Desert Island Discs

Jojo Moyes, writer

Jan 25, 2026
Jojo Moyes, novelist and former journalist behind Me Before You, reflects on her East London roots and globe‑spanning book success. She talks about music as a mood lifter, childhood memories with the Beatles, obsession with horses and dressage, working nights while writing, reporting in Hong Kong, and choosing Dostoyevsky and a mechanical horse for island life.
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ANECDOTE

Surprising Scale Of International Fame

  • Jojo Moyes recalled being mobbed by fans and needing bodyguards in Brazil when her fame surged there in 2016.
  • She described feeling like she'd been caught shoplifting while protected by burly bodyguards.
ANECDOTE

Meeting A Reader In A Dentist

  • Jojo Moyes spotted a reader with her book in a dentist and shyly revealed it was her book by showing her author photo.
  • The reader thought it came from the library until Jojo proved it was hers and they laughed together.
INSIGHT

Music As Intentional Mood Tool

  • Jojo Moyes uses music deliberately as a mood regulator, calling it a bringer-upper or downer when needed.
  • She reserves certain tracks to keep their emotional power from fading through overuse.
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