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Sheltering Rain Paperback – March 25, 2003

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 19,569 ratings

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You, the basis for the major motion picture, comes the touching, unforgettable story of three generations of Irish women faced with the fundamental truths of love, duty, and the unbreakable bond that unites mothers and daughters.

Estranged from her mother since she ran away from her rural Irish home as a young woman, Kate swore a future oath that she’d always be a friend to her daughter, Sabine. But history has a way of repeating itself, and Kate now faces an ever-widening chasm between herself and her daughter. With Sabine about to make her own journey to Ireland to see the grandmother Kate abandoned, Kate is left wondering how they ever made it here, and what she can do to close the gap between them. 

For Joy, seeing her granddaughter is a dream come true. After the painful separation from Kate, she’s looking forward to having time with Sabine. Yet almost as soon as the young woman arrives, the lack of common ground between them deflates her enthusiasm. And when Sabine’s impetuous, inquisitive nature forces Joy to face long-buried secrets from her past, she realizes that perhaps it’s time to finally heal old wounds.

“This perceptive…novel does the mother-and-daughter thing in page-turning style.”--Elle

 

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“…a tremendously gifted storyteller…” — Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife

“This is a remarkable first novel, rich and deep and full of wonderfully realized characters. Oh, these women!” — Anne Rivers Siddons

“Accomplished debut...in style and substance Moyes is a worthy addition to [Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy’s] ranks....Fluidly paced and cast with engaging characters.” — Booklist

“I enjoyed Sheltering Rain very much.” — Rosamunde Pilcher

“A delicious read.” — Library Journal

“[Moyes’s] thoughtful tone and light touch make this a delightful read.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Back Cover

Joy is estranged from her only daughter, Kate, and knows little of her sixteen-year-old granddaughter Sabine. But all that is about to change when Sabine arrives, seeking shelter at her grandparents' house in Ireland -- the very place from which her mother, Kate, ran years before.

Suddenly, with an impetuous and inquisitive young woman in the house, Joy finds herself facing long-buried secrets of her past. And Kate, too, must bridge the painful chasm between herself, her daughter, and ultimately, her mother. Coming together, these three generations discover fundamental truths about love, duty, and the unbreakable bond that unites them as mother, daughters, and women.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (March 25, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 437 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060012897
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060012892
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 1.12 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 19,569 ratings

About the author

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Jojo Moyes
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Jojo Moyes is a novelist and journalist. Her books include the bestsellers Me Before You, After You and Still Me, The Girl You Left Behind, The One Plus One and her short story collection Paris for One and Other Stories. The Giver of Stars is her most recent bestseller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick. Her novels have been translated into forty-six languages, have hit the number one spot in twelve countries and have sold over thirty-eight million copies worldwide.

Me Before You has now sold over fourteen million copies worldwide and was adapted into a major film starring Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke. Jojo lives in Essex with her family.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
19,570 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and satisfying. They appreciate the engaging characters and their development. The emotional depth is conveyed through the loving relationships. Readers enjoy the complex storylines that take them in unexpected directions. They appreciate the rich context and historical background on domestic violence, as well as the insight into Irish countryside life.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

145 customers mention "Readability"120 positive25 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story engaging, with a sweet three-generational tale that brings peace to the family. The narratives explore various human emotions and include subtle twists and side stories that enrich the story. Overall, readers describe it as a satisfying and delightful read with a happy ending.

"...Wound throughout are many subtle twists and side stories that deepen and enrich the experience...." Read more

"...Her characters are solid and multidimensional. The narratives run the gamut of human emotions, up and down, and around...." Read more

"Joy and Edward had a beautiful love story of a marriage. Now as he lies dying, his daughter learns some truths behind her mother’s stern appearance...." Read more

"...In the end, the climactic events bring closure and a sense of connection. 4.0 stars." Read more

67 customers mention "Writing style"57 positive10 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find the book easy to read and engaging, with well-developed characters that are relatable. The author's writing style is described as fluent and coherent.

"...So intricate and well written and we are so lucky Ms. Moyes has honed her craft so well." Read more

"...So well-written and interesting! Bravo!" Read more

"...I really, really like JoJo Moyes' writing...." Read more

"...If my sister would like an uncomplicated and easy read, I would recommend this book to her." Read more

54 customers mention "Character development"43 positive11 negative

Customers find the characters engaging and strong. They appreciate the author's skillful descriptions and believable dialogue that make the characters credible. The characters are diverse, making readers laugh and cry, bringing up emotions.

"My third Moyes book, I am a fan. Her character development is always good and her story lines take me in directions that I don't always expect...." Read more

"JoJo Moves writes such wonderful stories. Her characters are solid and multidimensional...." Read more

"...It is set on a horse farm with many interesting additional characters. So well-written and interesting! Bravo!" Read more

"...Her characters are complex and varied; her settings vastly different, and her novels' structures totally different...." Read more

22 customers mention "Emotional depth"20 positive2 negative

Customers find the book touching and readable. They appreciate the author's ability to convey emotions and the development of Sabine's emotional strength. The relationships unfolding and events bring closure and a sense of connection.

"...In the end, the climactic events bring closure and a sense of connection. 4.0 stars." Read more

"...But by the end of the novel, feelings are sorted out, and common ground is found. Bonds are strengthened and parents and children are closer...." Read more

"...Kate arrives to nothing she expected. A whole new Sabine; confident, loving and no longer self-absorbed, her greedy brother who says she is just..." Read more

"...Through it all the grandmother is a fine upstanding woman who has to have her favourite horse put down while her husband lies dying in the house...." Read more

20 customers mention "Story complexity"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's complex storyline that takes them in unexpected directions. They appreciate the well-developed characters and setting. The author keeps readers engaged with suspenseful plots and drama, providing a glimpse into the complexities of life.

"...Her character development is always good and her story lines take me in directions that I don't always expect...." Read more

"...So intricate and well written and we are so lucky Ms. Moyes has honed her craft so well." Read more

"...and varied; her settings vastly different, and her novels' structures totally different. I really, really like JoJo Moyes' writing...." Read more

"...I like the complexity of the novel, and I will read more of Moyes' work." Read more

15 customers mention "Content"12 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's content interesting and easy to read. They appreciate the rich context and history to learn about domestic violence. The story moves quickly, with hints about the characters that keep readers hooked. Readers mention the thoughts of the teenager are spot-on.

"...So well-written and interesting! Bravo!" Read more

"...the characters clash as they do, the story moves quickly and picks up hints about them...." Read more

"...reader on the edge of their seat as the tension builds, with plenty of background as life in Hong Kong amd Ireland is described...." Read more

"...The characters are not as strong and endearing. Confusing at times. Will try something else." Read more

7 customers mention "Irish content"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the Irish content. They appreciate the insight into life in Ireland, a slice of countryside life, and engaging characters. The book provides an interesting view of Hong Kong during its heyday.

"...I really liked the characters and thought it was an interesting view of Hong Kong in it's so-called hey day...." Read more

"...Would recommend to young adults. Very descriptive of location and fair character development with a fast finish." Read more

"...Well written and engaging characters with some local information as backdrop." Read more

"Beautifully written. Slice of Irish countryside life entwined with beautiful relationships. Another lovely read by Jojo Moyes...." Read more

20 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing. Some find the story moving quickly and efficient, while others feel it's slow going and jumps around too much between time periods.

"This was a little slow for me. I have other books of hers that I have not yet read and I will give them a chance...." Read more

"...The story unfolds slowly, moving back and forth through time, until we begin to see how the secrets, betrayals, and pain of the past have affected..." Read more

"...However, I had trouble with the jumping back and forth of time periods." Read more

"...I gave this book four stars because I thought it was a bit slow moving in comparison to the rest of her books. I would recommend it though." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2016
    My third Moyes book, I am a fan. Her character development is always good and her story lines take me in directions that I don't always expect. Set in London and Ireland, single mom Kate seeks to improve her relationship with her teenage daughter by sending her to the old family home in Ireland for the summer. The message is sort of, see how much worse off it can be than being at home with me? The daughter, Sabine, dreads the trip and visit with grandparents she barely knows. Far removed from friends and internet, she struggles to amuse herself and eventually begins sitting at the bedside of her ill grandfather by day. When grandfather's health takes a turn for the worse, Kate travels to her old home to say goodbye to her dad. While there she confronts her judgmental brother and wife, and rekindles a romance with a former friend. Wound throughout are many subtle twists and side stories that deepen and enrich the experience. I am not usually a fan of reading books set in England, but Moyes is the exception for me. Her books keep me wanting to read more from her.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
    JoJo Moves writes such wonderful stories. Her characters are solid and multidimensional. The narratives run the gamut of human emotions, up and down, and around. So intricate and well written and we are so lucky Ms. Moyes has honed her craft so well.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2012
    I bought this partly (I think) because it was supposed to be an autobiographical novel, and partly because it was about difficult mother-daughter relationships (on which it excelled). I took it along on a trip through the South, and it was good reading -- partly because of the setting, partly because of the suspense created because the novel starts with the original romance and then drops it and doesn't come back to it until later, so you wonder what has happened and why people seem to have changed.... I thought the story got a little implausible toward the end, but I was still compelled to sit up past when I should have gone to sleep, to see how things came out. As a romance it's probably a four-star book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2021
    Joy and Edward had a beautiful love story of a marriage. Now as he lies dying, his daughter learns some truths behind her mother’s stern appearance. When Joy’s granddaughter comes to stay with them in Ireland she manages to break through to her grand mother and form a bond with her dying grandfather. The story explores the difficulties between mothers and daughters in the eyes of three generations of women, who love each other but, can’t quite seem to connect. It is set on a horse farm with many interesting additional characters. So well-written and interesting! Bravo!
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2014
    Three generations of women--mothers and daughters--are the core characters in Sheltering Rain; we join the first of them in 1953, in Hong Kong, where young Joy and her best friend Stella are waiting to listen to the coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II. On that same day, Joy meets a young man, a naval officer, named Edward Ballantyne, and before the day is out, the two have pledged themselves to one another.

    Leaping forward to 1997, in Ireland, we first meet Sabine Ballantyne, Joy and Edward's granddaughter, aged sixteen and eager to put distance between herself and her mother Kate. We experience both Kate and the grandparents through Sabine's eyes, as the teenager flails against her mother's choices, while also finding her grandparents' rules and regulations unbearable. She reaches out to the men who work with the horses, and soon finds solace in riding.

    The story unfolds slowly, moving back and forth through time, until we begin to see how the secrets, betrayals, and pain of the past have affected each of them. Will they find a way to work through their differences? How will discovering what was hidden in the past help them in the present?

    The author brings the reader right into the Irish countryside, into the pubs, and shows us the emotional terrain of the characters' lives in very satisfying ways.

    At one point or another, I found each of the characters frustrating. I liked that we began with Joy, as meeting her first through Sabine's eyes would have made her unlikable. And understanding Sabine from her own perspective made it possible to overlook her rudeness and lashing out when we saw her through Kate's eyes. However, I found it difficult to like Sabine, even understanding her point of view. Her self-absorption is probably typical for someone her age, but she seemed to go out of her way to be cruel to her mother.

    Kate is the character in the middle, in a sense, sandwiched between a disapproving mother and a rebellious daughter. But as she begins to search through her past mistakes and learn from them, we see hope for them all. In the end, the climactic events bring closure and a sense of connection. 4.0 stars.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2015
    This is my second JoJo Moyes novel and while I see similarities in her overall plot development (two completely different and damaged personalities thrown together manage to find some commonality and end up healing each other), she manages to make that similarity the only one. Her characters are complex and varied; her settings vastly different, and her novels' structures totally different. I really, really like JoJo Moyes' writing. Her characters generally react to situations and voice opinions that we secretly wish we were brave enough to exhibit. We like her characters, but often disapprove of them or even dislike them for a while. I would not categorize Moyes as a romance novelist or a mystery writer, but I do know that I will be reading everything she puts out.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Speedy
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2024
    I found it took a time to get into it. But I persevered and really enjoyed it. Didn’t want it to end.
  • Tania
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good but expected more
    Reviewed in Spain on September 19, 2022
    I expected more, I’m love Jojo Moyes books and I have to say this is one of the least engage of that’s I’ve read lately
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ok Read
    Reviewed in India on November 25, 2021
    This isn't the best of Moyes's writings. It's gets a bit strechy and the characters are so confused throughout . About the condition of the book, I would give 5 stars and for the story 3 stars.
  • Lucia
    4.0 out of 5 stars Uma estória enriquecedora, que nos leva a pensar sobre nós mesmos.
    Reviewed in Brazil on November 8, 2019
    Sheltering Rain é um enredo todo construído em cima de conflitos, basicamente. Há o conflito mãe-e-filha, o conflito avó-e-neta, o conflito pais-e-filha, irmão-e-irmã, marido-e-mulher, o conflito de pessoas com origens econômico-financeiras diferentes, o conflito de pessoas do campo-e-cidade, o conflito de jovens enfrentando a maternidade, o conflito de pessoas com deficiências físicas, o conflito de casais em situação de crise no casamento, enfim, muitos conflitos, aspectos, vicissitudes, pontos de vista a se considerar durante a leitura! Isso tona o livro bastante interessante, repleto de personagens muito ricos e complexos. Todos tem qualidades e defeitos, todos passam por situações corriqueiras bem reais, todos, de uma maneira ou de outra, nos remetem à fatos que já aconteceram conosco em algum momento de nossas vidas. Além disso, o livro nos possibilita conhecer um pouco da Irlanda rural, em contraponto à trepidante Londres. Interessante, envolvente, rico!
  • Angie Nash
    5.0 out of 5 stars einfach schön , wie all ihre anderen Bücher
    Reviewed in Germany on February 1, 2020
    einfach schön wie all ihre Bücher.