This book really got me thinking. Oh William! was a pleasant, nice read, but after I finished, I started to think of how this could be almost anyone's life, even though it seems unlikely. I like the family drama, which was not the usual kind of "drama" at all. It was just the everyday types of things that families go through, including arguments, infidelity, divorce, finding hidden family secrets. On the surface, I would consider this to be a light family saga, certainly not "chick lit', but upon reflection, I think there is a lot more to this story. It certainly made me think and reflect on my own life, as I near William and Lucy's age.

Honestly, I could have read and read and read—I hated to have it end, With simple words and interesting characters Strout raises issues that are important for all of us to think about—why are we where we are? What do we really know about our spouse, our friend, our children. How does one emotionally nourish themselves and ones they love? It goes on and on but all written so beautifully.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous two. I had no idea it was a series and that there were two more before it. I also think I would have liked it more if I knew what it was like to be married. Because I don't, I found it difficult to identify with characters in their sixties trying to make sense of their relationship after a divorce and subsequent new marriages and their children becoming adults. I'm sure someone in a long-time marriage would enjoy this a lot.

That is what the book is about, after all. Not much happens in it. It's very much an inner exploration by a woman in her sixties as she reflects upon her relationship with her former husband, William. The writing is skillful but it's a lot quieter than the books I like to read. I enjoyed William's mother, Catherine, the most. The final dawning realization that Lucy has was powerful and satisfying so I ultimately wasn't mad that I read through to the end. It's always nice when the ending is worth it, leaving me feeling full. All in all, I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there that would love this!

Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read and review this book. I discovered Elizabeth Strout just a few years back and have thoroughly enjoyed her books! Elizabeth Strout returns with her beloved Lucy Barton, now 63, reflecting on her enduring relationship with scientist William Gerhardt, her first husband, with whom she has 2 daughters, Chrissy and Becka, leaving him after almost 20 years of marriage.

Having just finished reading Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout, I have an incredible urge to go back immediately to the beginning for a second reading in order to treat myself again to this author’s beautiful prose and story. Lucy Barton has returned to the page and what a pleasure that is. As you can tell by the title, this book is about Lucy’s ex-husband, William. The two of them have stayed in each other’s lives, partly because of their adult daughters. Lucy and William do not have a future as husband and wife but each needs the other for varying reasons. A trip to Maine to seek out someone from William’s past provides the crux of their relationship. This short novel is a gem. The characters, as usual, are brought to you in such a way that only Elizabeth Strout can write. The details are such that it feels like the reader knows these people intimately. The strengths and weaknesses of Lucy and William are exposed, sometimes excruciatingly. This is relationship fiction in its finest form. Highly recommended. Thank you to Random House, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the ongoing tale of Lucy Barton from Strout's previous book. Lucy is now divorced, remarried and widowed. She reconnects with her first husband William, and the life stories of many people are developed by this connection.. Lucy has her own issues, as does William, and we know much more about them by the end of the book. And maybe a bit more about ourselves.

An interesting read - neither life-altering or can’t-put-downable… might follow the author for backlist & future reads.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

This is my third Elizabeth Strout book, and it’s as well-written as her other work. Candidly, her style isn’t my first choice, but I know I’m in the very small minority. Fans of hers will adore this!

Oh William! Oh Elizabeth, what a wonderfully engaging new American classic from the gifted author Elizabeth Stroud. I always want to read her novels slowly, savoring the eloquent turn of phrase, smiling at the tender bits, and closing my eyes at the sad ones. A five star read of course.

Elizabeth Street's Oh William! Is a book I will re-read and I'll be recommending it to friends. No one writes about families, the mysteries of families, and the deep intermingling feelings Mrs and emotions not families quite like Ms. Strout. Loved it!

I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout through @netgalley (thank you!) - life got the better of me and I was not able to finish it before it was released late last month, but I still had to come on here to share how much I enjoyed this novel. I have not yet read any of Elizabeth Strout’s books (though I will certainly pick up My Name is Lucy Barton!), and was surprised by the unique voice that narrates this story. It feels very much like speaking with a good friend, which I found just delightful. It’s a quiet story about marriage (told through a story largely about Lucy’s relationship with her ex William), and this book leaves an impression. It was a great read during this hectic time of year.

This is my first novel by Elizabeth Strout, and although family dramas can be hit or miss for me, I really enjoyed the story of the troubled ex-husband, Lucy, and the layers of marital issues they experienced. The writing is not literary, nor is the story plot-driven, but the thoughts and conversations being had felt intimate and subtle. There are themes of loss, acceptance, betrayal, and forgiveness.

Overall, this was an interesting read. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to #netgalley and the @RandomHouse for my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Life goes so fast. But yet when we are stuck in it we feel like it can drag and stagnate at certain stages. And you think that if you spend every day with someone then you know them. Everything, But that isn't true. It can never be true. Enter the lives of Lucy and William. Lucy, we have met before. I know when I was reading I am Lucy Barton years ago I was a little conflicted about how I felt about her and her family dynamics. Now in Oh, William! I am fully invested but now Lucy and William are truly over and I am heartbroken. I will never NOT read an Elizabeth Strout novel. She takes you, your friend, your neighbor and exposes everything from the mundane to the little spark that makes a personality extraordinary.

Once again, a magical, unique slice of Lucy Barton’s life, with all its honesty and attachment. This third encounter is less heart wrenching but just as vivid as Lucy accompanies her first husband on a peculiar quest. Strout is splendid.

Elizabeth Strout At her finest. Her characters are so real you feel like you know them. Her take and observations on marriage are like no other author I’ve read

Lucy reminisces life with her first husband, William after her 2nd spouse, David dies. Reminiscing helps provide some insight into William's temperament, particularly in light of William's father, Wilhelm, being involved with Germany's concentration camps.,

I just finished this gem and truly, it was indeed a gem!

This read like Lucy (the main character) was sitting in my living room and she and I were having a conversation. I absolutely loved it! The subject was interesting and the details were incredible.

Lucy is William’s ex wife but, still plays a very important part of his life. He respects her opinion and he asks for her help and advice quite often. They share two daughters together and their histories are pretty incredible.

This was such a great read that I want to read her other books. Apparently they are a series and all focus on the same characters and past history. Thank you to the author, Random House and NetGalley for the review copy! Without a doubt, a recommended read!

This book took me some time to get through. I definitely could see why she was frustrated with her ex-husband. She also had quite a bit of trauma from her past. This book just seemed disjointed to me and didn't really flow until about halfway through.

Oh William! Oh, what a wonderful, amazing book this is. I read this book in a few hours, I was so enthralled with the story and it's an absolutely wonderful read. Broken families, broken marriages, so sad, but that's life and Elizabeth Strout is so amazing at making it just the part of life it is and telling it so wonderfully. What a wonderful read!

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout was the third and final book in this trilogy. Even though I had not had the opportunity to read the first and second book in this trilogy, I felt that it was more than fine to read Oh William as a stand-alone book. It was both moving and memorable in its prose as only Elizabeth Strout could accomplish. Oh William was most definitely a character driven novel and the characters stayed with me long after I finished this book. At some point, I hope to go back and read the first book in this trilogy at least.

Lucy Barton had recently become a widow. Her beloved husband had died and she was still grieving for him. Lucy had maintained a good relationship with her first husband, William, even after they had divorced and she had remarried. Since William had become divorced from Lucy, he had had three new wives and a daughter with one of them. Lucy and William had had two daughters together and they were now grown. William always presented as a mystery to Lucy. She still didn’t understand him completely but they remained close. Lucy had become a successful and well known author over the years. Her career allowed her to lead a comfortable life. She was still haunted by her awful childhood and as a result still had difficulty assimilating into her more affluent and richer life she now led.

Lucy’s and William’s relationship was revealed throughout the novel. They still met every so often and had breakfast together and they invited each other to family celebrations. It was a most unusual relationship but it worked for them. Then William discovered a long buried family secret and he persuaded Lucy to accompany him on a road trip to help him learn if it was true. The trip and the information they uncovered impacted both of their lives and their relationship after the truth was revealed.

Oh William by Elizabeth Strout was about loneliness, betrayal, life, marriage, relationships, regrets, reflection and family secrets. It was so well written. I really enjoyed reading Oh William and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Random House for allowing me to read Oh William by Elizabeth Strout through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.