Someone Else's Shoes (2023) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Name: Someone Else's Shoes
Rating: 3.8 (91 reviews)
Author: Jojo Moyes

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! “Very few authors have the power to make you laugh on one page and cry on the next. Moyes is one of them.” — The New York Times A story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances, this is the new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and The Giver of Stars Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes? Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy, until her husband announces a divorce and… Sign up for the full guide

Adult • 2023 • 576 pages • Adult Fiction

by Jojo Moyes

3.8

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

17+

Someone Else's Shoes is a mature contemporary fiction novel focused on female friendship and navigating mid-life crises. The book earns its adult rating due to frank discussions of marital infidelity, depictions of clinical depression, and multiple instances of moderate profanity and sexual references. While not as explicit as some romance novels, the story deals with heavy themes including toxic relationships, workplace harassment… Sign up for the full guide

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Is Someone Else's Shoes appropriate for kids?

Content severity in Someone Else's Shoes

Sex Strong 6/10

Violence Moderate 3/10

Language Strong 7/10

Substances Moderate 4/10

Themes Strong 6/10

What happens in Someone Else's Shoes, moment by moment

p. 12 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
p. 28 💬 Language 2/10
p. 45 💬 Language 4/10

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Sex and nudity in Someone Else's Shoes

The novel contains several instances of sexual references and off-page sexual encounters that reflect its adult target audience. Characters like Nisha and Sam discuss their sex lives with relative frankness, including a scene in Chapter 26 where a character discovers evidence of a partner's infidelity and betrayal. While the book avoids graphic descriptions of sexual acts, there are moments where characters are shown in bed together or preparing for intimacy, such as in Chapter 37. Additionally, the plot involves…

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Violence and gore in Someone Else's Shoes

Violence is minimal and mostly psychological, focusing on the emotional cruelty inherent in a high-stakes divorce and the stress of a failing marriage. In Chapter 19, a tense physical struggle occurs when Nisha attempts to reclaim her belongings, leading to a minor scuffle that is more about desperation than intent to harm. Later in the book, a character is physically grabbed and escorted by security personnel, causing significant distress but no lasting injury. There are no scenes of combat, gore, or…

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Language in Someone Else's Shoes

There is a moderate and consistent use of profanity throughout the text, mirroring the conversational style of modern adult office and social environments. The 'f-word' appears during moments of high emotional stress, specifically during a heated marital argument in Chapter 29. Other terms such as 'sh*t,' 'hell,' 'bloody,' and 'bastard' are used frequently by Sam and Nisha as they navigate their respective crises. Some British slurs and derogatory terms are used in the context of workplace misogyny to highlight…

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Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Someone Else's Shoes

Social drinking is a frequent occurrence throughout the story, with characters consuming wine, gin, and cocktails at parties or as a primary coping mechanism for daily stress. In Chapter 8, characters drink multiple glasses of wine to ease anxiety at a social gathering, and Chapter 45 features moderate intoxication during a celebration. Beyond alcohol, the book addresses the medicinal use of substances for mental health. There are several specific references to the use of anti-depressants and sleeping pills as…

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Mature themes in Someone Else's Shoes

The narrative explores heavy themes including the devastating impact of clinical depression on family dynamics, particularly in Chapter 12. It highlights the financial and emotional vulnerability of women caught in high-net-worth divorces, framing Nisha’s struggle as a form of systemic abuse. The plot also addresses workplace misogyny and the dehumanizing nature of the corporate grind for women like Sam. Throughout the book, themes of self-worth, female friendship, and the hidden struggles of strangers are central…

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Someone Else's Shoes appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Someone Else's Shoes is best for ages 17+. Someone Else's Shoes is a mature contemporary fiction novel focused on female friendship and navigating mid-life crises. The book earns its adult rating due to frank discussions of marital infidelity, depictions of…

What age rating does Someone Else's Shoes have?

Books don't carry official age ratings. Someone Else's Shoes is shelved by its publisher as Adult, but that's a marketing category, not a content rating — Bontent's own review of what's actually on the page puts it at ages 17+.

What reading level is Someone Else's Shoes?

Someone Else's Shoes is 576 pages and its reading level is Adult Fiction. Bontent recommends it for ages 17+.

What is Someone Else's Shoes about?

Is there sex or nudity in Someone Else's Shoes?

How violent is Someone Else's Shoes?

Is the language in Someone Else's Shoes appropriate for kids?

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking depicted in Someone Else's Shoes?

What mature themes appear in Someone Else's Shoes?

Where can I read the full Someone Else's Shoes parent guide?

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