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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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.
ANECDOTE

Horse Purchase And Lifelong Regret

  • Jojo described buying a rescued horse, Bombardier, by working and paying in instalments from age 14.
  • She later lost track of him after selling him cheaply and spent years trying to find him, feeling guilty ever since.
ANECDOTE

Friendship And Reggae Roots

  • Jojo shared that reggae and friendship shaped her youth and named Cathy Runciman as her best friend since age 16.
  • She revealed "Silly Games" lets her hit a high note as a party piece and linked the song to female friendship.
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