I started reading this but I didn’t care for the story or the writing, and I could t finish it. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me.

#FirstLine PROLOGUE: The girls didn't blame me at the time and all these years later they still don't, but I've never quite forgiven myself for instigating what happened during the summer the three of us were eleven.

Can I give this book 100 stars??? Because this book deserves that many and then some. Nobody is better at writing from a child's perspective than Lesley Kagen. She captures the wisdom, humor and straight talk you get from kids, as well as their curiosity and the shenanigans they get themselves into. She captures the way kids navigate the world around them with sheer perfection. This book was a real page turner. You cannot stop reading. There is mystery, suspense and a richly written story with such depth it seeps into your bones. The dialogue is spot on and the pacing of the story is flawless. You are right there with the characters experiencing everything they are because Kagen is a master of place and time. You will not soon forget this book and will want to tell everyone you know to read it! She keeps getting better and better with every book she writes. Now, as a huge fan, I am left to sit and wait until she come out with her next masterpiece!

Reading Lesley Kagen's latest novel Every Now and Then reminded me so much of To Kill a Mockingbird. It seemed to have a very Southern flavor even though it took place in a small Wisconsin community. I was also growing up at that same time in a small Midwestern community, but it offered much less diversity. However, I was reminded of how innocent we were when it came to subjects of sex, homophobia and racial disparity. How the times have changed. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

A huge thank you to Alcove Press for providing me with an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

When I first read the premise for Every Now and Then, I was instantly intrigued. It's the story of the Tree Musketeers - Biz, Frankie and Viv - and the summer that would shape their lives forever. In the midst of a sweltering heat wave, the girls decide they aren't about to waste their summer sitting around, so they come up with a to-do list. The list includes watching horror movies at the local theatre, avoiding Aunt June May's wrath, and satisfying their curiosity about Broadhurst, the town's mental hospital.

For me it's difficult to classify this book. To start out it felt like a coming-of-age story. But as I dove deeper into the plot, it definitely had thriller vibes, yet never quite developing fully in that direction. It certainly is a mixed bag combining friendship and family with a little adventure, mystery and suspense. Every Now and Then delivers a sense of nostalgia for simpler times, but sheds a light on racism, homophobia, and mental illness during the 1960s. A slow developing story, in which I absolutely loved the dynamic between the three best friends. The supporting cast of characters were very well developed as well. Kegan does a wonderful job of researching and incorporating the social issues of the times. Lastly, I felt as though the he small town setting fit this story perfectly.

This was my first novel by Lesley Kagen and I would definitely be willing to pickup more of her work in the future. The synopsis compares this to Where the Crawdads Sing, in my opinion the comparison isn't justified. While both books offer slow building, coming-of-age stories, Every Now and Then lacks the strong female and plot driven story found in Crawdads. It's worth reading but if you're picking it up for that reason alone you're bound to be disappointed. With that said, if you love a good coming-of-age story with a touch of suspense definitely check this one out.

Content Warnings: loss of a parent, death, racism, homophobia, discrimination against mental illness

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and literally couldn't put it down as u couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. First book I've read by this author and it definitely won't be the last.

It’s the summer of 1960 and Summit, Wisconsin is experiencing a sweltering heatwave. But Biz and her girlfriends Frankie and Viv aren’t about to waste their summer vacation sitting around.

High up in their treehouse hideout, the trio of eleven years old decides to make a to-do list. The girls are clever, but a bit mischievous, and they have a dangerous fascination with the Broadhurst Mental Institution that lies at the edge of town.

When the small town of Summit is alerted that three patients have escaped from Broadhurst, the best friends risk their lives to try to save others. That hot, sticky summer night they not only faced evil, but discovered the darkness that lies within some peoples’ hearts.

This book is an ambling walk back to simpler times. When kids decorated their bikes with paper flowers for the Fourth of July parade and the hang out was the drugstore soda fountain. But it also tackles some heavy, deep-rooted issues. Told through the eyes of eleven-year-old Biz, Kagen sheds light on how racism, mental illness, and homophobia were understood and dealt with back in the ‘60s. Although the beginning of the book is more of a resonant coming-of-age story, as you get to know these spunky girls, the ending feels like a thriller or suspense novel.

Thank you to @netgalley and @alcovepress for this advanced copy for review. Get your copy today!

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read Lesley Kagen’s Books before and liked them, so I was excited to read this one. This didn’t disappoint. It was a good story, with pretty decent characters. My only complaint was that it seemed like there was an awful lot of build up, a whole lot of “so what” before the story started to move more quickly.

But still. A good story and definitely worth reading.

This book is getting wonderful reviews, but I didn't love it.
I think I expected too much from it, marketed for fans of Where The Crawdads Sing.
We follow the adventures of three eleven year old best friends, Biz, Frankie and Viv, during the summer of 1960.
A coming of age tale that takes place in the small town of Summit, Wisconsin.
As the girls begin their "to do" list for the summer, three patients escape from Broadhurst Mental Institution, the local asylum.
Biz, Frankie and Viv get right in the middle of the drama, as the hunt for the escapees turns up some disturbing secrets.
Unfortunately the story dragged for me, and none of the characters really drew me in.
What I did enjoy was the sense of nostalgia, and I felt the book touched on some important topics, racism and homophobia.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Every Now and Then you find a gem of a book - this is one of them!

Summit Wisconsin, the summer of 1960, eleven-year-old friends, friends Frankie, Viv and Biz who have dubbed themselves the three musketeers. Theses curious girls have their list of things they want to do for the summer - hang out in a tree house, eat ice cream, watch monster movies and basically do everything they are told not to do. It should have been a carefree fun summer. Friends finding things to do, fun to had, moments to be shared, memories to be made.... but what happens when evil comes to town? When one summer can change things forever?

As the summer progresses, they learn about mental health, racism, and class. It is also a coming of age tale which focuses on friendship, growing up and brings back the nostalgia of living in a small town. The characters are vivid and interesting. The girls have distinct personalities, and the story is told by Biz, a best-selling novelist, who is looking back on her life and that summer.

Beautifully written, charming while at the same time dealing with heavy subjects. This was my first book by the Author, but it will not be my last. This book checks a lot of the boxes: there is mystery, friendship, suspense, entertaining, endearing, heartwarming and thought provoking.

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

A nicely written story of 3 very good girlfriends getting into mischief one very hot summer. You can actually picture them doing the things they did. Back in the day most of us had friends we could while away the hours cooking up innocent things to do.

The payoff of this book is so good. The first... 75% or so? feels like a long lazy day of summer- things happen, but movement often felt a little slow, especially compared to the high stakes action that happens late in the book. I've seen comparisons to the movie Now and Then and books like This Tender Land and I think those are both fair and accurate. It's reflective on those moments that divide childhood and "adulthood" as well as friendship and family.

Every Now and Then is a unique story. It is enmeshed in the 1960's - - in the freedom of families to allow children to ride on bikes from sunrise to sunset, where the biggest concern for many is what pie to enter in the 4th of July contest, what color nylons to wear and what to fix for dinner. It is also a time where racism was prevalent, along with preconceived notions of women's roles in society and intolerance for anyone who didn't follow the standard beliefs of sexual orientation. It was the best of times and the worst of times.

In the midst of this tumultuous time in history, this story is set. It centers around three young girls who are entering into summer vacation with big hopes and plans. What they don't know is that by the time fall rolls around, their perception of the world will be forever changed.

This is a slow moving story. I enjoyed the nostalgia of the setting, but did sometimes feel that the plot was dragging on a bit. That is just me, I'm sure. I prefer a quicker moving story. That said, I still enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written with very detailed descriptions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. I chose to voluntarily review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

A coming of age story that has something for everyone in it. The story goes through the summer of 1960 with the Tree Musketeers. It's got the general fiction feel good, mystery and thriller, a wee bit of romance, detective and the Victorian insane asylum. Definitely a recommend, hard to put down so prepare for a beautifully written "story".

EVERY NOW AND THEN is a bittersweet nostalgic coming-of-age tale full of humor and life’s lessons —assured to win your heart. As always, Lesley Kagen is an entertaining storyteller and does not miss a beat.

Summer in the 1960s is the best time for three eleven-year-old young girls who are best friends. Frances “Frankie” Maniachi, Vivian “Viv” Cleary, and Elizabeth “Biz Buchanan in the small town of Summit, Wisconsin.

These gals love horror movies, the drug store, dodging Aunt Jane, and mainly intrigued by the creepy mental hospital, Broadhurst. They are full of adventure and mischief and cannot wait to get inside the criminally insane institution. They like to observe the patients from a distance, and they want to get closer to learn more.

Biz, the narrator of this nostalgic tale, is raised by Aunt Jane May (nurse)— after her mother’s death shortly after she was born. Her father is the town physician, and she enjoys reading the medical records.

The girls have a killer tree house equipped with all the necessary items every girl wants and calling themselves the “Tree Musketeers.” The girls are funny, sassy, and smart. They love listening to gossip and spying on people in all the favorite spots. However, in some ways, they are naive and unaware of the dangers that surround them.

Keagan explores racism, the mentally ill, and homosexuality, among other events of the 60s. You will laugh out loud and want to protect these young, innocent girls from the darkness of the world. Mixed with memories, suspense, and tragedy, you may find yourself rewinding, recalling those summers long ago. I loved the Aunt Jane May and Uncle Walt and the Epilogue and wrap up.

I first read Lesley’s novels in 2014: The Undertaking of Tess (novella) and The Resurrection of Tess Blessing, which landed on my Top books of 2014. I was excited when I saw this novel and was reminded of why I enjoy her books.

I grew up in the 50’s/60s and these stories resonate and remind me of my youth. A good summer never exists without a little blackmail. If you love Authors Joshilyn Jackson, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Susan Rebecca White, Beth Hoffman, Diane Chamberlain, and William Kent Krueger, you will enjoy this one.

A perfect blending of good versus evil. Insightful, captivating, full of suspense, wit, mystery, and —injustices of the world, grief, guilt, and wisdom.

A special thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy. I also purchased the audiobook and Hillary Huber delivered an entertaining performance.

#JDCMustReadBooks

Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen

While the synopsis of this story likens it to Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land, I think a much more apt comparison would be to the book, Ordinary Grace. Both take place in the early 60s and we have kids doing what they always do during a very hot summer. In Every Now and Then, three eleven year old best friends are starting their summer with their to-do list of accomplishments that they plan to check off before the summer ends. We are seeing the events of this summer through the eyes of Biz, who doesn't always understand what is going on but can often intuit that what is said is not what is meant.

Biz's dad is the town doctor and her mom's sister has helped raise Biz since her mom died shortly after childbirth. The three girls usually hang out at Biz's home, in their red tree house, where they sleep every night of the summer. The girls call themselves the Tree Musketeers and despite the eagle eye of Aunt Jane May, the girls manage to (usually) harmlessly tread almost everywhere that Biz's aunt tells them not to go. The girls have things to do, places to go, and they can't let anyone stop them from their self appointed missions. 

Viv's family runs the local funeral parlor and beauty shop...the white beauty shop, the black side of town has their own beauty shop. Frankie, has a black mother and white absentee father, but the townsfolk think she is a relative of the Italian family that has taken her in and hires her mother as their housekeeper. The family, Frankie, and her mom would be run out of town if some of the white folks knew that a black girl was living on the white side of town. Luckily Frankie can barely pass as a dark skinned Italian although some residents are suspicious of her heritage. Despite the prejudices of some townsfolk, Frankie, Viv, and Biz spend a lot of time in the black part of town, visiting Frankie's mom and uncle and their other friends.

Another favorite place for the trio to go, during the summer, is the Broadhurst Mental Institution, where the girls have made friends with the more gentle patients, those who are allowed to spend some time in the yard. Each girl has their favorite person but they care about all of the patients they meet. It's there that they discover something is afoot, that something bad might happen, but Biz, our narrator, doesn't really know what to do about what she knows. 

All three girls are smart, precocious, and excel at different things in life. Adults and the things that they say and do perplex the girls but by the end of the summer, they will have a better understanding of many things that confused them when the summer started. This will be a year of mental and emotional growth, of better understanding of the harsh realities of life. But these girls are not going to let the prejudices of the town stop them from the friendships they cherish or stop them from trying to help those who often receive the least attention. 

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

2 stars. Unfortunately this falls under a “did not finish” for me. My friend and I were going to read it as a buddy read but we both decided after about 20% that we wanted to move onto something else. We chose it because it was compared to Where The Crawdads Sing so we had hopes for it to be as good as that was....sadly it was not. I just felt like the story was dragging out and for some reason I just could not connect to the characters.

Thank you to Net Galley and Alcove for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher as well as the author for my advanced copy for an honest review.

I went into Every Now and Then with high hopes after reading reviews that said it was similar to Where The Crawdads Sing. However, I completely just did not connect to the characters at all. I usually enjoy childhood friendship stories, and I enjoy different time periods as well. The 60's was an era I had not read about in any books recently. Honestly, I just got completely bored with this, and the only reason I finished it was because I was buddy reading it with a friend. I was just disappointed in this, and couldn't wait to move onto something else.

Thank you Alcove Press for my arc

I love the three young girls innocence, it brings back tons of memories...well, how naive and innocent I was at 11...lol..the story is very engaging and interesting.. Author’s writing style is simple but unique. Characters are admiring. If you're into suspenseful mysteries, this is the perfect book for you!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the gifted digital ARC of the new book by Lesley Kagen - 4 stars for a peek into the past coming-of-age story to lift you up. This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed getting lost in her created world of Summit, Wisconsin.

Three best friends - Biz, Frankie and Viv - are as different as can be but each has strengths that the others may lack. Together they form the Tree Musketeers, since their home base is a wonderful tree house built by Biz' dad in honor of his wife who died after giving birth to Biz. It's the summer of 1960 and the girls have set up a list of things they must accomplish during the summer. One of those is more investigation of the local mental health institute and what could possibly be happening in the basement. But investigating could cause tragic consequences for the girls and possibly more in the community.

I loved reading about the naivety of the girls when it came to anything sexual. Today, it's hard to imagine that you could find 11-year-olds who would be so wonderfully clueless. Try not to laugh when an older girl explains what happens when you get your period! While such ignorance probably isn't healthy, it still harkens back to a time of innocence which is sorely needed right now. This was a time of unlocked doors, kids playing unsupervised until it was dark, having a healthy fear of God and disappointing parents. On the opposite spectrum, it was also a time of racism and prejudice and terrible treatment of mental illness. This book at its core is about friendship and loyalty and always trying to do the right things. I loved the ending!

It’s the summer of 1960 and the Tree (yes, tree) Musketeers are geared up for the summer. Best friends, Biz, Frankie and Viv spend every waking moment together and spend their nights in their treehouse hideout. The girls have big plans for the summer and aren’t about to let anything or anyone get in their way. Set in the small town of Summit, Wisconsin, it’s a simpler time, a time of innocence until that innocence is shattered on one unforgettable night. Narrated throughout by Biz, their innocence shines through, making for some nostalgic moments for those that grew up in this era along with some laugh out loud and harrowing scenarios. While it’s a simpler time Kagen tackles the tough subjects of interracial marriage, mental illness, homophobia, and class differences and does so expertly. Be prepared to fall in love with the Tree Musketeers and this enchanting coming of age story.