with two kids could willingly know so little about finances and parenting and the world in general. She was so lazy and stupid she didn't even get more than one quote for the work that needed doing on her house, she simply took dodgy Matt's word about prices and what needed doing, despite not knowing him or even finding out about his reputation as a builder before taking him on. What kind of idiot wouldn't at least call other builders for a quote? She said her husband sorted out things like that but that was still no excuse, any adult with a half a brain would know they needed to at least get a second opinion and quote before shelling out tens of thousands of pounds on important building work, even more so when the money being used was the only money the family had. There were so many more instances where Isabelle showed how lazy, dumb and useless she was.
-The worst thing about Isabelle was the fact she chose to get married and have kids when she knew she couldn't ever love and support them how they needed. She was too in love with her violin and music to love anyone else, she knew that yet still decided to go ahead and be a wife and mother, it made her thoroughly unlikeable and selfish.
-Matt was as irritating as Isabel, he was an entitled, deluded, self-obsessed, boring loser who never got any comeuppance for all the crap he pulled. The only satisfying ending would have been him suffering, which he didn't, instead he got a clean slate and his obedient wife at his beck and call. Laura was a complete twit staying with him when she knew he didn't love her or respect her, and was happily shagging half the village. She had a chance of a normal relationship and some happiness, but she threw it away so she could spend the rest of her life being Matt's doormat, it was such a depressing ending.
-Hated how Asad and Henry were written, it was quite annoying how the author wrote them as gossips, physically weak, mother hens and so stereotypically gay.
-I'm hoping the next Jojo Moyes book I pick up will be better than this one.
February 19, 2017
Qué novela más bonita! Y original! Me ha tenido pegada al eBook hasta que la he terminado. Realmente cada vez estoy más enamorada de como escribe esta mujer...
January 12, 2021
Right, straight to the point here, if you LOVE Jojo Moyles books then you will LIKE this, if you expect another ‘Me Before You’ ( and all the brilliance that followed ) you wont however get that but you will get a glimpse, a good glimpse, into where her writing was heading and how she built on it to get to ‘Me Before You’
If you have never read anything by this author then I would start with ‘Me Before You’ or maybe ‘The Giver Of Stars’ and leave this one for a later date when you have a day to relax and read a love story with good solid storylines and almost Downtown characters
That’s it!
7/10
4 Stars
If you have never read anything by this author then I would start with ‘Me Before You’ or maybe ‘The Giver Of Stars’ and leave this one for a later date when you have a day to relax and read a love story with good solid storylines and almost Downtown characters
That’s it!
7/10
4 Stars
February 3, 2023
Naprawdę odpoczęłam podczas czytania tego tytułu, zawierał wszystko czego oczekiwałabym od obyczajówki.
Gorzko-słodka historia, która niejednokrotnie wywołała uśmiech na mojej twarzy.
Gorzko-słodka historia, która niejednokrotnie wywołała uśmiech na mojej twarzy.
August 28, 2017
This was my first Jojo Moyes book, and I intentionally started with an older one, and not the much-lauded ME BEFORE YOU. I have often found books with a lot of hype surrounding them to be a bit disappointing when I get around to reading them, as was also the case with THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty. But when I went back to read her older books, I gobbled them up! So, that is the strategy I will employ here, too, I think.
That said, I really did enjoy NIGHT MUSIC. I wasn't sure what to expect, typical, predictable chick-lit, or something with more depth, and I got the latter.
The story revolves around the lives of a number of characters, which I always enjoy. I like there to be more than one POV, and feel it often helps to round out the story and flesh out the figures.
The story in itself isn't radically new, a widow and her family move into a dilapidated house she inherited from a distant relation. What makes this book special is the thoughtful manner of Moyes' characterizations and the believability of the situation. There is romance, yes (nothing wrong with that), but nothing gratuitous or ridiculous. But what this story is really about is personal development and growth of the characters. I love it when the author shapes the story around characters, rather than making it seem as though the characters are merely bi-product of a plot outline, so this was perfect for me.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
That said, I really did enjoy NIGHT MUSIC. I wasn't sure what to expect, typical, predictable chick-lit, or something with more depth, and I got the latter.
The story revolves around the lives of a number of characters, which I always enjoy. I like there to be more than one POV, and feel it often helps to round out the story and flesh out the figures.
The story in itself isn't radically new, a widow and her family move into a dilapidated house she inherited from a distant relation. What makes this book special is the thoughtful manner of Moyes' characterizations and the believability of the situation. There is romance, yes (nothing wrong with that), but nothing gratuitous or ridiculous. But what this story is really about is personal development and growth of the characters. I love it when the author shapes the story around characters, rather than making it seem as though the characters are merely bi-product of a plot outline, so this was perfect for me.
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
May 1, 2017
Al principio me sentí un poco perdida, porque no lograba relacionar la sinopsis con lo que estaba leyendo. Pero cuando comprendí de qué se trataba todo fui incapaz de soltar el libro.
Una historia preciosa, que sorprende por sus giros, con una MARAVILLOSA construcción de personajes (Isabel, mi favorita) y con un final original e inesperado. ❤️
Un placer leer a Jojo Moyes.
Una historia preciosa, que sorprende por sus giros, con una MARAVILLOSA construcción de personajes (Isabel, mi favorita) y con un final original e inesperado. ❤️
Un placer leer a Jojo Moyes.
June 23, 2023
Premise: When Isabel Delancey’s husband dies suddenly, she is forced to take her two children and move to a crumbling home in the country. Turning to her new neighbors, she has no idea what kind of issues they are harboring - especially her neighbor Matt McCarthy. Her interests are to make a home, survive and make a life. Little does she know what is in store for her heart.
I thought the premise had potential, but then I realized I have been here before with so many other stories like this, so, I immediately found myself bored.
Isabel didn’t really know how to do much of anything other than take care of her own self, so she was a bit dysfunctional when left to her own devices, or being available for her teenage children.
Not that I am faulting her for having a career. (I certainly had one. But I was also very engaged with my children’s lives, too.)
So, I couldn’t relate to her, very well as she began to try and manage life in this new setting. And for this, I apologize for my lack of empathy for this character.
And then, I started to reflect on the title of the book, and I began to wonder…
Where was the music? I know that she was a violinist, but…what happened to the music?
I guess, I lost hope with this book. 2.5 stars
I thought the premise had potential, but then I realized I have been here before with so many other stories like this, so, I immediately found myself bored.
Isabel didn’t really know how to do much of anything other than take care of her own self, so she was a bit dysfunctional when left to her own devices, or being available for her teenage children.
Not that I am faulting her for having a career. (I certainly had one. But I was also very engaged with my children’s lives, too.)
So, I couldn’t relate to her, very well as she began to try and manage life in this new setting. And for this, I apologize for my lack of empathy for this character.
And then, I started to reflect on the title of the book, and I began to wonder…
Where was the music? I know that she was a violinist, but…what happened to the music?
I guess, I lost hope with this book. 2.5 stars
June 12, 2014
I have read several of Jojo Moyes' novels and have enjoyed them - this one, though, just didnt do it for me. We have a widowed musician and her children. Two men who each like her - one is wealthy, sleeps around and doesnt care about his family, the other is the strong silent type who obviously has a past. His name is 'Byron Firth'!!!! No surprise as to who we are supposed to be going for. Moyes even creates a scene where our boy Firth emerges from swimming in a lake with his muscular torso gleaming and his hair slicked back - sending our widow's heart racing!! Oh puhlease!!! Yes we all loved Colin Firth doing his Darcy bit - but be original for goodness sake!!
Moyes does a good job with the supporting cast as usual - and if you like your romance slushy and predictable then this is for you
but not for me!
Moyes does a good job with the supporting cast as usual - and if you like your romance slushy and predictable then this is for you
but not for me!
October 19, 2013
I absolutely devoured this book from the outset. I just loved it, as I do with all Jo Jo Moyes's books.
Initially, my heart totally broke for the delightful Isabel but watching her blossom and heal was just wonderful. I could visualise the ramshackle old house that she subsequently inherits at a totally desperate time of her life and, just when it seems nothing can possibly get worse, it does.
Her neighbours, Laura and Matt, do nothing in the slightest to make her feel welcome to the village; on the contrary Matt is out for revenge and Laura is lost in her ever crumbling world.
Byron was a fantastic character and his vast knowledge of how to live off the land was crucial to Isabel initially. I also liked Nicholas Trent who was gradually putting his life back together and was a lovely,charming man.
I didn't have any idea what the ending would be and was racing along to finish it so I could actually sleep tonight (being up until the wee small hours this morning and only putting my kindle down when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer).
The only negative I can say is that I now have to wait until Jo Jo's next book!
Wonderful book, as always, and highly recommended.
Initially, my heart totally broke for the delightful Isabel but watching her blossom and heal was just wonderful. I could visualise the ramshackle old house that she subsequently inherits at a totally desperate time of her life and, just when it seems nothing can possibly get worse, it does.
Her neighbours, Laura and Matt, do nothing in the slightest to make her feel welcome to the village; on the contrary Matt is out for revenge and Laura is lost in her ever crumbling world.
Byron was a fantastic character and his vast knowledge of how to live off the land was crucial to Isabel initially. I also liked Nicholas Trent who was gradually putting his life back together and was a lovely,charming man.
I didn't have any idea what the ending would be and was racing along to finish it so I could actually sleep tonight (being up until the wee small hours this morning and only putting my kindle down when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer).
The only negative I can say is that I now have to wait until Jo Jo's next book!
Wonderful book, as always, and highly recommended.
July 11, 2017
3,5*
Todo lo que escribe JOJO te hace disfrutar, sin ninguna duda. No podemos hacer caso a la sinopsis, porque es un despiste total, y eso me tenía confundida al principio, de hecho pensaba "a ver cómo arreglas esto". Es una artista a la hora de crear personajes y hacerlos creíbles, me declaro fan de los Primos. Sin embargo, el tema de la obra de la casa se me ha hecho un poquito pesado, además de qué no me ha gustado cierto asunto que hace vivan varios de los personajes principales (no diré nada por no desvelar cosas), pero que cuatro de los personajes principales vivan esa situación me ha chocado porque en alguno de ellos no lo veía necesario.
Todo lo que escribe JOJO te hace disfrutar, sin ninguna duda. No podemos hacer caso a la sinopsis, porque es un despiste total, y eso me tenía confundida al principio, de hecho pensaba "a ver cómo arreglas esto". Es una artista a la hora de crear personajes y hacerlos creíbles, me declaro fan de los Primos. Sin embargo, el tema de la obra de la casa se me ha hecho un poquito pesado, además de qué no me ha gustado cierto asunto que hace vivan varios de los personajes principales (no diré nada por no desvelar cosas), pero que cuatro de los personajes principales vivan esa situación me ha chocado porque en alguno de ellos no lo veía necesario.
March 26, 2018
Night Music is my first Jojo Moyes book and I am thoroughly disappointed. I was expecting something along the lines of Nicholas Sparks.
The story follows a widow with her two children. Isabel is as helpless and naive as a child, to a point where she ignores her children to a degree bordering on child neglect. Her husband dies in an accident. The fmaily is forced to leave their expensive lifestyle behind and move to the country, where the drama around the Spanish house takes place.
The Delancys inherit (plothole #1) the ramshackle house. The lovely neighbours, the McCarthys, picturing the dumbest housewive in literature and a handsome (unfortunately a psychopath) husband and a teenage son, want the house too. (plothole#2) The random estate agent (cz Mrs McCarthy needs a love story too) wants the house too. And let's not forget the ex-convict with the sexy hips and cute dogs (he, for a change, is not interessted in the house)
The plot devices get repetitive: everyone has a crush on everyone. Everybody is cheating. All of them are emotional drama queens.
I liked the gay shopkeers! That's that. The story takes nearly half of the book to get going. Everything leading up to "the action parts" just drags and drags, the house demolition and Isabels inner misery. We get so many POVs that I stopped caring right after the first chapters.
It ends with a big drama. Way over the top, with the side-plot tied up so dumb, I get cramps thinking it was conjured in a female head. I think that was my last Moyes book for this year.
The story follows a widow with her two children. Isabel is as helpless and naive as a child, to a point where she ignores her children to a degree bordering on child neglect. Her husband dies in an accident. The fmaily is forced to leave their expensive lifestyle behind and move to the country, where the drama around the Spanish house takes place.
The Delancys inherit (plothole #1) the ramshackle house. The lovely neighbours, the McCarthys, picturing the dumbest housewive in literature and a handsome (unfortunately a psychopath) husband and a teenage son, want the house too. (plothole#2) The random estate agent (cz Mrs McCarthy needs a love story too) wants the house too. And let's not forget the ex-convict with the sexy hips and cute dogs (he, for a change, is not interessted in the house)
The plot devices get repetitive: everyone has a crush on everyone. Everybody is cheating. All of them are emotional drama queens.
I liked the gay shopkeers! That's that. The story takes nearly half of the book to get going. Everything leading up to "the action parts" just drags and drags, the house demolition and Isabels inner misery. We get so many POVs that I stopped caring right after the first chapters.
It ends with a big drama. Way over the top, with the side-plot tied up so dumb, I get cramps thinking it was conjured in a female head. I think that was my last Moyes book for this year.
December 9, 2020
After the death of her husband Isabel and her children move Spain to start a new life.
She is struggling to to look after her family and keep things together. Unfortunately the house is not what she expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review
She is struggling to to look after her family and keep things together. Unfortunately the house is not what she expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review
June 23, 2023
I LOVED the beginning, and it's the only reason I am giving this three stars. Otherwise, the rest of the book was more of a 2 star.
First, except for maybe a reach, the title initially did not fit this book. There isn't even anything music-related for the whole second half of the book.
All the relationships were messed up, and I felt very detached from them. I wish that the rest of the book flowed as well as the first section because I was super bored most of the time. I stopped even caring about the mystery.
Jojo is a great author, but most of this does not reflect the talent she has come to be known for.
3 Stars
First, except for maybe a reach, the title initially did not fit this book. There isn't even anything music-related for the whole second half of the book.
All the relationships were messed up, and I felt very detached from them. I wish that the rest of the book flowed as well as the first section because I was super bored most of the time. I stopped even caring about the mystery.
Jojo is a great author, but most of this does not reflect the talent she has come to be known for.
3 Stars
December 20, 2021
An Intense story
As a true Jojo Moyes fan, this book was a must read for me. Jojo did a wonderful job of weaving elements of the story and houses, into the plotline.
Characters were superb and it was easy for me to relate to them throughout the book.
It was a little difficult to get into in the beginning but once I was on track with the author, it flew by.
I highly recommend this very good book.
As a true Jojo Moyes fan, this book was a must read for me. Jojo did a wonderful job of weaving elements of the story and houses, into the plotline.
Characters were superb and it was easy for me to relate to them throughout the book.
It was a little difficult to get into in the beginning but once I was on track with the author, it flew by.
I highly recommend this very good book.
February 16, 2021
Another wonderful book from Jo Jo!! This one was such an easy, relaxing read and it just carried you along until the end. I was sorry when I got to the last page as I enjoyed it so much. I do love her books and plan to read them all. I keep looking to see when she’s going to release another one. Highly recommend.
October 12, 2020
Un muzician trăiește pentru muzica sa, iar Isabel Delancy este atât de pasionată de vioară și de muzica ei, încât orice altceva cade pe locul 2. Și nici nu este greu, căci soțul ei o iubește și o sprijină în pasiunea ei, iar financiar nu are nicio grijă. Dar când soțul ei moare într-un accident, Isabel trebuie să învețe să fie mamă și să se descurce fără niciun sprijin, într-un fiasco financiar. Singurul ei colac de salvare este Casa Spaniolă, deși curând realizează că s-ar putea să fie ruina lor…
Muzica nopții este o carte pe care începi să o îndrăgești treptat și îți trebuie o oarecare răbdare să ajungi să o placi pe Isabel, căci la început este insuportabilă. Pierderea soțului ei și faptul că înainte de accident nu avea nicio responsabilitate față de familie o face neputincioasă, până la neglijența severă a copiilor. Fiica ei Kitty are 15 ani și se simte datoare să țină familia în picioare, să o înlocuiască pe mama ei, atunci când aceasta se retrage în lumea ei. Thierry are 9 ani și din ziua în care tatăl lui a murit, nu a mai rostit nici un cuvânt.
Când Isabel primește moștenire Casa Spaniolă, aflată într-un satuc, de la o rudă îndepărtată și primește vestea că este singura ei șansă de a-și putea reveni financiar, plăti datoriile și întreține copiii, ia decizia de a se muta acolo, dar nu știe că această casă este aproape o ruină, râvnită însă cu ardoare de cei care îi îngrijiseră ani de zile unchiul, în schimbul unei promisiuni de a o moșteni.
continuarea recenziei http://www.cititornecunoscut.ro/muzic...
Muzica nopții este o carte pe care începi să o îndrăgești treptat și îți trebuie o oarecare răbdare să ajungi să o placi pe Isabel, căci la început este insuportabilă. Pierderea soțului ei și faptul că înainte de accident nu avea nicio responsabilitate față de familie o face neputincioasă, până la neglijența severă a copiilor. Fiica ei Kitty are 15 ani și se simte datoare să țină familia în picioare, să o înlocuiască pe mama ei, atunci când aceasta se retrage în lumea ei. Thierry are 9 ani și din ziua în care tatăl lui a murit, nu a mai rostit nici un cuvânt.
Când Isabel primește moștenire Casa Spaniolă, aflată într-un satuc, de la o rudă îndepărtată și primește vestea că este singura ei șansă de a-și putea reveni financiar, plăti datoriile și întreține copiii, ia decizia de a se muta acolo, dar nu știe că această casă este aproape o ruină, râvnită însă cu ardoare de cei care îi îngrijiseră ani de zile unchiul, în schimbul unei promisiuni de a o moșteni.
continuarea recenziei http://www.cititornecunoscut.ro/muzic...
December 14, 2020
Laura and Matt McCarthy have been looking after their sick elderly neighbour for years. Thinking that after he dies, they will be left the house. They pamper him even though he does not sound the most grateful person. But when he dies, they are in for a shock when the house is left to the last surviving member of the family Isabel Delancey.
Violinist Isabel has been recently widowed and been left a whole lot of debt so, being left The Spanish house is the last resort, after their beautiful home in Maida Vale in London. She decides to move in with her two kids, even though she hasn’t seen the property. So, when she arrives, she is shocked to see the house in a dilapidated state and the villagers are not the friendliest bunch of people. So, when she meets the neighbours the McCarthy’s, she is grateful that they will help fix the house up as Matt is a builder. But Isabel doesn’t know that Matt has a hidden agenda by helping her with the house. He wants it for himself.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for a copy of Night Music by JoJo Moyes. This is a re-release of the book that was published in 2008. This is a slow burner of a story if you haven’t read it yet. Quite different to the other books I have read from the author. Although some of the characters were hard to like and I was quite astounded that Isabel was quite slow to know what was going on around her. But nevertheless It had a great storyline. 4 stars from me.
Violinist Isabel has been recently widowed and been left a whole lot of debt so, being left The Spanish house is the last resort, after their beautiful home in Maida Vale in London. She decides to move in with her two kids, even though she hasn’t seen the property. So, when she arrives, she is shocked to see the house in a dilapidated state and the villagers are not the friendliest bunch of people. So, when she meets the neighbours the McCarthy’s, she is grateful that they will help fix the house up as Matt is a builder. But Isabel doesn’t know that Matt has a hidden agenda by helping her with the house. He wants it for himself.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for a copy of Night Music by JoJo Moyes. This is a re-release of the book that was published in 2008. This is a slow burner of a story if you haven’t read it yet. Quite different to the other books I have read from the author. Although some of the characters were hard to like and I was quite astounded that Isabel was quite slow to know what was going on around her. But nevertheless It had a great storyline. 4 stars from me.
December 15, 2012
This was my second Moyes book - it was nothing like the deep and moving Me Before You. This, while an interesting story, unfortunately veered dangerously close to chick-lit ... And not in a good way. While I didn't like Isabel or Matt - both we're a bit too one-dimensional - the rest of the characters, from Byron to Kitty to the Cousins, seemed more interesting and likeable. And the whole Laura storyline felt like filler to keep this from bring a novella. I'd say this is a great beach read, but don't expect to be challenged by it or spend a lot of time thinking about it after.
December 6, 2023
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I loved this book from Jojo Moyes. It has been quite a while since I have picked up a book by this author, my last one not being my greatest love. But, this one was brilliant and I could not get enough of the story of the Spanish House.
I loved this book from Jojo Moyes. It has been quite a while since I have picked up a book by this author, my last one not being my greatest love. But, this one was brilliant and I could not get enough of the story of the Spanish House.
February 22, 2017
Hermosa, sencilla y con un final perfecto!!! Diferente a otras novelas de Jojo..
November 21, 2021
I became increasingly bored by this, and have not had any desire to listen to any more of it.
Audiobook
Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden
13 hours 10 minutes
Gave up after 4 hours 1 minute Chapter 9
Audiobook
Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden
13 hours 10 minutes
Gave up after 4 hours 1 minute Chapter 9
January 17, 2018
I don't think that I will ever come across a Jojo Moyes book that I don't enjoy. There is just something so great about her writing.
This novel follows the lives of the people in the little village where 'The Spanish House' is located. It's an old and derelict house, in need of a lot of repairs, but it is in a wonderful location by the lake. Matt and Laura have been coveting the house for years, and when the owner dies, they are hopeful that it will be left to them, but instead it goes into his intestate estate and is passed on to some distant relative, Isabel, leaving them bitter
Isabel is newly widowed, and suffering financial difficulties. All Isabel ever wanted to do was devote her life to her music, but now with her husband gone, she has to try to provide for her children. When she finds out that she has inherited a house in the country, it seems like a great new start for her and her two children. But when they arrive, they realise that the house is much more than they bargained for, and the amount of work it needs is enormous.
Matt offers to help Isabel to renovate, Isabel being unaware of his desire to own the house, and soon Isabel's problems begin to multiply.
The book follows the families as they struggle with their ideas of love and marriage, revenge, family life, and what it takes to make a house a home.
I don't know what it is, but even though none of the characters were particularly great people, even though I found Isabel and Laura annoying (bad life choices) and thought Matt was a complete psychopath, the story was still great, it still kept me interested.
A great easy read, full of family drama.
This novel follows the lives of the people in the little village where 'The Spanish House' is located. It's an old and derelict house, in need of a lot of repairs, but it is in a wonderful location by the lake. Matt and Laura have been coveting the house for years, and when the owner dies, they are hopeful that it will be left to them, but instead it goes into his intestate estate and is passed on to some distant relative, Isabel, leaving them bitter
Isabel is newly widowed, and suffering financial difficulties. All Isabel ever wanted to do was devote her life to her music, but now with her husband gone, she has to try to provide for her children. When she finds out that she has inherited a house in the country, it seems like a great new start for her and her two children. But when they arrive, they realise that the house is much more than they bargained for, and the amount of work it needs is enormous.
Matt offers to help Isabel to renovate, Isabel being unaware of his desire to own the house, and soon Isabel's problems begin to multiply.
The book follows the families as they struggle with their ideas of love and marriage, revenge, family life, and what it takes to make a house a home.
I don't know what it is, but even though none of the characters were particularly great people, even though I found Isabel and Laura annoying (bad life choices) and thought Matt was a complete psychopath, the story was still great, it still kept me interested.
A great easy read, full of family drama.
April 20, 2020
Diesem Buch merkt man an, dass es 2008, also früher als die letzten Bücher von Jojo Moyes, geschrieben wurde.
Es ist eher der damalige Stil und die damalige Art der Thematik. Später, so hatte ich den Eindruck, versuchte sich Jojo Moyes zu verändern, sowohl thematisch als auch im Schreibstil.
Mir gefällt das Buch, da ich dieses mal wieder sofort in der Geschichte drin war und einfach nur weiterlesen wollte."
Das Buch ist ein angenehm leicht zu lesender Schmöker für ein Wochenende auf dem Balkon oder auf der Couch. Der Schreibstil ist flott, der Plott recht einfach gestrickt. Ich schätze, es hat einen Grund, dass das Buch erst jetzt auf dem deutschen Markt erschienen ist. Jetzt, nachdem Jojo Moyes bereits sehr bekannt ist. Es ist bestimmt nicht ihr bestes Buch, denn die Geschichte ist schon recht durchschaubar und recht Klischee behaftet. Die Charakteren sind ebenfalls eher schwarz - weiß gezeichnet, mit wenig Tiefgang und bleiben an der Oberfläche ihrer Darstellung.
Aber, da ich ein Jojo Moyes Fan bin, mochte ich das Buch auch mit diesen Einschränkungen und habe ich jedes Mal gefreut, wenn ich Zeit hatte, weiterzulesen.
Es ist eher der damalige Stil und die damalige Art der Thematik. Später, so hatte ich den Eindruck, versuchte sich Jojo Moyes zu verändern, sowohl thematisch als auch im Schreibstil.
Mir gefällt das Buch, da ich dieses mal wieder sofort in der Geschichte drin war und einfach nur weiterlesen wollte."
Das Buch ist ein angenehm leicht zu lesender Schmöker für ein Wochenende auf dem Balkon oder auf der Couch. Der Schreibstil ist flott, der Plott recht einfach gestrickt. Ich schätze, es hat einen Grund, dass das Buch erst jetzt auf dem deutschen Markt erschienen ist. Jetzt, nachdem Jojo Moyes bereits sehr bekannt ist. Es ist bestimmt nicht ihr bestes Buch, denn die Geschichte ist schon recht durchschaubar und recht Klischee behaftet. Die Charakteren sind ebenfalls eher schwarz - weiß gezeichnet, mit wenig Tiefgang und bleiben an der Oberfläche ihrer Darstellung.
Aber, da ich ein Jojo Moyes Fan bin, mochte ich das Buch auch mit diesen Einschränkungen und habe ich jedes Mal gefreut, wenn ich Zeit hatte, weiterzulesen.
January 7, 2022
Esu didelė šios autorės knygų gerbėja, tad drąsiai galiu vertinti autorės kūrinius 😁👌. Ši knyga man patiko, bet labai didelio įspūdžio nesukėlė. Kai kuriom vietom buvo nuobodu skaityti, kažkiek nuspėjama....😌 pabaiga, kaip ir daugumoje romanų buvo graži, įdomi... bet kažkiek nuspėjama 😌 lengvam skaitymui pats tas, bet man norėjosi daugiau veiksmo, ir žinoma meilės naktyje... 😁😍👌
January 4, 2025
Ich habe es abgebrochen, mit sowas werde ich nicht meinen Urlaub verbringen
September 8, 2015
Three and a half stars from me!
A while ago I set myself the challenge to read all of Jojo Moyes back catalogue after reading such gems such as Me Before You and The Girl You Left Behind. Night Music is the next on my list and was first published in 2008. Unlike a lot of Moyes’ work, it does not have both a contemporary and a historical section but has a multitude of characters to get to grips with and, as always, I found the characterisation to be near perfect. As the novel opens, we are introduced to Laura and Matt McCarthy who have looked after their elderly, very obnoxious and ungrateful neighbour for a while now, not out of the kindness of their hearts but in the hope that when he dies, he will leave them his house – “The Spanish House,” in his will. Instead of this happening however to their disgust and bitter disappointment when he passes away the house is bequeathed to his grand-niece Isabel Delancey who is living in London with her two children.
The house couldn’t have come at a better time for Isabel. Recently widowed after her husband died in a horrific car accident, Isabel has really been struggling. She lives, breathes and speaks music and is an accomplished professional violin player which sees her travelling round the world. Her husband had always dealt with the financial side of things and the children were looked after by a nanny so when he dies her world all but implodes. Her daughter Kitty has had to grow up very quickly frantically trying to manage the bills that her mother cannot cope with and her poor younger brother Thierry has not spoken a word since his father’s death. She finally makes her mother pull her head from the sand and face facts in that they cannot afford the lifestyle that Isabel has become accustomed to. Luckily, at this point, the family are thrown a lifeline in The Spanish House and they immediately up sticks and move to the country and try and settle into the difference that living in a small village community offers.
There is no way that things are going to be easy for them though. First of all, the house is a complete mess, almost as if it is falling apart from the inside outwards and as I’m sure you can imagine, Isabel is no Miss DIY! Step forward Matt McCarthy, her knight in shining armour/builder extraordinaire. Or is he? Yes, this is the same Matt who desperately wants The Spanish House for himself and although he is instantly attracted to Isabel he is determined to sabotage the house (literally, with shoddy worksmanship) while charging her extortionate amounts for the privilege. And of course Isabel is so incredibly gullible and naive with things like this so she doesn’t see what’s happening right under her nose. As Matt attempts to drive Isabel and her family away from The Spanish House things begin to unravel very quickly and soon result in a dangerous obsession. Step forward Isabel’s (actual?) knight in shining armour, Byron Firth who works for Matt but knows exactly what kind of man he is and attempts to help Isabel through the mess she finds herself in. On a side note, many thanks to the author for giving me a fit of giggles when Byron Firth emerges all wet and dripping from a lake – wonder where her inspiration for that scene lay?!
I have to be honest and say this isn’t my favourite from Jojo Moyes work but it’s definitely worth the read. Other reviewers have mentioned that they didn’t really see the point in the Laura/Matt “story on the side,” but for me, I found it a nice addition. Matt is an awful character and has cheated on his wife multiple times yet she continues to stay with him. I found myself almost pulling my hair out in frustration with her merely accepting his behaviour and thought their toxic marriage brought a sinister edge to the novel, something I’ve never seen before in a Jojo Moyes book. Isabel frustrated me too but in different ways and I ended up feeling differently towards the end of the novel. At the beginning, she appears to put her music before her family, sticks her head in the sand when faced with problems and is so incredibly gullible and naive it made me want to scream! Losing her husband and having to confront her problems made her grow up immensely and let her prove a better mother to her children as a result. If there was one character I didn’t really connect with it was Byron Firth (despite the wet shirt scene) who didn’t seem as “fleshed out,” as her other characters and I felt he had real potential to be more interesting. Apart from this, Night Music is a great read. I think Moyes’ fans will lap it up and it will hopefully bring a lot more new readers to her fan base.
For my full review, please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
A while ago I set myself the challenge to read all of Jojo Moyes back catalogue after reading such gems such as Me Before You and The Girl You Left Behind. Night Music is the next on my list and was first published in 2008. Unlike a lot of Moyes’ work, it does not have both a contemporary and a historical section but has a multitude of characters to get to grips with and, as always, I found the characterisation to be near perfect. As the novel opens, we are introduced to Laura and Matt McCarthy who have looked after their elderly, very obnoxious and ungrateful neighbour for a while now, not out of the kindness of their hearts but in the hope that when he dies, he will leave them his house – “The Spanish House,” in his will. Instead of this happening however to their disgust and bitter disappointment when he passes away the house is bequeathed to his grand-niece Isabel Delancey who is living in London with her two children.
The house couldn’t have come at a better time for Isabel. Recently widowed after her husband died in a horrific car accident, Isabel has really been struggling. She lives, breathes and speaks music and is an accomplished professional violin player which sees her travelling round the world. Her husband had always dealt with the financial side of things and the children were looked after by a nanny so when he dies her world all but implodes. Her daughter Kitty has had to grow up very quickly frantically trying to manage the bills that her mother cannot cope with and her poor younger brother Thierry has not spoken a word since his father’s death. She finally makes her mother pull her head from the sand and face facts in that they cannot afford the lifestyle that Isabel has become accustomed to. Luckily, at this point, the family are thrown a lifeline in The Spanish House and they immediately up sticks and move to the country and try and settle into the difference that living in a small village community offers.
There is no way that things are going to be easy for them though. First of all, the house is a complete mess, almost as if it is falling apart from the inside outwards and as I’m sure you can imagine, Isabel is no Miss DIY! Step forward Matt McCarthy, her knight in shining armour/builder extraordinaire. Or is he? Yes, this is the same Matt who desperately wants The Spanish House for himself and although he is instantly attracted to Isabel he is determined to sabotage the house (literally, with shoddy worksmanship) while charging her extortionate amounts for the privilege. And of course Isabel is so incredibly gullible and naive with things like this so she doesn’t see what’s happening right under her nose. As Matt attempts to drive Isabel and her family away from The Spanish House things begin to unravel very quickly and soon result in a dangerous obsession. Step forward Isabel’s (actual?) knight in shining armour, Byron Firth who works for Matt but knows exactly what kind of man he is and attempts to help Isabel through the mess she finds herself in. On a side note, many thanks to the author for giving me a fit of giggles when Byron Firth emerges all wet and dripping from a lake – wonder where her inspiration for that scene lay?!
I have to be honest and say this isn’t my favourite from Jojo Moyes work but it’s definitely worth the read. Other reviewers have mentioned that they didn’t really see the point in the Laura/Matt “story on the side,” but for me, I found it a nice addition. Matt is an awful character and has cheated on his wife multiple times yet she continues to stay with him. I found myself almost pulling my hair out in frustration with her merely accepting his behaviour and thought their toxic marriage brought a sinister edge to the novel, something I’ve never seen before in a Jojo Moyes book. Isabel frustrated me too but in different ways and I ended up feeling differently towards the end of the novel. At the beginning, she appears to put her music before her family, sticks her head in the sand when faced with problems and is so incredibly gullible and naive it made me want to scream! Losing her husband and having to confront her problems made her grow up immensely and let her prove a better mother to her children as a result. If there was one character I didn’t really connect with it was Byron Firth (despite the wet shirt scene) who didn’t seem as “fleshed out,” as her other characters and I felt he had real potential to be more interesting. Apart from this, Night Music is a great read. I think Moyes’ fans will lap it up and it will hopefully bring a lot more new readers to her fan base.
For my full review, please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
April 8, 2023
Night Music by Jojo Moyes was a unique, contemporary read.
I found this book to be very relaxing. It was a book I could escape into and there wasn't any real stakes. Yes, there was a horrible man named Matt totally trying to screw over Isabel by destroying her house, but I just had this calm feeling that everything would turn right in the end.
The book is "soft and sweet" to me. It's an easy read that just flows as I kept going along.
We follow Isabel, who is a very talented violinist, once she inherits an old Spanish house in the middle of a very small torn. She moves there with her kids after her husband has tragically died. Isabel is a bit of an odd duck. Clearly, she wasn't the one wearing the pants in the relationship. She was focused on her music career while her husband handled everything and their hired nanny watched the kids.. Now, she has to take care of her teenaged kids and house, which is not something she ever did. What makes things worse is the house is falling apart.
And you'd think that with all of that going on some nice people would swoop in and help. Well, they say they are going to "help", but really, the man who offered to help fix her house (Matt McCarthy) keeps wrecking the house and trying to make it to be the house he wanted - since he swore he was going to inherit the house. If he can screw over Isabel just enough, she might leave and let him take the house away from her.
I truly liked the story - it was an interesting slice of life that made me emphasize with Isabel and the kids while also want to smack Matt right across the face and tell him to bugger off. There's other wonderful characters to who deserved so much better, and most of which is due to Matt being a complete jerk to them. The story is very sweet, very heartfelt, and just an all around women's lit kind of book. I really liked Jojo's writing style and I will definitely be seeking out more books by her in the future.
Four out of five stars!
I found this book to be very relaxing. It was a book I could escape into and there wasn't any real stakes. Yes, there was a horrible man named Matt totally trying to screw over Isabel by destroying her house, but I just had this calm feeling that everything would turn right in the end.
The book is "soft and sweet" to me. It's an easy read that just flows as I kept going along.
We follow Isabel, who is a very talented violinist, once she inherits an old Spanish house in the middle of a very small torn. She moves there with her kids after her husband has tragically died. Isabel is a bit of an odd duck. Clearly, she wasn't the one wearing the pants in the relationship. She was focused on her music career while her husband handled everything and their hired nanny watched the kids.. Now, she has to take care of her teenaged kids and house, which is not something she ever did. What makes things worse is the house is falling apart.
And you'd think that with all of that going on some nice people would swoop in and help. Well, they say they are going to "help", but really, the man who offered to help fix her house (Matt McCarthy) keeps wrecking the house and trying to make it to be the house he wanted - since he swore he was going to inherit the house. If he can screw over Isabel just enough, she might leave and let him take the house away from her.
I truly liked the story - it was an interesting slice of life that made me emphasize with Isabel and the kids while also want to smack Matt right across the face and tell him to bugger off. There's other wonderful characters to who deserved so much better, and most of which is due to Matt being a complete jerk to them. The story is very sweet, very heartfelt, and just an all around women's lit kind of book. I really liked Jojo's writing style and I will definitely be seeking out more books by her in the future.
Four out of five stars!
Read
February 12, 2022DNF.
Slogged through half of this one and didn’t care a whit about the majority of the characters. I’m calling it: time of death, 10:30 Saturday morning. Life is too short.
Slogged through half of this one and didn’t care a whit about the majority of the characters. I’m calling it: time of death, 10:30 Saturday morning. Life is too short.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,148 reviews