Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Someone Else’s Shoes: A Novel
- Author: Jojo Moyes
- Narrator: Daisy Ridley
- Length: 12:21:56
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 07/02/2023
- Publisher: Penguin Audio
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Literary Fiction, Contemporary Women
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
It’s not often that an audiobook sweeps you off your feet the way “Someone Else’s Shoes: A Novel” by Jojo Moyes does, especially when it’s brought to life by the luminous voice of Daisy Ridley. The story unfolds like a winding road through a foreign land – full of unexpected turns, vibrant characters, and the kind of emotional resonance that lingers long after the final chapter fades. As a travel writer who’s spent years chasing tales across continents, I found myself utterly captivated by this literary fiction gem, a contemporary women’s narrative that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about the shoes we wear – or lose – along the way.
I first pressed play on this audiobook while sipping a smoky mezcal in a tiny Oaxacan cantina, the kind of place where stories seem to seep from the walls. It reminded me of those evenings years ago when I’d sit with a local grandmother, her voice weaving tales of love and loss under a starlit sky. That memory flooded back as Daisy Ridley’s narration filled my ears, her tone carrying the same intimate, personal quality – warm yet commanding, like she’s telling you a secret she’s held onto for years. The story follows Nisha Cantor, a jet-setting socialite whose world crumbles when her husband cuts her off, and Sam Kemp, a struggling everywoman who accidentally swipes Nisha’s gym bag, complete with a pair of jaw-dropping Christian Louboutin heels. What begins as a mix-up spirals into a heartfelt exploration of identity, resilience, and second chances.
The themes here hit close to home. I’ve walked plenty of dusty roads myself – sometimes in borrowed boots – searching for the next story, the next connection. There was a time in the Atacama Desert when I listened to “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, the surreal landscape mirroring García Márquez’s magical realism. “Someone Else’s Shoes” gave me that same shiver of recognition – not through magic, but through the raw humanity of its characters. Nisha’s fall from grace and Sam’s quiet determination to rise above her circumstances feel like two sides of a coin I’ve flipped many times in my own life: the thrill of reinvention and the weight of starting over. Moyes has this uncanny ability to make you laugh at a character’s absurdity on one page – Nisha’s obsession with her glamorous life is almost comical – then choke up on the next as Sam wrestles with her family’s survival. You can almost feel the ache in her knees, the sting of rejection, the jolt of confidence those red crocodile heels bring.
Let’s talk about that narration, though. Daisy Ridley doesn’t just read this audiobook – she inhabits it. Her voice shifts effortlessly between Nisha’s polished, slightly frantic cadence and Sam’s grounded, weary tone, painting each woman with vivid strokes. There’s a scene where Sam slips on those Louboutins for the first time, and Ridley’s delivery – you can hear the spark of possibility in her voice – gave me chills. The audio quality is crisp, immersive, with a runtime of just over 12 hours that flies by like a well-planned road trip. It’s the kind of listening experience that makes you want to keep driving, just to hear what happens next. Ridley’s pacing mirrors Moyes’ signature storytelling: brisk when it needs to be, lingering when the moment demands it.
That said, no journey is without its bumps. At times, the plot leans a little heavily on coincidence – Nisha and Sam’s lives intersect in ways that feel almost too tidy. And while Ridley’s performance is stellar, there are moments where the secondary characters’ voices blur together, losing some of their distinct flavor. But these are minor detours in an otherwise rich ride. Moyes’ humor shines through – dry and sharp, like a good tequila – and her warmth wraps around you like a worn-in serape. This isn’t just a story about shoes; it’s about stepping into someone else’s life and finding your own footing.
Compared to Moyes’ earlier works like “Me Before You”, this novel trades grand romance for a quieter, more introspective transformation. It’s less about sweeping gestures and more about the small, seismic shifts that redefine us. Fans of literary fiction or contemporary women’s stories – think Liane Moriarty or Kristin Hannah – will find a lot to love here. The audiobook experience elevates it further, making it perfect for anyone who craves a narrative that’s both entertaining and soul-stirring.
I’d recommend this to anyone who’s ever felt lost in their own skin – or their own shoes – and to those who love a good tale of human connection. It’s ideal for a long flight, a lazy Sunday, or a night when you just need to hear a voice that understands. For me, it was a companion through a bustling Mexican town, a reminder of how stories, like travel, can change us. Strengths? The emotional depth, the humor, Ridley’s narration. Limitations? A touch of predictability in the plot. But the balance tips firmly toward brilliance.
Reflecting on it now, “Someone Else’s Shoes” feels like a postcard from a place I’ve been but never fully seen – a reminder that the journeys we take, planned or accidental, shape who we become. It’s a story I’ll carry with me, like a well-worn pair of boots or a memory of a desert night, whispering that sometimes, the best way forward is in someone else’s footsteps.
Until the next story finds us, amigos,
Marcus Rivera
