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Author Jojo Moyes Writing Me Before You, Rejection & Starting Again In Her 40s

Begin Again with Davina McCall

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What if success is not the end of the story, but the beginning of becoming yourself?

In this episode of Begin Again, bestselling author Jojo Moyes joins Davina to talk about rejection, reinvention, and the story behind becoming one of the world’s most loved writers in midlife.

Jojo opens up about the years before Me Before You, when books were rejected, sales were low, and she wondered whether she would have to find a new career. Then everything changed. Her work went on to sell millions around the world, but success brought new challenges: emotional responsibility, pressure, and the painful realisation that she had no boundaries.

Davina and Jojo also explore childhood loneliness, becoming fiercely independent, learning to ask for help, and the cost of always saying yes. They discuss why achieving the life you once dreamed of does not protect you from having to begin again.

Jojo speaks honestly about divorce, and how even when it is messy and complicated, handling it with kindness can bring a clarity you never expected. They talk about identity, midlife loneliness, dating again and motherhood. How ambition and trusting yourself are the secrets to protecting your peace after years of pushing through.

At its heart, this is a conversation about what happens when the life you dreamed of finally arrives, and you still have to learn how to live inside it.
Jojo Moyes reminds us that beginning again is not about starting from nothing. It is about learning to honour who you are now, not just who you had to become to survive.

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00:00 Intro
01:51 How Jojo’s Creative Childhood Shaped Her Work Ethic
09:17 Why Jojo Parents Differently
13:59 How Childhood Struggles Made Jojo Stronger
15:52 How Jojo Found Her Ambition
19:20 What Losing Sophie Kinsella Taught Jojo
20:30 Finding Her Voice Through Writing
22:27 Why Motherhood Changed Jojo’s Writing Forever
25:40 Shopify Ad
26:41 Do Health Ad
27:51 Getting Published For The First Time
30:05 Why Jojo’s First Books Faced So Much Rejection
32:13 What Inspired Me Before You
35:02 How Me Before You Changed Jojo’s Life
40:43 Saily Ad
41:40 Why Saying “No” Changed Everything
45:54 The Hardest Year Of Jojo’s Life
49:17 How To Have A “Good” Divorce
55:44 What Dating Again In Midlife Really Feels Like
01:03:49 Why Jojo Took A Year Off To Find Herself Again
Sponsored by:

Do Health - The waitlist is open. Begin Again listeners get fixed early access pricing when they sign up today at https://dohealth.co/beginagain use code BEGINAGAIN

Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off

Shopify - Shopify.co.uk for £1 a month trial

20 Comments

@paultunster447 2 months ago

The comment " you become the adult you wanted as a child " is my life. Similar experiences growing up etc and now I feel I'm too vigilant sometimes. ❤

@jeansmith3367 3 months ago

No wonder Jojo writes such good books full of human emotion and real life- what a lovely, wise lady!

@WhizzyWheelz 3 months ago

As a disabled man Jojo Moyes Me Before you did something I could not have expected. For the first time it opened up such a deep and honest conversation about what it meant to be disabled. It allowed able bodied people to talk to me about what disability means both for them and for me. It broke communication barriers down that had been there that sometimes even wasn't aware of. I have been in the room when the film adaptation was shown and seen people I know really well and in some cases for many years finally get "it. Word of advice though is when you have finished watching/ reading Me Before You (you really should). I would follow it up by watching The Upside. Essentially I feel that these films combined are 2 sides of the same coin. I will be forever grateful that these films and books exist as the are truly impressive and very powerful. Thank you Ms Moyes.

@tarosewood 3 months ago

Jojo was the reason I started writing again after meeting her. She's such an inspiration and I'm now about to publish my 10th novel. As she says - never give up!! Thank you Jojo and thank you Davina for just being so lovely.

@eveningstar1 2 months ago

the letter the mother writes to support his decision is one of the most heartbreaking pieces of literature I have ever read.

@mandyjane1234 3 months ago

Oh wow this struck a chord with me !!!! I'm a 72 yr old female , and the amount of scary unwanted attention from males started when walking home from school alone at the age of 6 in Barnet , Herts. When I reached school age my mother went back to work and I was a latch key kid from then on. Starting with a flasher ...who i encountered a few doors from home. I was terrified......the one thing I remember to this day was the leery smile on face , strangely enough ! I ran home and into a unlocked empty house , where I locked all doors , and peered out of the window convinced he had followed me . There were many more. Later as a 17 yr old I moved to London and had unwanted experiences on trains and tubes . All my friends had similar things happen and we all considered it a normal part of life. The first time I spoke out in public about this was on a train, where due to overcrowding there were no seats , so we were lined up in the corridor . A man kept edging closer and closer to me , so I edged away until I couldn't move any further.......I was so angry I shouted " I can't move away any more ...how much closer are you going to get " The man instantly moved away and everyone else brought their newspapers closer to their faces and said nothing

@Owlshead110 3 months ago

One thing to do to have an amicable divorce is to tell your lawyers you want to keep it kind. The lawyers seem to think cut-throat is the only way to manage clients.

@MarilynCrosbie 3 months ago (edited)

Asking for help when I absolutely needed it made me feel humiliated and demoralized.

@aileenh7736 3 months ago

What is sad about the whole dignitas thing & the pushing for the euthanasia bill at the moment is the fact that palliative care is woefully inadequate which raises the either or choices ppl have when they are in these situations. Yes even if we had excellent care some ppl would still want to die but let’s champion both and not make people feel like they are burdens .. society needs to do better in that regard .

@bloggerblogg5878 3 months ago

I think if someone rejected your art in any art form is difficult for an artist. We put a little bit ourself in everything we create and it's so heartbreaking when people rejected, like rejecting you.

@esratontubuldac9326 2 months ago

Thank u for the oppurtinity .She is one of my favourite writers.I KEEP ONE OF BOOKS UNREAD because whenever life gets unbearable ,I can read her and Forget how I Feel for a period of Time,which at Times ,is heavenly.I am Turkish and I am lucky because I don’t need to wait for the translations;which are really good in Turkish,I must add.Thnk u Thank u Thank u.

@fionam7686 3 months ago

Born in 1971, middle child, only female, older and younger brothers. I also felt lonely, Mum had found raising children too hard so had checked out with exception of cooking meals. Felt invisible most of my life. Met my future husband at 18, dated at age 21, married 2 years later. He is Aspergers and we came to realise I am too. We have had a good life with me in the driver's seat. I realised quite young I needed to parent myself.

@barbaraannscarlet7885 2 months ago

" DOING THE WORK" Is a Universal necessary Virtue !
And yes, the men who do it are part of a unique and rare UNICORN TEAM 🦄 🏆

@gillm32 2 months ago

I remember being on holiday and they had a book swap library. I picked this book up and read it by the pool. I have never read a more beautiful book. I sobbed and sobbed at that poolside. And I have read it over and over since.

@Zandile-f2n 3 months ago

This was enlightening ❤

@Iamlight1255 3 months ago

Love jojo moyes books ive read a few of them in the past such a joy to read lighthearted and a easy read will have to get the latest book at some point blessings 🎉

@tiffanyburns681 3 months ago

I love this. I am at this place of beginning again and her list at the end is spectacular. Women don't have hobbies because we are taught our worth is in doing, for others, from birth. To do for ourselves because we fucking WANT TO, and no other reason, is REVOLUTIONARY. I love that this was talked about out loud. Thank you, Davina. You have regularly changed my life. ❤

@Carriechalloner 3 months ago

Davina your podcast is fantastic and I learn so much with each one. It’s like a cosy chat and so inspired about Jojo Moyes because I have read her books and helping me to keep writing and I’ve watched your shows and all that you do and done has given me so much joy thank you for being you x

@christinegivens9048 3 months ago

What a wonderful woman. ❤

@gumtreeist 3 months ago

Totally loved this. Wow I am getting excited about my list now.. already have a few things in motion. Keep going and never give up. Jojo thank you for the reminder.