This story is told from the perspective of Lucy Barton, one of the author's main characters from a previous book, and it is Lucy's memories and story of her first husband, William. Lucy reflects on their relationship, raising their two daughters, and their life after divorce and them both getting remarried. This book is a unique style of writing that felt whimsical at times, and very emotional at others. A quick read too.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for review…it is difficult to put this book in a genre…fiction…fiction memoir…not quite sure…it is different…written as if the speaker is talking to the reader in person…I have yet to read a book quite like his one…there is not a plot so to speak because it is not a work that demands plot, setting, characterization,,,etc…it just demands that the reader turns the page quickly to see what will happen next…try this one…unusual…I would enjoy having an email conversation with the author to determine the inspiration for this book…

Although I was not familiar with Lucy Barton, I quite liked this third book in the trilogy. Maybe I should have started with the beginning, but Lucy covers quite a lot of significant events in hers and William's life that I found it enjoyable. In such a compact novel, Elizabeth Strout manages to offer us a bunch of funny, witty characters, an intriguing turn of events, a self-discovery journey...
Most of all I liked Lucy's reflections on her relationships with her parents and her mother-in-law, their influence on our choices in life. She also reflects on her marriages, seeking closure. And maybe William's acceptance of his mother's death reflects her acceptance of David's death.

In the last few years, Elizabeth Strout quietly worked her way onto my short list of favorite authors, something I really didn’t see coming when I first picked up The Burgess Boys back in 2013. But I found that novel to be so stunning in its insights into the human condition that I’ve read each of Strout’s subsequent novels almost as soon as they are published. Thanks to the HBO series and, of course, to the fact that Olive Kitteridge won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2009, Strout is probably still best known for having created such a memorable a character as Olive. But as this third Lucy Barton novel proves, Olive now has some pretty stiff competition when it comes to most memorable Elizabeth Strout character.

Lucy Barton was married to William Gerhardt, her first husband for almost twenty years — for eleven of those years she was officially Lucy Gerhardt, but after William’s mother died Lucy had her surname legally changed back to Barton because being “Lucy Gerhardt” just never had felt right to her. Lucy and William have two grown daughters, and for reasons she can’t explain even to herself, Lucy and William have become quite friendly again since the death of Lucy’s second husband a year earlier. Oh, William! is William’s story as seen through the eyes of Lucy, who is a frank narrator of what she observes with her own eyes and how the changes in her ex-husband, who is now 71 years old, make her feel about him, herself, and who they were together.

Much of William and Lucy’s story is told in flashback, but it is what happens in real time that makes Oh, William! such a moving story. Over the course of the novel, William learns several things about his family history that will leave him wondering if he ever really knew who his mother was or even whom he really is. He is so stunned by some of the revelations that he struggles even to consider them for long through his newly opened eyes. Fascinating as William’s reaction to all of this is, however, it is what Lucy learns about herself and her relationship to this new version of William that most readers are likely to remember longest. Suddenly, William, her former protector and social-mentor, needs and depends on her more than she needs him. So when she quietly says to herself “Oh, William!” it is only because she feels sorry for him in his present state, and not to express any real fondness for the father of her two daughters. Now, she remembers why she walked out on him all those years ago.

Bottom Line: Oh, William! is a wonderful character study that admirably extends the Lucy Barton saga. Fans of the previous Lucy Barton books will not want to miss this because Elizabeth Strout has done it again. Highly recommended.

I have read some of this author’s novels prior to this one. I really enjoyed her Olive Kitterage novels.

I liked the overall message of this book,but found it to be a little slow. I wanted to know the characters a bit better, but I have not read the first two books in this series, which may have helped with that.

I found myself wanting the author to "get to the point" and wrap things up.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy of this one to read and review!

All the feels. Elizabeth Strout sure knows how to use the words and pull every single emotion out of them. In this story Lucy is telling us all about her ex husband's story. There is plenty of Lucy's story scattered throughout too. The hurt Lucy suffers not only from her ex husband but also the death of her current husband is slashed all over the pages and the reader is left feeling just as broken. A great read for anyone looking to get lost in someone else's tale and leave their troubles behind for a little while.

I am so satisfied with this novel. Elizabeth Strout is new to me and she has such a lovely writing style and is a master storyteller in my honest opinion. This was an easy, engaging read for me - never once was I bored or wanting more, Elizabeth Strout gave it her all. I will be searching out other novels from this author. I hated to see this will written book end. Her words are so wonderful and engaging, charming and so well thought out. The theme of this novel - loved it! The emotions, characters and intertwined relationships are top notch!

Thank you for the ARC #NetGalley and #RandomHouse

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout follows the reflections of Lucy on her ex-husband William and their relationships. We learn about the personalities and histories of both characters, and the story brings us to moments of self discovery but that is pretty much it.
Reading about Lucy going from thinking that William is her rock in one chapter to saying that he is a big baby in another makes you wonder what is the point of this book. I kept reading in hopes of finding clarity and a direction but ended up disappointed in the way it concluded,
Oh William is well written, the characters likable with enough mystery for us to want to know more but somehow end up in a way that makes one think: really? That's it?

Unfortunately, I didn't click with this book. Shortly before starting Oh William, I started to read My Name is Lucy Barton and didn't know it was at all related to Oh William. I did not finish My Name is Lucy Barton because the writing style was not something I could get with. The same goes for Oh William. I'm sure the die-hard Elizabeth Strout fans will get it and enjoy it, but I feel like I've walked into a room with two people in the middle of a deep conversation I'm not supposed to listen to. Oh, well...

I received an advance digital copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review! The book is set to be released on October 19th, 2021.

Such a fun, charming, harrowing and emotional journey of a book. All the feels here. Elizabeth Strout writes so well, I just can't get enough. Thank you!

Yeah I started reading this and it’s definitely not up my alley at all. I ended up DNFing it because of how bored I was

This story follows the kind and tender Lucy, introduced in I am Lucy Barton, a book I loved! In this novel, Lucy, in memoir form, describes her relationship with her first husband, William. Lucy reflects on William, their relationship, his strengths, and the quirks that make her crazy. Her insights are so real that it is hard to remember that this is a work of fiction.

The story takes place after Lucy’s second husband’s death and just after William’s third wife leaves him. They are both at a vulnerable time in their lives and they lean on each other to navigate their individual paths ahead. The book culminates in a trip to Maine where Lucy helps William process a new revelation he has discovered about his family.

Similar to Elizabeth Strout’s triumph with I am Lucy Barton, this novel is so real and so easy to read, almost conversational, that it is hard to leave the story for any reason. Lucy’s insights into William are poignant and relatable. At its heart, this novel is about tenderness, human interaction, and the love of family. Elizabeth’s writing style is as easy to read as it is beautiful. I highly recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley for the early release copy. This book will be released on October 19, 2021.

Elizabeth Strout is a master storyteller. She writes with so much authenticity. This book is no exception. Her characters are written with honesty and heart. I couldn't get enough of this book.

Whenever Elizabeth Strout writes a new book, I am always first in line to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed my name is Lucy Barton and I was eager to have Lucy’s story continue on as her life journey brought her into her senior years. This story is about Lucy’s relationship with her
ex-husband and her two daughters. It is also a life reflection that Lucy makes about her own life.
Whenever I read this author’s books, I feel like I am listening to her speaking directly to me. This was a most enjoyable ending to the Lucie Barton story line. I have read many of this author’s novels and I have never been disappointed. Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

This is my first Elizabeth Strout book so I had no expectations. I looked forward to an interesting story and enjoyable writing. I wasn't disappointed in the story but I can't say I enjoyed the story. The story read more like a movie script possibly set in the seventies. I could see it play out as I read. Very intellectual dialogue and well educated characters. I'm sure fans of Strout will enjoy Oh William!
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I loved this novel. Elizabeth Stroufht has a way with words that is soothing wise, and poetic. A novel about a broken family in both turmoil and triumph. A wonderful compelling novel from a master storyteller.

This was my first Elizabeth Strout novel. I read about 1/4 of the book and unfortunately haven’t been able to finish it. I know it is the third in a trilogy, which could be the reason I wasn’t able to dive right into this one. Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

In Oh William, Elizabeth Strout gives the world yet another masterpiece exploring human emotions and relationships. In this third installment about Lucy Barton we dive deeper into her first marriage, and her life between when she left home and before she became an author. It explores the complex relationship between Lucy, William and their daughters. It also walks us through Lucy's grieving process since her second husband has died, as well as family secret that causes William to rethink much of his life as well. As usual, Elizabeth Stout takes us on a journey of discovery that is poignant and heartfelt. Strout has the ability to convey so much meaning and emotion with such clear, straightforward language. She does not need long passages of dialogue and fancy prose. She simply tells the story and in doing so allows the reader to relate and connect with the characters and their lives.
In the end this is a novel about humanity; about love and loss, being broken and finding new ways to live and move forward after your entire life seems to change in an instant. It explores what it means to love another, and also to love yourself. It is a wonderful piece of fiction that is a short quick read, but will stay with you forever.

There is just something about the way Elizabeth Strout writes. It’s a pleasure and a joy to read. Simply eloquent and beautifully said, that’s the way she writes, and, she grabs me with these simply stated sentences. I love Lucy Barton, and I love the way she looks at life and I love the way she sees things. Ms. Strout is a wonderful author. More Lucy Barton books, please! Thank you to Netgally and Penguin Random House for the egalley. This book is a treasure!

I really enjoyed this novel. As she did in Olive Kitterige, Elizabeth Strout crafted interesting characters and relationships. Reading the book felt like peeling back the layers of the main character and her family members' stories. The tone and pacing of the book were just right. While poignant, it was not depressing and I was highly engaged throughout. Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for the ARC of this book.