Simple but sweeping, engaging and thought-provoking, Sam is the story of a girl as she grows up. The novel opens when she is seven, balancing her adoration of her unreliable father with her loyalty her hard-working mother. As Sam grows, she begins to see more dimensions to her parents and other characters; her life, never easy, becomes more confusing. She struggles to make the right choices, to balance her own desires with her parents' dreams for her, and she emerges as a young woman - battered and scarred but triumphant.

I expected this novel to feel heavier than it did. Although there are a number of difficult issues explored - alcoholism, financial hardship, occasional abuse - the story kept up its momentum, not lingering in traumatic moments. Instead, it focused on the threads that endure over the decade-plus of its span: Sam's relationships with her parents, her love of climbing, and, later, her forays into romance. Although the early chapters' attempts to mimic a young child's narrative voice felt cloying, the writing was in general quite enjoyable. I didn't find myself driven to keep turning pages - it isn't that kind of novel - but I was always happy to sit down and read a little more of Sam's story.

Thank you to Random House for the review copy via NetGalley of Allegra Goodman's Sam. This is a moving ode to the complexities some young people face as they grow up, in some ways wise beyond their years and in others way beautifully young. This story weaves in coming of age themes with an examination of what is means to be alone (because of lack of meaningful parental presence, alone because of kind of being a social misfit) but seeking connection from others; what it means to have wants and desires but to be forced to think about what is safe and secure. The focus on Sam's love for climbing, for the earth, is a meaningful way to illustrate her desire to climb up and out, to feel grounded but also climbing above the the earth.

I was reminded of the work from Courtney Summers as I read this book, her work examines the complex peripheries that some individuals find themselves on and writing is similar in mood and style.

Fans of this writer and Courtney Summers and Chelsea Bieker will appreciate this literary work! Sam also works well for literary focused book clubs.

I love Goodman's writing, but here it fell a little short. Rather than drawing me into Sam's story, I occasionally got lost in the prose - something you don't want to do with this book. Sam is one of those who almost fit in: jeans that are just a shade away from right, or interests that don't blend with the societal norm. How someone like that grows into herself and becomes comfortable with the transition between child and adult, figuring out who she wants to be and how she wants to be seen, not to mention how the simple relationship between child/parent becomes so much more complex as she grows up.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

Allegra Goodman’s latest novel, Sam, starts simply. When we meet Sam she is 7 and the prose and pacing of the book reflect that. As she grows and matures, so does Allegra’s masterful prose and pacing. Sam is a rock climber, a smart but unmotivated student, the daughter of a divorced couple, both of whom have profound but very different influences on her life, and older sister to Noah, whose father is not Sam’s and who struggles to find himself and his own voice throughout the novel. Her mother works hard, eking out a living for the three of them. Her dreams were never fulfilled, and now she hopes to realize them through Sam, practically forcing her to pursue an associate’s degree in accounting - a secure career will surely ensue. But Sam’s dreams are of the earth - climbing its boulders and understanding its compositional origins. Sam the novel differs from most coming of age books by the quality of its writing and the fulsomeness of its development of her character. While many other reviewers were surprised or disappointed by its ending, I was neither. I will think about Sam - the character and the book - for days to come.

An interesting portrayal of growing up that gives a new voice to the coming-of-age genre. This book follows Sam from the age of seven to nineteen and she tries to figure out who she is with the external conflicts happening around her. She has to deal with her mother’s smothering love and her father’s absence. Her family struggles to makes ends meet, which in turn makes Sam feel responsible in a sense. She doesn’t fit in at school and feels her life has no meaning beyond being a daughter and sister.

Sam focuses on the insecurities we create in our heads about ourselves as children to young adulthood. We are constantly second-guessing ourselves, doubting our abilities, and finding flaws that others cannot see-but are glaringly obvious to us. this was such a realistic story about growing up and having to deal with the life you were born into, no matter what.

I thought the beginning was pretty slow as we’re in the mind of seven year old Sam, it being very straight forward with not much substance. however, watching Sam grow through adolescence and her high school years was such an engrossing part of the book. It’s hard not to see yourself in the main character, voicing all the insecurities and troubles we all had growing up.

A beautifully written coming of age story which captivates the reader from beginning to end. It depicts, so clearly, the protagonist’s struggle to balance her responsibilities with her desires. All of the characters are wonderfully crafted, each one unique and memorable. The relationships between the characters are genuine and evocative, often pulling at the reader’s heart strings.
Highly recommended. Thanks to Allegra Goodman, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love family dramas and coming-of-age stories, but this one was too slow for me. Sam grows up with a single mom and an addict dad who she can’t count on. It was very realistic and sad. It was not an enjoyable read and I wanted more depth from the charecters.

An endearing coming of age story of Sam who struggles to overcome many obstacles in her young life to become the woman she can be.

Sam is a coming of age story. It’s about Sam as she grows throughout her life. She lives with her mom and half-brother. Sam’s story is intriguing because not only is her dad more absent than he was present, he also struggles with addiction.
To begin with, the writing is hard to read in how it is so overly simplistic and stating facts. However, it does mature with the character so it appears to be a stylistic choice. Not my favorite, but still. Sam’s story is one that can weigh on a lot of people and I can definitely see an audience loving it, even if it’s not necessarily me. It’s essentially a deep character study, which is well written and something a lot of people could really like/enjoy. This just came down to personal preference for me, honestly. It’s just not my favorite type of story.

While a deep and interesting character study that follows a girl from childhood to adulthood, there was just something about this novel that failed to keep me captivated the entire way through while reading it. The writing style just simply wasn’t for me, and I think that had a lot to do with my distaste for this story.

This certainly was a powerful and intense coming-of-age novel. It's a story of a girl who finds life a challenge and seeks to find an answer to life and those challenges through rock climbing.
The plot is one that has been done many times before. Even though I was intrigued by that plot and the characters, the prose didn't quite live up to my expectations.

3.5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


We meet Sam when she is 7 years old. She lives with her mom, Courtney, and her half brother, Noah. Her dad, Mitchell, lives nearby, but he’s often on the road performing. To escape Noah, Sam learns to climb doorways. When her dad sees this, he decides that Sam needs to learn how to climb rocks.

Over the years Sam’s dad comes and goes. Sam continues to learn to climb, progressing to club teams. She has a gift and a passion for climbing, but sometimes her head gets in the way. She often thinks of her dad. It’s not an easy life for Sam. Her mom works two jobs to keep them housed and fed. Various men come and go from Courtney’s life. Noah develops personality issues.

But the climbing carries her through it all. It is her rock. What centers her. What makes Sam, Sam.

I enjoyed this tale. Sam is a complicated girl with complications in her life. She’s seeking something that might be unattainable - her dad’s attention. Courtney does everything she can to keep her family together. Noah can be a handful, but he’s also Sam’s biggest cheerleader. Mostly this is a book about a young girl becoming an adult and the challenges she will face along the way.

It’s not earth shattering. It’s not an “I have to get to the next chapter” kind of book. It’s a slow unfolding of what one person experiences through her young life. It’s a well written character study. Enjoyable.

this was an intense coming of age book.
It was not my favorite read but i did like it.
It ends full circle and I did like the writing style.

The coming-of-age story of a young girl who finds her strength and talent in rock climbing. She faces disappointment and sometimes anger in a father who makes many promises, but doesn't keep them. A good story that keeps the reader engaged.

The premise to this coming-of-age novel sounded promising, but the prose was a bit too choppy and the main character wasn't compelling enough to keep the story moving forward.

What a pleasure to have the chance to read this very interesting book from Allegra Goodman. I'm giving it five stars because it was a creative way of writing the main character's story from when she was a little girl until adulthood. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review this advanced copy. I'll be sharing on Goodreads. 4 stars!

This novel chronicles the painful growing up years of a girl whose parents are divorced. There are many struggles and moments of connection. I thought the writing was more geared toward a YA audience and wished for more insight and depth in the story. But I think there are readers who will enjoy this quiet story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is just the story of a girl growing up and daring to become who she really is. What really made me enjoy this book, I think, is the richness of its characters, those you know well, like Courtney, Sam's single mother, determined to do the best she can for her kids with very little money, to characters you see less of, like Professor Witchy, one of Sam's teachers, kind of a Dolly Partonesque figure who just happens to be in love with accounting. This should appeal to readers who enjoy Maggie Shupstead or Asali Solomon.

Things that are a thumbs up for this book:
1. I love a good coming of age story and we see Sam grow through time.
2. I thought the pacing was good - fit the development of the character (Sam)
3. I liked the development of the side characters in the book - they had good stories!

Things that are a thumbs down for me with this book:
1. I struggled with the short choppy writing style.
2. I thought the plot could have been stronger.
3. The ending seemed contrived.

I am a fan of Allegra Goodman and will continue to be excited for anything new that she writes!!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, The Dial Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on January 3rd, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
This book is yet another love letter to angry sad girls, and if that’s your genre, then you need to read this. No plot, just heartbreaking character development. Bonus points if you’re a Massachusetts girlie.

Pre-reading:
I’m a narcissist. This was inevitable. Slap my name in hot pink over Walmart Bella Hadid and I'm in.

Thick of it:
The author’s note is lovely. Also New England superiority. Massachusetts superiority at that.

The Topsfield fair!

Oh my god, I’m gonna cry.

This is how you write a young character without making the book insufferable.

The poem/lyrical text…Oh my god, this book it’s gonna make me sob.

This book is so good.

I love a little Scorpio. Also hello I’m a horrible person, but every Scorpio is a biter. 😂

This book is so good.

Whoops, crying. Can’t read a book with my name k thanks bye.

The narrative voice changing so subtly as she ages is so gorgeous.

I hate money.

Shut up, Cherry Hill is my favorite ice cream in New England.

Wordly wise just unlocked a memory, holy shit.

Sam, please. You’re. God, physically painful. A pointed detail. I get it. But ugh, pet peeve.

I feel like many angry sad girls will see themselves in this book.

It won’t be. Group projects are horrible.

BRB ugly crying.

I hate this man.

Little side of religious trauma.

Courtney is doing her best. 💜

I would pinpoint it here. (From the author’s note.)

College students should not touch 15 year olds. Fuck this guy.

Fuck. This. Guy.

Get him, Courtney.

Horse girls and daddy issues. Tale old as time.

Fuck the umbrella call back. BRB absolutely sobbing.

Sam’s a good sister.

Don’t make me like a fedora man. (Fuck me, but she did.)

What a love letter to your daughter, but also it’s weird to then put a sex scene haha.

I love Ann. If (when) she dies I’m gonna be pissed. (Never been so happy to be wrong.)

I cannot read this book at work. Holy fuck, I’m on the edge of tears constantly. This. Book. Is. So. Good.

I love Ann.

The callbacks in this book. 11/10

Why do all the best books have such shitty endings? (They’re not actually that bad. I just don’t want them to end.)

Going back through my quote pulls and the Black Beauty one gutted me considering what happens, holy fuck.

Post-reading:
Fuck everyone, absolutely everyone not giving this book 5 stars. If I hadn’t read Corinne this year, this would be my new favorite book and my best book of the year. Corinne is an unfair book to be compared to, and this nearly topped it.

This book is economical. It does so much with so little. It’ll probably piss off the religious, but they can get fucked because nothing in this is hateful towards religion. It just spits facts. I don’t know what to say really other than I adore this. It tackles weighty issues responsibly and with such pointed insight. The way the narrative style changes to coincide with the main character’s age and perspective is fabulous. It has small, clever, gut-wrenching callbacks woven throughout it, and I’m sure I’ll spot more when I reread it. Everyone feels real. There’s not a character in this book who doesn’t feel intimately familiar.

I think the book’s only weakness is that it’s not going to be universally enjoyed. If you’re a plot whore, leave the chat. “Nothing’s going to happen,” besides character development. If, like me, you think angst is candy, you’re in for a treat. You’re gonna have to pretty much be a white girl with some emotional/religious trauma to truly get the most out of this book. (But that’s a big fucking audience, so dear lord, please give me more.) Also that it’s not longer. I would read so many more pages.

The goddamn book made me like a man in a fedora. Pigs’ll fly.

Who should read this:
Angry sad girls
Bittersweet romance lovers
New England girlies
Anyone who loves character development

Do I want to reread this:
Holy fuck, yes. If not immediately.

Similar books:
* Normal People by Sally Rooney-bittersweet love story with emotional trauma
* Corinne by Rebecca Morrow-realistic, bittersweet romance with religious trauma
* My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh-a love letter to New York angry sad girls
* Anxious People by Fredrik Backman-bouncy narrative and character development
* In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado-romantic abuse explored through writing tropes
* Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke-troubled girl tries to make something of herself
* My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell-inappropriate relationship with a teacher