Begin Again with Davina McCall

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

2026-06-04

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 a...

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

(02:07) What Is A Narcissist?

(09:26) Identifying A Narcissist

(15:48) The Different Types Of Narcissists

(21:57) How Narcissistic Parents Affect Their Children

(30:08) What Is Gaslighting? Narcissism In Relationships

(34:18) Shopify Ad

(35:19) Why Some People Are Attracted To Narcissists