One Plus One

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

Jess Thomas faces a dilemma; pay the overdue electricity bill staring at her from the piles of statements marked "final notice" on the dirty kitchen counter, or use those precious funds to buy her daughter some trendy designer clothes. It breaks her heart to know her child is ridiculed and teased for her homemade attire. For some people, money is just a detail. Dejected and alone, Jess is reminded that "people who thought money was a detail were the kind who had never really had to worry about it." The electricity bill will just have to wait.

Two quirky children call Jess "Mom".  Daughter Tanzie is a math genius with an amazing opportunity to further her education at a prestigious private school that costs a fortune. Prize money could be hers if they can somehow find their way to Scotland for a lucrative competition. Stepson Nicky is bullied and taunted with vicious remarks by classmates who make fun of his macabre appearance. Husband Marty conveniently vanished two years ago leaving Jess penniless and overwhelmed. Her job as a cleaning lady for the wealthy barely keeps food on the table. She is disappointed in herself., but starts each day with the hope that better days lie ahead.

Geeky Ed Nichols is a self-made tech millionaire who had a momentary lapse in good judgement. He is now facing insider trading charges. While his attorney sorts out the mess he has made of his life, Ed finds the days and nights can be quite lonely until a chance encounter with a feisty woman named Jess Thomas who just happens to be his cleaning lady. Against his better judgement, he agrees to embark on a journey to Scotland to make Tanzie's dream a reality.  Along the way, the road trip becomes a comedy of errors. Bad food, sleepless nights spent in a car, and a huge smelly dog named Norman are all part of the journey.

And Jess can't make herself reveal the secret she has been hiding from Ed.

Jojo Moyes writes a novel filled with humor, romance, and heartache. Two vulnerable characters who at first instantly dislike one another, find that together they just may have the courage and strength needed to overcome obstacles in their way. This is a light, amusing story, easy to read and a welcome break if you are looking for a little levity. However, it also has heart-rending and agonizing themes that are the very essence of the story.

Once again, this British author delivers.