Jojo Moyes Guide: Books, Reading Order, Biography & FAQs

If you’ve ever picked up a Jojo Moyes novel, you already know the feeling: start reading, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. and you’ve gone through a full emotional arc in a single sitting. With over 15 books, two film adaptations, and translations in 48 languages, she has become one of the most widely read authors in women’s fiction.

Novels published: 15 (as of 2025) · Film adaptations: 2 · Languages translated into: 48 · Literary awards won: 2

Seven key facts about Jojo Moyes, one pattern: her real name, origin, and family are documented consistently across multiple sources.

The pattern: her biographical details are consistent across every major source, making her one of the most reliably documented authors in contemporary fiction.

What is Jojo Moyes’ most popular book?

What are the sales figures for Me Before You?

Me Before You is her bestselling novel with more than 8 million copies sold worldwide. The book won the Romantic Novel of the Year award in 2013, an honour given by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. In 2016, it was adapted into a film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, directed by Thea Sharrock (IMDb film database).

Other highly-ranked Jojo Moyes novels

Beyond Me Before You, her official website lists The Giver of Stars, Someone Else’s Shoes, and Paris for One and Other Stories among her top titles (Jojo Moyes official site). The Giver of Stars (2019) has been a consistent bestseller, and The One Plus One is frequently cited by readers as a favourite. Penguin Books UK describes her as a “master storyteller” whose novels resonate with a global audience (Penguin Books UK publisher’s author page).

In what order should you read Jojo Moyes books?

Should you read the Me Before You series in order?

Yes. The Me Before You series follows Louisa Clark’s journey over three novels: Me Before You (2012), After You (2014), and Still Me (2018). A short story titled Lou in Lockdown (2020) also fits chronologically after Still Me (Goodreads reader community series list). Reading them out of order would spoil major character developments.

Reading order for standalone novels

Standalone novels can technically be read in any order, but many readers prefer to follow publication chronology to see the evolution of Moyes’ style. Book Series in Order lists Sheltering Rain (2002) as her first standalone, followed by Foreign Fruit (2003, also released as Windfallen) and The Last Letter from Your Lover (2011) (Book Series in Order fan reference site).

Four steps to start reading Jojo Moyes:

1. Step 1: Start with Me Before You – it’s the most accessible and establishes her voice.
2. Step 2: Continue the series with After You and Still Me for the complete Louisa Clark arc.
3. Step 3: Try a standalone like The Giver of Stars or The One Plus One for variety.
4. Step 4: Explore her earlier works (Sheltering Rain, Foreign Fruit) once you’re hooked.

The implication: while you can start almost anywhere, the strongest emotional payoff comes from following the internal chronology of the Me Before You series first.

Which Jojo Moyes book should I read first?

Best starting point for new readers

Me Before You is almost universally recommended as the first read because of its broad appeal and fast-paced emotional arc. BookBrowse literary book site calls it “a heart-wrenching story that defines modern romance fiction.”

Recommended books based on genre preference

If you prefer historical settings, The Giver of Stars (set in 1930s Kentucky) is a strong entry. For dual-timeline romance, The Last Letter from Your Lover delivers. Someone Else’s Shoes (2023) works well for contemporary relationship drama.

Is Jojo Moyes still married?

Is Jojo Moyes Irish?

She is not Irish. Jojo Moyes was born in London, England, and has lived in the UK her entire life. Her nationality is English. Wikipedia user-contributed encyclopedia and BookBrowse literary book site both confirm her place of birth as London.

Is Jojo Moyes her real name?

Her birth name is Pauline Sara Jo Moyes. She publishes under the shortened form “Jojo Moyes” — a combination of her middle name “Jo” and a family nickname. Her official website uses “Jojo Moyes” as her professional name.

Why this matters: the distinction between her legal name and pen name often trips up readers doing background searches, and knowing the full name helps when verifying biographical records.

Is Jojo Moyes her real name?

What is Jojo Moyes’ full name?

Pauline Sara Jo Moyes — that is the name on her birth certificate. She explained in interviews that “Jojo” has been used since childhood by family and friends. Wikipedia records this under her biographical details.

Why does she use a pen name?

She does not use a pen name in the traditional sense — “Jojo Moyes” is a shortened, more personal version of her actual name. She has never written under any other byline.

“Jojo Moyes is a #1 New York Times bestselling author.”

BookBrowse literary book site

“Jojo Moyes is the author of Someone Else’s Shoes and Paris for One and Other Stories.”

Jojo Moyes official website

Jojo Moyes’ trajectory from regional romance writer to a global household name rests on one consistent factor: emotionally complex narratives that readers can project their own lives onto. For a new reader, the choice is clear: start with Me Before You for the fastest emotional payoff, or pick The Giver of Stars if you crave historical depth. Either way, you end up in a library of novels that treat love and loss with equal seriousness.