Lucy is recently widowed. Her first husband, William, has been abandoned by his most recent wife. When he asks Lucy to accompany him on a trip to Maine in pursuit of a sister he never knew, she readily accepts. Leading up to, during, and after this trip, Lucy spends much time in recalling past events, self-analysis and close study of her relationships. Too much time spent on rumination for this reader. Her self-discoveries are underwhelming and predictable. She is not a character with whom I want to spend much time. The brevity of Elizabeth Strout’s novel is a plus for me.

I did not realize that Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout was the third in a series of novels with Lucy Barton as a lead character. That explains quite a bit about why I was a little lost as I got into the novel. However, I had read the Olive novels and this is written in the same style as those were, a kind of stream of consciousness that jumps from time to time and place to place. I found this to be very disconcerting. In the novel, Lucy describes her relationship with her first husband William who is going through a very stressful time and leans on her for support. I found the book to be somewhat tedious and repetitive and there really was not plot. The book just plods along, never going anywhere. If you like a plot driven novel, this is not the book for you.

Thank you to the author, Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
#elizabethstrout #ohwilliam! #netgalley #goodreads

I love the tone of Elizabeth Strout's books and it's likely fans of Olive Kittredge and Olive, Again would find comfort in the familiar tone of Oh William!

I find the way Strout writes to be comforting and is a nice escape from the heaviness of the world, Even though this isn't a holiday novel, it' does have a cozy vibe and would be a great fall or winter stroll through Lucy and William's life.

Oh William tells the story of Lucy Barton who has a strong tie to her first husband, William. Lucy looks back to her horrible childhood, mourns her second husband David, and maintains loving relationships with her two daughters by William. William suffers abandonment by his third wife, and finds out that his mother harbored a deep secret for his whole life. Lucy accompanies William on a journey to find answers, and discovers more about herself. This is all written in Elizabeth Strout's tightly constructed prose.

After a string of pretty heavy reads, I was looking forward to something a little lighter (read less murdery) so I was happy to be sent Oh William! and quickly dove in.

Lucy Barton reflects about her life as her children begin families of their own, her own relationships transition, and she finds herself examining her choices in earnest.

I didn't want to give too much away with my summary, but I think I've narrowed it down enough to hit the key points. I enjoyed this book. Lucy's voice is strong and distinct. Strout's writing is the star of the show, mastering layers of flashbacks and conversational monologuing between segues and observations of the world around her.

This isn't a scandalous novel despite the "secrets and lies" Lucy reveals along the way. From a mature and accepting standpoint, Lucy takes the events of her past in stride and comes to a place where we as the audience are able to see the situations from all sides, rather than from heat-of-the-moment fights, crushing blows, or disappointments.

I think readers of literary fiction and women's fic will really enjoy her voice and would recommend to readers who are looking for an introspective, quiet novel that examines bigger-picture questions about life, love, and changes.

Thank you to Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Perfectly delightful story of a couple growing older but staying close even after they divorced many years earlier. Filled with heartbreak, humor, and loads of insight, this excellent book is not to be missed. Highly recommend.

If you have read Strout’s earlier books on Lucy Barton and enjoyed them, you’ll enjoy “Oh William!”

This is a story about Lucy Barton AND her ex-husband, William. I love the tone of the book. The tone of the book is Lucy talking directly to me, the reader. For example, when two events happened to William, “But let me mention just a few more things first.” William and Lucy have an unusual ex-spouse relationship. William relies on Lucy while in other relationships and Lucy is there for him. She helps him as his marriages after Lucy fall apart. William had multiple affairs while married to Lucy and she the reader learns how Lucy copes: ”tulip stem inside me snapped.”

Lucy has an estranged relationship with her parents and siblings. She has a strong relationship with William’s mother, Catherine. William learns he has a half-sister who his mother walked out on. Lucy attempts to unite the brother and “sister” to no avail. The book touches on many emotions for the characters that endears the reader to each character. “People are lonely, is my point here.” William and Lucy’s fathers were in WWII but on opposite sides. This was an interesting perspective to me. The reader also gains insight into Lucy’s fear. Fear when she left a husband (William) and fear when she lost a husband (David) to death. The emotions of the characters feel genuine.

The story is an “American story” of Lucy and William. As William stated, “Because our fathers were fighting on opposite sides of the war and your mother came from poverty and so did I.” Throughout the book the reader gets “Oh William!” from Lucy. “Oh William!” as in exasperation. “Oh William!” as in pity. “Oh William!” isn’t just for William. It is also “Oh Catherine!,” “Oh Lucy!,” “Oh Everyone!”. Read this book if you enjoyed Lucy Barton. It won’t disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Oh, William” by Elizabeth Strout is the third and most recent book in the popular Amgash series. I had yet to read Elizabeth Strout, but I knew she had a huge following, so when I was offered the opportunity at the digital ARC, I thought I would give her a try.

The story follows Lucy Barton—Strout’s iconic character from her previous Amgash books—as she recounts and revisits her relationship with her first husband William. When William is hit with two major life events in the span of weeks, William turns to Lucy to help him rectify and resolve the events.

If you are a plot driven reader, this is not a book for you. It starts and ends randomly with everyday life sandwiched in between. It reads as more of an intimate journal or diary, with introspective thoughts, wit, flashbacks and new realizations. It’s like we are given only a scene (or season) of Lucy’s life. Not a whole lot happens in terms of plot—it’s rather mundane to be honest—but it’s what’s going on in Lucy’s head (what she shares with us) that drives this story. She’s unpacking new understandings about herself, her family her relationships (especially with William) and people in general through self-critique and observations. I liked Lucy’s voice in this. She is funny, relatable, honest, complex and I was genuinely invested in the time I had with her. As I said above, I haven’t read the other two books in this series but that didn’t matter and this book can certainly be read as a stand alone. It was a light, easy read and having now read one of the books from Strout’s series, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend more time with Lucy in the future. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the digital Arc of this book.

DNF at 40%
Not rating.

The Publisher sent me an unsolicited ARC, and when I accepted it, I didn’t realize it was the third book in a series.

Had that been made clear-I wouldn’t have downloaded it.

I think it CAN be read as a standalone-as our protagonist, Lucy Barton, fills you in on the family history-but maybe because I did not have a prior “history” with these characters, I just wasn’t feeling invested in the outcome of this story.

I am sure that readers of the first two in the series, will feel much differently! 💗

I will not be rating on Goodreads as to not negatively affect the average score.

Wow as far as family dramas go this one was so good. I liked the development that they used for each of the characters and I felt like I could visualize them super easy. I think this would make an amazing tv show or mini series or even movie. I liked the pov and writing style as well as the book cover and title. It was a breath of fresh air compared to other family style dramas and I appreciated that, I would continue to buy books and support this author moving forward.

Oh Lucy! How I loved this book. So lovely and loving. What a gracious examination of marriage—even when it’s not a marriage anymore. All the little connections we build when we know and are known. Such imperfect people (we all are), but somehow time softens our edges (and our memories), and in the end we’re left with gentle understanding and maybe a sort of completeness, I think. Acceptance, of the good and the bad. I just want to crawl in this book and forget my own existence for a while. Oh Lucy, can I carry you in my pocket forever?

Reading this ARC was like spending time with a dear friend & catching up! Elizabeth Strout has given us another brilliant example of her writing.
In addition, one can never get enough of her stunning character, Lucy Barton. Whether you’ve spent time with Lucy before or not, you’ll find her a quirky, funny, moving woman with insight that will make you laugh & cry…couldn’t put it down!

We never really know ourselves and we never really know those with whom we have extended relationships. In this fine novel, Elizabeth Strout carefully exposes and examines elements of her relationship with her first husband, William, with his mother, Catherine Cole, and with herself. Strout is a one of our finest writers and she does not let her readers down in Oh, William!. Those who are familiar with her previous works will benefit most by the quiet revelations in this novel. Others may struggle to understand many of the nuances, as they will have stepped into the midst of what is becoming a carefully built set of intertwined stories about complex and very real human beings, people who continue to reveal previously unseen aspects of themselves, and people whose stories help each of their readers understand just a little bit more about themselves, too. Well done!.

I adore Elizabeth Strout. Oh William, is smart, thought-provoking, emotional and a hard novel to put down. I am grateful to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. It was fantastic!

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. There are moments of genius. And I think, I should jot that down. There are moments of confusion, as if I’m expected to know some behind the scenes info only available to close friends and family members. There are moments where the writer uses unconventional sentence structure. These make me reread the sentence, often two or three times. After, I give a mental shrug and move on, unsure of the author’s purpose. I have not read My Name in Lucy Barton. Not sure I will.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This is my first read of Elizabeth Strout and I wish I would have read her books before. This book often references her previous work and story of Lucy. I think I may go back and ready My Name is Lucy Barton. Even without background, I enjoyed Oh William! This book traces the relationship of a divorced couple, Lucy and William. Each have moved on and remarried but still remain in contact for her adult children. William invites Lucy to accompany him on an exploration of his past. During this adventure, Lucy recalls many stories of them growing up, their marriage and his next marriages. Was a very quick read, almost like diary entries with mini flashbacks thrown in.

Lucy Barton, the eponymous protagonist of Stroud's' breakout novel, returns in this one as the older, wiser, recent widow whose successful career as a writer, two loving,happily married, daughters, and comfortable Manhattan life are as far from her humble beginnings and miserable, penurious childhood as she'd ever imagined - and almost as difficult to forget to even though she memorialized them in a thinly disguised book that shocked everyone who thought they knew her . In this layered, resonant book she continues the story of her first marriage, as William reappears in her life with the same frustrating combination of closeness and distance that ultimately led to their divorce. Now a more patient and understanding woman of 63, she discovers more about herself as well as the men she married, the similarity between her mother and theirs, and the tangled web of connections that death and divorce can stretch but never break . A gorgeous novel that will please the author's many fans .

Elizabeth Strout has once again left me overwhelmed with the love I feel for this story and for the characters. Strout has a wonderful ability to produce characters that are so well developed it's hard to remember that, as much as we may want to, we can't call them up and chat as only best friends can. One of these characters is the lovey Lucy Barton who has returned for this third debut. If you're familiar with My Name is Lucy Barton, and/or Anything is Possible, you certainly can't miss this one.

The very beginning of this book states that this story is about Lucy's first husband, William, but as the story goes on we find that it is just as much about Lucy and her past as well as her present. Lucy and William have been divorced for quite some time, however they have managed to remain friendly to a surprising degree, so when William asks for Lucy's help she can't help but agree.

With mind blowing prose, where every word is exactly where it should be; Every layer peeled back and exposed at just the right time, and the uncanny ability to write as though every word is for you, it is impossible to deny that Oh William! Is one of her best novels to date,
This is a novel that I will return to again without question.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing, and of course the amazing Elizabeth Strout for providing a digital arc for me to read so that I may share my honest opinion with all of you. I am beyond pleased to report that I highly recommend this book to everyone, as the lessons within these pages is for every one who needs it.

I tried, but I didn’t like this book at all. I did not request the book! The publisher sent the book to me because I had reviewed another book they deemed similar. I read 20% of it and couldn’t continue. I’ve read two books by this author and didn’t like either one. I’m sure she has lots of fans… I’m not one of them.

There is something very fine about a book by Elizabeth Strout. I find I have to savor them. They are not "quick reads" even though it may not take long to read them. And I often find they end too soon. In this book we read about Lucy's relationship with her ex husband William and about her grief over the loss of her second husband, David. Her insights and story at this stage of her life have a truth to them.
I loved Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again but had not read My Name is Lucy Barton. After reading Oh, William I read it and was so happy to extend my time with Lucy.