Elizabeth Strout's ability to capture human grief, contemplation and small moments of adulterated joy is unique. Her writing is always engaging, and even when I am hesitant about the subject matter, I can't stop reading.

I read Oh, William! last year and really enjoyed it. I was excited to read the fourth novel in the Lucy Barton series, Lucy By The Sea. I will begin my review by saying this was my first foray into COVID-period literature and it was hard to read at times. I'm not sure I was ready to dive into reflections on the quarantine period and references to a pandemic that is still affecting us. However, Strout treats the subject with care and tenderness and captured the disbelief, fear, and complicated feelings around quarantine, an unknown illness, and feeling isolated or stuck without realizing that so much would change and the timeline we all initially contemplated would extend and extend.

Highly recommend it, particularly if you've read the preceding books in this series. However, if you're not ready for COVID literature, I'd add this to your TBR and read it when you're ready.

Lucy by the Sea is the book that I didn't know I needed, but I am so glad that I found.

Lucy is now a widow after the death of her second husband, David. She is still grieving his loss when her first husband, Dr. . William Gerhardt, a parasitologist, insists that she leave the city with him due to the Covid virus and her history of asthma. How something so far away happening in in Italy could possibly be a problem for her was something Lucy did not understand. Although she believes he is overreacting, she finally relents to go with him for a few weeks to Maine. It is here, in a rented house in a small coastal town in Maine, that Lucy Barton goes through yet another metamorphosis..

Like so many of us, Lucy sees the ravages of the virus as something that is happening to other people, not to ourselves. As the reality moves closer to home with chilled trailers filled with the dead, friends being hospitalized and dying, shelves on stores now bare, the reader relives their own experiences of this time.

Some residents are resentful and angry at the big city interlopers that bring their problems and viruses to their town.. There is distrust of the vaccines, opposition to masking, the racial unrest of the George Floyd protests, and the Jan 6th insurrection is the cherry on top.

As with all of us, much of the covid time was spent in isolation. This period gave Lucy the time to reflect and evaluate her relationships with family, friends work, and what part she played in each of these and their resulting outcomes.. Long walks alone would be her only activity each day. giving her a chance to say hello to the locals, albeit at a distance at first..

It is in the small conversations, the intimate moments of two people who have been through so much together that Strout's writing is nothing less than captivating. Showing how true forgiveness and acceptance is not a weakness, but a strength that makes room for inner peace. Strout has a lovely way of writing in a very minimal and direct way that is actually very layered and complex in it's simplicity. This is a tremendous skill that few writers have truly mastered. as well as she.

This is a gem of a book at a time when introspection, understanding and forgiveness is so very needed. I plan on reading it again and I hope that others will follow suit.

My many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy by the Sea follows Lucy, an older woman who moves out of her New York apartment and into a small house with her ex- husband in order to stay safe during the pandemic. The 2020 pandemic is a tough time period to read about, but it does lend itself well to a novel like this, about self reflection. I greatly enjoyed the stream of consciousness writing style. It was quite interesting to see inside Lucy's head and witness the way she reacted to everything around her. I really connected with her. An introspective novel about life and death like this one makes you think about your own life.

I love Lucy! We can so readily empathize and even cherish the characters Elizabeth Strout has created, especially Lucy. Lucy and her ex-husband, William, like all of us, are caught in the whirlwind of change caused by the Covid pandemic. William whisks Lucy away from New York City to a small, quiet Maine village along the coast. They fill their days reacquainting themselves with each other but Lucy learns more about herself as well. I love the way Strout writes – in short, very direct paragraphs. It almost makes me feel like I’m continually having a conversation with Lucy. The story is not key here but rather it is the straight-forward, humble way Lucy (or Strout) communicates with us. It is a very satisfying read. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced readers copy of this special book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Another really great book by Elizabeth Strout. Wasn't sure I wanted to read a pandemic book, but Elizabeth Strout captured the mood of what was going on in the country so well that I was happy to revisit the time period with her. I also thought she did a good job exploring the family dynamics for her extended family. She expressed the mixed feelings about the pandemic in a very honest way. Highly recommend this book.

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout is a deeply descriptive and insightful memoir of the early years of the pandemic. Some parts are hard to relive and others give hope.

Review will be posted on 10/13/22

Lucy Barton is living her quiet life in New York City until one day the COVID-19 pandemic occurs and Lucy is in denial about what is happening. William, her ex-husband, convinces her to leave the city and come with him to a house in Maine by the ocean as it's the perfect spot for lockdown. At first, Lucy thinks that it will be just a week or so and doesn't even want to bring her computer, but slowly she realizes that COVID is something that is going to hand on much longer. Lucy goes through all of the feelings that we all felt: loneliness, hopelessness, worry, scared for the future, scared for her health, missing family, and more. All this time on her hands, gives her more time to reflect on her life: her relationship with her mother, her marriage to William and his affair, her daughters, health issues, William's sister, and just about anything else that crosses her mind. While I find Lucy to be a fascinating character and Elizabeth Strout's writing to be superb, Lucy by the Sea fell flat for me.

Lucy is dealing with what we all dealt with not very long ago and actually are still dealing with--the COVID pandemic. I mean it's not entire over, so it felt a little unusual to read a story about its first days. For some of us, that wasn't too long ago and it is a wound that hasn't' completely healed. So, revisiting this topic was tough for me in Lucy by the Sea. What kept me reading was Lucy. I appreciate her point of view and could relate to her at times with her thoughts surrounding COVID and how it impacts just about every aspect of her life. I also appreciated her time with William so much more in Lucy by the Sea. While I was never a big fan of William in her other novels, he definitely warmed up in this one and I found myself enjoying him much more than in Oh William!

Strout also takes us back to the uncertainty surrounding the early days of the pandemic. As time goes by, she also highlights some of the upsetting events of the time, such as George Floyd's injustice, the vaccines (finally!), and the unsettling events of January 6th. While I appreciate her doing this, it just felt too soon for me. It felt like I was going back to a time I wasn't necessarily ready to visit. Shouldn't we at least wait ten years till authors start writing about it? Instead of it feeling fresh, it just felt like she was taking us through the events and Lucy was processing it all. Even the difficulties she faced with her daughters felt boring at times and mundane. I do think women that have adult children may be able to appreciate Lucy's perspective a bit more than me. Which leads me to my next point.

I felt like Lucy was super privileged during her quarantine in Maine in Lucy by the Sea. It was difficult for her, but most of society, especially the younger generation, were still having to work via Zoom or go into work masked, and/or teach their kids from home, etc, and there was no escape to Maine for a lot of us. So, I was completely lacking sympathy for her on that end in that her main concern was her outdoor walk and watching the news.

I will say that Strout is a phenomenal writer. I appreciate her style and her ability to only use a few words to really convey a scene. I like how she develops her characters and their relationships. However, Lucy by the Sea just felt so uninspired to me and ended up being difficult to read. COVID is still pretty fresh in my eyes; why revisit it just yet? Some of us are still unboxing our own trauma from it and can't take on Lucy's. However, if you are a fan of Strout, and are ready to read books about the pandemic, you will find Lucy by the Sea to be a relatable tale.

So, are you a fan of Strout's novels? Have you read Lucy by the Sea? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

This series, starting with the novel, My Name is Lucy Barton, centers around a woman who comes from abject poverty and abuse, into a world as different to her upbringing as possible. By attending college, she is thrown into a life of literature, science, and a culture she cannot fathom. Though successful in many ways, Lucy has always been an outsider. She's too removed from her siblings to get along well with them. But she also never quite connects with her children, and the men in her life, who cannot understand just how haunted she is by her childhood.

This novel, Lucy By The Sea, continues her journey, as she reacts to the turmoil of the COVID pandemic. This feels like the closing of the series, as Lucy deals with the death of her second husband David, and finds a different way to relate to her first husband, William. There's also much more about Lucy's two daughters, as well.

It's strange to think that we are at a point, already, where we can begin to reflect on that time that was just a few years ago. But, the book brings all the events back, from the uncertainty of what the virus was, to the abrupt lockdowns and social distancing, and to the social unrest that follows. But, we also see Lucy able to have great empathy to people with completely different reactions to the pandemic. I loved that Lucy was the one who was able to be the bridge between various groups. Her diverse life experiences lead her to connect in ways most people could not.

This is a very special book. I dearly loved the characters, the relationships, and most of all, Lucy's reflections. I hope you love it as much as I did.

I just love to listen to Lucy. Her written words are so real, so lyrical, it’s like she’s sitting across from me, talking. And talk she does! Lucy has trouble staying focused on one point, often taking off in spin-off tangents, then she suddenly realizes her mistake and says something to the effect of, “that’s what I meant to say anyway.” I could just hug her. I met Lucy in “Oh William” I still need to read Books #1 and 2 from the Amgash series, but these books can easily stand alone. Lucy will help you connect the dots.
The pandemic is hitting, and Lucy’s ex-husband, who is now a close friend (yes, she’s a bigger person than I could be), knows it’s serious a couple of months before everyone else catches on. Lucy and William move to a small coastal town in Maine and batten the hatches. This is difficult for Lucy; she’s a friendly person, a people-watcher. She needs the company and intricacy of others. Slowly but surely, Lucy rises above the locals’ reference as an unwelcome Northerner and works her way into the heart of those around her.
Lucy is very observant; her prose in describing things, normally mundane to others, is beautiful. She is a special soul who manages to remain calm and soothing when those around her are losing it. Her thoughts and actions as she struggles with isolation are something I think we can all relate to.
Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout continues the story of Lucy Barton, a writer from New York. The pandemic infiltrates life as we all know it, and Lucy details her experiences in this new addition to this series. She takes off with her ex-husband/current friend William who rents a house in Maine to keep themselves safe from the encroaching virus. She plaintively reflects on how it began and what changes befell her family and friends during this time.

If you've followed Lucy through her other three novels, one of which, I believe, is a collection of short stories, you'll want to get updated on her life now. While you think that not much happens, actually many situations change in this book. Lucy thoughtfully muses over the changes in her geography, relationships with her family and friends, and her status as a writer. It's not a slow book, and you won't hear this character whining about first-world problems.

Issues that arise during the pandemic are recounted in an organic way. It's almost like reading someone's diary about the experience. Her viewpoints change but not so much in that she is fundamentally a different person. You may not agree with her at times, but the character is not insisting that the reader do so. She's just letting you know how she felt about the many situations that arise and her past that she's still reconciling. But it is not heavy-handed or poised to shame anyone.

One thing that struck me was the way that Lucy describes her relationship with her daughters. It made me think of how my mother felt about me and my sister. I don't recall feeling this when I read the previous book, Oh, William!, but this time it hit me, and I don't think it's because my mother passed away. Something about the way Strout wrote about it resonated with me.

Anyway, as with all of Strout's books, I felt engaged and invested in the character, and the writing glides you through the plotlines. Lucy distinctly is herself, too, and so different from Strout's other more famous character, Olive Kitteridge. In fact, she's mentioned a few times, and I love when a writer incorporates characters from other books into her other stories, creating an entire universe.

Excellent book. The continuing story ofLucy Barton and William.. The story takes place during the pandemic and their time spent in Maine trying to remain safe. It speaks to the loneliness and fear most of us experienced during that time and which some still feel.. it brought back a lot of memories for me and how my husband and I felt during that time..

Hhhhh hhhhh hhhhh hhhhh hhhhh hhhh

First off, thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this copy. Secondly, I truly had no idea what to expect with this book, I came into it not knowing that this was a series; I don’t think that a reader specifically needed to read the previous books in order to understand the characters and the complex relationships between them. This book is set so close to the here and now it’s wildly relatable. With concepts about covid, lockdowns and Black Lives Matter protests it is seemingly relatable for everyone. Diving into relationships during a pandemic and reconnecting with former loved ones and how it changes basically everything it was a quick read. I read it in two days and it absolutely left me wanting more. I am absolutely going to go back and read the previous books by Elizabeth Srtout.

Following Lucy Barton through the writings of Elizabeth Strout has been eye-opening. I admit to being one of those readers who found it difficult at first to adapt to the author's way of writing through Lucy's eyes, but have since become a big fan. Even so much as seeing some of myself in Lucy and cheering her on. There is a deepness to Lucy's character that is at times heartbreaking and other times aggravating. In this book, Lucy's first husband William takes her out of New York to "save her life" due to the pandemic. By doing so...she once again lets the control-freak William take over her life...and their relationship is sometimes hard to fathom. Lucy struggles with many personal things during this time regarding her relationship with her daughters, William and herself. Family dynamics in Lucy's family are very confusing - but there comes a point where Lucy and her daughters connect in a way that has been too long in coming. The ending makes me wonder "is there more to come?" If so - I'll be anxious to read how the journey continues! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ##LucyByTheSea #NetGalley.

With every Lucy Barton book, I love Lucy more. All of Elizabeth Strout's main characters share some similarities of background and experience, but Lucy is so herself. She's such a distinct, developed character with such a well-defined personality and perspective. It's impossible to imagine a novel about Lucy Barton disappointing me or betraying my sense of the character, because Lucy seems like such a real and realized person, like Elizabeth Strout is making novels from interviewing her. This book seems more clearly set up for another installment to follow than previous books about Lucy have been.

On another note, Elizabeth Strout's novels have always had a shared set of locations, but Lucy by the Sea makes clear that all of the main characters of her previous works inhabit the same world and know the same people (they are all met or mentioned in this novel). I don't know that this was necessary, but it's kind of interesting in a metafictional way.

The first and last book I read by Elizabeth Strout was Olive Kitteridge. However, I was intrigued by her newest book, Lucy By the Sea, and decided to give it a try when offered an advanced reader copy. I have to admit that I didn’t read the book synopsis very careful and was somewhat surprised that the story revolves around the Covid pandemic. To Strout’s credit, I continued to read even though I wasn’t sure I was ready to be immersed in this recent and ongoing crisis. The short snippets help organize the narrative into easier to digest morsels. Through Lucy’s experiences Strout does a pretty good job of encapsulating the events and feelings starting in March 2020 - “Almost always, there was that sense of being underwater; of things not being real.” She deftly tackles everything from the pandemic, racism, marriage, to current politics. I’m still not sure I’m fond of Strout’s storytelling style, but if you’re a fan of hers, I think you’ll enjoy this book.
#LucybytheSea #NetGalley

I love Elizabeth Strout and I love Lucy Barton. And how we continue on with Lucy’s life. Seeing how the trauma of her childhood changed her. This book is set during the pandemic shutdown. Kind of bizarre to read about. It seems so long ago now. Strout had a way of just making us feel what her characters are feeling. You feel Lucy’s love for William along with the feelings of all of their history.

Keep coming back Lucy!
I was given a copy by Netgalley but opinions are my own.

Elizabeth Strout always creates characters you feel connected to --even if you do not care for them--characters that could be people right down the street from you and me. Lucy Barton is a complicated lady we know from previous novels. You can read this alone but why deny yourself the gut punch of "I am Lucy Barton"?
I have yet to find a novel with the lockdown pandemic as part of the story that needed to be written. But this novel changed that. The lockdown, if not real, could have been invented by Strout in order to create the reasoning needed for these lost souls to be bound together. Three complicated people flee the city to find themselves on the shore for months longer than planned.
Feelings are real and raw when a person feels cornered and this is only amplified in characters written by Strout.
Not my favorite of Strout's (Nothing of hers beats Olive Kittridge in my opinion) But it is a fabulous novel about dark and all too real days we lived through.

Too soon or just right? This is the first full PANDEMIC novel I’ve read and it perfectly captures the experience - at least the East Coast/NY/liberal experience. Sometimes I think the continued revisiting of Lucy is like watering down milk. But this was just right, and I’m ready for my next installment, please.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Special thanks to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Elizabeth Strout is a great storyteller and because I liked "Oh William" so much I requested this book.

I really like Lucy's character. Elizabeth Strout always makes you feel with Lucy in previous books like you're listening to a friend of yours, so I was eager to get this book.

This rendition of Lucy Barton is more of her past before the pandemic and being in lockdown with her ex-husband. It's like the past is always at the forefront of her mind, and mostly about her regrets in her memories of her mom and dad and siblings and not wanting her own relationship with her daughters and not wanting it to be the relationship she had with her own mother.

I love Lucy and I love Elizabeth Strout.

Well, I sat down with my iPad to give this a start and unexpectedly did not put my iPad down until I had finished. And, in another unexpected twist, LUCY BY THE SEA usurped the top spot in my personal ranking of the Amgash series.

I am still thinking about pandemic Lucy; even pandemic William, and pandemic Bob (Burgess!!! IYKYK). I am still thinking about a fictional lockdown experience reminiscent of what many desired, what many experienced, and what many feared.

Strout always pens a rounded edge of the most jagged forms of humanity and in LBTS, she parses through new frustrations the last couple years have brought about. She examines through her literal and figurative writing how experiences and ideologies can become deeply set quarantines of their own even with people we’ve deemed admirable in other ways.

I was not a die-hard Strout ‘fan girl’ prior to this read—though now I think I am—but LBTS is immensely worthy of the praise it will inevitably receive, in large part for providing an empathetic human connection in a moment when we are most desperate for it. It’s best moments will hit hardest if read following My Name is Lucy Barton, Anything is Possible, and Oh, William. (The tears that spewed in the Anything is Possible crossover! I still can’t handle!)

An easy five stars from me.